To examine the interplay among global news, media and war in the context of rapidly evolving communication technologies and journalistic practices.

To compare and contrast the contexts and challenges in which journalists operate across the world.

To trace the evolution of foreign reporting.

To explore and analyse media management approaches and audience responses to the reporting of distant conflict.

To assess and examine the differing ways in which media coverage frames war and humanitarian crisis and the theoretical perspectives that underpin such frames.

(LO1) Students will be able to define and critically evaluate key theories and concepts that explain the interplay among global news, media and war.

(LO2) Students will be able to discuss the current state of media freedom and journalistic practices around the world as well as the main contextual factors that influence those practices and the role journalists play both in the global South and in the global North.

(LO3) Students will be able to identify and analyse the history and ethics of foreign correspondence and explore the key factors that have contributed to the evolution and decline of foreign correspondence.

(LO4) Students will be familiar with and critically analyse different perspectives on the way states manage and audiences relate and react to distant conflict.

(LO5) Students will be able to articulate knowledge and a critical understanding of the historical shifts and continuities in war reporting in the modern era.

(S1) Problem solving/ critical thinking/ creativity analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.

(S2) Communication, listening and questioning respecting others, contributing to discussions, communicating in a foreign language, influencing, presentations.

(S3) Self-management readiness to accept responsibility (i.e. leadership), flexibility, resilience, self-starting, initiative, integrity, willingness to take risks, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning.

(S4) Research management developing a research strategy, project planning and delivery, risk management, formulating questions, selecting literature, using primary/secondary/diverse sources, collecting & using data, applying research methods, applying ethics.

(S5) Information literacy online, finding, interpreting, evaluating, managing and sharing information.

The following is an indication of the main topics discussed in the module:
- Introduction to the module: Making sense of global news, media and war
- Journalism in the Global South
- Journalism in the Global North
- Global reporting and foreign correspondence
- Journalistic values and standards
- Military media management and the Vietnam syndrome
- Audiences of war: the CNN effect
- Terrorism and the media
- Technological advances and global journalism
- The future of global reporting

Teaching method: Lectures and Seminars

Description:
The lectures are designed to give a broad introduction to key areas and debates; they are intended to facilitate the students' reading and to highlight issues that should be explored in their 'out of class' study time and in the seminars. They will also provide interactive opportunities for students to practice answering questions similar to the ones they will be asked in the class test as well as to receive formative feedback on any assessment-related queries.

The seminars are designed to explore particular issues and debates in more detail than can be achieved during lectures; they will enable students to clarify and develop their understanding of the reading; to learn from, and to question and explore, information and arguments presented by their peers; to allow students scope to present in discussion their own findings from independent reading; to give them the opportunity to spontaneou sly both raise questions and suggest possible answers; as well as provide important opportunities to ensure their preparedness for the assessment tasks and to structure and motivate their independent study. All position paper questions will also be discussed in the seminars, and students can receive formative feedback on their assignments from their peers and tutors. There will be an opportunity for them to practice answering multiple choice questions in preparation for the class test.

Schedule directed student hours: 37

Unscheduled directed student hours: 113

Attendance recorded: Yes

Notes:
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Completing core and background reading and preparing for class and assignments.