10682 - Journalistic Communication

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is familiar with the main production routines of news machine, specially referred to the development of daily press, the online journalism, the kind of work, the professional code of conduct and the business models. The student also is able to select the information in order to create news, paying attention to the most recent techniques of multimedia journalism.

Course contents

The aim of the course is to provide the knowledge and tools necessary to recognize and understand the variety of journalistic languages and the underlying communication agreements observable across different media (print, radio, television, web). The course analyzes the main production models related to the information system, with the goal of outlining the framework of modern journalism—capable of engaging with the profound changes in socio-cultural processes that have taken place in recent years.

Special attention is given to the role, function, and professional identity of the journalist; to the genres of journalistic work; to writing and headline techniques; to the logic of newsworthiness; to professional ethics and deontology; to the comparative analysis of the Italian and international media systems; and to the innovations brought to journalism by the digital environment. This includes a focus on new tools and new professional roles in the information landscape, on the use of social media both as news sources and as tools for building communities centered around news outlets—ultimately aiming to explore possible future developments in the field of information.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory texts for exams:

1. Barbano A. (in collaborazione con V. Sassu), Manuale di giornalismo, Laterza, 2012

2. Sorrentino C., Il giornalismo ha un futuro. Perché sta cambiando, come va ripensato, Il Mulino, 2025

 

Non-mandatory texts but highly recommended, especially for non-attending:

• Allotti P., Quarto potere. Giornalismo e giornalisti nell'Italia contemporanea, Carocci, 2017

• Bergamini O., La democrazia della stampa - Storia del giornalismo, Laterza, 2013

• Lorusso A. M., Postverità, Laterza, 2018

• Mazzocco D., Giornalismo online - Crossmedialità, blogging e social network: i nuovi strumenti dell'informazione digitale, Centro Documentazione Giornalistica, 2018 (terza edizione)

• McIntyre L., Post-verità, UTET Università, 2019

• Mezza M., Giornalismi nella rete. Per non essere sudditi di Facebook e Google, Donzelli, 2015

• Pulitzer J., Sul giornalismo, Bollati Boringhieri, 2009

• Smith B., Traffic, Altrecose, 2024

• Splendore S., Giornalismo ibrido. Come cambia la cultura giornalistica italiana, Carocci, 2017

• Triani G. (a cura di), Giornalismo aumentato. Attualità e scenari di una professione in rivoluzione, Franco Angeli, 2017

• Vanni C., Diario incompleto (di giornalismo e di moda), Mondadori Electa, 2023

• Zanchini G., La cultura nei media. Dalla carta stampata alla frammentazione digitale, Carocci, 2024

Teaching methods

The course alternates traditional theoretical lectures with in-class testimonials from journalists and communication experts, as well as screenings of multimedia materials related to the topics covered. Students will be expected to actively participate by contributing to the writing and headline creation of journalistic articles used in class exercises, in preparation for the final exam. These exercises will take place during the course. For this reason, attendance is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

For both attending and non-attending students, the 2025/2026 Journalism Communication exam consists of a written test that takes place exclusively in person, on a computer. Its purpose is to assess writing skills, understanding of journalistic techniques, comprehension of the two required texts, and the ability to critically reflect on the main topics and concepts.

The exam consists of writing and creating a headline for a journalistic article on a current topic selected by the instructor, as well as answering two open-ended questions: one related to the textbook and the other to the second required text. The final grade will be based on the journalistic article (worth up to 18 points, or 60% of the total) and the two questions (worth a combined total of up to 12 points, or 40% of the total).

Students will be provided with one or more news agency takeouts containing all the necessary information: the task is to select and organize the information in the correct logical and chronological order, presenting it in a news report with an appropriate headline. To prepare for the exam, students are advised to stay well-informed, paying special attention to the news in the days immediately preceding the exam. A solid understanding of newsworthiness criteria and writing/headlining techniques covered in lectures, in the textbook, and in the instructor’s notes available on the Virtuale platform is also required.

The maximum duration of the exam is four hours. The use of dictionaries is allowed, but the use of personal electronic devices of any kind (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, headphones, USB drives, external hard drives) is strictly prohibited. Students can view the correction of their exam paper on the EOL platform, where the evaluation criteria are explained in detail. The instructor allows students to reject their exam grade only once. Requests to change exam sessions assigned by AlmaEsami based on the chronological order of registration will not be considered.

Erasmus students may choose to take the exam in a language of their choice instead of Italian.

Teaching tools

The course makes use of the IT and multimedia tools available in the classrooms of the Department of the Arts. 

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities: it is strongly recommended to contact the relevant University office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en). The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the interested students, which must, however, be submitted to the instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will evaluate their appropriateness, also in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Ropa