IN the intersection of research and praxis
Welcome to examine the intersection of activism and (digital) media: https://mediaactivismandsocialchange.net/ 15.3. - 7.5.2021
Due to the coronavirus precautions, this course will meet online only between 15 March 2021 and 7 May 2021.
The course is a hybrid between synchronous and asynchronous sessions:
Mo 15/3/2021 2:15 PM–3:45 PM - Asynchronous welcome (on the website)
Fr 19/3/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Synchronous (Zoom): goals and interests, media for democracy and media democratization
Mo 22/3/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Asynchronous: Social moments in the era of social media
Fr 26/3/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Asynchronous: Media as an activist cause
Mo 29/3/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Asynchronous - Research as an ally
Fr 9/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Synchronous - Guest Outi Puukko
Mo 12/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Asynchronous - Strategies and tactics
Fr 16/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Asynchronous - YOUR strategies and tactics
Mo 19/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Synchronous - Guest Leo Custodio
Fr 23/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Synchronous, with the Activism Research Network
Mo 26/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Synchronous: your projects
Fr 30/4/2021 4:15 PM–5:45 PM - Synchronous: your projects
Mo 3/5/2021 12:15 PM–1:45 PM - Asynchronous: future challenges and opportunities
Fr 7/5/2021 2:15 PM–3:45 PM - Synchronous - Synthesis
You also have the option of participating in a symposium with the University of Padova and the University of Vienna in examining A Digital New Deal - Visions of Justice in a Post-Covid World: https://itforchange.net/digital-new-deal/
The sessions, which include lectures, discussions (and material for your final project) are:
Wed 17 March 2:30 - 4:00 PM - Introduction to the themes of A New Deal
Fri 26 March 2:30-4:30 PM - Resources
Wed 7 April 2:30-4:00 PM - Tools and expertise
Wed 14 April 2:30-5:00 PM - Student ideas
You are welcome to attend any session and use that to miss any of our regular synchronous or asynchronous sessions. If you decide to attend all four sessions, feel free to skip five (5) of our regular sessions.
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Welcome to examine the complex relationships between the media, activism and social change. We will look into three distinct approaches:
- Theories and cases of media in the service of activism for social change.
- Theories and cases of social activism pertaining to media and communication technologies themselves.
- Strategies and tactics of the above.
The course draws from some classic texts but focuses especially on digital activism.
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The core idea of this course is to mix theory and praxis, and enjoy the discovery of “doing things differently”, that is, combining academic work with artistic/strategic/journalistic efforts. Social movements consist of people who are passionate about social change. In this course, you are invited to explore an issue you care about: research it and contribute, with your ideas for an activist action, advocacy campaign, policy statements, research needed to strengthen the movement, and so on.
In addition to several case studies, some of your choices, you will have an opportunity to take an in-depth look at a research-advocacy project on digital rights, as well as contribute to the world's largest research and advocacy effort on more equal and just media representations: Who Speaks in the News (1995->).
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The course is a hybrid. We will use an open-access Wordpress site as well as other collaborative platforms.
For the asynchronous sessions, we will "meet" on the website. For the synchronous sessions, you will receive a Zoom link.
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The literature we will be using includes the following texts:
• Custodio, Leo (2017). Favela Media Activism. Lexington Books.
• Freedman, Obar, Martens, McChesney (eds. 2016). Strategies for Media Reform. International Perspectives. New York: Fordham University Press.
• Jorgensen, Rikke Frank (2019 ed.). Human Rights in the Age of Platforms. MIT Press.
• Napoli & Aslama (2011). Communications Research in Action. Fordham University Press.
• Pickard, V. & Yang G. (eds. 2017) Media Activism in the Digital Age. Routledge.
• Tufekci, Z. (2017). Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Yale University Press.
• Ziccardi, G. (2013). Resistance, Liberation Technology and Human Rights in the Digital Age. Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer.
... as well as selected journal articles, news stories, blog posts, and so on.
Timetable
Material
Literature:
· Custodio, Leo (2017). Favela Media Activism. Lexington Books.
· Freedman, Obar, Martens, McChesney (eds. 2016). Strategies for Media Reform. International Perspectives. New York: Fordham University Press.
· Napoli & Aslama (2011). Communications Research in Action. Fordham University Press.
· Pickard, V. & Yang G. (eds. 2017) Media Activism in the Digital Age. Routledge.
· Tufekci, Z. (2017). Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. Yale University Press.
· Ziccardi, G. (2013). Resistance, Liberation Technology and Human Rights in the Digital Age. Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer.
Description
The course is open for the Media and Democracy -track students of the GPC programme (they
have priority), Swedish School of Social Science's Journalistik och kommunikation and statskunskap med förvaltining -track students in the Magisterprogrammet i samhällsvetenskaper -programme and other GPC students. If there are places left, the course is also open for other master's level students and exchange students.
Upon completion of this course you will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the history and different strands of media democratization and digital rights movements. You will understand the distinction, and intersections, between media reform and media activism. You will be able to apply communication and democracy theories as well as scholarly work on social movements to cases of media activism and discuss the most important media reform and Internet rights issues and cases. You can also assess the policy strategies as well as outreach tactics of selected movements or organizations.
The lectures will be added online on Fridays 13.3.-3.4. and 17.4.-24.4.
Ranging from local and virtual community activism to national and international advocacy organizations, more and more individuals and groups are fighting for a more diverse and egalitarian media landscape. This course examines national, regional, international, and global challenges in media ecosystems - and battles over the future of quality journalism, media ownership, digital rights and internet privacy, among other issues. We will study cases of media democratization both from theoretical as well as practical perspectives and assess strategies and tactics of movement building.
Online lectures, discussions, and assignments, literature review, research project (theoretical or applied), final essay (either written or video).
- Freedman, Obar, Martens, McChesney (eds. 2016). Strategies for Media Reform. International Perspectives. New York: Fordham University Press.
- Hind A (2012). The Return of the Public. Democracy, Power, and the Case for Media Reform. Verso Books.
- Napoli & Aslama (2011). Communications Research in Action. Fordham University Press.
- Berry, D. (2014). Critical Theory and the Digital. New York: Bloomsbury.
- Scott, M. (2014). Media Development. London: Zen Books.
- Ziccardi, G. (2013). Resistance, Liberation Technology and Human Rights in the Digital Age. Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer.
A selection of scholarly articles will be distributed in the course
Grading scale 0-5 (0=fail, 1=passable, 2=satisfactory, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent)
Language of instruction: English