Programme
Please Note:
The specialisms differ not only in their content but in approach. It is your responsibility to choose your specialism carefully as it is not possible to switch once the programme has started.
The Amsterdam Specialism
Semester dates
Semester 3, University of Amsterdam
September 2011 – January 2012
Semester 4, University of Amsterdam
February 2012 – July 2012
Communicating Europe: media and politics
European politics is significantly shaped by global transnational forces and, at the same time, a key player in globalization itself. The specialism track at the University of Amsterdam examines European politics and its role in globalization from the perspective of political communication. Key questions are: How do the news media operate in a transnational public sphere, such as the European Union (EU)? How do these media contribute to the (re)articulation of global and local politics? How does the news coverage of public affairs influence citizen’s perceptions, opinions and behavior, and affect the relationships between EU member states, European and non-European publics, governments, and other institutions?
During the first semester, students specializing in Amsterdam take three required modules: (1) Communicating Europe, (2) Journalism, Politics and the Media and (3) Transformations in European Media, Journalism and Governance. At the end of the first semester students take a research methods course that prepares for the dissertation.
The second semester is almost fully dedicated to the dissertation module. For their dissertation, students conduct original empirical research about a topic within the broad theme of media and politics, which involves European actors (European nation-states, politicians, citizens, economic interests, media, etc.). Next to their dissertation work students select one elective in the second semester.
Upon completion of the program, students are particularly well-equipped to work in the media as in-depth reporters or news editors specialized on European affairs, as well as on national and transnational politics more generally. Graduates are also excellent candidates for jobs in governmental, supra-governmental, and non-governmental organizations, including EU institutions and other agencies that deal with European politics and social affairs.
Program
Journalism, Politics and the Media – 12 Ects
Communicating Europe – 6 Ects
Transformations in European Media, Journalism & Governance – 6 Ects
Elective – 6 Ects
Dissertation module, including method – 30 Ects
Scheme
Course Descriptions
Module 1: Communicating Europe
Over the years, Brussels has acquired an extensive amount of competences and power in various areas of policy, yet citizen engagement with and support for the European project has dwindled. The EU is often considered an elitist project, and opinion polls in various member states report increasingly critical public attitudes towards advanced integration of Europe. This seminar deals with European integration and the behavior of both the elites and the masses. It touches upon both political science and political communication strand of the vast literature on European integration.
A first focus of the seminar is the issue of European integration in the eyes of voters and the political elites. Much attention is given to the questions of how, why and under which circumstances issues linked to European integration play a role in elections to the European Parliament, and in elections to the national parliaments of the EU Member States. Furthermore, causes and effects of support for European integration will be discussed more generally.
Secondly, political campaigning in referendums is a key focus of the seminar. Referendums play an increasingly important role in EU political decision making, and their outcomes are crucial to the progression of European integration (see, for example, the 2005 rejections of the European Constitutional Treaty in the French and Dutch referendums).
Module 2: Journalism, Politics and the Media
The seminar focuses on the interplay between journalism and politics in modern democratic societies. It addresses different models and conceptions of political journalism, the role of journalism in society, ethical considerations, issues of freedom of speech, and the question of what represents “good” political journalism today. This seminar also deals with (non)government communication, that is, with how politicians, parties, NGOs and interest groups interact with the media and citizens. Participants read both classic and contemporary texts about news production, journalism, media, and political systems. Sessions will be reserved to discuss new developments in the organization of news production and to focus on issues such as globalization and the economy.
Module 3: Transformations in European Media, Journalism and Governance
This course examines the recent transformations in the European media and journalism landscape and discusses how these transformations can be critically assessed. Where the press often developed from party newspapers to commercially driven enterprises, European broadcast media until the 1980s were predominantly national, public, supply-driven, paternalistic, and information-oriented. Over the last twenty-five years, European media have largely become international, commercial, demand-driven, consumerist and more entertainment-oriented, while the internet has introduced new domains in and new ways of thinking about the media landscape. The course focuses on both the positive and negative implications of the new European media landscape on media production in general and on journalism in particular.
Grounded on the notion of public sphere and on the media’s democratic potential, the course pays special attention to how media responsibility and accountability can be safeguarded, regulated and governed in a context which is under pressure and changing. Traditionally press governance relied on self regulation. After World War II, the welfare state stepped in as the most important instrument for securing particularly the broadcast media’s compliance with the public interest. However, in the last three decades, the market has regained its primacy. In this context, the development of new media governance arrangements in Europe, on a national and on EU level, must respond to major transformations in technology (convergence) and society (individualization, postmodern citizenship), while taking into account new approaches towards the role of and relation between state, market and civil society.
Module 4: Dissertation – including dissertation methods
The dissertation project starts straight away in September when two or three dissertation groups are formed in which students and supervisors/mentors not only discuss students’ expectations, experiences and choices in the program, but also make a start on forming ideas about possible topics and research questions for the dissertation. The dissertation methods module is the next step in the preparation of the thesis. The second semester continues with further literature study, data collection and analysis and writing of the dissertation. In this period, the dissertation supervisors/mentors meet with their students in colloquium style meetings to discuss progress, problems and solutions.
