The course will examine the relationship among political actors and institutions, different types of media and citizens, and its impact on democratic politics. It pays particular attention to the role of news media and journalism.

One hour lecture and one hour seminar, both held weekly for 10 weeks.

The course grade is based on three different pieces of work

- Assessment #1: weekly tasks and peer review (20%)

- Assessment #2: Group presentation (recorded presentation uploaded to Moodle - 15% group mark) AND ii) an individual reflective report outlining your individual contribution and responding to peer review and feedback on the group presentation (1200 words - 15% - individual mark). Combined: 30% of the overall mark

- Assessment #3: case study 3,200 words (50%)

- To introduce students to the main theoretical approaches regarding the relationship between political actors and institutions, different types of media and citizens, and its impact on democratic politics.
- To examine the normative assumptions about the role of the media in the democratic process, and how they affect how the media are funded, regulated and assessed.
- To analyse different types of biases and their causes.

- To analyse the degree and nature of the influence of different types of media on the democratic process, including on election outcomes, public opinion and public policy.
- To explore and compare the defining features of political communication over time and across countries.
- To examine the links between theory, empirical research and research methodologies in the political communication field.

By the end of the course, through essays and seminar preparation, students will be able:

- To evaluate the main theoretical approaches regarding the relationship between political actors and institutions, different types of media and citizens, and its impact on democratic politics.

- To assess the normative and actual role of different types of media and journalists in democracies.
- To explain different types of biases and their causes
- To assess the relative impact of different types of media between political actors and institutions, different types of media and citizens, and its impact on democratic politics.
- To explain the main similarities and differences in political communication over time and across countries and to explain the causes of these.
- To assess the impact of how parties and candidates campaign and use the media in the democratic process.
- To understand the links between theory, empirical research and research methodologies as they apply to the political communication field.

  Completion of summative assessment components