MC3603: Media and Democracy
| School | Cardiff School of Journalism, Media & Cult'l Stud |
| Department Code | JOMEC |
| Module Code | MC3603 |
| External Subject Code | 100444 |
| Number of Credits | 20 |
| Level | L5 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | Professor Karin Wahl-Jorgensen |
| Semester | Autumn Semester |
| Academic Year | 2016/7 |
Outline Description of Module
This module takes a closer look at the relationship between media and democracy, primarily with attention to the way it works in the UK
and the US. It explores key approaches relevant to this relationship, and applies them to current trends, debates, and cases. It will
examine ongoing changes in the media’s role in democracy through a range of case studies. Among other topics, the module will look at
the blurring line between politics and popular culture and the corresponding rise of the “celebrity politician,” the increasingly personalised
nature of political news, the role of scandals around sex, money and power in the democratic process, the place of ordinary people in the
news, and how social media, including Twitter and Facebook, are affecting participation and political journalism
On completion of the module a student should be able to
On successful completion of the module a student will be able to:
Understand theoretical and philosophical frameworks and key concepts central to analysing the relationship between media, democracy,
and citizens.
Identify and analyse the most important trends in the relationship between media and democracy.
Appreciate the roles of all constituent elements of and actors in the political process, and recognise the relationships between them, and
the conditions and constraints under which they operate.
How the module will be delivered
This module is taught as a combination of interactive lectures, small-group seminars, and independent reading and research. This
combination allows students to benefit both from the intensive learning experience of lectures, and from the more independent and
critical/reflective practices of seminars.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Students will gain the skills to evaluate the merits of the different approaches to the role of media in the democratic process and apply
these approaches to key problems and issues.
Students will develop and practice their skills in research methods and the analysis of media texts.
Students will develop and practice their skills in engaging in theoretical debates that cut across the disciplines of social sciences and
humanities.
How the module will be assessed
Essay 35%
Seminar Participation 20%
Exam 45%
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assessment | 35 | Essay | N/A |
| Oral/Aural Assessment | 20 | Seminar Participation | N/A |
| Exam - Autumn Semester | 45 | Media & Democracy | 2 |
Syllabus content
PART I: Introducing the key ideas
Mass media and democracy: an introduction
A crisis of democracy?
PART II: Current trends in MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY
How the media are affecting the political process: Mediatisation and media logics
Politics and popular culture: The rise of the “celebrity politician”
Political scandals: Sex, money and power – and journalism
‘The googlization of everything’? The “filter bubble” and the narrowing of the public sphere
PART III: Citizenship and political communications
Ordinary people in the news
Emotions and political participation
Citizenship and social media: Twitter, Facebook and beyond
Essential Reading and Resource List
Blumler, J. G. and Coleman, S. 2010. Political communication in freefall: the british case – and others? International Journal of
Press/Politics 15(2), pp. 139-154.
Christensen, H. S. 2011. Political activities on the Internet: Slacktivism or political participation by other means?. First Monday, 16(2).
http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3336/2767
Dahlgren, P. 2009. Media and political engagement: citizens, communication, and democracy (chapters 1 + 2). Cambridge and New York:
Cambridge University Press.
Davis, A. 2010. Political communication and social theory (chapter 10). London and New York: Routledge.
Gaber, I. 2011. The transformation of campaign reporting: The 2010 UK general election, revolution or evolution? In Wring, D., Mortimore
R., and Atkinson, S. eds., Political Communication in Britain: The Leader Debates, the Campaign and the Media in the 2010 General
Election. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, pp. 261-280.
McNair, B. 2011. Introduction to political communication, 5th edition (chapters 1 and 2). London, Routledge.
Pariser, E. 2011. The filter bubble (Chapters 1 and 2). New York: Penguin.
Sandvoss, C. (2012). Enthusiasm, trust and its erosion in mediated politics: On fans of Obama and the Liberal Democrats. European
Journal of Communication, 27(1), 68-81.
Stanyer, J. 2013. Intimate politics (Introduction). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Strömbäck, J. 2008. Four phases of mediatisation: an analysis of the mediatisation of politics, Harvard International Journal of
Press/Politics 13 (3), pp. 228-246.
Thompson, J. B. 2000. Political scandal: power and visibility in the media age (Introduction, Chapter 1). John Wiley & Sons.
Thompson, J. B. 2005. The new visibility. Theory, Culture and Society 22(6), pp. 31-51.
Wahl-Jorgensen, K. 2012. Future directions for political communication scholarship: considering emotion in mediated public participation.
In Gates, K. A. ed. The international encyclopedia or media studies: media studies futures. New York: Blackwell, pp. 455-478
Background Reading and Resource List
Davis, A (2007) The Mediation of Power: A Critical Introduction. London and New York: Routledge.
Negrine, R and Stanyer, J (Eds.) (2007) The Political Communication Reader. London: Routledge.
Strömbäck, J (2008) ‘Four Phases of Mediatisation: An Analysis of the Mediatisation of Politics’, Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics 13(3), pp. 228-246.