Political Communication
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| INCM2059 | School of International Communications | 2 | 10 | Autumn China |
- Code
- INCM2059
- School
- School of International Communications
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn China
Summary
This module discusses the role of political communication in (non) democratic states and addresses the relationship between politics, media, and democracy. Tracing the history of political communication through the Twentieth Century, the module shows how early practices have developed across this period into the practices seen today. This module will consider how governments and political parties communicate with various constituencies: journalists, directly to the public, and with other governments and parties.
The main focus of this module is on political communication in the USA and the UK, and discusses how their differing political systems impact on the communication strategies that are implemented. This module also addresses the use of digital and social media by governments and political parties.
Please note: This module is assessed at the end of Autumn semester. First sit/ Re-sit exams are scheduled normally in the summer and can take the same form as the missing/ failed component of the assessment (exam, essay etc.) or other form, as decided by the School.
Target Students
IC and IS students
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework: 2000 words
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
• to familiarise students with the history of political communication;• to educate students on the functioning of political communication in Western democracies, and the relationship between politics, media and democracy;• to enable students to understand spin, and the ways in which it is limited by various state bodies and regulations;• to enable students to understand how political parties and governments communicate with the press, the public, and other partiesLearning Outcomes
• a) Knowledge and Understanding: This module will provide students with an understanding of:
o the functioning of political communication within Western mass democracies;
o the historical developments in political communication techniques;
o theories that underpin the rationale for political communication in a democracy.
• b) Intellectual Skills: This module will encourage:
o Application of particular models and theories to real world examples and case studies;
o Critical awareness in assessing the functioning of ‘spin’ and the tactics that are employed by governments and political parties;
o The development of a critical perspective on political communication techniques.
• c) Transferable (Key) Skills: This module will enhance transferable skills such as:
o Retrieving and communicating complex information and argument clearly in oral (seminars) and written forms (exam);
o Planning and organisation skills, including working to deadline and managing resources.
Conveners
- Dr Stephen Goulding