Required prerequisite knowledge

Admission to the MA Programme in Global Journalism

Relevance within study programme

GJ 302 Journalism, Democracy and Development is a mandatory course in the MA Programme in Global Journalism at NLA University College and takes place in the first semester of the programme.

Introduction

It is commonly assumed that there is a relationship between media and democracy, although the nature of the relationship is debated. This course addresses this issue through the role of the journalistic media in democratization processes in developing societies. The course takes as its point of departure that the media are used actively throughout the world to promote social, political, economic and national development, both by local authorities and the international community. Yet there is a lack of consensus on how to describe the role and impact of the media in these processes, and there is a need for a deeper understanding of the motives for the utilization of the media by various stakeholders and the potentials and limitations of journalism in this regard.

The role of the journalistic media in developing and transitional societies is often linked to conflict situations. Under such conditions there is also reason to question how the media and journalists operate, and how they engage with different parties in the conflict.

The course also explores the role of digital media (including social and citizen media) in democratization processes. With economic and technological advances, digital media have a potentially unifying role in democratization processes around the world. At the same time, digital media are criticized for reinforcing the gap between the information rich and the information poor, even within developing societies. These issues are treated in the course both theoretically and through case studies.

The course draws on the experiences of NLA University College in journalism and media development in various parts of the world.

Learning outcomes descriptors

Knowledge

The student:

• has knowledge of major paradigms within development theory
• comprehends key theoretical approaches to media and democratization
• is familiar with alternative approaches to journalistic development
• has knowledge of experiences with journalistic development in conflict and post-conflict societies
• is able to explain key issues in the debate concerning digital media, citizen media and development

Skills

The student:

• can assess general approaches to journalism and democratization
• can evaluate a media development project in a particular society from a theoretical point of view
• demonstrates ability to discuss ethical issues pertaining to the role of journalistic activity in a conflict society
• is able to scrutinize various views in the debate concerning digital media, citizen media and development and argue for solutions  

General competence

The student:

• can communicate issues of journalism and development within a broader development frame
• has skills to discuss media intervention and media development projects, as well as suggesting improvements

Content

GJ 302–1: Journalism and democratization

This section of the course visits classic theories of media and democracy and discusses the particular role of journalism in light of the different models. The second part looks at actual cases of media development in emerging democracies.

GJ 302–2: Journalism and conflict

This section of the course discusses the role of the media and journalists in international and local conflict situations. The framework of peace journalism is treated as a distinct approach for conflict societies.

GJ 302–3: Digital media and development

This part of the course explores the role of digital media (including social and citizen media) in democratization processes. The use of new digital platforms on the fringes of classic journalism, particularly blogs and social media, is discussed. A perspective on media regulation in closed regimes is presented.

Teaching and learning methods

The course has an introductory week with intensive teaching from Monday to Friday. The remaining six weeks of the course have weekly lectures. Online connection is available for the weekly lectures, but not for the introductory week.

Scope

App. 250 to 300 hours.

Coursework requirements

The following coursework requirement must be passed before a final grade is given for the course:

Participation in a group assignment which consists of an oral presentation of a specific media society for a relevant audience. The presentation should discuss relations between journalism, democracy and development in the particular society.

Grading, coursework requirements

The coursework requirement is assessed as pass/failure. In order for the individual student to get a passing grade, the overall presentation must be evaluated as pass on a group basis, and the student must participate in the oral presentation.

Final assessment

Assessment

The graded assessment in GJ 302 comprises one item:

Individual assignment consisting of a 4000 word written assignment/paper where the student is asked to evaluate a media development project (100% of the final grade)

Permitted aids under examination

All.

Grading, examination

The assignment is assessed according to the standard A–F grading system. One final, individual grade is given for the course.

Assessment language

English or a Nordic language

Practice

None.

Course evaluation

Annually course evaluation in accordance with the quality assurance system for NLA University College. Students may also give their feedback on the course in the student group/ in class.

Available for Course Students

Yes 

Syllabus

Total reading: 814 pp.

