Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Seminars

2-hour seminars will run from Weeks 2-12.

Students enrolled in the online option will be part of the Friday 11am-1pm hybrid class.

Consultations

Online Zoom consultations with the teaching staff will be available every week up to Week 13 when the final reports are due.

Please feel free to share your ideas and work-in-progress to check that you are on the right track.

If the consultation time does not suit, please feel free to arrange a time via email.

Readings

The set textbook for this unit is:

Johnston, J. and Glenny, L. (2021) Strategic Communication: Public Relations at Work. Routledge: London and New York.

An electronic version of the textbook will be available via Leganto with a limited user license. It is highly recommended that you purchase your own copy.

Other recommended readings will also be available on Leganto.

Out-of-class commitment

This unit is a 10-credit point unit. This means that you should allocate approximately 10 hours of study per week for this unit (including in non-teaching weeks).

Roughly speaking each week this time should be spent on:

• actively participating in the seminars (2 hrs)
• engaging with readings (2 hrs)
• preparing for assessment tasks (6 hrs)

Assessment preparation includes such activities as:

• conducting research e.g. into the case study, your organisation, competitors, target public, tools and tactics
• writing drafts, proofreading, editing, preparing mock-ups for the presentation and/or report

Teamwork

Teamwork is an essential component of this unit, particularly for the pitch and report. Expect to work with fellow students while developing the strategy campaign both during tutorials and outside of class time and bring a positive attitude towards collaboration with peers. 

While you will ultimately be marked on your own parts of the presentation and report, you will need to work effectively in a team to ensure the various parts are cohesive and fit well together.

Feedback in this Unit

Feedback in this unit to individuals, groups, and the class/cohort may be made available in multiple forms, including:

• Q&A sessions in lectures and tutorials - please don't hesitate to raise your hand, speak up, or ask questions in the chat function for online classes.
• Via email - please don't hesitate to ask any questions via email as they arise - the contact teaching staff function on ilearn is the preferred method of emailing.
• Individual or group Zoom or face-to-face consultations - to arrange a private consultation please email your tutor or email to make an appointment to meet with the convenor.
• Peer-to-peer feedback during tutorials and group sessions
• Announcements on iLearn
• Within Turnitin - see textbox, comments on the actual submission, mark-up on rubric for submitted assessments  

Samples of assessments, as well as detailed marking rubrics for all assessment tasks, will be made available on iLearn.

Please don't hesitate to request feedback as you need it.

Emails

Generally, student emails will be replied to within 48 business hours. Students should not expect emails to be returned on weekends and after hours.

Students should ensure that they can receive emails sent to their MQ email addresses.

Technology Required

This unit will make extensive use of iLearn https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. Required readings, comprehensive information on assessment tasks and important announcements will be posted to iLearn. Make sure you check iLearn and your Macquarie University email account regularly during this unit.

For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help

For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm

This unit will have a focus on ethical engagement and communications for social good.

The first module will be focused on theory and case studies.

The second module will be focused on creating a campaign planning, research and applying lessons learnt from the case studies. Students will work in groups to workshop and create original campaigns.

MODULE 1 – THEORY AND CASE STUDIES 

Week 2 – Introduction to Strategic Communication and the Unit / Overview of Assessments

Week 3 – Ethical Issues in Strategic Communication / Corporate Social Responsibility / Avoiding Crises

Week 4 – Not-for-Profit Campaigns

Week 5 – Government Campaigns

MODULE 2 – CREATING CAMPAIGNS

Week 6 - Campaign Planning Workshop 1: Client / Competitors / Key Issues (WRITTEN ANALYSIS DUE)

Week 7 – Campaign Planning Workshop 2: Goals and Objectives / Key Publics / Key Messages

Week 8 – Campaign Planning Workshop 3: Strategies and Tactics / Pitching

MID-SEMESTER BREAK

Week 9 – Campaign Planning Workshop 4: Timeline and Budget (PRESENTATIONS)

Week 10 – (PRESENTATIONS)

Week 11 – Campaign Planning Workshop 5: Monitoring and Evaluation / Report Writing

Week 12 - Strategic Communications Careers / Futures

Week 13 – [No class] (REPORT DUE)