JM4022 Introduction to Social Media Class hashtag: #jm4022 Module Coordinator: Tom Felle e: tom.felle@ul.e | Office: BM029, main building | Office hours Monday 11am-‐2pm Other lecturers teaching on this module: Anthony Quinn (anthony.quinn@ul.ie) Tutors: Sharon le Gear (sharon.legear@ul.ie) and Leo Stiles ECTS Credits: 6 | Grading system G1 (A1 = 75; C3 = 40) ___________________________________ Plagiarism Incidents of plagiarism, misrepresentation of sources or cheating in assessments will be awarded zero marks and can lead to the award of an F for the whole module. SO DON’T DO IT!!! See the University Code of Conduct for further details. Rationale and Purpose Of The Module: This module aims to equip students with the web -‐based research, organisational and value judgement skills necessary to examine and understand critically the power of social media in a globalised world. It aims to enable students to become better critical thinkers and researchers by giving them the skills to understand social media, to question its relevance, its accuracy and its legitimacy; and to construct news in a social media format. It will equip students with communication skills that are appropriate to a first -‐year level and which will enable them to participate effectively in their university degree. Syllabus: This module is a foundation for new university students that will introduce them to thinking critically about social media. Taught elements will include concepts drawn from theoretical communications, social and media studies, as well as practical approaches including hierarchical news writing and information construction. The module will examine the changing nature of how news is disseminated through social media and investigate citizen engagement with news. It will give a practical introduction to the use of social media for the purposes of information gathering, as a source for news and as a potential agent of democratisation of media and society. Practical cases will be understood through recent 1
theoretical perspectives on human collaboration and communication. The changing dynamic of news from the traditional (linear) model to the new media (circular) model will be explored. The course has a strong focus on both the use of social media for practical exercises and on evidence -‐based critical thinking. Learning Outcomes: Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis) •
Demonstrate an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages associated with social media
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Explain features of social networks as an emergent consequence of adaptation to the capabilities of social technologies
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Describe and classify the kinds of technologies that have been developed to make social media possible.
Affective (Attitudes and Values) •
Evaluate the news values of information placed on YouTube, Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook and other social media.
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Appreciate the difference between rumour; unverified reporting, and verified news in global contemporary news flow.
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Use the inverted pyramid to report a news story in traditional form. Use social media to follow an event in non -‐linear manner.
Prime Text Holmes, Tim et al (2013) 21st Century Journalism Handbook. London: Pearson -‐ available in the library as an e-‐book Newspaper articles and other media as mentioned in weekly plans A book you should read Ryfe, David M (2012) Can Journalism Survive? An Inside Look at American Newsrooms. Polity Press. Important Texts: 2
Bull, Andy (2010) Multimedia Journalism , London: Sage Biagi, Shirley (2011) Media Impact , London: Wadsworth Couldry Nick and Curran, James (eds) Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Manovich, Lev (2002) The Language of New Media. Cambridge , Massachusetts: MIT Press Wardrip -‐Fruin, Noah and Montfort, Nick (2003) The New Media Reader, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press Other Relevant Texts: Hicks, Wynford (1998) English for Journalists , London: Routledge McKane, Anna (2006) News Writing , London: Sage Plotnik, Arthur (2007) Spunk and Bite: A Writers Guide to Bold, Contemporary Style , New York: Random House. Truss, Lynne (2003) Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. , London: Profile Books Chomsky, Noam and Herman, Edward () Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media , New York: Pantheon Books. O Reilly, Tim and Milstein, S. (2009) The Twitter Book, Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media Class content and structure Lectures will take place weekly. Labs will take place in computer rooms and attendance is required, and will begin in week two. Tutorials will be discussion lead and will also begin in week two. Attendance is required. Full details of lecture / lab content is detailed below. Re-‐sits Please refer to School of Languages, Literature, Cultural and Communication policy for information on re-‐sits. 3
Assessment Part 1: 45 per cent Working in groups of up to four (choose your own groups but group must be from your lab class and should contain at least one student from different programme/and/or Erasmus/Study Abroad person) conduct the following social media project: 1. Follow a hashtag using Tweetdeck on a current issue for a one-‐day period. Use sound editorial judgement to pick an issue that will lend itself to being followed. a. Analyse what news has been shared (under appropriate headings) and distinguish from fact and unverified comment / statements. b. List all media shared and analyse the veracity of the shared media. c. Analyse the intensity of sharing (ie what is being shared; i. what is being shared? ii. when is it most likely to be shared; and by whom? iii. whom are the likely leaders (posters); and whom are the likely followers (re-‐tweeters)? iv. why in information being shared? d. Analyse, with reference to findings, the results. Include screen grabs and other evidence to support your conclusions, ensuring you contextualise the work in a broader theoretical framework (20). 2. Begin a Twitter list using twitter accounts, adding appropriate accounts to monitor posts on a current issue (use editorial judgement to define the issue) for a period of seven days. a. Defend the addition of all members of the list. b. Verify beyond all reasonable doubt one Twitter user on that list who is an active and regular tweeter. c. Analyse what news has been shared (under appropriate headings) and distinguish from fact and unverified comment / statements. d. List all media shared and analyse the veracity of the shared media. e. Analyse, with reference to findings, the results. f. Include screen grabs and other evidence to support your conclusions and contextualise the work in a broader theoretical framework (20 marks). 4
