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News Theory - 1st and 2nd semester

Objectives

a) To contribute to the formation of citizens able to “read, listen and watch” the news items in a reflexive and critical way;
b) To better understand the several constraints of the journalistic field;
c) To reflect about the journalist and the journalistic field’s role in a democratic society, having in mind the implicit definitions of the democratic theory;
d) To discuss the activity of journalists, using current examples to trigger debate and reflection between students;
e) To reflect about the future of journalism and its current challenges in democratic societies.

General characterization

Code

711011049

Credits

6

Responsible teacher

Marisa Torres da Silva

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

n.a.

Bibliography

• Traquina, N. (2002). O que é: Jornalismo. Lisboa: Quimera.
• Chalaby, J. (2003). “O jornalismo como invenção anglo-americana. Comparação entre o desenvolvimento do jornalismo francês e anglo-americano (1830-1920)”, Media & Jornalismo, 3: 29-50.
(Aula de 1 de Outubro)
• O’Neill, D.; Harcup, T. (2009). “News values and selectivity”, Karin Wahl-Jorgensen & Thomas Hanitzch (eds), Handbook of Journalism Studies. London: Routledge. pp. 161-174.
• Heinonen, A. (2011). “The journalist’s relationship with users. New dimensions to conventional roles”, Jane B. Singer et al. (eds), Participatory journalism. Guarding open gates at online newspapers. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. pp. 34-55.
• Hedman, U.; Djerf-Pierre, M. (2013). “The social journalist”. Digital Journalism 1 (3): 368-385.
• Kovach, B; Rosenstiel, T. (2004). Os elementos do jornalismo. O que os profissionais do jornalismo devem saber e o público deve exigir, Porto: Porto Editora.

Teaching method

The teaching methodologies include the presentation of the syllabus, texts discussion and debate around specific cases of current journalism
In class teaching.

Evaluation method

The evaluation includes two items: 1) Written test (70%); 2) Other elements (30%) – quality of the students participation; Critical review (around 4000 words) of one of the texts provided in the beginning of the semester.

Subject matter

1. Journalism and democracy – a historical account of journalism’s evolution in democratic societies;
2. The professionalization of journalism and the rising of a professional authority;
3. The journalistic community – a certain way of understanding the world? Norms, values, and professional competences;
4. The theories of journalism. From “mirroring reality” to “newsmaking”;
5. News values;
6. Current and future challenges to journalism.