Insegnamento a.a. 2019-2020

30345 - MEDIA AND POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 23
BIG (6 credits - II sem. - OB  |  3 credits SPS/04  |  3 credits SPS/08)
Course Director:
RICCARDO PUGLISI

Classes: 23 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 23: RICCARDO PUGLISI


Suggested background knowledge

Students should be comfortable with political science and comparative politics, quantitative methods for social sciences and microeconomics.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

The aim of the course is to illustrate -both from a theoretical and an empirical perspective- the role played by the mass media and political communication within contemporary political regimes, with a specific focus on developed democracies. Topics such as the persuasive effects of the media per se and of electoral campaigns are covered according to a multidisciplinary approach, which blends methods from economics to political science and communication studies proper. We devote special attention to interest groups as active players in the political communication fields, and to social networks as an increasingly relevant media channel.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • The mass media as economic and political actors.
  • The political role of the media in democracies and autocracies.
  • The political position of mass media outlets: measurement and determinants.
  • The persuasion effects of the media: agenda-setting, framing and priming.
  • Empirical analysis of campaign effects.
  • Interest groups, and the role they play.
  • Social networks and political communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Describe the interactions between political actors, voters, media outlets and interest groups.
  • Illustrate econometric analyses regarding those interactions.
  • Illustrate methods to measure the political position of media outlets.
  • Explain the role played by mass media outlets and interest groups in the political process, by making use of the proper empirical work.
  • Describe the likely effects of media outlets, interest groups and campaign messages on public opinion.
  • Describe how political communication takes place on social networks.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Interpret theoretical models on the political role of media outlets.
  • Connect empirical models of mass media behaviour in the political sphere to theoretical analyses
  • Analyze econometric studies regarding the determinants and effects of mass media behaviour in the political field.
  • Evaluate the role played by interest groups and social networks in the political arena, with a specific focus on political communication.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures

DETAILS

Face-to-face lectures take place.


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
   x x

ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • Two partial: 15 points out of 30 each. The grade in the first partial has to be 18/30 or greater to be allowed to take the second partial. The second partial can only be taken in the first exam date after the end of the course.
  • General (over the whole program): 30 points out of 30.

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Slides and academic papers. There is no required textbook. 

Last change 30/05/2019 09:55