GJ 302-1: Journalism and democratization

• Andresen, Kenneth, Abit Hoxha and Jonila Godole (2017) New roles for media in the Western Balkans. Journalism Studies 18(5): 614-628. (15 pp)
• Davis, Aeron (2019) Political communication: A new introduction for crisis times. John Wiley & Sons. Ch 7; 109-129. (21 pp)  
• Hoxha, Abit and Kenneth Andresen (2017) Training journalists in times of transition: The case of Kosovo. Journalism Education 6(2): 37-47. (11 pp)
• Jansen, Sue Curry (2011) Introduction: Media, democracy, human rights and social justice. In Sue Curry Jansen, Jefferson Pooley and Lora Taub-Pervizpour (eds.), Media and social justice, pp. 1-23. London: Palgrave Macmillan. (23 pp)
• Josephi, Beate (ed.) (2010) Journalism education in countries with limited media freedom. New York: Peter Lang. Pp. 1-14 and 253-260. (22 pp)
• Kalyango, Yusuf, Folker Hanusch, Jyotika Ramaprasad, Terje Skjerdal, Mohd Safar Hasim, Nurhaya Muchtar, Mohammad Sahid Ullah, Levi Zeleza Manda and Sarah Bomkapre Kamara (2017) Journalists’ development journalism role perceptions: Select countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Journalism Studies 18(5): 576-594. (19 pp)
• Kumar, Krishna (2006) International assistance to promote independent media in transition and post-conflict societies. Democratization 13(4): 652-667. (16 pp)
• Melhus, Kåre (2013) Sustainable journalism education beyond short-term training: Experiences from emerging democracies. Unpublished paper. (11 pp)
• Muchtar, Nurhaya and Thomas Hanitzsch (2013) Culture clash: International media training and the difficult adoption of Western journalism practices among Indonesian radio journalists. Journalism Practice 7(2): 184-198. (15 pp)
• Norris, Pippa (ed.) (2010) Public sentinel: News media and governance reform. Washington DC: World Bank. Pp. 31-56 and 193-220. (82 pp)
• Rønning, Helge (2010) What constitutes media development? In Torbjörn Broddason et al. (eds.), Norden och världen: Perspektiv från forskningen om medier och kommunikation, 305-319. Göteborg: Göteborgs universitet. (15 pp)
• Sparks, Colin (2007) Globalization, development and the mass media. London: Sage. Pp. 1-19 and 81-226. (165 pp)
• Skjerdal, Terje (2011b) Teaching journalism or teaching African journalism? Experiences from foreign involvement in a journalism programme in Ethiopia. Global Media Journal: African edition 5(1): 24-51. (28 pp)
• Trappel, Josef, Hannu Nieminen and Lars Nord (eds.) (2011) The media for democracy monitor: A cross national study of leading news media. Göteborg: Nordicom. Pp. 11-28. (18 pp)

GJ 302-2: Journalism and conflict

• Andresen, Kenneth (2015) Journalism under pressure: The case of Kosovo. PhD dissertation, University of Oslo. Pp. 3-15, 20-27, 73-97 and 191-199. (42 pp)
• Hoxha, Abit and Thomas Hanitzsch (2018) How conflict news comes into being: Reconstructing ‘reality’ through telling stories. Media, War & Conflict 11(1): 46-64. (19 pp)
• Jurrat, Nadine (2016) Media development in regions of conflict, transitional countries, and closed societies. Report, DW Academie. Available from: https://m.dw.com/downloads/35706157/dw-akademiejurrat-media-development-in-regions-of-conflict2016.pdf (16 pp)
• Loyn, David (2007) Good journalism or peace journalism? Conflict and Communication Online 6(2). Available at: http://cco.regener-online.de/2007_2/pdf/loyn.pdf. (10 pp)
• Lynch, Jake and Annabel McGoldrick (2005) Peace journalism. Gloucestershire: Hawthorn Press. Pp. 1-32. (32 pp)
• Orgeret, Kristin Skare and William Tayeebwa (eds.) (2016). Journalism in conflict and post-conflict conditions: Worldwide perspectives. Göteborg: Nordicom. Pp. 7-62, 99-128 and 147-168. (108 pp)
• Paterson, Chris, Kenneth Andresen and Abit Hoxha (2012). The manufacture of an international news event. The day Kosovo was born. Journalism 13(1): 103-120. (18 pp)
• Skjerdal, Terje (2011a) The Somali media and their peace-building potential. Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies 11(1): 27-50. (24 pp)

GJ 302-3: Digital media and development

• Breuer, Anita, Todd Landman and Dorothea Farquhar (2015) Social media and protest mobilization: Evidence from the Tunisian revolution. Democratization 22(4): 764-792. (29 pp)
• Cottle, Simon (2011) Media and the Arab uprising of 2011: Research notes. Journalism 12(5): 647-659. (13 pp)
• Dobra, Alexandra (2012) The democratic impact of ICT in Africa. Africa Spectrum 47(1): 73-88. (16 pp)
• Dralega, Carol Azungi (2009) Bridging the digital divides: Exploring the principles of the community multimedia centre model in Uganda. In Helge Rønning and Kristin Skare Orgeret (eds.), Power of communication: Changes and challenges in African media, 285-310. Oslo: Unipub. (26 pp)
• Howard, Philip N. and Muzammil M. Hussain (2013) Democracy’s fourth wave? Digital media and the Arab Spring. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. 17-34 and 89-102. (32 pp)
• Yu, Haiqing (2011) Beyond gatekeeping: J-blogging in China. Journalism 12(4): 379-393. (15 pp)