Making Sense of the complexities of Media and Communications
View(s):Dr Tan Meng Yoe, Coordinator for the Master of Communications and Media Studies (MCMS) at Monash University Malaysia, provides insights into the program and the relevance of communications and media studies in an increasingly complex world.
Tan Meng Yoe
Looking Beyond the Obvious
Communications is more than what is presented to us. It is thus important that we learn to make sense of it. We live in a world where we are inundated with media content from various sources, both solicited and unsolicited. Today, everything can be a scandal, everything can be a campaign, everything can be a product, everything can be everything.
Looking beyond the noise, we must find out what’s really going on. It is in this process of inquiry where important critical thinking skills are developed. In news, we have to ask: whose agenda is prioritized, how stories are framed, what version of reality is laid out for us, who’s behind it, and whether it is useful or dangerous.
Thinking Beyond Ourselves
Apart from theoretical knowledge, an important aspect of honing communication skills is broadening our knowledge and appreciation of a world that’s beyond what we are familiar with. This is more crucial than we think it is. For example, whenever an advertisement receives backlash for its insensitivity towards particular cultures or people groups, it is important to realise that it’s usually not one person’s fault. Instead, it is a result of collective ignorance. The fact that no one in the entire production process could pick out a potential misunderstanding simply means that a broader understanding of other cultures is lacking.
Students enrolled in the MCMS programme are exposed to cultural issues within Malaysia and abroad, learning not only fact-files about other societies, but intricacies and cultural dynamics that make the world simultaneously more complicated and colourful. Due to the diverse demographic of students in the university, students also get to learn and work with people of various backgrounds and nationalities, adapting to different styles.
Learning and Producing Knowledge
Accumulating knowledge and widening one’s perspective is important, but taking it to the next level, MCMS students conduct original research and contribute to the knowledge pool. Enrolling in the MCMS degree helps you develop an in-depth, nuanced understanding of the changing global contexts of media and communication practices, and guides you through key issues affecting the communications industry today. You may also choose to put your classroom learning into practice through an internship as an elective. In the final semester, you can choose to work on an industry research project. Alternatively, you can choose to write a dissertation, which represents an opportunity to pursue research that contributes significantly to your chosen field of study and can potentially lead to future doctoral research.
The MCMS is specifically crafted to cater to the needs of working professionals, especially those in the media and communications industries. A key strength of the program is the flexibility and support it provides to working students. Running in both full-time and part-time options, the course allows you to pick up a postgraduate qualification without compromising on career progression or work experience.
The MCMS degree offers you the opportunity to finely hone the critical thinking and collaborative skills that are indispensable to success in the industry, and broadens your understanding of cultural contexts. The specialised training you receive over the course of the degree will leave you well placed to lead in diverse fields spanning marketing, media content, management strategy, PR, editing and business development. The career-focused programme uniquely blends an internationally recognised curriculum, collaborative learning from leading experts, independent research, and cutting-edge cultural insight in order to help you advance both personally and professionally.
A Monash degree can offer you personal enrichment and enhanced career opportunities. Join our Virtual Open Day and Postgraduate Preview on 21 August 2021, from 11am – 4pm (Malaysian time) to explore our degree programs. More details at www.monash.edu.my/open-day.