Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 25/26.R.1.00

Description Period: 2025./26 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

History of Communication

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
KSK_131
Branch of Science
Communication Theory; Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Ivans Jānis Mihailovs
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To give an insight into the history of communication as a process, paying special attention to historical development of Latvian communication. The course reviews the emergence and development of different types of communication, characterises historical aspects of functioning of Latvian media, provides an overview of preconditions for the establishment of the Latvian media system, sketches media development prospects at the beginning of the 21st century.

Preliminary Knowledge

Not required.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to analyze the regularities of communication development.

Skills

1.Students work with literature on the history of communication, use approaches of the history of communication in their research.

Competences

1.Students are aware of the sequence of stages in the development of communication when analysing modern communication phenomena.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-
Report topics, when choosing it is necessary to specify: 1) History of the selected Latvian media. 2) Specifics, context of, personalities in development of the Latvian media system. 3) Development of some type of media (press, radio, television, telegraph, etc.) in the world in the defined time period. 4) Development prospects of some type of media. 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.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
-
30% – participation in seminars; 30% – report; 40% – examination.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Concept, subject and study of the history of communication. Types of communication and their history. Role of technologies in the development of types of communication. Interaction with policy and economy.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Concept, subject and study of the history of communication. Types of communication and their history. Role of technologies in the development of types of communication. Interaction with policy and economy.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Communication in the pre-mass age. Oral communication and acoustic space. Forum. Introduction of a writing system. Invention of printing. Gutenberg Galaxy.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Mass communication: concept, origins and development. Role of mass communication in establishment of a nation. Communication and entertainment. New media and traditional media. Concept and peculiarities.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Telegraph, telephone, telefax, television. Telecommunication – technologies, theories and development trends.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Telegraph, telephone, telefax, television. Telecommunication – technologies, theories and development trends.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian journalism until 1914.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Press of the Republic of Latvia in 1918 – 1940. LETA. Radio.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian journalism during occupation in 1940 – 1990. Radio. TV. Censorship.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian journalism during occupation in 1940 – 1990. Radio. TV. Censorship.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian media after restoration of independence and at the beginning of the 21st century.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian media after restoration of independence and at the beginning of the 21st century.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Concept, subject and study of the history of communication. Types of communication and their history. Role of technologies in the development of types of communication. Interaction with policy and economy.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Communication in the pre-mass age. Oral communication and acoustic space. Forum. Introduction of a writing system. Invention of printing. Gutenberg Galaxy.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Mass communication: concept, origins and development. Role of mass communication in establishment of a nation. Communication and entertainment. New media and traditional media. Concept and peculiarities.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Telegraph, telephone, telefax, television. Telecommunication – technologies, theories and development trends.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian journalism until 1914.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Press of the Republic of Latvia in 1918 – 1940. LETA. Radio.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian journalism during occupation in 1940 – 1990. Radio. TV. Censorship.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Latvian media after restoration of independence and at the beginning of the 21st century.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Braman S. Tehnology // The SAGE Handbook of Media Studies. (eds. Downing J., MacQuail D., Schlesinger, P., Wartella, E.). – London: SAGE, 2004. – pp.123 – 144.

2.

Foulger D. The Processes of Media Invention and Evolution.

3.

Kittler F. The History of Communication Media.

4.

Fang Irving. A History of Mass Communication Six Information Revolutions. – Focal Press, 1997.

5.

Manovičs Ļ. Jauno mediju valoda. – Rīga: RIXC, 2006.

6.

Hilmes M. Broadcasting, Cable and Satellites.// The SAGE Handbook of Media Studies.(eds. Downing J., MacQuail D., Schlesinger, P., Wartella, E.). – London: SAGE, 2004. – pp. 477. – 493.

7.

Latvijas Republikas prese 1918 – 1940 / R.Treija red. – Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 1996.

8.

Grigulis A., Treijs R. Latviešu žurnālistikas vēsture no pirmsākumiem līdz Pirmajam pasaules karam. – Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1992.

9.

Prese // Latvija 19.gadsimtā: vēstures apceres. – Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds, 2000. – 357. – 374.lpp.

10.

Prese // 20.gadsimta Latvijas vēsture I. Latvija no gadsimta sākuma līdz neatkarības pasludināšanai 1900 – 1918. – Rīga: Latvijas vēstures institūta apgāds, 2000.

11.

Towards a Civic Society. The Baltic Media’s Long Road to Freedom. Perspectives on History, Ethnicity and Journalism. – Tartu: Greif, 1993. – 163 – 174, 177 – 208, 211 – 220.pp.

12.

Brikše I. Latvijas mediji: izaicinājumi, ieguvumi un draudi (1987 – 2002) // Sociālekonomiskā procesa trajektorija Latvijā laikā no 1985. līdz 2002.gadam. Kur tā ved Latviju. – Ventspils: Ventspils augstskola, 2002. – 294. – 306.lpp.

13.

Dimants A. Latvijas masu mediju nākotne paplašinātajā Eiropā // Latvija Eiropā: nākotnes vīzijas. – Rīga: LZA Baltijas stratēģisko pētījumu centrs, 2004. – 295. – 311.lpp.

14.

Brikše I., Skudra O., Tjarve R. Development of the Media in Latvia in the 1990s // Baltic Media in Transition. – Tartu: Tartu University Press, 2002. – 67 – 75, 77 – 102pp.

15.

Dimants A. Latvijas prese 200 gados: no Latviešu Avīzēm līdz digitālo mediju laikmetam: Latvijas plašsaziņas mediju sistēmas vēsture no pirmsākumiem līdz mūsdienām. - Rīga: Latvijas mediji, 2022.

Additional Reading

1.

Veinberga S. Mediju misija. Preses attīstības tendences Latvijā pēc valsts neatkarības atjaunošanas (1990 – 2010). – Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2010. – 5. – 125., 148. – 151., 208. – 221.lpp.

2.

Velšs, V. Estētikas robežceļi. – Rīga: Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs, 2005. – 258. – 287.lpp.

3.

Manowitch L. The Language of New Media. – Cambridge, London: MIT Press., 2001. – pp.161. – 169.

4.

Kruks S., Šulmane I. Plašsaziņas līdzekļi demokrātiskajā sabiedrībā // Cik demokrātiska ir Latvija: demokrātijas audits. – Rīga: LU, 2005. – 139. – 151.lpp.

5.

Hanovs D. Mazākumtautību preses loma starpetniskajā dialoga Latvijā // Izglītības, dialoga un līdzdalības loma sabiedrības integrācijas procesa veicināšanā 2. – Rīga: Politiskās izglītības iniciatīva, 2005. – 26. – 38.lpp.

6.

McLuhan, H. M. & Powers B. The Global Village. – New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.