AIP781 - Political Communication and Citizen Engagement
Unit details
| Year | 2027 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 2: Online |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 2: Maria Rae |
| Prerequisite | Nil |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | 1 x 2-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
Evolving technologies have radically changed political communication and citizen engagement during the policy cycle. This unit examines the complex interplay of the media, social movements and interest groups and how governments consult with the public. Drawing on theories of the public sphere, pluralism and deliberation, it analyses how politicians, lobbyists, the public sector and activists engage with the media to shape opinion and set the policy agenda. It takes a comparative approach across liberal democracies to consider the mainstream and social media policy landscape including ownership, regulation and diversity. It questions how to address the policy problems of misinformation, artificial intelligence, big data and privacy. The unit also evaluates the role of the media in case studies of policy campaigns on climate change, equality, feminism and justice. Students will also learn about practical methods of stakeholder engagement, public consultation and innovative deliberation practices like citizen juries. During this unit, students will identify a communication problem and learn how to create a solution with their own campaign or strategy. Students will also benefit from developing a strong understanding of the vital and role that political communication plays in contemporary policy making and politics.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Conduct extensive research and critically evaluate political communication theory as it applies to real-life problems and be able to devise comprehensive solutions to address these | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO2 | Communicate political ideas to a public audience through the creation of discerning social and written media, based on an informed evaluation of the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of political communication | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Undertake a reflective analysis of the ability to identify and critique political communication issues as they relate to theory and practice and the skills to design and develop effective approaches to address these | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO6: Self-management |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some units still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Journal | 1500 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 3 & 9 |
| Assessment 2: Research and Writing Exercise | 1000 words or equivalent | 20% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 3: Essay | 2500 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIP781 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
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