MEVIT4350 – Media and Politics
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Over the past decade, the hybridisation of the public sphere through the emergence of online and social media has changed the way politics is reported, communicated and discussed. Not only is the relationship between media and politics increasingly contested and debated, but political action and communication is taking place in new types of media which have not existed before. These developments are changing the relationships between citizens, politicians and media. New media, new types of politicians and new forms of citizen activism challenge traditional approaches and provide fertile grounds for exploring national and international cases and trends, as well as for comparing developments across countries and contexts.
The course introduces key theoretical approaches to the study of the increasing hybridisation of media and politics, and places current trends in an historical and comparative perspective. Key topics include media-state-relations, election campaigns, social media activism and performances of politicians.
The course also explores how both routine politics and political activism develop with and within a diverse media landscape. A specific emphasis is placed on how citizens and social movements use media in political struggles.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course you are expected to be able to:
- Analyze the relationship between media and politics in different settings and from different perspectives.
- Have an in-depth understanding of how and why media structures, media production and media consumption are changing, as well as some of the central effects that these changes have on political communication.
- Review academic literature, plan and produce case studies in the field of media and politics.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Bachelor degree in Media Research or equivalent.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with MEVIT3350 – Media and Politics (discontinued)
Students who have previously taken MEVIT3350 will not be rewarded 10 credits after finishing MEVIT4350. This course was previously taught in Norwegian with the title MEVIT4350 Mediepolitikk.
Teaching
This course is taught in lectures and seminars of two hours each. The lectures are joined with MEVIT3350 – Media and Politics (discontinued). Students are expected to participate actively in seminars, as well as in group work.
All teaching will be given in English.
In order to qualify for the exam, each student must:
- Attend a minimum of 75% of the seminars
- Submit a term paper outline to be graded approved/not approved. Submission deadline and further details will be published on the semester page by the start of the semester. The term paper outline will be valid for only one semester.
If you become ill or have other valid reasons for not attending a seminar, please contact the study administration at the Department of Media and Communication as soon as possible. Valid absences must be documented (for instance by a doctor's note). Please note that you are not allowed to submit documentation via email.
Examination
The examination for the course is a term paper of up to 10 pages.
In the course of the semester, each student must submit a compulsory qualification assignment. This assignment must be approved in order to qualify for the exam. The requirements and submission deadline for the qualification assignment will be posted on the semester page for the course. The compulsory qualification assignment will be valid for only one semester.
Submit assignments in Inspera
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit assignments in Inspera.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Students on the Nordic Media programme option must submit their response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.