Delivered at:: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:: Elective course

When:: 3 year, 1, 2 module

Instructor

Nechai, Valeriy

Full Syllabus

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)
Able to efficiently communicate based on the goals and communication situations
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.

Course Contents

Introduction to Media&Politics
General introduction to the course. Definition of the concepts of: Media, Politics and Journalism. Media as political institution. Media Systems. Binary Oppositions. Short History of Journalism. Difference between Factual and Opinion Journalism.
News and Media Literacy
Factual & Opinion Journalism. News: What is the news and what is not? Tabloids and Broadsheet media. Headlines and news breakes. Media Literacy.
Political Regime and The Media
Political regimes and the roles the Media play. Media and Elites. Media in Democracies: Threats and Roles. Media in Autocracies: Window dressing, Feedback, agenda controlling tool.
Informational Autocrats Theory and Censorship
Censorship. History and Theory. Censorship in the Soviet Union. Definition of Censorship. Theory of Censorship. Censor's Dilemma. Informational Autocrats. Discussion. Spoiling journalists. Journalists at war.
Propaganda
Machines of Propaganda. From Watergate through Vietnam War to China and Russia (Beslan, etc.). 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.
Political agenda and Politics: who is in charge?
Political agenda. Media effects: Framing and Priming in the news. Gatekeeping. Censorship vs Self Censorship. Media and Political Agenda as two theories.
Role of media in post-soviet political dynamics
Tristan Mattelart’s concept of “Troyan horse” and influence of foreign imported content to soviet audiences. “Parallel public sphere” and parallel flows of culture and their role in political protests and social activism. Concept of “informational” collapse of Soviet Union like system organically non-compatible with “informational” revolution by Manuel Castells.
Media and political institutions in post-soviet Russia
Question of continuity in ties between media, oligarchic capital and administrative power. Main periods: glasnost (glasnost from above and from below), golden age, mass-media feudalization, oligarchic wars, submission of groups to federal power, redistribution of media capital among another oligarchic groups.
Media and Political Process
Political communication. Principles of working with the media during election campaigns. The political role of media in the age of global communications. Collective vs. Connective action. Elections. Political Rallies. Political protest and Revolutions. Media Controversies.
Post-Truth Era, Fake News and Alternative Facts
Living in the age of Post-Truth: Alternative Facts and Reality (-ies?). Trolls Factories and Deepfakes. Subversion and Disinformation, Digital media practices, etc. 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
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 (2 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