6 Module descriptions

Note: This page contains the descriptions of all modules available.

To find out whether or not they are available to you on your stream please check Ch. 6 “Modules by year/stream”

FIRST YEAR

AJ1100 History of Media 

During this module you will examine the historical development of media and communication. You will be introduced to the history of journalism in the 19th and 20th Century and how communication was controlled, from the rise of the ‘yellow press’ to D Notice Committees in Britain during the First and Second World Wars. You will examine the development of communication as part of the democratic process, as well as in response to commercial, social and political pressures. Particular attention will be paid to its development in Britain, Ireland, and the United States.

AJ1102 Introduction to Media and Communication Studies 

This module provides you with an introduction to key debates in media and communication studies. You will engage with a historical overview and examine key theoretical issues such as representation, framing and bias in an introductory way. Media consumption and audiences will be explored.

AJ1104 Digital Literacy Essentials 

This module will teach students to appropriately and effectively use digital technologies for learning, working and living in a digital age. Students will engage in a range of learning activities to find, select, evaluate, manipulate, manage, apply, share and create information and knowledge in the digital environment as well as to manage personal and professional online identity.

AJ1106 Pop Culture, Media and Society 

This module introduces you to ideas in critical, cultural and communications theory. You will debate issues surrounding media and popular culture, focusing on such themes as cultural elitism, power and control, the formation of identities, the politics of representation, consumption, and the changing technological basis of mediated culture.

SECOND YEAR

AJ2102 Power Without Responsibility 

Who controls the media, and how does that shape what we see, think, and talk about? This module explores how media ownership and digital platforms influence public opinion, political power, and democratic debate. From global tech giants to alternative media, we’ll examine real-world examples and key debates on bias, agenda-setting, and responsibility. Each week combines a theory-focused lecture with an interactive activity lab to help you apply ideas and build towards your assignments. You’ll develop the skills to critically analyse media power and better understand how it shapes your everyday communication — whether you’re a future journalist, media creator, or engaged global citizen.

AJ2104 Magazine Journalism 

During this module you will be introduced to the field of magazine journalism, and to a range of specific formats within the genre. Through extensive practical work, you will learn to identify and pitch stories; to research and investigate; and to write to format and deadline.

AJ2107 Sports Journalism 

During this module you will be introduced to the particular genre of journalism that is sports journalism, including a range of multimedia writing and editing skills that will prove effective across a broad range of sports

AJ2109 Understanding Media Audiences

This module further develops students’ critical thinking capacity, with a focus on examining how media audiences are influenced. Students will also increase their iterative understanding of media research methods via learning activities.

AJ2110 How Television Lobotomised the World

This module introduces students to mass communication theory, examining the birth and development of the medium of television as a mass communication and control tool. Particular focus will be paid to advertising, representation and framing, and gender.

AJ2111 Media Production 

This exciting media content module introduces students to media production skills in audio including radio programme production, presenting, and podcasting. It runs across both semester one and two. This is a good option for students who want to pursue content creation skills. You will earn five credits in Semester 1 and another five in Semester 2 for a total of 10 credits.

AJ2113 Writing for the Media

Humans have been telling stories for millennia, and one thing that has not changed is the way the human brain is hard-wired for narrative. This module will introduce students to content writing for media audiences, including telling compelling stories via a combination of following a simple structure combined with creativity. 

AJ2118 Communication Design

This module will introduce you to creative and graphic design concepts and practical skills via weekly classes. You will learn to use open source and proprietary software to create compelling designs for graphic applications as well as understanding how to professionally edit images and present content online.

AJ2120 Celebrity, Social Class and Media Culture

AJ2123 The Media and Global Migration

You will unpack the complex issue of how migration is reported in the media in this module which was developed in collaboration with the UN migration agency, and Irish Aid. You’ll learn about migration in its many forms – not just refugees – how international organisations work to support states; and how media reporting and misinformation can create distorted views of reality.

AJ2126 Storytelling with Numbers and Data

“I hate numbers!” If that sounds like you, you are not alone. This module helps you get comfortable working with data and shows you how to use data to tell powerful stories. You will learn how to create surveys, calculate averages and correlations, and understand margins of error. You will also gain hands-on skills in Excel and spreadsheets, create clear and convincing data visualisations, and build presentations that use evidence to persuade an audience. Data literacy is one of the most in-demand skills in today’s society, and this module gives you the skills to stand out with employers.

AJ2127 Digital Society and Platform Studies
To come

AJ2129 Global Pop Culture, Media and Identity
To come

AJ2130 Multimedia Storytelling

This module introduces you to the practical aspects of visual multimedia storytelling, focusing on creating and presenting content for diverse media platforms using your mobile phone and other equipment. You will explore the use of tools and techniques to produce compelling visual stories and engage in hands-on production work to develop your skills for the evolving media landscape.

AJ2131 Designing User Experiences

This module will introduce you to design thinking concepts and innovation via iterative development processes. This module is based on group work. The first semester intensively focuses on understanding your potential audience by interviewing strangers and learning what their needs are. You will learn how to use software to design user experiences for mobile Apps and websites. This module is  a good option for students who want to pursue business/start-up skills.

FOURTH YEAR

AJ4102 Global Political Economy of the Mass Media

This module will introduce students to the study of political economy and how it can be applied to media analysis communication research. It will examine the relationship of the media to the broader structures of society; how media performance and media content shape class and social relations; and the influence of ownership, concentration and government policies on media behaviour.

