Journalism Theory

Scholar Year: 2020/2021 - 1S

Courses

Head Teacher Responsability Lídia Soraya Barreto Marôpo Head

Weekly workload Hours/week T TP P PL L TC E OT OT/PL TPL O S Type of classes Lectures Type Teacher Classes Hours Contact hours Totals 1 4,00 Lídia Marôpo   4,00

Teaching language

Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)

At the end of the course unit the student should be able to:

 Defining what journalism is and recognizing its central role in democratic societies.
 Understand the news production process, taking into account the culture of journalists and their relationship with news sources.
 Identify the characteristics of the journalistic text.
 Characterize the main theories of journalism and reflect critically on the mirror theory, personal action or gatekeeper theory, organizational theory, political action theory, constructivist theories, structuralist theory, interactionist theory.
 Recognize the transformations and challenges of journalism in the digital age.

Syllabus

 What is journalism
 Journalism and democracy
 The news production process
 The professional culture of journalists
 The news sources
 The characteristics of the journalistic text
 Theories of Journalism: mirror theory, personal action or gatekeeper theory, organizational theory, political action theory, constructivist theories, structuralist theory, interactionist theory
 Journalism challenges in the digital age

Teaching methodologies

The sessions are centered on the presentation of concepts, face-to-face debates and practical exercises. Students are invited to participate in activities at all classes and regularly present the results of the work they do.

Assessment methodologies and evidences

The work developed will be subject to continuous and summative assessment implying:
a) Test: 40%
b) Group work: 40%
c) Participation activities: 20%

The assessment can also be done by exam.

Bibliography

Canavilhas, J. (org.) (2014). Webjornalismo – 7 características que marcam a diferença. Covilhã: Labcom.
Fowler-Watt, K.; Jukes, S. (2020).New Journalisms - Rethinking Practice, Theory and Pedagogy
Schudson, M (2011). The Sociology of the News. Nova Iorque e Londres: W.W. Norton & Company.
Sousa, J. P. (2006). Elementos de Teoria e Pesquisa da Comunicação e dos Media. Porto: Universidade Fernando Pessoa.
Stuart, A. (2012). The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism. Londres: Routledge.
Traquina, N. (2002). O que é jornalismo. Lisboa: quimera.
Wahl-Jorgensen, K. & Hanitzsch, T. (2009). The Handbook of Journalism Studies. Nova Iorque & Londres: Routledge.
Zelizer, B. (2016). What Journalism could be. Nova Iorque: Politybooks.