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MC431      Half Unit
Critical Approaches to Strategic Communications

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Professor Lee Edwards

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Strategic Communications. This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

None.

Course content

This course provides an advanced understanding of theoretical knowledge in the field of media and communication as it relates to strategic communications and the key promotional industries of advertising, branding and public relations. The focus is on the role, scope and activities of strategic communications in contemporary societies and in the context of globalisation and the digital age. Topics cover the context, practices and challenges of strategic communications, and are likely to include: the advance of promotional culture in and across public, political, non-profit and corporate institutions; professional structures and identities of the strategic communications industries; discourses of strategic communications, including reputation and relationship management; technologies of strategic communications; globalisation and strategic communications; strategic communications and inequalities (gender, 'race', class); and the ethics of strategic communications.

Teaching

30 hours of seminars in the AT.

This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of term.

Formative coursework

All students are expected to submit one essay of 1500 words.

Indicative reading

  • Aiello, G. & Parry, K. 2019. Visual Communication. London: SAGE.
  • Aronczyk, M. and Powers, D. (eds) 2010. Blowing up the brand. New York: Peter Lang.
  • Banet-Weiser, S. and Mukherjee, R. (eds) 2012. Commodity activism: Cultural resistance in neoliberal times. New York: NYU Press
  • Cronin, A. 2018. Public relations capitalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
  • Davis, A. 2013. Promotional cultures: the rise and spread of advertising, public relations, marketing and branding.  Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Edwards, L. 2018. Understanding public relations: Theory, culture and society. London: Sage.
  • Ihlen, O and Fredriksson, M. (eds) 2018. Public relations and social theory: Key figures, concepts and developments (second edition). New York/London: Routledge.
  • Macnamara, J. 2015. Organizational listening: the missing essential in public communication. New York: Peter Lang.
  • Moloney, K. & McGrath, C. 2019. Rethinking public relations: Persuasion, democracy and society. London: Routledge.
  • Turow, J. 2017. The aisles have eyes: How retailers track your shopping, strip your privacy and define your power. New Haven, CT., Yale University Press.
  • Webster, JG. 2014. The marketplace of attention: how audiences take shape in a digital age. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 3000 words) in the WT.

Key facts

Department: Media and Communications

Total students 2022/23: 25

Average class size 2022/23: 25

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills