PUBLIC RELATIONS IN THE DIGITAL AGE - 2023/4

Module Overview

The module addresses public relations as integral parts of a consumer society, looking at how these play roles in our lives on a daily basis and shape and resource our decisions, from what food to buy, to what university to study at. The module pays particular attention to public relations in a digital age. Lectures address theoretical accounts of the consumer society including resistance, the role of cultural producers and strategies and tactics in public relations. The module also examines how state and private sector public relations campaigns are increasingly multi-platform and rapidly changing to meet the needs of a digital society. Critical perspectives are fundamental to this module.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

MUIR Robyn (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Theories and concepts in public relations


• Public relations in a networked age


• PR portfolios

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to boost and develop students' employability.

The summative assessment for this module consists of:

An individual public relations campaign plan

An individual public relations campaign portfolio consisting of students' own public relations campaign

Formative assessment and feedback

• Students will be given feedback during class discussions.

Module aims

• To introduce a range of theoretical approaches in public
  relations.
• To critically explore the roles of these in the digital age.
• To critically analyse public relations campaigns.
• To create a public relations portfolio applying ideas from
  the module.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Ensure students understand the role of public relations and consumption in society


• Introduce students to a range of theoretical perspectives in the consumer society


• Encourage students to understand public relations strategies and tactics


• Encourage critical assessments of public relations campaigns in the consumer society

• 11 x 2 hour interactive sessions engaging with core concepts and approaches to public relations


• Ongoing development of assessments in coordination with feedback


• Reading and critical discussion

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOC3081

Other information

None

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.