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Cultural Journalism

Code: 103091 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2501933 Journalism OT 3
2501933 Journalism OT 4

Contact

Name:
David Vidal Castell
Email:
david.vidal@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

To study this subject you have to know and distinguish the great genres of journalistic writing. There must also be notions of the moment of transformation of journalism, due to the migration of media and technological 2.0.
										
											
										
											
										
											The student must be interested in the knowledge of the main cultural currents in the diverse contemporary arts, and in the way in which journalism has been related.

Objectives and Contextualisation

- To provoke curiosity in the student about the ways in which journalism has been linked to the emergence and expansion of cultural currents that have caused transformations in the ways of seeing and understanding the world within contemporary Western societies.
										
											
										
											- Propose a plausible definition of the terms 'journalism' and 'culture' - and 'cultural journalist' - that delimit the scope of interest of the subject and with which the student relates in an enriching but at the same time simple and direct way.
										
											
										
											- Train the student to acquire and develop the theoretical foundations, techniques and skills that make him a cultural communicator.
										
											
										
											- To provide the student with knowledge and critical capacity on the main creative currents of contemporaneity.
										
											
										
											- Describe and analyze the place occupied by specialized communication in culture within the media ecosystem and observe the transformations that it develops as a result of the appearance of new media and new informative and communicative tools.
										
											
										
											- Master the conventions of the main genres of cultural journalism: chronicle, interview, report, customs, criticism.
										
											
										
											- Know the main offers of contemporary cultural journalism in its various media, and also master the most relevant tradition of this type of specialized journalism.
										
											
										
											- Prepare the student to critically evaluate the different artistic and cultural manifestations

Competences

    Journalism
  • Abide by ethics and the canons of journalism, as well as the regulatory framework governing information.
  • Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
  • Be familiar with and apply the theoretical and practical foundations of journalistic writing and narrative and its applications in the different genres, media and formats.
  • Demonstrate a critical and self-critical capacity.
  • Differentiate the discipline's main theories, its fields, conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and approaches that underpin knowledge of the subject and its different areas and sub-areas, and acquire systematic knowledge of the media's structure.
  • Identify modern journalistic traditions in Catalonia, Spain and worldwide and their specific forms of expression, as well as their historic development and the theories and concepts that study them.
  • Introduce changes in the methods and processes of the field of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and demands of society.
  • Relay journalistic information in the language characteristic of each communication medium, in its combined modern forms or on digital media, and apply the genres and different journalistic procedures.
  • Research, select and arrange in hierarchical order any kind of source and useful document to develop communication products.
  • Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  • Use a third language as a working language and means of professional expression in the media.
  • Value diversity and multiculturalism as a foundation for teamwork.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the sex- or gender-based inequalities and the gender biases present in one's own area of knowledge.
  2. Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
  3. Compare the different traditions in handling specialised information.
  4. Conceptualise the theories and techniques of specialised journalism.
  5. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  6. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  7. Demonstrate a critical and self-critical capacity.
  8. Demonstrate practical knowledge of specialised journalism.
  9. Distinguish theories of journalistic writing and narrative to apply them to the different theme-based information specialisms.
  10. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  11. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  12. Incorporate the principles of professional ethics in developing narrative journalism specialised in cultural information and critique.
  13. Incorporate the principles of professional ethics in developing narrative journalism specialised in reporting on various events and everyday life.
  14. Know how to build texts in a third language that adapt to the structures of journalistic language and apply them to the different theme-based information specialisms.
  15. Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
  16. Relay in the language specific to each communication medium narrative journalism specialised in cultural information and critique.
  17. Relay in the language specific to each communication medium narrative journalism specialised in reporting on various events and everyday life.
  18. Research, select and arrange in hierarchical order any kind of source and useful document to develop communication products.
  19. Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
  20. Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  21. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  22. Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  23. Use interactive communication resources to process, produce and relay information in the production of specialised information.
  24. Value diversity and multiculturalism as a foundation for teamwork.
  25. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.

Content

1. From the transformation of the journalistic paradigm to an afterpop culture.
										
											
										
											The complexity of journalistic knowledge: a paradigm crisis. Journalism as a form of knowledge of the world. The crisis of postmodernity and liquid modernity: the absence of the word. The weak concepts of the terms culture, literature or art. Cultural journalism in the context of the speech of the press in crisis: superficiality, spectacularity, entertainment, emotionality. The avalanche infoxicado. Reference quality journalism models. Models of cultural journalism in various media.
										
											
										
											2. Journalistic writing and cultural information.
										
											
										
											The genres of discourse: a contemporary and non-normative perspective: from Aristotle to Bakhtin. The genres of cultural journalism: the chronicle, the interview, the report, the picture of customs, the criticism. Criticism as a specific genre of cultural journalism: models, routes, examples. Other models of the main genres of cultural journalism in various media.
										
