Course content

In today's society, the media are among the most central social institutions. Much of what we know about our world do we know from traditional and new media. Mediated communication is central in many societal areas, for example politics, economy, culture, people’s working and private life. Understanding, explaining and critically reflecting on current social developments thus requires an understanding of the role of the media in our society.

The course provides an introduction to the study of media and mediated communication from a sociological perspective, focusing on the societal role and importance of traditional and new media. It introduces into central theories, concepts and methods for researching the relationship between media and society. By doing so, the course addresses a broad range of subfields of media sociology: media history, media structures, communicators (e.g. journalists, political actors), media types (e.g. newspapers, television, internet, social media, search engines, artificial intelligence), media content, media use, and media effects. It discusses how structural circumstances (e.g., in media systems, in political systems and in media organizations) influence communication (e.g., in news media coverage or on social media), how media and communication influence our society as a whole and us as individuals, and which societal chances and risks result therefrom. The course takes up current discussions related to the media (e.g., the increasing influence of social media and artificial intelligence on our society, media and gender equality, filter bubbles, echo chambers). Interactive exercises and discussions between students are used to increase student learning.

The course has overlap with SOS2009 Media and Society. Both courses have joint teaching.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student has:

• up-to date knowledge on and understanding of central theories, concepts and methods in the study on the media’s role in society.
• proper knowledge on media-sociological perspectives on current societal developments related with traditional and new media.
• proper knowledge of opportunities and risks associated with the media for society.

Skills

After completing the course, the student can:

• explain central theories and concepts in the sociology of media.
• apply central theories and concepts in the sociology of media to current societal events and developments related to the media.
• critically reflect on opportunities and risks associated with the media for society.
• design and conduct a quantitative content analysis.

Learning methods and activities

4 hours of lectures (including student-active learning activities) every week throughout the semester. 2 hours of group seminars and supervision in weeks related to work with the compulsory term paper (3 meetings in total). Both lectures and group seminars include academic writing training. The student must hand in a compulsory term paper in which a quantitative content analysis is conducted. The term paper can be written individually or in groups of up to four students. The topic of the term paper must be approved by the course coordinator.

Compulsory activities: The term paper has to be approved.

Length of the term paper: Approximately 4500 words (12 pages)

The term papers will only be offered, supervised and approved during the spring semester.

The lectures are held in English or Norwegian.

Compulsory assignments

• Approved term paper

Recommended previous knowledge

SOS1000 or the equivalent.

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

To be given at the start of the course.

Credit reductions