Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - LBST 301W D100

Labour, Social Media, and the News (3)

Class Number: 2855

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    LBST 100 or LBST 101 or on permission of instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Provides a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary structure, issues, and perceptions of labour unions and other forms of working-class organization and social movements. The treatment of labour in the media and popular culture will provide an understanding of how labour is viewed in society, how labour views itself, and how working-class culture informs and is informed by the larger culture. Students with credit for LBST 301 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

This writing-intensive course examines how contemporary labour and working-class issues are represented in the news and on social media. It also explores how workers and labour movements use social media to shape public narratives. Through real-world case studies, students will analyze how media coverage and social media influence public understanding of work, precarity, inequality, and resistance. The course will further provide an understanding of how workers’ voices are amplified, silenced, or distorted in today’s increasingly complex world of media.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Critically analyze how contemporary work and labour issues are framed in traditional and digital media.
  2. Learn about how power, ideology, and media ownership influence media coverage.
  3. Understand current concepts in the field of labour studies and media.
  4. Develop research, writing and presentation skills on labour in the media.
  5. Produce quality written work for academic and public audience.

 

Grading

  • Attendance and participation 15%
  • Media analysis essay 25%
  • Critical blog posts (x3) 15%
  • Press release 15%
  • Final op-ed on labour issue 30%

NOTES:

All assignments in this course must be completed for a final grade to be assigned.

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Labour Studies Program follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T 20.01) and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10.01‐S10.04). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style.  It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  • Christopher R. Martin. Framed! Labour and the Corporate Media (Ithaca and London, ILR an imprint of Cornell University Press, 2004). Access online through SFU library.
  • A selected list of additional required readings will be available through Canvas.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.