Strategic Political Communication

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject examines the strategies used by political actors to communicate with a focus on political, public and government communication across different national, international and global contexts. The subject provides a critical review of key aspects of contemporary theory and research in political communications including theories of public information, propaganda and persuasion techniques. It examines a range of interconnected issues concerning the politics/mass media relationship including: the interaction of media practice and political strategies; theories of democracy and the media; civic communication and the public sphere; news management, political reporting and journalism; media and political influence; the 'crisis' of current civic communications and the role of press officers and 'spin doctors'. Aside from traditional political actors (such as politicians, political parties, election candidates and government bodies), this subject also explores the communicative activities of various social movements and groups outside traditional mainstream politics including their use of communication technologies to mobilize support for their campaigns. Students will explore areas such as political lobbying, election campaigning and political marketing at an advanced level. On completion of this subject students should have developed a strong grasp of the major thematic issues in the fast-growing area of strategic communication.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• be able to demonstrate an advanced capacity for critical, analytical and independent thinking in both theoretical and practical contexts of debate and interaction;
• be able to demonstrate competence in advanced library searches and information retrieval;
• be able to demonstrate conformity to academic protocols of presentation and research procedures.