Master
2022/2023
Introduction to Alternative Media
Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Compulsory course (Contemporary Journalism)
Area of studies:
Journalism
Delivered by:
Institute of Media
When:
1 year, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Alexey Nikolov
Master’s programme:
Contemporary Journalism
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The pivotal idea of this course is mastering the skill of spotting the facts and ideas that are widely available but which most people miss, and analyzing them in an independent and unbiased manner. This s a skill which would be helpful for just any professional, but it is of special importance for a news journalist in the Web 2.0 era. The course is designed for both native and non-native English speakers
Learning Objectives
- The students will get training in spotting and debunking stereotypes and clichés that exist, mostly unwitnessed, both in published news and in everyday life
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Be able to apply critical approach to various types and formats of information they receive
- Be able to tell the mainstream approach to news from an alternative one
Course Contents
- What’s “mainstream” news and how it is different from “alternative”
- Why and how the mankind has come to the concept of paying for information
- How did the formats of delivering the information to mass consumer evolve over the centuries
- The key difference between “the old news” and “the new news” – a 24/7 vs 86400/7 concept
- How often do we come across clichés, stereotypes and shibboleths in our everyday lives – and how to spot them
- Methods used by mass media to influence our perception of the news they report
- How technics aimed at influencing perception and manipulating people’s minds, like gazlighting, are used to influence the news consumer
- The difference between “not a lie” and “the truth”
- Brief history and concept of licensing, compliance and censorship
- Examples of various alternative authors and news outlets
Assessment Elements
- Engagement, active participation during classes throughout the course
- Comparative analysis of one news item being covered by mainstream and alternative medium
- Reflection/essay on the importance of alternative sources for the news consumption by an individual
Interim Assessment
- 2022/2023 2nd module0.6 * Reflection/essay on the importance of alternative sources for the news consumption by an individual + 0.1 * Engagement, active participation during classes throughout the course + 0.3 * Comparative analysis of one news item being covered by mainstream and alternative medium
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Atkinson, J. D., & Kenix, L. J. (2019). Alternative Media Meets Mainstream Politics : Activist Nation Rising. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2138877
- Atton, C. (2002). Alternative Media. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=268597
- Bailey, O. G., Cammaert, B., & Carpentier, N. (2008). Understanding Alternative Media. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=234290
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Horne, B. D., Norregaard, J., & Adali, S. (2019). Different Spirals of Sameness: A Study of Content Sharing in Mainstream and Alternative Media. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsarx&AN=edsarx.1904.01534