The course explores the main aspects and problems of the sociology of communication, from interpersonal communication to mass media, and analyses the role of digital media in contemporary society, in relation to the social, cultural and institutional transformations that characterise it.

At the end of the course, students will have mastered the main paradigms and models used in the study of communication as a complex social phenomenon; know and understand concepts and theoretical assumptions of Communication research; acquire greater awareness of the role, functions and effects of digital media.

The course program is divided into two modules.

In the first module students will acquire basic knowledge for the understanding of communication processes. There will be a focus on the understanding of the meaning of “comunication”, on the relational aspects of communication processes, on the evolution of communication media as a whole, on the questioning of their consequences on ways of living. Starting from the most recent theories, the module will try to answer the following questions: what is communication nowadays? What is communication’s role in relational processes?  And how do communication processes develop in the media ecosystem? What tools do we have, as citizens and communicators, for guiding the media in a more fruitful direction, which does not limit itself to following the steps of technological progress or market rules?

The second module discusses the main theories on the effects of mass media and the paradigms of communication research, the processes of public opinion formation and how they are received by audiences, and the transformations associated with the spread of digital communication in the daily lives of people.

Students have to reach these goals:

1. Knowledge and understanding of: languages of media and communication through a theoratical background, in particulary focusing on the cultural industry.
1.1. Students reach these basic knowledge attending lessons and studying mentioned textbooks.

2. Use of knowledge and understanding skills: analyzing media products by given methodology.
2.1. Students reach these skills by tests and laboratory activities during class hours.

3. Judging skills: critical approach on the evolving dynamics of the relation between media technologies and society, and on present transformations in mediated public interpersonal communication.
3.1. Students reach and demonstrate these skills during debates with the Professor and with the class, during tests and during the preparation of the final exam.

4. Communication ability: students have to interact during the lesson asking questions, exchanging ideas with the collegues and organizing keynotes while tested.
4.1. Students reach these skills organizing discussions and excercises.

5. Learning skills: students have to adopt a critical approach while studying in order to connect theoretical knowledge with empirical analysis, obtaining a personal point of view on the subject.
5.1. Students strengthen these skills debating with the Professor and the rest of the class.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course will include introductory lectures on theories of communication, media effects and digital media. These will be complemented by seminars given by experts on the spread of digital communication in the daily lives of people. In addition, there will be an opportunity for students to deepen some theoretical aspects addressed in the lectures through exercises and class work.

Innovative teaching methods

The course makes use of teaching methods that go beyond the exclusive use of face-to-face teaching, which specifically are:

·  Brainstorming: students are actively involved in expressing their ideas, knowledge, thoughts and proposals, facilitating the learning process and improving collaboration.

·  Learning by doing: the learning mode whereby knowledge and skills are acquired through their use in classroom exercises. 

·  Game-based learning: the development of critical thinking and purpose-oriented creativity are stimulated through the use of didactic games.

Attendance

To be counted as “attending”, students must participate in at least 50% of teaching hours and have completed any classwork and exercises organised by the lecturer during the course.

Course books

1. Boccia Artieri, G., Colombo, F., Gili, G., Comunicare. Persone, relazioni, media, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2022.

2. Bentivegna, S., Boccia Artieri, G. Le teorie delle comunicazioni di massa e la sfida digitale, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2019.

3. Colombo, F., Ecologia dei media. Manifesto per una comunicazione gentile, Vita e Pensiero, Milano, 2020.

Assessment

Learning verification will take place through a written test. The test will include multiple choice questions and open questions through which the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to articulate in a short essay some of the topics covered by the course.

Grading modality

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth knowledge; knowing how to link the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate  language.

Good grades will be given in presence of: good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively goodcritical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of an appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

1. Boccia Artieri, G., Colombo, F., Gili, G., Comunicare. Persone, relazioni, media, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2022.

2. Bentivegna, S., Boccia Artieri, G. Le teorie delle comunicazioni di massa e la sfida digitale, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2019.

3. Colombo, F., Ecologia dei media. Manifesto per una comunicazione gentile, Vita e Pensiero, Milano, 2020.

Assessment

Learning verification will take place through a written test. The test will include multiple choice questions and open questions through which the student must demonstrate that he/she is able to articulate in a short essay some of the topics covered by the course.

Grading modality

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth knowledge; knowing how to link the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate  language.

Good grades will be given in presence of: good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively goodcritical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of an appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.