COMM2892/COMM2893

Asian Media and

Communication
Week 1: Course
Introduction
Course Introduction

• Course structure and assessments

• What will we cover?
• What will you achieve?
• Why Asian media and communications?

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Let’s go to Canvas --- assignments, deadlines, and extensions
Course Structure & Assessments
Week 1: Course Introduction and understanding mass media, social and digital media, and
emerging technologies

Week 2: Understanding contexts in Asian media and communications and Critical Media Theories

Week 3: Digital citizenship, and digital/AI divide

Week 4: Early Feedback/Research Workshop (Assignment 1 submission)

Week 5: Group Project (Assignment 1 presentation after submission in canvas)

Week 6: Social media and social movements

Week 7: Digital authoritarianism and surveillance capitalism

Week 8: Datafication and privacy (Assignment 2)

Week 9: Holiday

Week 10: Algorithmic media and Internet Governance

Week 11: Major Essay Consultation (Major essay due)

Week 12: Reflection consultation (Reflection due).

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 Consultations, extensions, and
course questions
• Where can you find your lecturer?
• For private consultations please schedule an appointment via Outlook
Calendar
• For short term extensions (1 - 7 days) contact the course coordinator
and lecturer. For long term extensions (anything beyond 7 days) or
special consideration, write to '[email protected]' and
also read the document titled 'ARG Guideline- Extension Process' for
extension policies.
• Late penalties are automatically applied by Canvas. Plan ahead and
submit your work early.

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Assessments
(A1 Group Presentation)
Type: Group Assessment (maximum of 4 students)

Weight: 35%

Length: 10-12 minutes

Assessment Details: This is a research intensive assignment. Students are required to choose a social issue/social
phenomenon that is being portrayed/reported/presented through media artefacts in Asia. The students will start by knowing the
knowledge gap around the chosen topic. They will then move to developing a research question. Students will then collect data
from a number of media artefacts in order to develop their findings and make interpretations of the findings. The findings are
generated through data collection. They are required to choose a content analysis or case study analysis. The interpretations will
be analyzed using a hypothesis or concept from W2 and W3.

Consider reviewing Module 4 Assignment 1.pdf and Assignment 1 FAQ.doc for further information and suggested structure and
format.

Examples for social issues/social phenomenon: the presidential elections in Indonesia, the spread of AI biases in developing
countries, the case of gender-based violence against minority groups, and many others. Anything that is related to show
businesses, infotainments, celebrity scandals are often times considered as entertainment related news. Students should strictly
avoid entertainment news. If in doubt, speak with your lecturer.

Rubric Criteria: Refer to Canvas

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Assessments
(A2 Short Essay)
Type: Individual Assessment
Weight: 25%
Length: 800 – 1000 words
Assessment Details: Students will be allocated with a documentary and expected to watch as a first step
to proceed with this assignment. Documentaries covering different issues will be assigned by the lecturer.
Students will then critically analyze the documentary using a theory OR a concept discussed in lectures and
classes. Students will then write an 800-1000 word critical assessment of the case study being presented in this
documentary. Please base the writing around addressing an argument. Students must formulate this argument
on their own. In order to elaborate and discuss the underlying argument, students need to present evidences
gathered from news reports, data banks like statista and the documentary itself. But they should not completely
rely only on the data/evidence from the documentary. To prepare, it is important that students engage with the
lectures and readings and take part in any set exercises. Consider reviewing Assignment 2.pdf and Assignment 2
FAQ in Module 4 for further information.

Rubric Criteria: Refer to Canvas

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Assessments
(A3 Major Essay)
Type: Individual Assessment

Weight: 40%

Length: 1750 words

Assessment Details: Students will write an independently researched essay, in the form of a white paper, of 1750
words that reflects on one of the following topics: Media and communication industries as complicit, media and
communication as a social institution, media and communication for propaganda, media and communication for
social change, media and communication practices and pressing social problems

Students should be prepared to undertake independent, academic research and demonstrate their ability to discuss
the chosen prompt in the white paper. Students will be assessed on their ability to formulate an argument, as well
as research, analyze, express and develop their ideas to address the argument. Students will also be assessed on
their ability to apply relevant concepts and theories from the course to critically analyze the chosen prompt, and to
select and use appropriate peer reviewed sources. Consider reviewing Module 4 Assignment 3.pdf for further
information and suggested structure and format.

Rubric Criteria: Refer to Canvas

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 Assessments
(Reflection)
Students will be required to attend a panel discussion during Week 2 to take notes in order to answer the questions of this segment
of the assignment 3. Attendance is compulsory. This event will be also be available online for Hanoi students to watch. This event
will also be recorded and uploaded for students who are not available during that time. However, we strongly insist the rest of the
students to attend in-person to make the best use of this opportunity.

The answers should be a detailed reflection of the insights gathered from the event. There are no right or wrong answers.

Event title: Discover Career Paths in Vietnam's NGO and NPO Sector on November 8th , 2024 (2pm to 4pm, Auditorium 2.1.004)

This event is a panel discussion featuring representatives from prestigious Vietnamese organizations in the NGO and NPO sectors,
including the Christina Nobel Children's Foundation (CNCF), the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD
Vietnam), the Huynh Tan Phat Foundation (HTP), and Teach for Vietnam. The speakers are Ms. Thanh Vo, Deputy Director, CNCF;
Ms. Hoàng Ngọc Nam Phương, Program and Event Coordinator, Southern Vietnam, MSD Vietnam; Ms. Quynh Tran, Regional Head
Coach, Teach For Vietnam; and Ms. Đinh Hoàng Minh Ngọc, Operations Manager, HTP Foundation. These representatives, with
their diverse backgrounds, will provide students with varied perspectives on the industry. The session will be moderated by Dr.
Adhvaidha Kalidasan, Lecturer, Professional Communication, RMIT. This sector seeks students from a wide range of disciplines,
such as communications, design, business, technology, and more—not just social work. Whether students excel in content
creation, marketing, research, project management, data analysis, or creative arts, their skills can have a meaningful impact. The
panel discussion will address the challenges, emerging trends, and skill requirements for fresh graduates entering the non-profit or
social sector, as well as the benefits of working in NGOs or NPOs. Additionally, it will explore career growth opportunities and
strategies for long-term success in this field.

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By the end of the course, you will be able to:

•Explain communication and media theories and

their application in the Asian context
•Investigate the key political, social, cultural and technological factors
that have influenced the development of Asian media and
communication systems and industries
•Identify and critically discuss the opportunities and challenges in
relation to Asian media and communication
•Examine the development of Asian media and communication from
both local and global perspectives

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Theories/Concepts
taught every week are
the backbone of this
course.
So what will the theories from this
class achieve?

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Basic concepts

Communication Who says

what through
Medium/Media which
channel to
Mass Media whom with
what effect in
New and emerging media
what context
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How do you define
….

Asia
Geography
Culture
Politics
Economy
Race
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How do you define
….

Mass media Broadcasting media (e.g., TV,

Radio, podcasts)
all communication (online) newspapers, newsletters,
media that disseminate books, magazines
information of any kind
and for any purpose to
a mass audience (Noll
2007).
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How do you define
….

Social media Facebook, Instagram

a set of tools, practices, and ideologies that
emerged after the dot-com crash by a network of
Zalo, WhatsApp …
technologists primarily located in the Bay Area. As a
buzzword, “social media” was far from being Tinder, Grindr …
precise, but it still set the context and shaped the
contours of a phenomenon rooted in the social, Spotify, Keeng, Zing …
technical, and business (Boyd 2015)

Digital Media --- anything that is internet-

enabled

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How do you define
….

Emerging technologies AI-enabled technologies

(i) radical novelty, (ii) relatively fast Generative AI (GenAI)
growth, (iii) coherence, (iv) prominent
impact, and (v) uncertainty and Self-driving cars
ambiguity (Rotolo et. al. 2015)

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Looking at the world from a
communication perspective
The science of media/communication sees the world as essentially a
world of communication; human society doesn’t exist without
communication; everything is (almost) a matter of (good/bad)
communication.

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Look for examples of media and
communication practices you believe
as uniquely Asian

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Most people in my social circle
identify themselves as Asian. I live in
Asia. Why do I need to learn about
Asian Media and Communication?

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From the reading …

‘… the time has long passed the point where we can assume and apply
a shared general approach to media and culture that is based on the
worldview, ideas, and experience of one particular group—even a very
large and, actually, heterogeneous group that constitutes a “Western”
approach to the study of how the “rest of the world” communicates …’
(Goggin 2016:192).

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From the reading …

‘… A lack of of recognition that media and communication everywhere

is shaped by specific local and regional histories, conditions,
infrastructures, policies, meanings, and projects.…’ (Goggin 2016:192).

