ZURn6213 Political Communication

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Alena Macková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Alena Macková, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Bc. Pavlína Brabcová
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce the dynamic field of political communication – with the focus on political actors and institutions, political communication in media and the effect of the communication and research in the field of political communication. The course overviews the theoretical issues that currently form the field of political communication. The students will be well oriented in the key theoretical concepts and theories in the field and applications.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student will:
know the key theories and concepts of political communication
be able to apply these theories and concepts
know the effects of political communication and effects of campaigns
know key research methods in the field of political communication
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Definition of political communication
  • 3. Political communication and theories of democracy
  • 4. History of political communication, history of political campaigns and political journalism
  • 5. Political communication, campaigns and new media in 21th century
  • 6. Political communication in the era of pop culture – personalization, celebritization, political satire
  • 7. Political communication in the era of distrust – negative campaigns, populist communication, depolitization
  • 8. Politics in media, media in elections – selected effects of political communication, attitudes and changes
  • 9. Political communication research – research on contents of political communication
  • 10. Political communication research – research on effects of political communication and actors
Literature
  • Scheufele, D. A., & Tewksbury, D. (2007). Framing, agenda setting, and priming: The evolution of three media effects models. Journal of communication,57(1), 9-20.
  • Zaller, J. (1997). "A Model of Communication Effects at the Outbreak of the Gulf War." in Iyengar, S. and R. Reeves (eds) Do the Media Govern?: Politicians, Voters, and Reporters in America. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. pp.296-311.
  • Blumler, J. G.; Kavanagh, D.(1999): The Third Age of Political Communication: Influences and Features. In: Political Communication, 16(3), 209-230.
  • Bucy, E. P. & Holbert, R. L. (eds., 2011). The sourcebook for political communication research: methods, measures, and analytical techniques New York: Routledge.
  • Bennett, W. L., & Iyengar, S. (2008). A new era of minimal effects? The changing foundations of political communication. Journal of Communication, 58, 707-731.
  • MCNAIR, Brian. An introduction to political communication. Sixth edition. London: Routledge, 2018, xiv, 251. ISBN 9780415739429. info
  • The SAGE handbook of political communication. Edited by Holli A. Semetko - Margaret Scammell. London: SAGE Publications, 2012, xviii, 557. ISBN 9781446201015. info
  • Politická komunikace a média. Edited by Jan Jirák - Blanka Říchová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Karolinum, 2000, 163 s. ISBN 8024601826. info
Teaching methods
lecture, reading
Assessment methods
Essays, exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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