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Comparative Media Systems

Code: 42451 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
4313227 Media, Communication and Culture OT 0

Contact

Name:
Mercedes Diez Jimenez
Email:
merce.diez@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

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


Prerequisites

It is recommended (although not essential) a certain training in Structure and Communication Policies. The module is proposed thinking that it can bring together graduates in various areas of the Social Sciences, also coming from different geographical areas. It is essential to be linguistically competent in English, as well as in Spanish, in order to be able to work on the bibliography planned for the follow-up of the module.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The concept of media system refers to the set of economic, political and social actors that contribute to the articulation of social communication processes in a given territory (which may or may not be a State) and the interrelationships that are established between them. At the same time, the study of media systems can not be separated from the historical-cultural context in which they emerge, nor from other factors that can alter their configuration, such as technological advances and economic globalization (which tend to standardize systems ).

In this module we start with the proposal of comparative analysis of media systems made in 2004 by Hallin and Mancini, focused on its political dimension, to achieve the following objectives:

a) Review the theoretical model of Hallin and Mancini, as well as the criticisms he has received and the replies from the same authors, with the purpose of reflecting on their suitability and applicability in different contexts.

b) From the previous reflection, propose a case study on a specific aspect of a media system taking into account the dimensions and variables most suitable for study.


Competences

  • Analyse the impact of media groups' strategies of social communication with the aim of promoting new, participative forms of culture and communication.
  • Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously.
  • Lead and work in interdisciplinary teams.
  • Plan, direct and evaluate policies on culture and communication in both the local and the international fields using the new forms of social communication
  • Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyze and evaluate public communication policies.
  2. Continue the learning process, to a large extent autonomously.
  3. Designing and evaluating communication policies in the new technological environment.
  4. Identify and analyze access of civil society to the media.
  5. Identify and analyze the role of emerging actors (social) media systems.
  6. Identify and analyze the role of hegemonic actors (economic and political) in media systems.
  7. Lead and work in interdisciplinary teams.
  8. Use acquired knowledge as a basis for originality in the application of ideas, often in a research context.

Content

Eight of the ten sessions of the module will be structured around the following axes:
1 Presentation of the course and delimitation of the concept and articulating elements of the media systems.
2 Sociopolitical theories and dimensions of analysis in the work of Hallin and Mancini
3 Pluralized pluralist media systems
4 Corporate democratic media systems
5 Liberal media systems
6 The homogenization of the models
7 Criticisms and replies to the proposal of Hallin and Mancini
8 Applicability in other contexts
 
The two remaining sessions will be devoted to the presentation and discussion of the case studies (application of the Hallin and Mancini model to specific systems) carried out by the students. Depending on the number of students enrolled, the schedule provided for the presentations of the case studies may vary slightly.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Seminar 15 0.6 2, 7, 8
theory 15 0.6 2, 7, 8
Type: Supervised      
Evaluation 3 0.12 2, 8
tutorials 9 0.36 2, 8
Type: Autonomous      
personal study 105 4.2 2, 8

The teaching approach of the subject combines sessions of face-to-face class with a regulated activity of autonomous and individual work on the part of the students. The face-to-face sessions will be based on: 1) teacher's expositions; 2) debates around the issues examined, based on readings indicated to students in advance; and 3) presentation of the case studies carried out by the students.

The training activities that the students will have to develop autonomously include reading the texts that will be discussed in class, and preparing an analysis on an aspect with concrete of a media system of their choice. The discussion on the relevance and pertinence of the case studies proposed by the students will be agreed upon in class, although their follow-up will be carried out, also, through individual tutorials.

The development of the course will address the incorporation of the gender perspective, whether in the contents, sources or work dynamics.

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
essay 50% 1 0.04 2, 7, 8
follow-up test 25%25% 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

The evaluation will be based on:
a) Two follow-up tests that will verify to what extent the key ideas of the readings, the exhibitions and the debates made in the face-to-face sessions have been understood. Each one will be equivalent to 25% of the final grade.
b) The analysis of a specific aspect of the media system agreed upon with each student. It will be assessed from a brief essay (about 10 pages) and its presentation to the group.
 
