Propaganda
Overview
This Unit examines the history of media and politics. With a primary emphasis on the ways that governments impede, censor or manipulate the news media, students are encouraged to consider how propaganda becomes news, through the framing and manipulation of information. An examination of these processes in an historical context enables students to gain an understanding of the tenuous nature of freedom of information and the complexities of mediated democracies.
Requisites
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically review the competing paradigms about mass media, politics, public opinion and propaganda
- Illustrate patterns of bias in the media and the relationship between media bias and propaganda
- Demonstrate how mass media organisations influence the political process
- Evaluate manipulation of news content by governments and media
- Construct an informed, critical appraisal of the role of the media and propaganda in democratic societies
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 5.83 | 12 weeks | 70 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 3.67 | 12 weeks | 44 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Essay | Individual | 45% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Minor Essay | Individual | 35% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Online Quizzes | Individual | 20% | 1,2,3 |
Content
Themes examine case studies in the construction of propaganda and the relationship between media and politics in their historical contexts.
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.