Media, Power and Technology: Understanding Public Debate

Course Objective

Upon completion of this course, the student is able to:

• Identify the interdependencies between the media/journalists, political actors and the public in theoretical terms;
  
• Explain and predict, based on theory, the effects of media coverage on the behaviour of politicians and political parties and the general public (various effects on groups of users/voters from different media channels and messages);
  
• Interpret current media-related issues in the public sphere in theoretical and practical terms;
  
• Explain and predict effects of media coverage via social and traditional media on society as a whole (in terms of, for example, polarisation or political participation);
• Identify and analyse the structure of rhetorical strategies used to influence citizens positions on public debates and strategically formulate arguments, in the context of a debate, to convincingly defend positions.
  
• Reflect on ethical, normative and legal aspects of current media-related issues in the public sphere and from there make recommendations to various actors (journalists, media companies or political actors).

Course Content

This course focuses on how the media, political actors (the government, ministries, politicians, political parties, businesses, interest groups and social movements) and citizens influence each other. To this end, we address the changing media landscape considering the role of technological platforms, their algorithms and the changing patterns in political information production, distribution and consumption. The mediatisation of politics and the interdependence and influence of media and politics (the so-called 'media-politics-media cycle' of a.o. Gadi Wolfsfeld) is central to the discussions of the course.

The political influence of media (companies), the increasing concentration of media ownership and the degree of pluralism of the media landscape all have an impact on the behaviour of politicians, and the political information that citizens receive. During the course, we look at the changing media behaviour of citizens, the use of social and traditional media and the existence and effects of the so-called 'filter-bubbles' or echo-chambers. We will discuss when and how 'selective exposure' is driving citizens interaction with the media ecosystem. Relatedly, we will discuss the determinants of political information production and its consumption but also the extend that citizens avoids news and its consequences for democratic outcomes. We analyse to what extent political institutions and actors depend on mass media and are formed by 'media logic'.

Important theories in sociology, communication science and political science will be discussed during the course. Some argue that socio-economic developments are of major importance for the media landscape and for political knowledge of citizens. This course will look in detail at the way in which economic, technological and social changes affect the functioning of the media and in turn, how the media ecosystems affect citizens behaviours and democracies overall.

In analysing the relationship between the media ecosystem and the political sphere, we reflect on the role of traditional and new mass media in modern democracies from different perspectives. Some see an important role for the media as controllers of those in power (the so-called 'watch-dog' function), while others portray the media as 'lap-dogs' because they follow power and are not critical while reporting on bureaucracies and powerful companies (see e.g. the work of Noam Chomsky).

Additionally, rhetoric is at the centre of the dynamics between politics, media and society. In other words, using language effectively, to communicate ideas and influence citizens is a routine practice by politicians and media actors. Therefore, understanding better how rhetoric works makes one better to appreciate the power dynamics that play out across these three different spheres i.e., the political, media and societal one. “Rhetoric is what gives words power. So, a knowledge of rhetoric equips you as a citizen, both to exercise power and to resist it” (Auden, 1939 quoted by Leith, 2011). For all these reasons, during this course students will get trained to practice rhetoric within the context of a debate to discuss and defend a position on a current topic affecting the political and media sphere and the society overall. Students will conduct a debate forming a team with peers and will defend their positions by means of rhetoric. See all the details on this activity in the Debate Manual available on Canvas.

Additional Information Teaching Methods

Method of Assessment

In order to receive a grade for this course:

• Students need to pass the individual digital exam (grade ≥ 5.5). The exam counts for 80% of the final grade.
• Complete the Debate Assignment and participate in the teamwork (2 points).

Attendance during the workgroups is mandatory.

During the course, you will prepare for the debate individually and in groups by doing various preparatory assignments. Making these preparatory assignments is a prerequisite for taking part in the debate and get graded for this course.

All components of the Debate Assignment must be sufficient to count towards the final grade. The Components of the Debate Assignment include in order:

1. TrainTool Exercises
2. Debate Cards
3. Debate Performance
4. Jury Essay

Students who fail to submit the Traintool Exercises and/or obtain a grade equivalent to Not Sufficient in any of the 3 graded components (number 2 and 3 and 4 above) will have to resubmit the entire Debate Assignment.

Literature

• Wolfsfeld, G. (2022). Making Sense of Media and Politics: Five Principles in Political Communication (2nd ed.). Routledge
• Syllabus of additional mandatory literature will be published on Canvas.

Additional Information Target Audience

• Second year students bachelor Communication Science, Second year students bachelor Sociology.
• Students enrolled in the minor Communication Science, the minor Sociology and the minor Journalism.
• Students can choose this course as an elective.

Additional Information

The language of instruction for this course is “bilingual”, which means that the lectures are held in English but the working groups are offered separately in English or Dutch. If you are following the English-language program, please sign up (if registration is possible) for the English-language working groups.