• Logo

Understanding Media: Introduction to Critical Media Literacy

How does the media affect us? Find out and improve your media literacy by learning how to analyse media, film and culture.

3,277 enrolled on this course

TV remote pointing at TV showing a bookcase full of books

Understanding Media: Introduction to Critical Media Literacy

3,277 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

This course is part of the program Media Literacy, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Bachelor of Arts. Find out more.

Develop your media literacy skills and explore our relationship with media

So many of the defining moments in our lives are connected in some way to media. Media are a central part of how we live, work and play.

Through this course you will develop your media literacy, learning a range of analytical approaches you can use to understand and interpret media. You will explore the relationship between media and culture including a case study of LGBT representation in the media. You will develop your critical thinking and research skills leaving you better equipped to understand the role of media in the modern world.

What topics will you cover?

  • Media literacy
  • Representation in the media
  • Putting media analysis into practice

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Recognise the theoretical, conceptual and methodological bases for the study of film, media, and culture.
  • Apply analytical frameworks to specific texts, situations, and events.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in media and film. It’s ideal for people looking to start or develop a career in film or television production, radio, journalism or marketing.

Who will you learn with?

Rebecca is a Senior Lecturer in Film, Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Newcastle. She is a leading expert in lesbian representation in popular culture.

Who developed the course?

The University of Newcastle Australia

The University of Newcastle is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and 173rd in the world (QS rankings, 2024).

  • Established

    1965
  • Location

    Newcastle, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 180Source: QS World University Rankings 2024

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$89/one-off payment

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 19 Apr 2024

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$89/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 19 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Advance your career with a degree

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from The University of Newcastle Australia
This course is part of the program Media Literacy, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in Bachelor of Arts.

Film, television and other media are ubiquitous. This program introduces ways of analysing our relationships with media, and provides insights into the influence of mass media in the post-truth age.

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #UniNewcastle to talk about this course on social media.