- Docente: Alice Mattoni
- Credits: 8
- SSD: SPS/08
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Media, Public and Corporate Communication (cod. 5703)
Learning outcomes
The course aims to develop an in-depth knowledge of how political campaigns and social mobilisations develop in highly digitised and increasingly data-driven contexts. Those who participate in the course will be able to: (1) critically discuss the main concepts and different theoretical approaches that have recently emerged in the literature in relation to the use of digital media in political campaigns and social mobilisations; (2) understand how the digitisation and datafication processes typical of our societies intersect with the different practices that support political campaigns and social mobilisations; (3) recognise the challenges and opportunities that different types of digital media bring to the organisation, implementation and maintenance of political campaigns and social mobilisations; (4) evaluate specific cases of political campaigns and social mobilisations in relation to the use of digital media within a broader communication strategy.
Course contents
The course is divided into three parts. The first part presents and discusses some key aspects of understanding the context in which political campaigns and social mobilisations take place, also considering some important characteristics of social actors who organise political campaigns and social mobilisations. The second part examines different types of digital media and how they are used to support political campaigns and social mobilisations, including by discussing some new and emerging forms of activism in the age of digital media and technologies. This part of the course will also explore the relationship between journalism and activism in the light of the digitalisation processes that have developed in recent decades. Finally, the third part will present and discuss the group work that those attending the course as participants will have developed during the ten-week course, focusing on the analysis of the communication strategy of a political campaign or social mobilisation. Listed below are the topics covered each week. The list of compulsory and recommended readings can be found on the Virtual Platform.
PART 1 - CONTEXTS AND PRACTICES OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND MOBILISATIONS
WEEK 1
Day 1: Introduction to the course and formation of working groups
Day 2: Some basic definitions of political campaigns and social mobilisations
WEEK 2
Day 1: The context of political campaigns and social mobilisations: political opportunities
Day 2: The context of political campaigns and social mobilisations: discursive opportunities
WEEK 3
Day 1: Resources and organisational structures of political campaigns and social mobilisations
Day 2: Political campaigns, social mobilisations and interpretative frameworks
PART 2 - MEDIA AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, SOCIAL MOBILISATIONS AND ACTIVIST JOURNALISM
WEEK 4
Day 1: Social Media, Digital Platforms and Activism
Day 2: The Logic of Connective Action
WEEK 5
Day 1: Analytical Activism and Big Data
Day 2: Big and Small Data Activism
WEEK 6
Day 1: Information Activism and Digital Platforms
Day 2: Activist Journalism
WEEK 7
Day 1: Alternative Digital Media and Journalism
Day 2: Video Activism and Journalism
WEEK 8
Day 1: Algorithmic Politics and Visibility
Day 2: Artificial Intelligence, Political Campaigning and Mobilizations
PART 3 - PLANNING POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL MOBILISATIONS
WEEK 9
Day 1: Group Work Presentations
Day 2: Group Work Presentations
WEEK 10
Day 1: Group Work Presentations
Day 2: Group Work Presentations
Readings/Bibliography
Readings for those attending the course regularly
The compulsory readings will be listed via the Virtual Platform at the beginning of the course. All these readings must be read, understood and studied by the end of the course and in preparation for the final examination.
A person who attends at least 70 % of the lectures is considered to be participating in the course. Attendance will be taken in class each day from the second week onwards.
Readings for those who do not attend the course regularly
Those who do not attend the course regularly must read, understand and study
- all the compulsory readings listed in the Virtual Platform
- three other texts to be agreed with the lecturer well in advance for the final examination
Teaching methods
Lectures, analysis of case studies, class discussions, group work, class presentations.
Assessment methods
Methods of assessment and evaluation of learning for those who attend the course regularly
Learning will be assessed through both group and individual work. More in detail:
Group work
- In-class presentation of two case studies of the group's choice. The presentation should last 20 minutes and be supported by 5-10 Power Point slides (10% of the final grade)
- Final paper (4,000-5,000 words, excluding references) in which the analysis of the case study of the group's choice is presented, linking and supporting the presentation of the case study and its analysis also through the readings assigned during the course. The paper must be handed in by the beginning of the summer exam session and the exact date will be communicated at the beginning of the course (20% of the final grade)
Please note: detailed instructions on in-class presentation and final paper will be given at the beginning of the course, during the first week, and during the course, before the presentation and at the end of the course for the final paper. The marks received for these two tests of learning through group work will be the same for each group member. No exceptions will be made and it is up to the group participants to organise their work as best they can, distributing it equally among all.
Individual work
- Oral exam that will focus on the contents - duly studied - of the compulsory readings and all the lectures (70% of the final grade)
Methods of assessment and evaluation of learning for those who do not attend the course regularly
Learning will be assessed by the following methods
- Final paper (6,000-7,000 words, bibliography excluded) discussing one of the topics addressed during the course through the comparison of two case studies, to be agreed well in advance with the lecturer (40% of the final grade)
- Oral exam that will focus on the contents - duly studied - of the compulsory readings and three additional textbooks, one in Italian and the others in English, which will be communicated by the lecturer on the Virtual platform at the beginning of the course (60% of the final grade).
Teaching tools
Power Point Presentations, Multimedia Content, Virtuale Platform
Office hours
See the website of Alice Mattoni