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Communications Theory and Techniques in Journalism

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
40
Overall hours
SSD
SPS/08
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course is divided into two base parts, theoretical and practical. In the first, students are confronted with theories concerning the universe of good communication and its distortions, their history and technical aspects (with particular regard to philosophical, historical, literary, political, semi-secular, cyber and journalistic contexts). In the second part, students delve into the practical methods of composing articles in written form and oral and visual communication. The fundamental step is the one that marks the narrative path from the announcement to the news (through the fabula, or plot), using the headline, incipit, explicit, and the identification of the theme (topic) and subthemes, as well as to the rhetorical embellishments, all with the ultimate goal of objectivity and effectiveness. A central role is played by practical exercises, which also include direct contact of the students with external witnesses, to be translated into the form of journalistic composition.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student must be able to apply the communication techniques learned to any area of journalistic, professional or collaborative activity, and with regard to every modern medium: newspaper, television, radio or digital communication. But the references learned are also aimed at bringing together the professional fields of advertising, marketing, the press office and public relations in the economic, commercial, artistic and general creative sectors, as well as of any form of journalistic expression, even non-verbal, from the interview to the review, which enters the public discourse (including presentations, brand journalism, storytelling, copywriting, augmented and native journalism), so as to master and respond to professional communication situations quickly.

Lesson period: First semester

Lessons timetable

Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi

Exams calendar

Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Take a single course
Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Benedetti Mirko
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The first part of the course is aimed at presenting the main phases of the evolution of journalism, the principal theoretical approaches to its study, the transformations of journalistic models, the role of journalism in society and the mechanisms of (de)formation of public opinion. The second part of the course, instead, illustrates the tools and languages of the journalistic profession, the formats and channels of information products, the organization of work, the evolution of production routines from paper to the web and the main thematic areas of journalism (chronicle, politics, culture, sport, etc.)
Prerequisites for admission
Although there are no prerequisites, it is advisable that students keep up to date on current issues, through the assiduous reading of newspapers and periodicals, in paper and digital format. Furthermore, a basic knowledge of the English language will facilitate a better understanding of examples and case studies taken from international journalism.
Teaching methods
The course is held through face-to-face lectures, aimed at presenting the basic concepts of the subject. There are also exercises, which aim to: put the notions learned into practice; encourage dialogue between the teacher and the students and between the students themselves; promote the interactive construction of knowledge and skills. Finally, teaching could be enriched by the intervention of external witnesses in the classroom.
Teaching Resources
Attending students are required to:
I) Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the following journalism handbook: Giampiero Moscato, Francesco Monti, Tommaso Romani, Il medium siamo noi. Manuale di giornalismi, Milano, Mondadori Università, 2023, pp. 398;

II) Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the following two texts: Carlo Sorrentino, Enrico Bianda, Studiare giornalismo. Ambiti, logiche, attori, Roma,Carocci, 2013, pp. 239; Gabriela Jacomella, Il falso e il vero. Fake news: che cosa sono, chi ci guadagna, come evitarle, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2017, pp.160;

III) Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the following report: Consiglio nazionale dell'Ordine dei giornalisti, Il lettore perduto. Tendenze e nuovi scenari per il giornalismo, Roma, 2024, https://www.odg.it/osservatorio-report-2024 (the parts indicated by the teacher)

IV) Know in detail the topics developed in the teacher's handouts.

Non-attending students are required to:
I) Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the following journalism handbook: Giampiero Moscato, Francesco Monti, Tommaso Romani, Il medium siamo noi. Manuale di giornalismi, Milano, Mondadori Università, 2023, pp. 398;

II) Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the following two texts: Carlo Sorrentino, Enrico Bianda, Studiare giornalismo. Ambiti, logiche, attori, Roma,Carocci, 2013, pp. 239; Gabriela Jacomella, Il falso e il vero. Fake news: che cosa sono, chi ci guadagna, come evitarle, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2017, pp.160;

III) Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the topics covered in the following report: Consiglio nazionale dell'Ordine dei giornalisti, Il lettore perduto. Tendenze e nuovi scenari per il giornalismo, Roma, 2024, https://www.odg.it/osservatorio-report-2024 (entire report)

IV) Demonstrate an adequate knowledge of one of the following 15 texts:

Giorgio Zanchini, Leggere, cosa e come. Il giornalismo e l'informazione culturale nell'era della rete, Milano, Donzelli, pp. 172

Marica Spalletta, Lorenzo Ugolini, (Ti)fare informazione. Il giornalismo sportivo italiano e la sfida della credibilità, Roma, Aracne, 2016, pp. 260.

Ryszard Kapuscinski, Il cinico non è adatto a questo mestiere. Conversazioni sul buon giornalismo, Roma, Edizioni E/O, 2011, pp. 112

Carlo Sorrentino, Sergio Splendore, Le vie del giornalismo. Come si raccontano i giornalisti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2022, pp. 168.

Marzia Antenore, Data Journalism. Guida essenziale alle notizie fatte con i numeri, Milano, Mondadori, 2017, pp. 176.

Anna Politkovskaja, La Russia di Putin, Milano, Adelphi, 2022, pp. 384

Mark Thompson, La fine del dibattito pubblico. Come la retorica sta distruggendo la lingua della democrazia, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2017, pp. 432.

Filippo Maria Battaglia, Beppe Benvenuto, Professione reporter. Il giornalismo d'inchiesta nell'Italia del dopoguerra, Milano, Rizzoli, 2008, pp. 680

Jill Abramson, Mercanti di verità. Il business delle notizie e la grande guerra dell'informazione, Palermo, Sellerio, 2021, pp. 904.

Ben Smith, Traffic. La corsa ai clic e la trasformazione del giornalismo contemporaneo, Milano, Altrecose, 2024, pp. 416.

Daniel C. Hallin, Paolo Mancini, Modelli di giornalismo. Mass media e politica nelle democrazie occidentali, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2006, pp. 308

Lucio Luca, Quattro centesimi a riga: morire di giornalismo, Milano, Zolfo, 2022, pp. 304.

Diomira Cennamo, Carlo Fornaro, Professione brand reporter. Brand journalism e nuovo storytelling nell'era digitale, Milano, Hoepli, 2017, pp. 179

David Quammen, Alla ricerca del predatore alfa, Milano, Adelphi, 2020, pp. 602

Pierre Sautreuil, Le guerre perdute di Jurij Beljaev, Torino, Einaudi, 2022, pp. 264
Assessment methods and Criteria
The verification of learning, for attending and non-attending students, takes place through a final oral exam.
Unita' didattica A
SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)