This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module examines the reporting practices of political journalists, the institutional contexts of political journalism, and the interactions between journalists and sources across different forms of political reportage. It assesses the power of governmental communication, and the changing nature of contemporary political journalism. Forms of political reportage that will be investigated include: parliamentary reporting, political commentary, interviews and press conferences, and the role of social media in political reportage.
Total Contact Hours: 24
Private Study Hours: 126
Total Study Hours: 150
BA (Hons) Journalism
Main assessment methods
Essay (4000 words) (60%)
Examination, 2 hour (40%)
Reassessment methods
Like for Like
Benson, R. & Neveu, E. (2005) (eds.) Bourdieu and the Journalistic Field. Malden, MA: Polity.
Cottle, S. (ed.) (2003) News, Public Relations and Power. London: Sage.
Franklin, B. (2004) Packaging Politics: Political Communications in Britain's Media Democracy. 2nd edn. London: Arnold.
Hargreaves, I. (2003) Journalism: Truth or Dare? Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kuhn, R. & Neveu, E. (eds.) (2002) Political Journalism: New challenges, new practices. London: Routledge.
McNair, B. (2000) Journalism and Democracy: An evaluation of the political public sphere. London: Routledge
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key features of the structural relationship between the fields of politics and journalism.
8.2 Demonstrate a detailed knowledge about source influence models and be able to critically evaluate debates about the merits of particular
models.
8.3 Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the recent historical evolution of governmental communication processes and parliamentary
reporting practices.
8.4 Demonstrate a systematic understanding of how social media and the 24-hour news cycle are transforming political journalism and be
able to critically assess the merits and shortcomings of such technological and economic changes in the production of quality journalism.
8.5 Demonstrate detailed knowledge about language use and the exercise of power relations in interrogative encounters between journalists
and politicians.
8.6 Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of journalistic framings of leadership and public opinion in political reporting.
8.7 Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the complex interplay between news and opinion in political reporting and evaluate such
changes in the contexts of the contributions of journalism to the democratic health of a society.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the key concepts and theories of the relevant academic literature.
9.2 Critically evaluate and apply knowledge of relevant concepts and theories in the formulation, framing and execution of textual analysis
projects.
9.3 Comprehensively implement research and writing skills in individual written work.
9.4 Comprehensively implement oral communication skills in group study contexts.
9.5 Exercise independent learning skills and organise their study in an efficient and disciplined manner.
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