History and Theories of Journalism
Code
722011135
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Ciências da Comunicação
Credits
10
Teacher in charge
Carla Baptista
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To understand journalism as an historical built field and the making of a media history and a journalism history. b) To relate journalistic production and the media systems with the economical and the political systems.
c) To analyse the diverse media systems and its articulation with the historical contexts, differeciating the european tradition from the north american tradition.
d) To discussion the effects imposed by globalized journalism dynamics: can we think journalism without journalists or newspapers without journalism? To identify the journalistic discourses in the digital context and the remaining processes of selection, editing and narrating information. To include into the discussion the new information and entertainment producers and the new consumption habits through citizen journalism, social networks shared contents, bloggers and twitters. To seek answers to the following question: will journalism survive in the future and how will it survive?
e) To reinforce the notion of social responsibility of the media towards the society and the citizens. To discuss ethical boundaries of journalistic action, in an historical and comparative perspective. To present forms of internal and external regulation of journalism.
f) Case study: continuities and changes in the portuguese journalism history, from 1960 until the present.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
This course approaches journalism as a social field, in a double perspective: from the theoretical point of view (the theories); and from the social and cultural contexts (the history). The journalistic theories are seen as analytical frameworks to look at the ways in which journalism operates within social life. We propose a critical reading of journalism, and will stress the particular geographical, cultural and historical experience of journalism, both as a social field but also as an academic discipline.
The programme initiates in the XIX century, with the beginning of the industrialization and professionalization of journalism, the growth of the publics and the progressive establishment of a consensus around certain professional values, like the independence, the autonomy and the objectivity. The birth of a journalistic ethics is an important part of that process, as well as the invention of a particular narrative and storytelling.
The course aims to explore a discussion that, starting from that origin, will integrate the main questions and challenges facing journalism, namely the technological changes, the changes in the main narratives, the interactions with the political and economic power and the citizens. In this perspective, we will also approach the changes occurring in journalists training and in the traditional view of newsrooms, now vanishing, as cultural spaces, where new comers would learn the rules and values of the profession.
Bibliography
1) BATISTA, Carla (2011), Apogeu, Morte e Ressurreição da Política nos Jornais Portugueses do século XIX ao Marcelismo. Lisboa: Editora Escritório.
2) BATISTA, Carla; CORREIA, Fernando (2007), Jornalistas, entre o ofício e a profissão. Lisboa: Editorial Caminho.
3) CURRAN, James (1996) Commercialism and Professionalism in the American News Media, in James Curran (ed.) Mass Communication and Society. London: Arnold.
4) McNAIR, Brian (1998), The Sociology of Journalism. London: Arnold.
5) SCHUDSON, Michael (1995), The power of news. New York: Harvard University Press.
Teaching method
The course will combine theoretical exposition with collective discussion of previous distributed texts and practical analysis of journalistic materials.
Evaluation method
Evaluation results from 3 elements:
1. A final essay, preferably with an empirical research component, related with the course contents (50%);
2. A critical reading of one of the texts indicated in the main or secondary bibliography, or any other title relevant to the course contents (25%);
3. The attendance and participation in the course, namely through the public presentation and dynamization of, at least, part of one session (25%).