ZURn4104 Czech Media System in an International Comparative Perspective

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Pichaničová (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Marína Urbániková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. et Mgr. Marína Urbániková, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Boris Rafailov, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 16:00–17:40 AVC
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the possibilities of comparative research of communication, to acquaint them with the basics of systemic thinking about the media and with the position of the Czech media system within the international environment. The course deals with how and why individual national media systems differ, how these differences and similarities develop, how can they be explored, and what are the main features of the Czech media system in this comparative perspective. The first block of lectures focuses on the theoretical and methodological basis of comparative communication research, the second part focuses on the comparison of media systems, and the third part deals in more detail with selected areas of the Czech media system in an international perspective.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the students will:
- have knowledge and understanding of the theoretical frameworks that can be used to analyze increasingly complex and interconnected global media environments,
- be able to critically think about the functioning of the media in the Czech Republic,
- be able to contextualize and evaluate national and international trends,
- be able to craft a cogent argument with supporting evidence and prepare a presentation and a theoretical paper about a selected problem of the media functioning
Syllabus
  • Introductory lecture: course structure and objectives.
  • Comparative communication research: why, what, and how to compare?
  • Media system, field, or culture? Structuralism, functionalism, system theory, field theory.
  • Where to find the data? Rankings, benchmarking, national reports, and comparative statistics.
  • Categorization of media systems: From Siebert, Peterson and Schramma to Hallin and Mancini.
  • Three models by Hallin and Mancini: where to include media systems of post-communist countries? Is there a post-communist media model?
  • Comparing media systems in the times of europeanisation and globalization: towards convergence, or divergence?
  • Journalism cultures and their comparison.
  • Media Freedom. Ownership and its concentration.
  • Media Consumption. (Dis) Trust in the media.
  • Professionalization of journalists (from craft to profession) and journalism culture.
  • Journalists' education: academy versus industry debate.
  • Final summary of the course.
Literature
  • • Downey, J. & Mihely, S. 2012. Central and Eastern European Media in Comparative Perspective. Politics, Economy and Culture. Ashgate.
  • • Dobek-Ostrowska, B. & Głowacki, M. 2015. Democracy and Media in Central and Eastern Europe 25 Years On. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Edition.
  • • Esser, F. & Hanitzsch, T. 2012. The Handbook of Comparative Communication Research. New York: Routledge.
  • VOLEK, Jaromír and Marína URBÁNIKOVÁ. Čeští novináři v komparativní perspektivě : hybridní, virtuální a mizející žurnalisté v post-transformační fázi. Vydání první. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2017, 386 stran. ISBN 9788021085299. info
  • HALLIN, Daniel C. and Paolo MANCINI. Systémy médií v postmoderním světě : tři modely médií a politiky. Translated by Tomáš Trampota. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 367 s. ISBN 9788073673772. info
Teaching methods
lecture, seminar, reading
Assessment methods
test, group presentation, essay
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2023/ZURn4104