Topic outline

  • Course Objectives

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    Course Objectives: The focus of the course is to understand and analyze the mutual relationship between politics, communication, and media. It will focus on the introduction to the discipline of political communication from a theoretical, historical, and comparative approach. Students will learn the specifics of political communication and its role in the media and political system. The course will focus on the Czech Republic; however, we will use the comparative approach too (with an accent on Central and Eastern Europe). The course will provide practical examples and we will use various case studies to explain theoretical processes with real-life examples. The course will require student’s engagement, teamwork, and preparation for sessions (including writing position papers, working on presentations, etc.).

    Knowledge Acquisition: Students will be required to keep up with the required readings (there will be specific literature assigned to lectures), actively participate in classes, write position papers, and engage in discussions. 

    Requirements: The students will work on four short essays and present their conclusions. It is expected that they will consult the selected topics of their essays with the teacher. They will get detailed feedback on these essays and in some cases, they may be obliged to re-write them. To complete the course student must hand in 3 out of 4 position papers (each paper is 3 pages) and pass the final exam. Each paper is awarded 20 points and the written test is 40 points. The performance and active engagement in the class represent 60 percent of the final score, and the exam represents 40 percent. 

    Assignments: 3 papers, final test, active participation in the classes. 

  • September 29: Information about the course, introduction to the theory of political communication

  • October 6: What is political communication?

    • the state of the discipline
    • how to define it, analyze and study
    • practical examples

  • October 13: Political Communication and Media I.

    • how politics and politicians influence media world

  • 4 October 20: Political Communication and Media II.

    • persuasion, propaganda, and politics
    • how an idea or cause became a political topic

  • October 27: Political Communication and Elections I.

    The Era of Permanent Campaigning:

    • origins of permanent campaigns
    • governing vs. campaigning
    • media and permanent campaigns
    • discussion

  • November 3: Politicians and Media

    • information, sources, fake news?
    • practical examples

  • November 10: Political Communication and Elections III.

    •  case study of Moscow city mayor campaign 2013 (Navalny vs. Sobyanin)

  • November 17: Course break, public holiday

  • November 24: Celebrity politics and the media

  • December 1: Political Communication and the Czech Republic

    • electoral campaigns in the Czech Republic
    • personalization
    • government communication in the Czech Republic
    • crisis communication - COVID-19

  • December 8: Political Communication, Ethics, and Democracy

    • discussion

  • December 15: First term of the final test

    At 12:30 you will receive an email with instructions and specific requirements. You will have till Monday  December 20 12:00 (midday) to complete the tasks. 

  • POSITION PAPERS

    3 pages / 5 400 signs, plus the list of sources (bibliography, etc.)

    First, shortly describe "the topic - the problem", present your opinion (based on quoted sources) and came up with a clear conclusion. Focus on the analytical aspect, you can state what should be following steps in covering the issue. Provide clear argumentaions against or pro, conclusions. Academic sources. 

  • FINAL EXAM