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Journalism: Modern Processes and Challenges

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:6.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:26:23
Study Course Information
Course Code:KSK_083LQF level:Level 7
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Communication SciencesTarget Audience:Communication Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Līga Ozoliņa
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)6Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures12
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours20
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Analysis of Communication Situations.
Objective:
The objective of the study course is to master current problems in modern journalism and to analyse its development trends.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Origins of journalism, journalism history.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Mission of a journalist and professional roles in the context of social media theories.Lectures1.00auditorium
3News in journalism – classical functions and modern problems.Lectures1.00auditorium
4The practical side of journalism: thematic diversity: sources, their compliance and reliability; "objective"/“unobjective” genres and formats of journalism.Lectures1.00auditorium
5Contemporary problems of journalism: emotional journalism; commenting and subjective journalism, "people's journalism", blogs and journalism.Lectures1.00auditorium
6Yellow journalism and the "yellowing" of quality journalism: personal life and its inviolability/vulnerability in journalismClasses1.00auditorium
7Criticism of journalism, its types (gift culture, close friendship with sources, “good and bad” experts, factions of journalists and editorial boards). Journalist’s behaviour as a professional dilemma.Classes1.00auditorium
8Language as a tool of a journalist. Publicistic style, its development trends. Digital media and language.Lectures1.00auditorium
9Seminar. Current problems in journalism practice and their critical analysis. Presentations and discussion of final projects.Classes2.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
To master theoretical literature and perform an independent work. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Examination
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:Students know current problems and trends in journalism, directions of recent research and its conclusions as well as development of the theoretical thinking in/on journalism studies.
Skills:Students can analyse the quality of journalist’s work and find solutions in problems situations.
Competencies:Students are competent in the analysis of media work and current matters of journalism, are able to perform and manage journalistic work.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Hanitzsch, T., Hanusch, F. Ramaprasad, J., & de Beer, A. S. (2019). Worlds of Journalism: Journalistic Cultures Around the Globe. New York: Columbia University Press.
2Peters, Chris & Broersma, Marcel (eds.) (2013). Rethinking journalism: Trust and participation in a transformed news landscape. London: Routledge.
3Örnebring, Henrik (2009). The two professionalisms of journalism: Journalism and the changing context of work. Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
4Hanitzsch, Thomas (2007). “Deconstructing journalism culture: Toward a universal theory.” Communication Theory 17(4), 367–385.
5Deuze, Mark (2005). “What is journalism? Professional identity and ideology of journalists reconsidered.” Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism 6(4), 442–464.
6Bruno, Nicola & Nielsen, Rasmus Kleis (2012). Survival is success: Journalistic online start-ups in Western Europe. Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
Additional Reading
1Latvijas prese 200 gados: no Latviešu Avīzēm līdz digitālo mediju laikmetam : Latvijas plašsaziņas mediju sistēmas vēsture no pirmsākumiem līdz mūsdienām