											
										
											 3. Contemporary culture and cultural journalism.
										
											
										
											Introduction to contemporary culture and pop art. Two moments of transformation: a) The world of yesterday: the turn of the century in Central Europe: Zweig, Hofmannsthal, Kafka, Canetti, Roth; b) The cultural revolution of the 50s and 60s, and the rise of the beat generation, of the hippie movement, black power, the new culture of music. The role of journalism in both moments: the birth of new media and new audiences (like Rolling Stone) and new trends (New Journalism) that will transform the concept of culture and journalism - but also of being human - in the West. The digital wave as the third great moment of transformation: opportunities and challenges
										
											
										
											Within each section, and transversally, the content of the subject will be sensitive to aspects related to the gender perspective.

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom sessions 15 0.6 3, 9, 12, 16, 23
Workshop 15 0.6 3
Workshop practice session 22.5 0.9 8, 9, 16, 23
Type: Supervised      
Evaluation 7.5 0.3 3, 8, 9, 12, 16, 23
Tutorials 7.5 0.3 3, 8, 9, 12
Type: Autonomous      
Reading and study 82.5 3.3 3

First of all, the proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions.

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject.
In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.

So, if everything is normal, the course will be developed in sessions of one hour of theory and two of practice the same day of the week and once a week. In the theory the syllabus will be developed with the help of support material that will illustrate and allow to introduce elements of debate: films, examples of cultural journalism or emblematic productions of the main creative currents. The theoretical section will be completed with compulsory readings and commentary sessions in a seminary. The discussions will offer the possibility to do voluntary work of commentary of the readings. Students will participate in art exhibitions, concerts, theatrical or dance shows, either with the group or individually, to be able to work with this material throughout the semester. In order to pass the theoretical part of the subject, it will be necessary to regularly follow the tutorials of the professor at the time of office, which will guide on the preparation of two essays that will give the final grade. Every one of them gets 40% of the final grade in thepory; the other 20% will come from the work in every sessions, in the classroom Thepractice hours will be invested in developing applied knowledge with the help of the teachers. This will lead to instrumental or propedéutic type practices and the final practices of each block -popular. The scoring practices will be three, but also the correct and constant follow-up of the course, as well as the work of progression in the instrumental works, will be taken into account. The practices will be the genres of Cultural Journalism: chronicle, interview, report, criticism and essay. THEORY: THERE WILL NOT BE SESSIONS IN WHICH THE PUNISHABLE EVALUATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT, BUT THEM SESSIONS IN WHICH THE PUNTABLE THEORY'S TESTS WILL BE SUPPLIED.
PRACTICE.
										
											
										
											The practice hours will be invested in developing applied knowledge with the help of the teachers. This will lead to instrumental or propedéutic type practices and the final practices of each block -popular. The scoring practices will be FOUR, but also the correct and constant follow-up of the course, as well as the progression work in the instrumental works, will be taken into account. The practices will be the genres of Cultural Journalism: chronicle, interview, report and criticism.
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											DELIVERY CALENDAR (APPROXIMATE)
										
											
										
											4th SESSION. DELIVERY OF THE FIRST CHRONICLE. (20%)
										
											
										
											7th SESSION: DELIVERY OF THE SECOND CHRONICLE (20%)
										
											
										
											10 SESSION. DELIVERY OF THE INTERVIEW-portrait (20%)
										
											
										
											14th SESSION: DELIVERY OF THE FIRST CRITICISM (THEATER) (20%)
										
											
										
											17th SESSION: DELIVERY OF THE SECOND CRITICISM (BOOK) (20%)
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											The evaluation will be done by continuous evaluation; If the final grade of each group manager is suspended (but above 3,5, and with the minimum of works done, which means 4 of the 5), he must be able to carry out a recovery work, within the expected and viable deadlines, which will typically consist of the repetition of that practice or suspended writing practices


Both will be explained in the context of the theoretical development of the subject; The first one, referring to the first part of the theory of the course, will be delivered around the theory session 14. The second essay will be delivered at the last course session of the course. The final grade of theory is obtained with the sum of the two essays; If it is suspended but it is more than 3 a return mentoring can be carried out where it will be responsible for a new recovery work.

In the case of a second enrolment, students can do a single synthesis exam/assignment that will consist of a practice test with 2 of the three genres practiced, and a final theory test.The grading of the subject will correspond to the grade of the synthesis exam/assignment.

 

The student who performs any irregularity (copy, plagiarism, identity theft...) will be qualified with 0 in this assignment or exam. In case there are several irregularities, the final grade of the subject will be 0.

