Global Communication
Preliminary requirements:
Basic knowledge in theory of politics, theory of international relations or theory of media and communication.
Course Description:
Lecture:
Introduction to the field and to theory of global communication.
Tutorial:
Consultation on the topics of essays.
Seminar:
1. Global communication from the perspective of network analysis.
2. Modernization and cultural imperialism: approaches to global flow of messages.
3. Actors of global communication: news agencies, “old” media and media conglomerates.
4. Internet as channel for global communication. The case of social media and Wikileaks.
5. Cultural logic of globalization.
The objective of the course on ‘Communication in the Age of Globalization' is firstly the introduction of the theory and practice of global communication. The concepts of cultural imperialism, global public opinion (flow and contraflow of news), and hybridization will be discussed. On the one hand the question of geo-linguistic or geo-cultural regions will be asked to explain the differences in stories societies tell themselves. On the other hand, the cultural factor, having impact on coverage, will be confronted with media policy and international media enterprises' logic. Special attention will be given to the EU and to the situation of CEE countries - as Poland - in the global flow of messages. Apart from considering the role of media conglomerates and the main issues of media policy in this countries, also a structure of media systems will be shortly discussed.
In the second part of the course, the participants will also analyze the coverage of political events by mass media of communication (press, radio, television) and Internet in different countries (including the CEE countries) in order to depict main patterns of coverage and main factors contributing to them. The analysis will be conducted on the cases of mass media coverage and the content of Internet and will be focused on tensions and conflicts in international relations in Europe.
Aims of the course:
Extends knowledge in theory of international relations links it to media and communication studies.
Develops advanced knowledge about the role and importance of media in international relations.
Contributes to comprehension of the field of global communication.
Provides deep insight into the complexity of international flow of messages.
Analyses media performance from the perspective of political science and international relations as a field of it.
Links the methods of international studies and media and communication to understand global communication.
Developing understanding the complexity of the process, prepares for impartial analysis of global media performance.
Prepares for implementing rational approach in analyzing global political phenomena.
Promotes interdisciplinarity as an important asset in student’s research work
Teaching methods:
The course consists of introductory lectures and seminars. Students will write essays, discuss their topics and present conclusions during the classes. The essays will be focused on case studies and presented also in the form of a group work.
Evaluation & Completion:
To get credits students will be asked to participate actively in the discussions, prepare an essay (3000 words, 60 %), introduce the theme of the essay and main research questions (25 %) as well as conclusions (15 %) of the essay after completion during the class.
Basic Literature:
“Global Media and Communication”: available (print version) at the library on the campus,
T.L. McPhail (ed.), Global Communication. Theories, Stakeholders and Trends. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2010 (available at the library on the campus)
D.K. Thussu, Internationalizing Media Studies. Routledge, London 2009 (available at the library on the campus)
J. Tomlinson, Cultural Imperialism, Baltimore, 1999
I. Volkmer, News in the Global Sphere. University of Luton Press, 1999
Introductory Reading:
Media in global context. A reader, ed. by A. Sreberny-Mohammadi, D. Winseck, J. McKenna, O. Boyd-Barret, London: Hodder Arnold 1997
Additional Literature:
Boyd- Barett O., Assessing the prospects for an Asian re-configuration of the global news order. “Global Media and Communication”, 2010, 6:3, p. 346-356
Kraidy, M. Hybridity or the Cultural Logic of Globalisation. Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 2005
