INT2008 Media and Politics

    • Number of credits
      10
    • Teaching semester
      2023 Autumn
    • Language of instruction
      English
    • Campus
      Lillehammer
    • Required prerequisite knowledge

      We recommend that students taking this course have passed INT1015 International Politics and INT1017 Comparative Politics.

Course content

The subject of the course is the complex and changing relationship between politics and the media.

  • Whether the media simply reflect politics at the national and international level – or change politics profoundly.
  • How power relationships and political identities are affected, within as well as across and between states.
  • How the media functions during periods of crisis, when states collapse or are in transition, during civil wars and interstate wars or terrorist attacks.
  • Developments in the post-cold war period, such as the effects of global communication networks based on internet and satellite technology, are of particular interest.
  • How recent advances in digital technology, such as social media and artificial intelligence, affect national and international politics.

Addressing such topics, the course comprises three blocks:

  • Core theories and concepts of media and politics.
  • Comparative Political Communication.
  • War, terrorism, and the media.

Learning Outcome

Having passed the course, the student has gained the following learning outcome:

Knowledge

The student

  • knows key questions, concepts, and theories from media- and political science, focusing on the relation between media and politics.
  • knows recent developments in media and politics within states and at the international level.
  • knows the major differences between media systems and important developments of media systems over time. 
  • knows that differences between media systems and that important developments of media systems over time matter for national and international politics.
  • knows how political actors, such as parties, social movements and states control or try to adapt to the media.
  • knows the significance of narratives and framing in the representation of politics and political actors.
  • knows how to update their knowledge on the study area.
Skills

The student 

  • can critically assess theoretical arguments and evaluate empirical evidence.
  • can apply conceptual and theoretical knowledge on empirical cases.
  • can explain central problems and debates about the relation between media and politics.
  • can discuss and evaluate different solutions to these problems in a critical and analytic manner and make informed decisions.
  • can articulate and defend their own viewpoints and positions regarding these problems.
  • can apply their knowledge of the relation between media and politics to other (professional and public) debates.
  • can orient themselves in the relevant literature, both primary and secondary, and follow standard professional norms of attribution and reference.
  • can write an argumentative essay on a chosen topic in study area.
  • can adjust their professional practice in response to feedback and supervision.
General competence

The student

  • can plan and complete team-based academic projects.
  • can both individually and in a team develop and deliver efficient presentations on complex topics and address challenging oral questions at short notice, using available media technology.
  • can use academic English in teamwork, discussions and presentations.
Teaching and working methods

The course comprises lectures, seminars, and screenings of film.

  • The lectures summarize concepts, theories and recent developments in media and politics, supplemented with selected cases for discussion.
  • Topics from lectures are elaborated in the seminars through active student participation, such as presentations, quizzes, and discussions.
  • The syllabus literature includes textbooks, supported by selected articles, book chapters and films. 
Required coursework

All students must take part in two group assignments during the course:

  • Produce and deliver a presentation for the seminar on a subject from the course contents.
  • Present the answers for a quiz on the course contents during the seminars.

Both assignments must also be handed in and approved by the person with course responsibility. The format for the presentation may vary from traditional presentation software to blogs, podcasts, and videos. The format must be approved by the person with course responsibility when groups have chosen their assignments.

Form of assessment

Individual examination consisting of

  • 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.
  • An oral examination of no more than 20 minutes covering the curriculum in general, to adjust the final grading. The oral examination will be held immediately after the presentation.

 

Both the presentation and oral examination will be in English.

Assessments
Form of assessmentGrading scaleGroupingDuration of assessmentSupport materialsProportionComment
Oral examination
ECTS - A-F
Individual
100%
Short notes on paper (no more than a single A4 page) to support the presentation are allowed. Personal PCs or literature are not allowed during any part of the examination.
Professional overlap
NameCreditsDateComment
INT2004 Media and Politics
10

Reading list

Faculty
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences
Department
Department of Law, Philosophy and International studies with history