ALR214 - Lobbying, Advocacy and Public Opinion
Unit details
| Year: | 2023 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online From 2024 Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Deirdre Quinn-Allan |
| Prerequisite: | Any two ALR, AIE, AIP or AIR coded units at a level 1, 2 or 3 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | ALR383 |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the trimester undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 1-hour class per week (via the unit site); 1 x 2-hour seminar per week |
| Scheduled learning activities - online: | 1 x 1-hour class per week (recording via the unit site) Online collaborative learning activities x 2-hours per week (equivalent) |
Content
The public interest, which is sometimes quoted in professional codes of public relations practice and conduct, is a cliché and a myth; in fact, the civil society in which we live is an amalgam of competing interests. It is within this contested arena that public affairs practitioners operate to advocate for particular institutional views and resource allocations in the battle for favourable policy outcomes. So, this unit examines the ways in which public relations and communication professionals working within third sector, business sector, and government sector organisations seek to communicate via lobbying and campaigning in order influence public opinion and government policy.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Analyse the relationship between issues management, policy, and public opinion formation within the context of public affairs practice | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Research and analyse a public affairs problem from an organisational and stakeholder perspective | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3: Digital literacy GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Work as an effective member of team using online means to plan, contribute to, and edit a lobbying project to a professional standard | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3: Digital literacy GLO7: Teamwork |
| ULO4 | Apply principles of ethical lobbying and advocacy to plan a persuasive lobbying strategy | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
Trimester 1:| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 (Group) - Background Briefing | 1200 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2 - Lobbying Strategy | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 10 |
| Assessment 3 - Quizzes | 800-word equivalent | 20% | Quiz 1 – week 4 Quiz 2 – 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
There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.
Unit Fee Information
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