A9f Alternative Media and Democracy 5 cr

40 students at the most will be accepted to the course. Preregistration in WebOodi is required: 8.-14.10.2009.

Content

This course will provide students with knowledge on both theoretical approaches to alternative media and case studies around the world. The focus of the course will be on how alternative media is fostering/improving democracy. It will start by telling about mainstream media and its handicaps and will continue by teaching how alternative media is filling the gaps and how they empower citizens socially and politically. Students will be able to see, with several case studies, different ways alternative media may be used in improving citizen participation and make a change in different democracies. Students will have an open environment to learn and discuss the subject. There will be presentations on local alternative media cases. For this participatory course, students will be required to think/design new formats of alternative media as the final work.

Reading: Readings will be given for each lecture to be discussed in class.

Grading

Assessment scale: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.