INT2004 Media and Politics

    • Number of credits
      15
    • Teaching semester
      2022 Autumn
    • Language of instruction
      English
    • Campus
      Lillehammer
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      None

Course content

The subject of the course is the complex and changing relationship between politics and the media. Do the media simply reflect politics at the national and international level – or change politics profoundly?  How are power relationships and political identities affected, within as well as across and between states?  How do the media function during periods of crisis, when states collapse or are in transition, during civil wars and interstate wars or terrorist attacks?

Addressing such topics, the course is divided into three main blocks:

  1. Core theories and concepts of media and politics
  2. Comparative Political Communication
  3. War, terrorism and the Media

Emphasising developments during the post-cold war period, the effects of global communication networks based on internet and satellite technology are of particular interest.

Learning Outcome

  • Knowledge of recent developments in media and politics, as well as relevant theories and concepts from media- and political science.
  • Ability to develop and deliver efficient presentations on complex topics and to address challenging oral questions at short notice.
Teaching and working methods
  • Group assignments, presentations and quizes
  • Lectures, seminars, screenings and tutoring
Required coursework
  • Take part in a group assignment to produce and deliver a presentation for the seminar on a subject from the course contents.
  • Take part in a group assignment  to present the answers for a quiz on the course contents during the seminars.
  • Take part in a mandatory preview of the presentation and the quiz one week ahead of the seminar. The quality of both the group and individual contribution has to be satisfactory.
Form of assessment

Individual oral examination at the end of the course.

  • A 20 minute (Maximum) presentation based on an assignment given a week before. The presentation will be evaluated in terms of demonstration of academic knowledge, as well as ability of effective communication of a complex material. The student is responsible for the availability and compatibility of the presentation at the start of the examinations.
  • The final grading is decided after an examination with short questions covering the curriculum.

It is not allowed to bring personal PCs, notes or literature into the examination.

The examinations take place over a maximum of two consecutive days. Two printed copies of the presentation are to be handed in at the student administration no later than one hour before the examinations start. No changes are allowed in the presentation after the print-outs have been handed in.

The examination will take place/be held in English

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Oral examination
ECTS - A-F
100%
Faculty
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Law, Philosophy and International studies with history