Democracy and the Media

Cambio de Idioma

Escuela PNUD quinto aniversario

Este año celebramos nuestro quinto aniversario desde el evento de lanzamiento en 2006. En estos 5 años hemos formado más de 4.000 hombres y mujeres de la región.

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Este año celebramos nuestro quinto aniversario desde el evento de lanzamiento en 2006. En estos 5 años hemos formado más de 4.000 hombres y mujeres de la región.

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Cursos

Democracy and the Media

Type: Virtual

Language: Spanish

Level Education: Undergraduate/Graduate

Duration: 12 weeks

Presentation

The course emphasises the role of mass media, analysing its role as the information provider that allows people to form their own opinions and participate in the democratic debate. Due to the close relationship between media, society and politics, the course exposes the main challenges that journalists and “communicators” face in Latin America. The course stresses the importance to strive for non-biased journalism; the role of mass media in forming public opinion; and being impartial and respectful of cultural and political diversity.

Course Structure

The course is structured to be completed in 12 weeks and this includes 6 subject topics and 2 weeks for course introduction and closing. The introduction includes a course summary, and the closing unit invites participants to assess the course according to the below structure:

Unit 0	Introduction to the Virtual School System, the course and its context: Presentation and introduction to the School, course and classmates Understanding and using the virtual classroom Understanding and organization of learning resources
Unit 1	Relationship between mass media and democracy Power: Essential element of the relationship between mass media and democracy Vis-à-vis the state Vis-à-vis the government Vis-à-vis the economic powers Relationship between mass media and democracy based on the diverse political ideologies in Latin America Authoritarian Liberal Communist State interventionist Developmental Participative Democratic Neoliberal
Unit 2	*A look at relevant episodes in the history of mass media in Latin America ()** The Colonial period (Journalism during colonial times) The Gacetas of the XVII Century The Illustrated Press The Press of the 17th and 18th centuries in Lima, Nueva Granada, Quito and Venezuela Journalism in the Republic of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia The Press at the end of the 19th century The Press in the 20th century. Advent of radio, broadcasting and television. New Technologies and their impact on other media (*) This unit emphasises on the Andean Region and Southern Cone given that the course has been offered as part of a training component of a UNDP sub-regional project. Nevertheless this unit may be adapted to other national or sub-regional context.
Unit 3	Freedom of Expression and Democracy Mass media in relation to the five basic features of democracy: Mass media and pluralism Mass media, Competition and Elections Mass media and the Principle of Majority Rule Mass media and the Constitution
Unit 4	Public opinion, democratic values and mass media Public opinion: raw material for mass media The role of the media in the consolidation of democratic values Mass media and Political Equality Mass media and Tolerance Mass media and Respect for the Rules of the Game Promoting civic training and civic participation. The role of the media. Mass media and Autonomy
Unit 5	Covering electoral processes Access of political parties and movements to mass media Press Advisers and Political Advertising Direct debates and media exposure Surveys and opinion polls Covering electoral processes Responsible handling of information on electoral results
Unit 6	Challenges to journalistic work in Latin American democracies Journalists as suppliers of information Journalists as trainers and advisors Journalists as facilitators of participation and integration processes Mass media, Mediation and Oversight Journalists: social mobilisers How to face these challenges from an ethical perspective
Closing Unit	Evaluation