Ateneo - UPO

The course provides an introduction to media and communication from a sociological perspective. Following the assigned readings, it focuses on the themes of relationships, identity, and knowledge within the new digital environment. It will then address the role of media and communication in the political management of a highly topical and impactful issue, such as migration.

- Paccagnella e Vellar, "Vivere online. Identità, relazioni, conoscenza", Bologna: il Mulino, 2016;
- Pogliano, "Media, politica e migrazioni in Europa. Una prospettiva sociologica", Roma: Carocci, 2019 (chapters 1 and 2).

Basic Learning Objectives:
Knowledge and understanding: A basic knowledge of the main concepts and theories in the sociology of communication in the digital era and key media narratives of migration;
Applying knowledge and understanding: The ability to apply the acquired knowledge to concrete dynamics of contemporary societies related to digital communication and media narratives of migration.

Advanced Learning Objectives:
Knowledge and understanding: An in-depth knowledge of the main concepts and theories in the sociology of digital communication and the relationship between media and migration;
Communication skills: The ability to present the acquired knowledge clearly, demonstrating full mastery of the terminology and vocabulary;
Making judgements: The ability to critically analyze the various theories and case studies examined during the course;
Learning skills: The ability to navigate independently among the topics covered throughout the course and establish connections between them.

No preconditions are required.

The course will adopt a mixed teaching methodology: lectures, open discussions, and group analysis of media materials.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam will be a two-hour open-response written exam and will cover the course materials. To pass, students must satisfactorily answer three questions chosen from five options.

Grades are awarded on a 30-point scale based on the following criteria:
Knowledge and understanding of the main topics covered: up to 18 out of 30 points (minimum passing grade);
Ability to present the acquired knowledge clearly and effectively: up to 7 out of 30 points;
Ability to make connections between the topics covered and examine them critically and with independent judgement: up to 5 out of 30 points.

The course provides an introduction to media and communication from a sociological perspective. Following the assigned readings, it focuses on the themes of relationships, identity, and knowledge within the new digital environment.

Around the theme of relationships, digital social capital and the network society will be discussed. Regarding identity, the course will examine new identity performances through social networks as well as new collective identities. Addressing the topic of knowledge, it will cover big data, information overload, echo chambers, and fake news. In the second part of the course, attention will shift to a specific mode of knowledge production and the reproduction of ideologies by analyzing the role of news media and political communication in migration narratives.

Integration of the Gender Dimension:
Throughout the course, the gender dimension will be addressed—both in relation to representations of migration, reflecting on how gender serves as a key axis of difference for understanding the logic of power in news media representations, and by analyzing and discussing representations of violence against women.

Basic Expected Learning Outcomes:
Acquire the fundamental tools for the analysis of digital communication from a sociological perspective and journalistic representations of migration (knowledge and understanding); Apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to real-world processes in contemporary societies related to digital communication and representations of migration (applying knowledge and understanding).

Advanced Expected Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding: Know the main theoretical approaches to the sociology of digital communication and public, predominantly journalistic, representations of migration;
Communication skills: Present the acquired knowledge clearly and correctly, demonstrating full mastery of the discipline's terminology and vocabulary;
Making judgements / Independent judgement: Critically compare the different theoretical perspectives analyzed, also in order to develop an independent view regarding media and communication;
Learning skills: Acquire sound text analysis skills, including the ability to make connections between different topics.