Abstract:
This paper reports on the introduction of media mapping in media
education programs in three Australian universities. 'Media mapping'
aims to integrate students' theoretical and 'real world' knowledge of the
media. It involves investigating media organisations, analysing their
operations, developing data base profiles and then organising and creating
the final representation of the media environment. The purpose and
particular applications of media maps are discussed with reference to
debates about the role of new media in media education, developments in
Australian higher education policy, trends in teaching and learning, and
the institutional contexts of two media maps described here. The prospects
for wider adoption of media mapping, and benefits for students, teachers
and larger communities of interest, are also outlined.
