This module was previously titled Introduction to Social Media but to better reflect the course content the name change is required. This module aims to equip students with the web-based research, organisational and value judgement skills necessary to examine and understand critically the power of social media in a globalised world. It aims to enable students to become better critical thinkers and researchers by giving them the skills to understand social media, to question its relevance, its accuracy and its legitimacy; and to construct news in a social media format. It will equip students with communication skills, which will enable them to participate effectively in their university degree

This module introduces student to thinking critically about social media and its impact on society. Taught elements will include concepts drawn from theoretical communications, social and media studies, as well as practical approaches including hierarchical news writing and information construction. The module will examine the changing nature of how news is disseminated through social media and investigate citizen engagement with news. It will give a practical introduction to the use of social media for the purposes of information gathering, as a source for news and as a potential agent of democratisation of media and society. Practical cases will be understood through recent theoretical perspectives on human collaboration and communication. The changing dynamic of news from the traditional (linear) model to the new media (circular) model will be explored. The course has a strong focus on both the use of social media for practical exercises and on evidence-based critical thinking.

Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis) At the end of this module students will able to: • Demonstrate an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages associated with social media. • Explain features of social networks as an emergent consequence of adaptation to the capabilities of social technologies • Describe and classify the kinds of technologies that have been developed to make social media possible.

Affective (Attitudes and Values) At the end of this Module, students will be able to: • Evaluate the news values of information placed on YouTube, Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook and other social media. • Appreciate the difference between rumour and unverified reporting, and verified news in global contemporary news flow. • Understand the principles involved in multi media story telling • Use social media to self-publish and promote pieces.

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Module is delivered via weekly lectures and labs. Course content is informed by research into the influence of social media on society and in particular the consequences of disinformation for democracy.