3. If a YouTube video has been shared as part of your hashtag follow (or list follow) take appropriate steps to verify the video. If not, choose an appropriate video and a. verify it. b. Outline the steps you took in the verification process, c. the degree of certainty this affords; d. and what further steps (if any) would need to be taken to verify the content. (5 marks). Combine your work (including screenshots) into an appropriate narrative. While there is no word count, as a guide 2,000 words to 3,000 words is adequate. Submit in hard copy to Tom Felle in Lab classes during week 6. The deadline is Thurs/Friday week 6 (depending on which lab class you are in). Feedback will be provided via SULIS and small group meetings if required. Part 2: 45 per cent Work in groups of four (choose your own groups but group must be from your lab class and should contain at least one student from different programme/and/or Erasmus/Study Abroad person) conduct the following social media project: 1. Using social media tools, design and put online a website (wordpress or similar) that incorporates (but not limited to): YouTube clips; SoundCloud clips; WordCloud clips; Tumbler; Social media sharing; Twitter feed – and other media as appropriate. 2. Reflect on what you have learned in this module (individual; 400 words) Depending on which lab class you are in, the deadline is Thurs/Friday week 12 (April 25/26). Part 3: Tutorial assessment (10 per cent) Working in small groups (3-‐4, chose your own groups within your tutorial class) prepare a presentation on a topic of your choice relevant to social media. The presentation should be made using Powerpoint and all member of the group should prepare part of the presentation, and must be in class to present on it. Marking as follows: •
Evidence of original research/depth of analysis -‐ 3
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Clarity of points/question answered -‐ 3
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Communication and presentation skills -‐ 2
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Insight and creativity in relation to chosen topic -‐ 2 5
Submit your Powerpoint slides to the tutor on the date of tutorial in hard copy. Students will be graded based on grading criteria and receive feedback via SULIS. Worth 10 per cent. Note re assessments: Submission must be made on the due date otherwise penalties will apply. A 3 per cent per day penalty applies for late submission.
Class lectures Week 1 Lecture:
Introduction to Social Media
Reading:
See ‘Week One’ folder of PDFs for other suggested readings. Watch TED talk by Markham Nolan (link in SULIS folder)
Week 2 Lecture:
The Changing Media Landscape (journalism and social media)
Reading:
See ‘Week Two’ resources folder for suggested readings
Listening:
‘Digital of Deadwood’ podcast (link in ‘Week One’ resources folder)
Lab:
Facebook; Internet basic, intermediate and advanced searching (text, files and images). See lab handout in SULIS resources
Tutorial:
Discussion of reading. Please come prepared.
Week 3 Lecture:
Social Networks and Communication (Note: This lecture will be delivered via electronic means.)
Reading:
See ‘Week Three’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
Twitter and Tweetdeck – basic functions
Tutorial:
Discussion of reading. Please come prepared.
Week 4 lecture:
Privacy and Social Media
Reading:
See ‘Week Four’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
Twitter and Tweetdeck -‐ Lists; hashtags advanced search using twitter
Tutorial:
Discussion of reading. Please come prepared.
Week 5 Lecture:
Citizen Journalism and UGC
Reading:
See ‘Week Five’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
Media (photo and video) verification; Youtube
Discussion of reading. Please come prepared.
Tutorial:
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Week 6 Lecture
Social Media and Democracy
Reading:
See ‘Week Six’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
Social media tools – Soundcloud and Documentcloud
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
ASSESSMENT 1 DUE Thurs/Friday Week 6 – (March 7/8) Week 7 Lecture:
Philosophy of technology 1
Reading:
See ‘Week Seven’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
Social media tools – Soundcloud and Documentcloud
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
Week 8 Lecture:
Philosophy of technology 2
Reading:
See ‘Week Eight’ resources folder
Lab:
Social media tools – content management systems
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
Week 9 Lecture:
Ownership, control and social media
Reading:
See ‘Week Nine' resources folder
Lab:
Social media tools – content management systems
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
Week 10 Lecture:
Geolocation and social media
Reading:
See ‘Week Ten’ resources folder
Lab:
Social media tools – going geographical
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
Week 11 Lecture:
Visualising social data and coding using HTML and Ruby
Reading:
See ‘Week Eleven’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
HTML
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
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Week 12 Lecture:
Conclusions
Reading:
See ‘Week Twelve’ resources folder for other suggested readings
Lab:
Website management
Discussion of reading
Tutorial:
ASSESSMENT 2 DUE 6pm Friday Week 12 – (April 25/26) Note: 3 per cent per day penalty applies for late submission. Submission must be into box in Millstream building by 5pm on date due.
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