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In-class activity

Write at least one benefit from learning about Asian media and
communication?

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You now know on what to
expect from the
concepts/theories shared
in this course. But there is
another important aspect!

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Research
• You will be learning to apply theories/concepts. Academic
sources (like research papers and books) will be used to
directly quote or paraphrase the theories and concepts
• You will apply the theories/concepts to the findings from
observation of contents from media artefacts or to a case that
you develop. You will do this for all 3 assignments.
• Contents of media artefacts can be observed and
gathered manually or via Nvivo.
• Case can be developed using secondary data from news
reports, data banks like statista, government reports and
similar such authentic sources.

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A research activity
"On the surface, Malaysia seems to have a rich media landscape but the state media – the news
agency Bernama and the broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) – exert a great deal of
influence. Many mainstream media outlets are openly partisan, including Suara Keadilan, a
newspaper that supports the centrist Keadilan Rakyat party, and Harakah, a daily financed by
the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). The media sector is more dynamic online, driven by sites that
cherish their editorial autonomy, such as Malaysiakini, Sinar Harian and The Fourth. While most
media players are concentrated around the federal capital of Kuala Lumpur, there are some
vibrant local media outlets, especially in East Malaysia." reports Reporters without Borders, an
NGO (https://rsf.org/en/country/malaysia).

Can you use this piece of information as a starting point to develop a

mini case study? Use news reports, statistics and government reports to
build a case study that describes the alternative media scenario in
Malaysia.

Work in groups of 4-5 members. Use the white board to write down the
information you gathered. Remember to reveal the details of the sources
used to gather the information. Take 20 minutes and elect a volunteer
from your group to present it to class.
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Transferable skills you will gain from
taking this course

Critical thinking Policy/white

skills and Research skills paper writing
techniques skills

Presentation
and Argument
communication building skills
skills

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Plagiarism and other things to
considerate
How (not) to plagiarize
Using direct quotes without
properly citing them.
Direct quotes.
● Use them if you have to.
● Don’t forget stating the page number.
● Turnitin similarly scores will be high
because of direct quotes.
● “In the attempt to engage users longer and more often,
Facebook rests on the principle of constant change and
flow of newness” (Kaun & Stiernstedt, 2014 p. 1157).
Stealing someone else’s ideas.
Translating an article from one
language to another without
permission.
Paraphrasing without crediting
the original author.
Submitting a paper for one
course to another without
substantial modifications.
Inclusion and diversity in
the classroom.
English is the medium of
teaching and learning.
Verbal and non-verbal expressions
that are socially and culturally
insensitive are not allowed.
Religion. Sexual identity. Race. Political values and
beliefs. Gender. Disability. Skin color. Accent. Social
class. …
Emailing and making
appointment
Emaling

● DON’T: Hi, I missed the class last week. Can you please go over the
materials again for me?
● DO: Hi, I missed the class last week because …. I have reviewed the
materials, but I am not sure if I understand this concept fully. I wonder
if I can discuss it with you on DAY? Thanks.
● DON’T: Hi, I don’t understand assignment 1. Can you explain it again?
● DO: Hi, I am working on assignment 1. The instruction says …. My
understanding is … OR I am not sure if I understand point 1 in the
instruction ….
How about:

I work really hard on this

assignment, can I get an
HD?

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Appoinment

● Be punctual.
● Be punctual.
● Be punctual.
● Have questions/ideas in mind.
● Take note.
● Record, if necessary.
Final thoughts:

● Strategize. Work progresively.

● Be resourceful and independent.
● Avoid last-minute panic, drama, and excuse.
● If you are suffering from mental illness, please contact the wellbeing center.
● If you need special learning assistance, please contact the wellbeing center or
RMIT connect.
Group formation and
Assignment 1 prep

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Next week: Contexts in
media and communication
in Asia and Critical Media
Theories
Further reading
Boyd D (2015) ‘Social Media: A Phenomenon to be Analyzed’, Social Media +
Society, April-June:1-2, https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305115580148.
Goggin G (2016) ‘Re-orienting Global Digital Cultures’, in Lim SS and Soriano
CRR (eds) Asian perspectives on digital culture: emerging phenomena, enduring
concepts, Taylor and Francis Group, New York
Noll AM (2007) The Evolution of Media, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc,
Lanham, Maryland
Rotolo D, Hicks D and Martin BR (2015) ‘What is an emerging
technology?’ Research policy, 44(10), 1827-1843,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.06.006.