Communications and Media Competencies

2023/2024

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент иностранных языков

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 3, 4 модуль

Преподаватели

Молодыченко Евгений Николаевич

Царапкина Татьяна Анатольевна

Course Syllabus

Abstract

In today’s digital ecosystem, our daily encounters with information extend far beyond traditional news outlets. We scroll through TikTok, YouTube and Telegram, rely on productivity apps like Notion, and navigate countless personalized feeds—all shaping how we learn, work, and interact. This course helps students thrive in a complex media environment by teaching them to critically evaluate digital content, identify subtle biases, and understand the psychological forces behind media addiction, the attention economy, and decision fatigue. Drawing on communication theory, media studies, rhetoric, and argumentation, students will develop the analytical skills and creative strategies needed to make their own contributions to the digital conversation purposeful, ethical, and impactful. The language of instruction is English.

Learning Objectives

• This course helps students understand how digital content is created, shared, and consumed across social media and other online platforms. Using concepts from communication theory, media studies, rhetoric, and argumentation, students will learn to identify subtle biases, navigate trust and attention issues, and recognize factors influencing their media use. By applying these insights, they will critically evaluate information, understand their own habits, and produce more informed, responsible contributions within the digital environment.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• to understand the process of media production and its influence on society
• to discriminate between quality journalism and adverse media practices;
• to understand personal and group biases in media consumption;
• to spot manipulative and misinforming content;
• to assess and adjust personal media consumption habits;
• to understand the power of language and wording in media discourse production;
• to distinguish what counts as argument and analyze the argumentation techniques used in the media
• to build strong arguments in public discussions.
• To understand the role of media literacy in contemporary society and explain how digital platforms, apps, and personalized feeds shape the flow and perception of information
• To identify the processes of mediation and mediatization, recognize the influence of gatekeepers, and understand the transitions from traditional news cycles to citizen journalism and user-generated content.
• To analyze how media effects operate at individual and societal levels, and apply the concept of a balanced “media diet” to evaluate personal and collective information consumption habits.
• To distinguish between quality journalism and problematic content (e.g., disinformation, ‘yellow journalism,’ sensationalism) by assessing credibility, relevance, and ethical standards in digital media.
• To recognize cognitive and social factors (e.g., selective exposure, confirmation bias, priming, spiral of silence) that shape media reception, and critically examine their own viewing and engagement behaviors.
• To evaluate media discourse by identifying rhetorical techniques, argument structures, presuppositions, implicatures, and the effects of language choices (including metaphors) on audience perception.
• To construct and communicate well-supported, ethically grounded arguments in digital environments, demonstrating an ability to participate constructively in public discussions.
• To reflect on and refine personal media consumption habits to maintain a healthier, more informed, and responsible engagement with the digital media ecosystem.

Course Contents

• 1. Introduction to Media Literacy
  -
• 2. Media Effects and Media Diet
• 3. Media, Mediation, and Mediatization
• 4. News and News Production
• 5. Biases in the Media
• 6. Biases in Media Consumption
• 7. Quality Content vs 'Problematic' Content
• 8. Media Discourse

Assessment Elements

• Continual Assessment
  Students are expected to demonstrate their command of the main concepts of the course by completing a number graded assignments weighing at 60% of the final grade. The assessments comprise: ● 8 quizzes/tests (weighing at 3% max each, 24% of the final grade total) ● 12 home assignments / projects / classroom assignments (weighing at 3% max each, 36% of the final grade total)
• Examination (Final Project)
  For the final assignment students need to search for and analyze their own case related to one of the course topics. The projects are completed in teams of 3-5 students (exceptions can be made at special requests). Format: pre-recorded video followed by its presentation in class (~ 15 min)

Interim Assessment

• 2023/2024 4th module
  0.6 * Continual Assessment + 0.4 * Examination (Final Project)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Bruns, A. (2018). Gatewatching and news curation: Journalism, social media, and the public sphere. Australia, Australia/Oceania: Peter Lang. https://doi.org/10.3726/b13293
• Media literacy, Potter, W. J., 2016
• Чиронова, И. И.  Английский язык для журналистов (B1-B2). Mastering English for Journalism : учебник для вузов / И. И. Чиронова, Е. В. Кузьмина. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2023. — 471 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-10056-3. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/511078 (дата обращения: 27.08.2024).

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K. H., & Cook, J. (2017). Beyond Misinformation:Understanding and Coping with the “Post-Truth” Era. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2017.07.008
• The handbook of journalism studies, , 2009

Authors

• TSARAPKINA Tatiana ANATOLEVNA
• MOLODYCHENKO Evgenii NIKOLAEVICH