2017-2018 / PEAV0016-1

Information theories and analysis

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in human and social sciences5 crédits 
 Bachelor in information and communication5 crédits 
 Master in communication (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in journalism (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in information and communication (60 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Geoffrey Geuens

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course aims to provide the main tools to analyse press discourses and understand the role of the media from the angle of constructivism. This year, the course will involve an in-depth analysis of articles from the written press (news items, stories, etc.) dealing with 'insecurity issues' and security policies in Belgium and France.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the course, students should be able to analyse press discourses and, more generally, the role of information professionals in the construction of media events; but also prove their critical skills concerning media productions considered as 'problematical'.    The learning objectives of this course meet the need to train students with regard to their future responsibilities in society, and make them aware of the realities of their future professional environment. 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

- Students will be given 'problematical' articles; according to the teacher, these pieces of journalism contain a discourse that is sensationalist, populist or even stigmatising. The students are asked to examine these articles and discover in what way they have strayed from the quality standards of reference journalism or the ethics decreed by the profession (stereotypes associated with certain socio-cultural groups, etc.). 
- They will be given an individual exercise to write at home, in preparation for the exam. It will be taken into account in the final course assessment (one third of the final score). For more details, see below ('Assessment methods and criteria')

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

Compulsory reading - a portfolio of reading material, available at the Complexe Opéra (Presses Universitaires de Liège office): 'Théories et analyse de l'information - Portefeuille de lectures', Presses Universitaires de Liège, Collection 'Syllabus' - scientific and popular science articles (see the educational commitment's 'course notes', myULg)

Assessment methods and criteria

The individual written exercise to be done at home (intermediary assessment) will be taken into account in the final assessment of the course (a third of the final score). The written exam is worth two-thirds of the final score. 
Students benefit from a personalised follow-up session after this intermediary assessment. There is always a two-part feedback session after the work has been handed in: 1° during the first half hour of the class, the teacher will provide as complete and relevant an analysis as possible of the article given to the students; 2° the remaining hour and a half is devoted to an individual debriefing session during which students receive their overall score, a detailed assessment of each part of their work - allowing them to identify their strengths and weaknesses - and a series of tips to help them prepare for the exam as well as possible.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course is held every Monday: 15:00-17:00 (A2/5/11 Room)

Contacts

Teacher: Geoffrey Geuens, Département des Arts et Sciences de la Communication, Place du 20-Août, 7, 4000 Liège (Bât. A1, 4th floor). Tel.: 04 366 32 78. E-mail: Geoffrey.Geuens@ulg.ac.be Geoffrey Geuens will hold tutorials every week (Tuesdays: 9:00-12:00). Assistant: Mr. Julien Marique (on duty: Tuesdays: 9:00-11:00) julien.marique@ulg.ac.be 
- Secretariat: E. Libens, Département des Arts et Sciences de la Communication, Place du 20-Août, 7, 4000 Liège (Bât. A1). Tel.: 04 366 32 86. E-mail: emjlibens@ulg.ac.be

Items online

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