BACHELOR of SCIENCE in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Course Description

COMM 1901: Business World Today

Note: All courses carry three (3) credits unless otherwise stated.

This course is designed to encourage students to consider what constitutes news, and how we receive it.

Through a variety of interactive workshops students will consider how reliable what we receive is; how the news varies depending on the country and culture; the different forms of media in each country; tabloids versus broadsheets; debate their own views on major news stories that may directly affect them and discuss the effects of "scaremongering".

They will look at business news stories from around the world twice a week to ensure they are fully up-to-date with what is going on. They will be encouraged to consider how the news can be manipulated to sell products, particularly news stories about famous people which are used to sell their brand. There will discover new applications that are being adapted to provide news such as Twitter, and whether these are now replacing more conventional methods.

The course will also question how effective the "rolling" news channels such as CNN, Sky News and BBC News are. It will consider their roles during events such as 9/11, and US Presidential elections. Students will also discuss the role of satire and the way in which it reflects currents events.