Portfolio Creation for Raising Awareness on Social Issues via Media Platforms

Assignment task

For this assignment task you will need to create a portfolio within which you must include the following elements:

1. Design and make a media ‘product’ which could be presented on a specified online media platform. Your media product should be one of the following:
   • A podcast
   • A Vlogcast
   • A blog
   • A content analysis of existing media

Your media product must communicate about one of the following topics to raise awareness of the issues via media platforms. You need to state the media platform(s) for which your product would be suitable (you do not need to post your product on a media platform); your target audience and consider the most effective ways to communicate your ‘message’ to this audience.

Choose one of these topics:

• The representation of one social group within media
• Media representation of a contemporary social issue (e.g. crime, health, homelessness)
• The blurring of the public and private realms in new media
• Digital media, social activism and democracy

a. Any video or oral media products must be 5 minutes long

b. Any written media product must be 500 words long

c. A reference list must be provided at the end of your portfolio for the research for your media product – please give a separate reference list for part 1 and part 2 of your portfolio, at the end A long side your media product you will need to produce a written analysis & commentary (1500 words)

2. Write a commentary in which you discuss the role and impact of media in our 21st Century world. Your commentary must include consideration of the following:

• ‘Power’ in and around media
• Contemporary social issues with digital and social media
• A reflection on your own media use based on your media diary over the semester in relation to the themes discussed on this course (you may use the first person where appropriate)
• A reference list must be provided

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO1: Understand and discuss the key debates and theories around the character, content, role and impact of media in contemporary societies.

LO2: Debate and discuss the issues of power and inequalities in relation to media.

LO3: Apply social science skills of analysis to various mediated areas of social life relevant to student’s degree programme.

LO4: Demonstrate knowledge about, and competency in, the use of various media forms to communicate effectively for specified purposes.

Task requirements

• You will need to upload your portfolio to the LSST Connect submission point by the specified date.
• For video or sound products (vlogcast or podcast), you should provide a link to your media product at the beginning of your portfolio.
• For written products (blog); include this whole in your portfolio.
• Your portfolio must be presented clearly using sub-sections for each part..
• You may include images and links to media sources within your portfolio either within the main body of your work or as appendices at the end.