Admission requirements
This course is exclusively for students of the Minor Disinformation and Strategic Communication in Global Media.
This course is identical to the course for 10 EC.
The 5 EC variant is specifically for students who take the minor for 15 EC. It is therefore not a generally compulsory subject, it is only compulsory for people who do the minor for 15 EC and only in block 1.
Description
“Disinformation and Digital Media in a Global Context” is the first of two semester-long core courses for the minor “Disinformation and Strategic Communication in Global Media”. The course consists of a series of lectures, provided by staff members from different disciplines and areas of expertise. It places the discourse on disinformation in a historical and cultural context to show how the epistemic notion of ‘truth’ is in itself a changing and plural concept. Using mediality as a key approach, the course aims to show how media are a means of getting information across but should also be studied in themselves. It focuses on traditional media as well as on the important role that especially digital media play in the creation and circulation of contested narratives at national and international level. By introducing key concepts such as misinformation/disinformation, veracity, strategic communication and post-truth, and discussing case studies from various areas of the world, “Disinformation and Digital Media in a Global Context” offers students a framework to analyse the role of media in the circulation of different forms of contested information and lays the necessary foundation for the regional electives.
Course objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will:
have acquired a good understanding of key concepts discussed in the course, including mediality, disinformation/misinformation, strategic communication, and post-truth;
be able to explain the significance of (digital) media in the creation and circulation of (mis/dis)information;
have developed their critical thinking and reading skills in relation to both academic study material and popular or news material;
be able to evaluate media, and ideas about media and veracity, across time periods and regions;
be able to present their knowledge of the course material in a classroom or examination;
have developed a foundational framework of analysis to support their further engagement with the topic of disinformation in the regional electives.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Lecture.
Assessment method
Assessment and Weighing
10 EC course:
Poster: 30%
Written examination with essay questions: 70%
Brightspace discussion board posts: pass/fail
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than two tutorials means that students will be excluded from the tutorials. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
5 EC course:
Poster: 50%
Paper: 50%
Brightspace discussion board posts: pass/fail
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than two tutorials means that students will be excluded from the tutorials. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.
End Grade
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. In addition, students are required to participate actively through weekly posts on Brightspace discussion boards. Failure to do so will lead to points being deducted from the final course mark.
Resit
In case of an overall failing grade (below 5.5), students are allowed to resit the failed assessment(s).
Retaking a passing grade
Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2022 – 2023.
Exam review and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organised.
Reading list
Required reading for this course will be made available through Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through My Studymap is mandatory.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.
Remarks
The course is set up as a 10 EC lecture series. Only in those exceptional circumstances where students have to follow a one-block minor of 15 EC, the 5 EC course is offered. If the study programme allows for a 30 EC minor, students cannot choose this latter option and should follow the 10 EC course.