Strategic Communication and Media Engagement

Description

This course provides students with foundational tools for strategic communication across public and private sectors, academic environments and as empowered media consumers. Through an eight week series of immersive simulations such as press conference role play, crisis response drills and social media sprints, participants will engage with fundamental concepts and practices in strategic communication. Students will develop essential skills in identifying misinformation, disinformation, and various other types of problematic information present in the media ecosystems.

This course’s focus on information dynamics, ethical AI use, and multimodal persuasion directly addresses current societal challenges such as the spread of false information, fragmented public discourse and declining trust in institutions. By equipping students with critical evaluation skills, ethical frameworks and adaptive communication strategies, the course empowers graduates to foster transparency, enhance social cohesion and promote well informed decision making in complex environments.

By the end of this course students will have acquired foundational skills to participate in the design and execution of strategic communication initiatives in diverse settings, critically evaluate information ecosystems and act as informed, resilient participants in public discourse.

Course objectives

By the end of the course, students will have acquired:

• Knowledge of contemporary media landscapes, including digital polarisation and misinformation dynamics

• Skills in drafting and evaluating press materials, social content and stakeholder communications

• Competence in real world role play scenarios (e.g. press conferences, crisis simulations)

• Critical thinking and reflective practice through structured peer feedback

Course material

All course readings and study assignments will be accessible via Brightspace.

Mode of instruction

-Workshop
-Simulation / Role play
-Group project

Each two hour class session is divided into two parts. Part one (15 minutes) includes:

• Brief introduction to the session topic

• Recap of previous learning points

• Assignment of new roles or teams

Part two (105 minutes) is devoted to team work on course assignments, with the instructor providing instruction, support and coaching as needed.
All classes take place in the dedicated studio at the Pieter de la Court Building. Teams may use the adjacent recording studio and editing room equipped with computers and professional editing software to produce and refine multimedia content.

Assessment methods

This course uses a pass/fail grading system. To pass the course, students must attend every class, submit all assignments on time with the required materials, participate actively in group assignments, and provide evaluative feedback on their peers’ work.

Language

The English language is used during the sessions.

Skills

The skills predominantly covered in this course are shown in bold:

Timetable

Admission requirements

Open to second- and third-year students enrolled in the Science, Society and Self track of the Honours College.

Registration

You can register for this Honours Modules via MyStudyMap until five days before the start of the course.

Contact information

Course coordinator and instructor: Sangar Paykhar (s.paykhar@fsw.leidenuniv.nl).

Remarks

All students are required to bring their laptop/tablet/smartphone to class and make sure their devices are fully charged and have access to the university’s wifi stystem. In order to use recording equipment and editing software, no prior experience is necessary. For each practical aspect of this course, instructions will be provided via Brighspace and in class.