General provisions

The course is part of the course package International Media and Communication Studies,

60 högskolepoäng/60 ECTS.

Entry requirements

Competence in English equivalent to the level English B in Swedish upper secondary school (corresponding to TOEFL score 550/213) and university studies 60 credits where 30 credits is in Media and Communication Science or comparable.

Learning outcomes

The objective of this course is to describe and analyse media development and how primarily economy and politics contribute to shape the media industry in various socio-political settings. After the course the students should

Knowledge and understanding

- be familiar with the concepts media and globalisation with special focus on the impact on non-western media settings; and media development in terms of both change and continuity in a) transitional and mixed societies, b) authoritarian neo-liberal and regulated societies, c) media development in democratic societies

- be able to present strengths and weaknesses of the various alternative approaches (a) to financing of media (b) the various levels of state interventions in respective media systems and (c) the implications for freedoms of speech expression and right to information diversity. be familiar with the key development trends in the cultural industries both in traditional Western media markets and emerging non-western markets

Skills and capacities

- show improvement in their capacities in identifying, analysing, criticizing and evaluating real media events, policies and products through concrete cases and media products.

- develop their capacity to verbally carry out public presentations

Content

Mediated communication is subjected to rapid technical, political, social and cultural development. The course begins with an introduction to the rapid development and transitions that has taken place in mediated communication over the last half century. The objective of this course is to describe and analyse media development and how primarily economy and politics contribute to shape the media industry in various socio-political settings. Moreover, the course will analyse trends of changed media use on a national, international and global level as well as stable media usage. The course will throughout place a special focus on non-Western media development.

Instruction

The course consists of a series of lectures and mandatory discussion seminars. The seminars are based on case methodology, and will provide the student an opportunity to improve his /her capacities in analysing, criticizing and evaluating real media events, policies and products and present verbally in public.

Assessment

The examination of the course is built up by (1) the preparation and active participation in the discussion seminars, (2) a take-home exam.

The grade is based on performances in both the seminars and the take-home exam.