Delivered at:: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:: Elective course

When:: 3 year, 3 module

Abstract

The course is focused on Journalism itself and Political journalism in particular; and sheds light on the working process of contemporary media outlets: traditional and online newspapers, radio and TV, blogs, Youtube channels, etc. Students of this course will be given knowledge on the role of media in different types of political regimes: are free media important to authoritarian leaders? What kind of manipulative strategies political actors use? As the main example for political research, Russian media sphere is taken.

Learning Objectives

The aim of this course is to give knowledge on the role of media in different types of political regimes

Expected Learning Outcomes

Work with information: find, define and use the information from different sources which required for solving of research and professional problems (including the system approach)
Student is capable of taking part in information dissemination through various media and information channels (both mass and individual), as well as in information campaigns.
Student is capable of reporting the results of the information retrieval and analysis, academic or applied research she/he has conducted: - in various genres (including reviews, policy papers, reports and publications pertaining to socio-political subject matter); - and depending on the target audience.
Able to efficiently communicate based on the goals and communication situations

Course Contents

Introduction to Media&Politics
Media Theories. Media history. Media in politics: coverage, tendencies, the 'myths of the mediated centre'. Newsworthiness or noteworthiness of news stories. Alternative models of media events: disruptive events (catastrophe, conflict, and violence), media scandals, viral (new) media events, everyday life events (including tabloid, "trash" media, and confessional cultures).
Introduction to Political Journalism
Journalism and its basic principles. History of Journalism. Contemporary Journalism. Factual & Opinion Journalism. Data Journalism Basics. The Media and Globalisation
Political Regime and The Media
Role of Media in different types of political regimes. Media in Democracies: Threats and Roles. Media in Autocracies: Windowdressing, Feedback, agenda controlling tool. Censor’s Dilemma. The Arab Spring.
Political Propaganda
Mass psychology and propaganda: Gustave le Bon. How the Machine of Propaganda works? Propaganda Theories. Labelling. ‘1984’ by George Orwell. First World War Propaganda Examples. Walter Lippman and Harold Lasswell theories. Totalitarian regimes and propaganda: Nazi Germany and Japan. Paul Lazarsfeld and his Propaganda Theory. Edward Bernays works.
Media agenda
Media agenda and Politics: who is in charge? Framing theory vs Media agenda theory. Gatekeeping. Censorship vs Self Censorship. Media and Political Agenda as two theories.
Media controversies
Media Watchdog commissions. ‘News of the World’ scandal & Levison inquiries. Media bias. One-dimensional man.
Post-Truth Era, Fake News and Alternative Facts
Living in the age of Post-Truth: Alternative Facts and Reality (-ies?). Media Guerillas (Russian examples: NTV vs ORT – 1999; Crimea and Eastern Ukraine - 2014). Media Wars. Subversion and disinformation: ideas and theories.
Communication theories
Communication theories and how they explain journalistic mistakes. Lasswell’s communication model. Spiral of silence by Elizabeth Noelle-Neumann.
Media and Elections
Political communication. Principles of working with the media during election campaigns. The political role of media in the age of global communications. Political, social, cultural and moral issues that arise as new forms of communication
Digital Media Practices in Politics
Contemporary digital media practices. Design principles. The main principles of visual thinking, types of software skills. Social media and state power: Wikileaks and Snowden. Social Media and the politics of ‘truth’: Bellingcat and the Skripals. Social media platforms and differences between them.

Assessment Elements

Class activities
Lecturers evaluate students’ progress and input to the seminar discussions, when the individual work is implied.
Quizzes
Each of the seminar students are to do a small quiz related to the pervious topic, aiming at assessing the comprehension of the topic. Quizzes contain no more than 5 questions to be answered within 7 minutes (multiple choice, fill in the gaps, ordering and matching).
Team Work
Several seminars are designed to test students’ abilities to work in small groups: either a homework project with a presentation in class, or task solving in mini-groups at a seminar.
Essay
Each student is supposed to write an essay. The essay is to be submitted via LMS no later than 2 weeks before the final class.
Final Exam
Экзамен прошел в 3 модуле. The final exam is organized during the session period and is conducted in a test form, including open questions. Examination is carried out in written form and last for 2 academic hours. Students are informed about the final list of questions well in advance. The answer should consist of one question from the Theory part and one from the Practical part. You can choose the questions by yourself.

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (3 module)
0.2 * Class activities + 0.2 * Essay + 0.2 * Final Exam + 0.2 * Quizzes + 0.2 * Team Work

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Anand, V. E., & Jayanthi, K. (2018). A Handbook of Journalism : Media in the Information Age. New Delhi, India: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1739149

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Branston, G., & Stafford, R. (2010). The Media Student’s Book (Vol. 5th ed). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=324329
Kaid, L. L., & Strömbäck, J. (2009). The Handbook of Election News Coverage Around the World. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=289754

Bachelor’s Programme 'Political Science and World Politics'

Contacts

International Accreditation

Politics & Media

Course Syllabus