11332 - Political Communication

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on the relationships between political systems and mass media and on the communication strategies of political actors. Students are expected: to learn which mechanisms rule the information flux between politicians, mass media and citizens; to understand the central role of the mass media for a good functioning of the contemporary democracies; to achieve an extensive knowledge of the electoral campaigns and of the media effects on political participation and voting.

Course contents

1. The field of political communication. 2. The transformation of election campaigns in Italy and abroad: premodern, modern, and postmodern campaigns. 3. How a strategy of political communication is constructed. 4. The contents of political communication on the mass media. 5. The audience and effects of political communication. 6. Digital media, election campaigns, and political communication.

Readings/Bibliography

Campus, D. (2008), Comunicazione politica: Le nuove frontiere. Roma, Bari: Laterza.

Grandi, R., Vaccari, C. (2013), Come si vincono le elezioni: Elementi di comunicazione politica. Roma: Carocci.

Vaccari, C. (2012), La politica online: Internet, partiti e cittadini nelle democrazie occidentali. Bologna: Il Mulino. 

Teaching methods

The course will be based mostly on taught classes, but will also feature in-depth sessions on issues suggested by the students. A continuous discussion of the issues taught in the course will be made possible by a Facebook group and the #mmpunibo hashtag on Twitter.

Assessment methods

Written exam. 50% of the grade will be based on multiple-choice questions or questions with short answers; the other 50% will be based on open-ended questions.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations, screening of documentary films, and practical exercises, among which the simulation of an election campaign.

Office hours

See the website of Cristian Vaccari