Media and democracy

New technologies and user-generated media has resulted with significant changes in the functioning of state authorities and institutions as well as relations between publics and the media. The practices of online voting, petitions, public consultations and crowdsourcing, have contributed to the rise of new approaches to media and democracy based on decentralization, democratization and empowerment of civil society in decision-making and control. The overall goal of the course is to examine the role of the media in democratic processes and communication in line with digital network challenges. Among the salient questions to be addressed are: How do contemporary media serve democracy? What is the potential of new media and technologies in terms of democratic participation and engagement?

The course will be launched with examination of traditional concepts and approaches to media and democracy (media as civic forum, media as watchdog to the government, media as mobilizing agent, and so on). Developing theoretical approaches will be followed by discussions on contemporary definitions of media as well as current crises of democracy. Examination of press freedom ranks (Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders) will be treated as a starting point for mapping differences between authoritarian, communist and democratic systems of media. Among other topics to be discussed are: the role of media in democratization processes, media policy, public service media as well as values of journalism in democratic society. The course will end with examination of the role of selected international organizations (The Council of Europe, European Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) which foster democratic media development. Finally, theories of mediapolis, networks and media power will be used to examine the potential of new media and devices in maintaining democracy in the 21st Century.

Bajomi-Lázár, P. (2015). Variations in media freedom: Who do some governments in Central and Eastern Europe respect media freedom more than others. Central European Journal of Communication, Vol. 8, No 1 (14), 4–20.

Carlsson, U. (2016) (ed.). Freedom of Expression and Media in Transition. Goteborg: Nordicom.

Castells, M. (2009). Communication Power. UK: Oxford University Press.

Chadwick, A. (2013). The Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Freedman, D. (2014). The Contradictions of Media Power. London, New Delhi, New York, Sydney: Bloomsbury.

Freedom House (2017). Populists and Autocrats. The Dual Threat to Global Democracy. Retrieved February 22, 2017 from https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017.

Freedom House (2017). Freedom of the Press 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2017 from https://freedomhouse.org/report-types/freedom-press.

Głowacki, M., and L. Jackson (eds.) (2014). Towards a Twenty-First Century Public Media, in: M. Głowacki and L. Jackson (eds.), Public Media Management for the Twenty-First Century: Creativity, Innovation, and Interaction. London, New York: Routledge.

Hallin, D.C., and P. Mancini (2004). Comparing Media Systems. Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Jakubowicz, K. (2012). Interview: Democracy and New Media in Central and Eastern Europe, Central European Journal of Communication, Vol. 5, No 1 (8), 139–145.

Jakubowicz, K. (2013). Media and Democracy in the 21st Century. Searching for New Models. Warsaw: Poltext.

Jenkins, H., S. Ford, J. Green (2013). Spreadable media. Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York and London: New York University Press.

Reporters Without Borders (2016). 2016 World Press Freedom Index. Retrieved February 22, 2017 from https://rsf.org/en/ranking.

Rozumilowicz, B. (2002). Democratic Change. A Theoretical Perspective. In: M. Price, B. Rozumilowicz, G. Verhulst (eds.). Media Reform. London: Sage.

Shirky, C. (2008). Here Comes Everybody. London: Penguin

After completing the course, students will gather the following competences:

KNOWLEDGE ON:

– Traditional and contemporary theories and approaches to media and democracy,

– Press freedom and its variables,

– Theories of media systems and journalistic professionalization,

– The role of media in democracy and democratization processes,

– Media policy and public service media,

– The role of international organizations which are to safeguard democracy and democratic media development,

SKILLS:

– Critical understanding of differences between theory and practice,

– Skills related to selection, preparation and presentation of news reports on democracy and media,

– Interactive skills, discussions.

OTHER COMPETENCES:

Students will be evaluated with a reference to the final test (or assignment). Additional criteria (news reports, participation in the lectures; max. 2 absences) will also apply.

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