Module: Social Class & the Media

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Social Class & the Media
Module Code	MCO1025 (ITS: CM2006)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module explores aspects of how social stratifications operate in Irish and international media, including production, content, consumption and representation. Based in theoretical and historical understandings of class and media, it draws on sociology, cultural studies, journalism studies, wider media studies, political science and political economy. Changes in society and media, including social media, with respect to socio-economic inequalities, labour conditions and wider political currents, are central to the module. Students are encouraged to relate the major themes to current events and trends in Ireland as well as internationally.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of key theoretical ideas relevant to class and media
2. Critically evaluate mass and digital media contents across a range of media from a class perspective
3. Critically evaluate media structures and processes and how they are inflected by class
4. Demonstrate an understanding of social divisions in processes of media digitisaton and the knowledge economy
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of labour in production of media, including social media
6. Interpret, and engage in dialogue in a group setting, issues and developments around class and media.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	11	Weekly
Class Presentation	10	Group seminar
Independent Study	49	Reading, research
Assignment Completion	40	Conceptualisation, preparation
Group work	15	Seminar preparation
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10990	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Colm Kearns	Module Teacher	Jim Rogers, John O'Sullivan, Neil O'Boyle

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Semester essay	75%	Sem 1 End
Group presentation	Group presentation based on readings	25%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Class concepts: why social class matters in media, and media matters in class

Representation and non-representation of class in the media

Wealth and poverty on TV

How Hollywood treats class

Class in ‘factual’ TV

Leisure, labour and class identity: developments in digital media

Sports media and class

Class and labour in news production and content

Class and advertising

Class, culture and ‘taste’

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Deery J and Press A: 2017, Media and Class: TV, Film, and Digital Culture.,
Oâ€™Neill D and Wayne M: 2018, Considering Class: Theory, Culture and the Media in the 21st Century,
Hesmondhalgh D: 2018, The Cultural Industries.,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None