ZUR589d Political Communication and the Media

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2014
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Tae-Sik Kim, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Ježková (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Pavelka, CSc.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Bc. Pavlína Brabcová
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 15:15–16:45 AVC
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course mainly covers two different roles of the media in contemporary politics; first, contemporary politics are heavily influenced by the mass media, and thus political elites adroitly utilize the media in order to achieve their political goals; second, on the other hand, the media is also widely used by the public actively participating in the political process. By reading a variety of research articles assigned in the course and participating in class discussions, students learn to develop their own research projects focusing on visual communication and cultural understandings

• Comprehend the role of the media in contemporary politics
• Understand how a variety of people use the media differently in the political process
• Review and analyze a variety of research articles on political communication
• Find important themes and methods of political communication research
• Lead insightful discussions
Syllabus
  • Week 1. Introduction to the course: Political Elites, Citizens, and the Media
  • Week 2. Politics, the Media, and Audiences
  • Week 3. Political Communication: Media Effects
  • Week 4. Framing, Priming, and Agenda Setting
  • Week 5. News and Politics
  • Week 6. Elections and the Media
  • Week 7. Reading Week
  • Week 8. Political Communication Case Studies
  • Week 9. Elections and the Media: Advertisements
  • Week 10. Digital Media and Elections (Research Paper Consultation Due)
  • Week 11. Digital Media and Public Sphere
  • Week 12. Political Communication Conference 1
  • Week 13. Political Communication Conference 2
Literature
  • HABERMAS, Jürgen. The theory of communicative action. Translated by Thomas McCarthy. Boston: Beacon Press, 1984, xlii, 465. ISBN 0-8070-1507-5. info
Teaching methods
The format of the course is a combination of brief lectures and controlled discussions of various assigned readings. All students are expected to read all articles assigned and to develop appropriate discussion questions.

Each student is a discussion leader for an assigned week.

Students submit a research paper (topic of student’s choice in consultation with instructor; minimum 14 pages).
Assessment methods
 Response Papers with Discussion Questions (40 x 8 = 320)
• Summarize reading articles and provide 2 discussion questions
• Find 1-2 Visual Images that are not covered by articles
• By noon the day before each class with the exception of Week 1, 8, 12 and 13.
• No late paper accepted

 One Discussion Leader (140)
• Summarize articles and Find some related cases
• Warning: If you miss this assignment, you will automatically fail this course.
 A group presentation (An analysis of an advertisement) (140)
• A group with 3-4 colleagues
• Find a case related to political communication and the media in Europe, Present your findings, and Submit a 3-4 page statement
• Submit PPT and Present in Week 8

 Final Paper + Presentation (400): Due- Monday 2. June 2014 (Late Paper – Subtract 5% for each day after the due date)

Total: 1000
A: 900-1000
B: 800-899
C: 700-799
D: 600-699
E: 500-599
F: -499
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2014/ZUR589d