The qualification of this work, which will be 50% of the final grade, will also take into account the preparation and execution of the oral presentation.
All evaluation activities are recoverable, provided that at least two have been made. To make the recovery it is necessary to have obtained a score between 3.5 and 4.9 in the average of the subject. The qualification of the tests that have passed the recovery will be a maximum of 5.
In case you can not attend one of the two follow-up tests for a justified reason that is documented, the student may be evaluated on this part on the day of the re-evaluation test. If the absence can not be justified, the percentage that corresponds to this test will be subtracted from the final grade.


Bibliography

BRÜGGEMANN, Michael; ENGESSER, Sven and alt. (2014). “Hallin and Mancini Revisited: Four Empirical Types of Western Media Systems”. Journal of Communication 64, 1.037-1.065.

ESSER, Frank and HANITZSCH, Thomas. (eds.) (2012): Handbook of Comparative Communication Research (ICA Handbook Series). Nova York i Londres: Routledge. 

GIBBONS, Thomas and HUMPHREYS, Peter (2011): Audiovisual regulation under pressure: comparative cases from North America and Europe. Nova York: Routledge.

GUERRERO, Manuel A. (2014) “The “captured liberal” model of media systems en Latin America”, en Guerrero, Manuel A. y Márquez-Ramírez, Mireya (eds.). Media Systems and Communication Policies en Latin America. Basingstoke, Hamps.: Palgrave Macmillan

HALLIN, Daniel C. and MANCINI, Paolo (2008). Sistemas de medios comparados. Tres modelos de relación entre los medios de comunicación y la política. Barcelona: Hacer.

HALLIN, Daniel C. and MANCINI, Paolo (2010). "Comparing Media Systems: a Response to Critics". Media & Jornalismo, núm. 17, vol. 9, núm. 2, pp.53-67

HALLIN, Daniel C. and MANCINI, Paolo (2012): Comparing Media Systems Beyond the Western World. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.

HALLIN, Daniel C. and MANCINI, Paolo (2016): "Ten Years After Comparing Media Systems: What Have We Learned?". Political Communication, vol. 34, 2017, Issue 2, pàgs. 155-171. Publicat en línia 31-10-2016 [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10584609.2016.1233158].

HALLIN, Daniel C. and PAPATHANASSOPOULOS, Stylianos (2002): “Political clientelism and the media: southern Europe and Latin America in comparative perspective”. Media, Culture & Society, març 2002, nº 24, pàgs. 175-195.

HARDY, Jonathan. (2008).Western Media Systems. Londres: Routledge.

HUMPRECHTEdda; CASTRO HERRERO, Laia; BLASSNIG, Sina; BRÜGGEMANN, Michael i ENGESSERSven (2022). "Media systems in the digital ageAn empiricalcomparison of 30 countries". Journal of Communication, 72(2),145-164. 

HUMPRECHTEdda; CASTRO HERRERO, Laia; BLASSNIG, Sina; BRÜGGEMANN, Michael i ENGESSERSven (2022). "Media systems in the digital ageAn empiricalcomparison of 30 countries". Journal of Communication, 72(2), 145-164. 

LABIO, Aurora; RUBIRA, Rainer i POCEVICIENE, Rasa (2024). "Communication Policies and Media Systems: Revisiting Halling and Mancini Model". Media and Communication. Vol 12 https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.i430 

JAKUBOWICZ, Karol and SÜKÖSD, Miklós (2008). Finding the Right Place on the Map. Central and Eastern European Media Change in a Global Perspective. Bristol, UK/Chicago, USA: Intellect Books

MELLADO, Claudia; HELLMUELLER, Lea and alt. (2017). “The Hybridization of Journalistic Cultures: A Comparative Study of Journalistic Role Performance”. Journal of Communication, november 2017.

MELLADO, Claudia and LAGOS, Claudia (2013). "Redefining comparative analyses of media systems from the perspective of new democracies". Communication&Society/ Comunicación y Sociedad, vol. 26, n.4, pp. 1-24

PUPPIS, Manuel and JUST, Natascha (eds.) (2012): Trends in Communication Policy Research. Intellect Books - European Communication Research and Education Association.

 


Software

No specific software is required


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 40 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon