Political Journalism
Code: 104977Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | OP | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Marc Bataller Serra
- Email :
- marc.bataller@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are not considered, beyond having taken the subjects related to journalistic genres
Objectives
1. Promote a critical and responsible view of journalism that covers events and situations understood as political, and the role of journalists and media specializing in politics.
2. Apply and optimize journalistic approaches and techniques acquired in previous courses to produce news, interviews, analysis columns and reports on political content.
3. Distinguish and use languages and formats of journalistic genres and the various degrees of interpretation they entail, from news to opinion texts, with high skills.
Learning outcomes
- CM08 (Assess the role of journalism in defending freedom of expression and transparency in democratic processes, and design news strategies to combat disinformation and foster critical thinking in society.) Assess the role of journalism in defending freedom of expression and transparency in democratic processes, and design news strategies to combat disinformation and foster critical thinking in society.
- CM09 (Propose journalistic narratives that foster gender equity, respect for diversity, the integrity of sexual freedom and egalitarian gender representation in the public sphere.) Propose journalistic narratives that foster gender equity, respect for diversity, the integrity of sexual freedom and egalitarian gender representation in the public sphere.
- CM10 (Include journalistic coverage of the SDGs in science, politics and society contents, and ensure that they are spread in the local, regional and global media.) Include journalistic coverage of the SDGs in science, politics and society contents, and ensure that they are spread in the local, regional and global media.
- KM10 (Define the foundations of political, international and local journalism and highlight their purposes in democracy.) Define the foundations of political, international and local journalism and highlight their purposes in democracy.
- SM09 (Use information sources, journalistic investigation techniques and documentation processes appropriately when covering political, social and scientific topics.) Use information sources, journalistic investigation techniques and documentation processes appropriately when covering political, social and scientific topics.
- SM10 (Produce journalistic news on political and social issues, and ensure a balanced perspective based on data and the rigour of the journalistic news.) Produce journalistic news on political and social issues, and ensure a balanced perspective based on data and the rigour of the journalistic news.
- SM11 (Determine the media’s responsibility in representing vulnerable groups and minorities in the political, social and scientific news.) Determine the media’s responsibility in representing vulnerable groups and minorities in the political, social and scientific news.
Contents
1. Journalism specialized in Politics. Conception of politics: theory confronted with practice. Feedback between political and journalistic languages. Warlike, sexist and classist clichés in political information.
2. Political actors and systems: the key issue of power. Elections, institutions and administrations: parliaments, provincial councils, city councils. Differences and coincidences. Political parties and other political organizations.
3. Current political journalism and contextualization. Hierarchy of news and actors. Sources of information: who marks the news or who provides contextualization. Press offices, communication and image consultancy.
4. Media policy sections and areas. Politics in the opinion sections. Gender bias in opinion and social gatherings. Editorial lines and pluralism. Territorial policy and areas: international, national / state and local.
5. The media as structures of power. Newspapers (or media) as political actors. Narrators, commentators and participants in conflicts / political situations. Permanent goals: to profit and influence ideologically.
6. Conflict as a basic structure of political information. Protagonists, antagonists, third parties. Conflicts between equals or unequals. Explanation and understanding of political conflicts. Patriarchal historical views and alternative views.
7. Narration / exposition of political conflicts. Journalistic genres and political information. News of various types (negative, positive, sudden, predictable news, etc). Political interviews. Chronicles (parliamentary, municipal…). Reports.
8. Political journalism and crisis communication
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Readings and study of various texts | 32 | 1.28 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10, SM11 |
| practical laboratory sessions | 32 | 1.28 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10, SM11 |
| Development of 5 journalistic texts | 54 | 2.16 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10, SM11 |
| Theory sessions | 16 | 0.64 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10, SM11 |
| Tutorials | 2 | 0.08 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10, SM11 |
| Evaluation | 6 | 0.24 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10, SM11 |
Methodology
Teaching methodology:
The 3-hour module is divided into a first hour defined as theory and two hours defined as laboratory practices. The classes will alternate debates on texts previously read by the students and on political problems and their journalistic treatment, as well as comments on journalistic pieces and fragments of theory presented by the teachers.
Theory
Presentation by the teacher on the various contents of the syllabus and debate on the related texts, with previous reading by the students.
Practices
Individuals:
• In-depth report on a current political conflict (local and regional, preferably).
• 4 journalistic texts: news, chronicle, interview and opinion text.
Group: analysis of current political conflicts and media coverage (specific topics will be set, but student proposals may be included), and presentation in class.
A detailed schedule outlining the content of each session will be presented on the first day of the course and will be available on the course’s Virtual Campus, where students will find all teaching materials and necessary information for eƯective course monitoring. Should the teaching modality change for reasons of force majeure according to the competent authorities, the teaching staƯ will inform students of any modifications to the course schedule and teaching methodologies.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflection and partcipation on theory texts | 30% | 1.5 | 0.06 | CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10 |
| Writing an in-depth report | 20% | 2 | 0.08 | CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10 |
| Elaboration of 4 diverse journalistic pieces | 40% | 3.5 | 0.14 | CM10, KM10, SM09, SM10 |
| Analysis and group presentation of the social situation of conflict | 10% | 1 | 0.04 | CM08, CM09, CM10, KM10, SM10, SM11 |
Evaluation
For the evaluation, it is mandatory to have done 3 of the 4 individual practices, in addition to the in-depth report.
The evaluation of the theory (30% of the overall grade) will be based on an essay on one of the questions from the syllabus and class participation. The 30% will be divided into two concepts: the essay will have a weight of 25% and the remaining 5% will be based on class participation.
The set of 4 practices will specify 40% of the overall grade of the subject.
The in-depth report will represent 20% of the final grade.
Conflict analysis and its classroom presentation, which is done in groups (and will be assessed by the rest of the students) will represent 10% of the overall grade.
Reassessment: Depending on the practical activities schedule and its performance, the goal is that both the in-depth report and the 4 journalistic exercises throughout the course can be repeated if they have been failed. The same goes for the theory exercise.
Important notice: the student who commits any irregularity (copying, plagiarism, impersonation...) will have a grade of 0 in the affected practice. In case of several irregularities, the overall grade of the subject will be 0.
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage. Any assignment containing content generated by AI will be considered a breach of 5 academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty to the assignment grade, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.
This course offers the possibility of a single assessment. The student must take a face-to-face test on the theory of political journalism (multiple choice exam) and submit at least three of the four practices (news, interview, chronicle and opinion piece), in addition to the in-depth report. The face-to-face test will be worth 40% and the rest 60% (with the same criteria as the continuous assessment: 20% in-depth report and 40% preparation of the rest of the journalistic pieces).
Bibliography
Basic bibliography
BORRAT, Héctor.1989. El periódico, actor político. Barcelona: Guistavo Gili
BASTENIER, Miguel Ángel. 2001. El blanco móvil: Curso de Periodismo. Madrid: El País-Aguilar
BOUZA-BREY, Luis. 2004. “El poder y los sistemas políticos”, a Miquel Caminal (editor). Manual de Ciencia Política. Madrid: Tecnos. P. 39-84.
CHOMSKY, Noam & HERMAN, Edward. 1990. Los guardianes de la libertad. Barcelona. Grijalbo Mondadori.
GIRÓ, Xavier. 2010. “Periodismo político. Discursos y grietas: La lógica de los actores, los límites de los medios y las metas periodísticas”. A Camaco Markina, Idoia (coord.): La especialización en periodismo. Formarse para informar. Ed. Comunicación Social, Sevilla/Zamora. (pp. 75-95)
IBARRA, Pedro i IDOYAGA, Petxo. 1998. “Racionalidad democràtica, transmisión ideológica y medios de comunicación”. ZER, núm. 5. P 157-181
VAN DIJK, Teun. 1998. “Opiniones e ideologías en la prensa”. Voces y Culturas, núm. 10
Complementary bibliography
BORRAT, Héctor. 2000. “El primado del relato”. Anàlisi, núm. 25. P 41-60
CHOMSKY, Noam & HERMAN, Edward. 1988. Manufacturing Consent. New York: Pateón Books
MILLS-BROWN, Lisa. 2008. “Journalism, Political”. A Encyclopedia of Political Communication. SAGE Publications. 21 Sep. 2009. <http:www.sage-ereference.com/politicalcommunication/Article_n317.htlm>
RODRÍGUEZ BORGES, Rodrigo Fidel. 2011.”Esfera pública y medios de comunicación.La contribución de los media a la construcción de la ciudadanía democràtica”. Daímon. Revista Internacional de Filosofía, Suplemento 4
VAN DIJK, Teun. 2003. “Las estructuras ideológicas del discurso”, en Ideología i discurso. Barcelona, Ariel Lingüística, Madrid. P 55-75
ZELLER, Carlos.2001. “Los medios y la formación de la voz en una sociedad democràtica”. Anàlisi, núm. 26. P 121-144
Software
No special programme is required
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 11 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 12 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |