Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Mass Communication and Critical Media Studies
Course Code
SZF_123
Branch of Science
Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ilva Skulte
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide students with theoretical knowledge, analytical tools and practical skills necessary to understand, evaluate, and critically engage with various forms of mass media in contemporary society.
Preliminary Knowledge
Students should have prior knowledge of communication principles, media concepts. It is desirable that students have attended the courses Introduction to Communication Theories and Introduction to Sociology.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students know how to name and present the main theoretical approaches and current issues in the field of mass communication, society and culture, and create the basis of analysis for independent research in the field of journalism, public relations or multimedia communication.
Skills
1.Students are ready to: • identify and analyze processes and problems in various areas of mass communication and in various aspects – media organizations and systems, audience and media use, content, media influence on society and culture; • create messages and analytical works for public communication, taking into account the specifics of the mass audience and mass communication; • create the conceptual-theoretical design of the bachelor thesis.
Competences
1.Students are able to apply their knowledge in the field of mass communication to develop independent research in journalism, public relations and multimedia communication practice, based on a precisely chosen theoretical perspective with its conceptual and methodological apparatus.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
|
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Selection and presentation of the topic of the independent work (an empirical study must be conducted and a report on this study must be submitted) about a certain media or journalists or other communicators (public relations companies, etc.), based on one of the learned theoretical approaches and with references to the communication learned in this study course theoretical literature.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
|
Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
Participation in lectures and discussions, analysis of theoretical texts, report on independent work and its presentation (50% of the final grade) and written exam (50% of the final grade). The written exam is aimed at clarifying the understanding of communication theories learned in the study course and their connection with professional practice.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture. Introduction to theories of mass communication. Overview of agenda setting, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Framing Theory.
Question: How can theories of mass communication help us understand the impact of media on society?
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture. Setting the agenda and its main concepts. Applying media agenda-setting theory: political campaigns, social media.
Question: How does the media influence what issues society considers important?
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Seminar: media consumption analysis.
Individual assessment: perform an analysis of your media use, identify usage habits + group discussion: how media use is influenced by multiple factors (demographics, interests, peers).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture: Cultivation theory: the influence of the long-term effects of media use on the perception of reality.
Question: How does consuming specific media content affect our worldviews in the long run?
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Seminar. Analysis of media articles (using content analysis as a method).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture. Framing Theory: How media frames affect audience perception.
Question: How do media frames influence public opinion?
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Media literacy and critical thinking.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Media literacy and critical thinking.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Media literacy workshop + group reflection.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Media literacy workshop + group reflection.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Critical studies.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Critical studies.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture. Introduction to theories of mass communication. Overview of agenda setting, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Framing Theory.
Question: How can theories of mass communication help us understand the impact of media on society?
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture. Setting the agenda and its main concepts. Applying media agenda-setting theory: political campaigns, social media.
Question: How does the media influence what issues society considers important?
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Seminar: media consumption analysis.
Individual assessment: perform an analysis of your media use, identify usage habits + group discussion: how media use is influenced by multiple factors (demographics, interests, peers).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture: Cultivation theory: the influence of the long-term effects of media use on the perception of reality.
Question: How does consuming specific media content affect our worldviews in the long run?
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Seminar. Analysis of media articles (using content analysis as a method).
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Lecture. Framing Theory: How media frames affect audience perception.
Question: How do media frames influence public opinion?
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Media literacy and critical thinking.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Media literacy workshop + group reflection.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Mediji un komunikācijas zinātne. Rīga: Biznesa augstskola Turība, 2021
2.
Veinberga, Sandra. Masmediji: Prese, radio un televīzija. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABS, 2005, 6-90.lpp.
3.
Apsalons, Edmunds. Komunikācijas kompetence: Kā saprasties un veidot attiecības. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2013, 11.-44.lpp.
4.
Fiske, John. Introduction to Communication Studies. 2nd ed. London, New York: Routledge, 1990.
Additional Reading
1.
McQuail, D. Mass Communication Theory. London: SAGE Publication, 2010.
2.
Hallin, Daniel C, Mancini, Paolo. Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
3.
Rožukalne, Anda. Kam pieder Latvijas mediji? Monogrāfija par Latvijas mediju sistēmu un ietekmīgākajiem mediju īpašniekiem. Rīga: Zinātne, 2013.
4.
Luhmann, Niklas. The Reality of the Mass Media. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2000.
5.
McLuhan, Marshall. The Medium is the Message. Corte Madera, CA: Gingko Press, 2001