Description
Purposes:
1. Understand the ways in which media and politics interact in democratic societies, from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.
2. Evaluate the quality of media reporting.
Content:
This course examines the interactions between mass media institutions and actors, on the one hand, and politicians, political institutions, and citizens, on the other, and we will be centrally concerned with scrutinizing the functions that the mass media must fulfill in order to support democratic functioning. What effects, for example, do the media have on citizens’ political knowledge? Are there certain types of information that the media simply do not provide to the public? Is the news biased toward certain political actors and their points of view? How are the internet and social media changing the media-politics landscape?
Method of Instruction
Lectures and class discussions.
Study Material
Wolfsfeld, Gadi. 2011. Making Sense of Media & Politics: Five Principles in Political Communication. New York: Routledge.
Examination
The final exam will consist of short answer and essay questions covering both the assigned reading and lectures.
Schriftelijk tentamen
maandag 26 maart 2012, 13.00-16.00 uur, USC
Hertentamen
maandag 4 juni 2012, 13.00-16.00 uur, SA41
Voor de tentamens kunt u zich tot uiterlijk 10 dagen voor de tentamendatum via USIS aanmelden
Schedule
Hoorcollege
maandag 6 februari t/m 19 maart, 13.00-15.00 uur, SA41
donderdag 9 februari t/m 22 maart, 13.00-15.00 uur, SA41