 

 

 






Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Participation in debates, seminars and voluntary work 10% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Tutoring writting of two critical analysis work and classroom work 30% 0 0 3, 4, 19, 20, 21, 23
Write two reviews 20% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Writing of two informative genres (interview and chronicle) 40% 0 0 3, 4, 8, 9, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

 
The theoretical part of the subject will be worth 40% of the grade and the practical part 60%, although both must be overcome in order to be able to pass the subject. The evaluation system will be continuous and will assess the progress of the student, prioritizing the final level reached and the progression above the average of the grades obtained in the practices. The re-evaluation will be based on the practices that have been suspended, up to a maximum of two repetitions. Regarding the theoretical part, the supervised nature of the work means that de facto the reassessment is carried out in the work in progress. In case of not overcoming the work, students can take the theoretical level test. The general framework of the evaluation and re-evaluation of this subject follows the ad hoc instructions approved by the Faculty Board of 05/05/2016, among which, the following: 1. Faculty degree subjects must plan recovery systems (re-evaluation activities) in accordance with the academic regulations of the UAB (article 112.2) and with the document approved at the Faculty of Communication Sciences Board on June 1, 2012 on the programming of reassessment activities the subjects of the degree studies. 2. Students who have participated in the continuous evaluation and suspend the theory can recover it provided they have obtained a minimum score of 3 points -though a teacher can determine a lower grade-, and have made the ordinary revision. Each teaching team will determine, according to the specificity of the subject, if there are other recoverable tests. If this is the case, it will decide the conditions that each student must reach in order to submit to the recovery and the maximum grade to which he / she can choose, which must be included in the teaching guide. 3. The grade obtained in the recovery of the theory will be the final note of this part. The result of this activity should not represent the final grade.

Re-evaluation THEORY If the result of the two tests ordered does not pass but exceeds 3 points, the theory teacher will carry out a tutored return with the student and will commission a new recovery job that must be assumable within the time available.

PRACTICAL re-evaluation If the final grade of practice, which is obtained, as has been explained, by continuous evaluation, is suspended, but higher than 3, the faculty will have writing assignments that serve as a recovery within the deadlines set by the calendar as a period of reevaluation, in the month of June. These works will be, typically, the repetition of the practices or the por- tics that has been suspended.
Not assessable
Students will not be assessed if they do not submit: the two partial theory papers and 75% of the written practicals.

This subject offers the possibility of a single assessment. The conditions for being assessed and evaluated with this modality will be explained on the first day of class

 
 

Bibliography

Aleksiévitx, Svetlana (2015) Temps de segona mà. Barcelona: Raig verd.

Aleksiévitx, Svetlana (2016) La pregària de Txernòbyl. Barcelona. Raig Verd.

Azua, Fèlix. (2002)Diccionario de las Artes. Barcelona: Anagrama.

Bajtin, Mikhaïl M. (1985) Estética de la creación verbal. México: Siglo XXI.

Bloom, Harold. (1997) El canon occidental. Barcelona: Anagrama.

Bly, Nellie (2018) La vuelta al mundo en 72 días y otros escritos

Calabrese, Omar. (1989) La era neobarroca. Madrid: Cátedra, 1989.

 

Casals, Josep. (2003) Afinidades vienesas. Barcelona: Anagrama.

Chillón, Albert. (1999) Literatura y periodismo. Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès): Aldea Global.

Duch, Lluís. (1995) Mite i cultura. Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.

Gayà, Catalina (2017) El mar es tu espejo. Madrid: Libros del K.O.

Guerrero, Leila (2009) Frutos extraños. Madrid. Alfaguara.

Hofmannsthal, Hugo. (1980) “Una carta”, dins d’Els Marges, 20, pp. 90-98.

Kamiya, Gary. (2009): “La muerte de las noticias”. En Espada, A. y Hernández Busto, E. (eds.): El fin de los periódicos. Barcelona: Duomo, pp 101-110.

Lyon, David. (1996) Postmodernidad. Barcelona: Alianza editorial.

Lyotard, JeanFrançois. (1987) La postmodernidad. Barcelona: Gedisa.

 

Pisan, F. y Piotet, D. (2008): La alquimia de las multitudes: cómo la web está cambiando el mundo. Madrid: Paidós.

Polo, Irene (2003) La fascinació del periodisme. Barcelona: Quaderns Crema.

Ramonet, Ignacio. (1998) La tiranía de la comunicación. Barcelona: Debate.

Ramonet, Ignacio. (2011)  La explosión del periodismo. Madrid: Clave intelectual.

Rorty, Richard.; Apel, Karl-Otto.; Putnam, Hillary (2001). Cultura y modernidad: perspectivas filosóficas de Oriente y Occidente. Madrid: Kairós.

 Starr, Paul (2009): “Adiós a la era de los periódicos”. En Espada, A. y Hernández Busto, E. (eds.): El fin de los periódicos. Barcelona: Duomo, pp 111-141.

Steiner, George. (1980) Después de Babel. Madrid: FCE.

 Steiner, George (1982) Lenguaje y silencio. Barcelona: Gedisa.

Russell, Bertrand. (2005) Història de la filosofía. Madrid: Espasa Calpe.

Urban, Wilbur M. (1952) Lenguaje y realidad. Madrid: Visor.

Vidal Castell, David. (2002): “La transformació de la teoria del periodisme: una crisi de paradigma?”. En Anàlisi, 28, pp. 21-54.

Vidal Castell, David (2005) El malson de Chandos. Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès); Aldea Global.

Wolfe, Tom. (1976) El Nuevo Periodismo. Barcelona: Anagrama.


Software

No specific syllabus is required in this subject, with the exception of any word processor model for the preparation of written practices.

Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 11 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 12 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed