ZURn6614 Ethnographic Journalism, Media Participation, and Homelessness

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Vojtěch Dvořák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jakub Macek, 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 18:00–19:40 Studio 527
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA(MN)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course provides an introduction to ethnography, ethnographic journalism, and media participation focusing on minorities, particularly homeless people. We will explore who are homeless people, how they become homeless, and why understanding homelessness matters. We will see how various types of media portray homeless people and analyze local media coverage of homelessness. We will talk about how alternative media attempt to challenge stereotypical representations of homelessness and see their limits. We will also discuss avenues for change through full media participation and empowerment. Learning ethnographic methods, we will engage in fieldwork and cooperate with homeless people. Exploring the limitations and continuously challenging the process’ ethics, we will strive to use media not only as a tool for their empowerment but also as a responsible way of complementing media representations of homelessness.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to: • Understand homelessness in its broader social context, including life trajectories and circumstances that lead to it • Recognize how media tend to portray homeless people with emphasis on revealing stereotypical and harmful representations • Understand current avenues for change and their limitations - understand how alternative media approach portraying homeless people and using their voice • Understand and use the theory and ethnographic methods, and ethnographic journalism to challenge stereotypical representations of minorities • Understand the theory of participation and empowerment • Understand enchanced/full media participation to promote marginalized voices • Critically review the ethical questions of ethnographic journalism and full media participation
Syllabus
  • 1) Introduction to the Course 2) Who are Homeless people 3) Media and Homelessness (How Media Portray Homeless People) 4) Avenues for Change (Alternative Media, Community News, Street Papers) 5) What Ethnographic Journalism, Ethnography 6) Ethnographic Methods (Observation, Participant-Observation, Fieldnotes, Interviews) 7) Participation, Empowerment, and Power 8) Mediating Full Media Participation 9) The Ethics of Ethnographic Journalism and Mediating Full Media Participation 10) Case Studies
Literature
  • Doudaki, V., & Carpentier, N. (2019). Critiquing hegemony and fostering alternative ways of thinking about homelessness: The articulation of the homeless subject position in the Greek street paper shedia. Communications. Media. Design., 4(1), 5-31.
Teaching methods
Lectures Seminars Fieldwork Reading
Assessment methods
Attendance and Participation Group Project Written Assignments
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2024/ZURn6614