AJ4105 Media Law and Ethics 

This modules will introduce students to legal constraints and requirements of publishing, including copyright, privacy, and the Defamation Act; and examine the ethical dilemmas and boundaries of media.

AJ4106 Media Research Methods

This module provides students with an understanding of the inter-related fields of journalism and media studies, through study of a range of scholarly works and independent research. Specifically students will gain knowledge of how to conduct research using a range of qualitative methodologies used in critical studies of media.

AJ4107 Advanced Media Production

This module offers students advanced skills in media production. Practical classes focused on training students to use smart phones and digital media software in the production of editorial video content. Advanced practical classes introducing students to the skills needed to write for the media – including news, features and reviews.

AJ4108 Gangsters, Narcos and Wiseguys: Crime, Representation and the Media

This module will examine the representation of crime in news and current affairs; in television drama; and in film, with reference to representation, identity and popular culture. The module will explore key issues such as whether the representation of crime is a true or distorted reflection of social reality, and what effects such representations might have on public opinion and the political system.

AJ4109 Independent Practice Project

To come >>

AJ4110 Independent Research Project  

This is a capstone research module where you will have the opportunity to engage in a substantial piece of independent research into an academic subject within the field of media or communication studies. Students will work independently to plan and produce research on a particular topic, drawing on appropriate scholarship in the field. You will be guided through the process of preparing for and producing the minor dissertation via academic supervision.

Special note about AJ4109 and AJ4110

These are substantial independent projects that require strong time management, project planning, and self-motivation. There are no formal classes, and you will need to organise and drive your own work with only supervisory support. This is not an easier option than standard modules, and in fact most students will find taught modules a better fit. Only apply if you are confident you can manage a long project independently from start to finish. Entry to this module is by application only. To be considered, you will need a 2.1 average and must submit a project proposal by the first week of December. An informal information session will be held in Week 7 or Week 8 of the semester to brief you on the application process and expectations.

AJ4113 Bursting the Western Bubble: Alternative Media Systems and the Global South

Students will investigate the complex area of migration with a focus on the movement of people – including refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced peoples. The module will provide a foundational understanding of the history of migration, how it is placed within international law and international organizations, and defining key terminologies in the discussion of migration. A key part of the module will be to examine colonial histories, representation, and racism in order to provide a substantive historicized and contextualized understanding of migration today. Another key element of the module examines how migrants are framed by media coverage, and how migrants and migration is used as a “weapon” by populists in the spread of mis-and disinformation. We will also explore how migration and migrants are reported on in media using media research techniques, as well as deconstruct media coverage using key theoretical frameworks. We will also cover ethical journalism and how media practitioners can implement ethical reporting in their migration coverage.

AJ4114 Contemporary Issues in Media

Media today is in a state of disruption, with streaming services, platforms, and new technologies changing how we watch, listen, and read. At the same time, governments and regulators are struggling to keep up. This module gives you the chance to explore the big questions: who pays for public service media, who decides what content gets promoted, and how can smaller voices be heard alongside powerful global platforms? You will learn how Irish and European media policy works in practice, compare it with models from around the world, and take part in workshops where you design and debate your own solutions. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to understand how we regulate Big Tech, how media systems are shaped, and to imagine how this could be made better

AJ4115 Gender, Race and the Media

How do media shape our understandings of gender and race — and whose stories get told? This module explores how representation can reinforce or resist power, inequality, and exclusion across film, news, social media, and digital culture. From tradwife influencers and the manosphere to algorithmic bias, stereotyping, and feminist activism, we’ll examine how media both reflect and challenge dominant narratives. Grounded in feminist, postcolonial, and critical media theory, you’ll connect big ideas with real-world examples — and consider how media can be a force for social change

AJ4119 Global Media Innovation
To come

AJ4120 Algorithmic Media in an Age of AI

To come

AJ4121 Communicating Climate Action

Climate change is not just a scientific issue — it’s a communication challenge. From frontline journalism to the role of AI and Big Tech, this module tackles how climate narratives are shaped, contested, and politicised in the public sphere. You’ll explore the forces that inform — and misinform — citizens and policymakers, including climate denial, delay tactics, and misinformation. These discussions are grounded in key concepts such as just transitions and climate (in)justice, encouraging you to think critically about how communication strategies can either obstruct action or help build more equitable and effective responses to the climate crisis.

AJ4122 Special Topics in Journalism, Global Media and Communication 

Would you like to take part in a unique online international collaboration called Cross-Border Reporting with AI Tools with students from Comenius University in Bratislava and the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao? The project is an initiative under the ENLIGHT network of European universities (for more see https://enlight-eu.org) and will give you practical hands-on experience in cross-border investigative reporting, while integrating AI-driven tools into your workflow. Whether for data analysis, fact-checking, content creation, or multimedia production, you will explore how AI enhances modern journalism and learn to navigate its challenges and ethical implications. You will also experiment with AI-powered research tools, automated transcription services, and content-generation applications while ensuring ethical and transparent reporting practices. Access to this Semester 1 practice-based module is by application only and numbers are strictly limited. To apply please email uinsionn.macdubhghaill@universityofgalway.ie.

AJ4123 Social Media and Digital Marketing