Module manager: Yuan Zeng
Email: Y.Zeng@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
COMM2350
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides an in-depth exploration of the central issues confronting contemporary journalism and equips students with the tools to investigate them independently. It considers how economic pressures, political influence, technological change, and evolving audience behaviours are reshaping the production and consumption of news. Students engage with debates around ethics, regulation, misinformation, representation, and the public interest, drawing on both academic research and contemporary case studies. Students will carry out an independent research project in which each student identifies a current issue in journalism and examines it through sustained critical analysis. The module equips students with subject knowledge alongside essential research, analytical, and communication skills relevant to further study and careers in the media and related fields.
The module aims to enable students to develop a critical and informed understanding of the principal issues shaping contemporary journalism and its role in democratic society. It seeks to equip students with the knowledge and research skills required to investigate how ethical, political, social, economic, and technological factors influence journalistic practice and public debate. Learning activities—including lectures, seminars, guided reading, and tutorial on research projects—are designed to introduce key concepts and encourage students to apply them to real-world examples. Through structured discussion and formative tasks, students are supported to identify a specific issue in journalism and to design an independent research project that examines it in depth. Collectively, these activities foster analytical thinking, independent inquiry, and effective communication, enabling students to meet the requirements of the module assessment and to develop skills relevant to professional and academic contexts
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Appraise major issues affecting journalism, including ethics, regulation, ownership, and digital transformation.
Apply relevant theories of journalism and media to interpret professional practices and public debate.
Critically assess the quality, values, and social impact of journalistic content across different platforms.
Investigate a defined issue in journalism using appropriate academic literature, industry sources, and primary media material.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Design and manage an independent research project by setting objectives, organising sources, and meeting staged deadlines.
Use digital tools to gather, manage, and present information ethically and in accordance with professional standards.
Critical thinking; social analysis;
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Tutorial | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Independent online learning hours | 179 | ||
| Private study hours | 0 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will receive structured formative feedback at several points throughout the module to support the development of their independent research project. Early seminars will include guided activities in which students discuss potential topics and receive tutor and peer feedback on the clarity, relevance, and feasibility of their proposed issue. A formative literature review will be submitted mid-semester, where students will get detailed feedback on the issues they identify, use of sources, and academic writing. Final week tutorial on research projects will provide opportunities for students to share draft sections and obtain advice on methodology and structure. Ongoing seminar discussions will further allow students to test ideas, reflect on progress, and address any difficulties before the final assessment submission.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Literature review | 30 |
| Coursework | report | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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