Communication Studies: Journalism and Media in Europe

6 ECTS - Semester 1



In Journalism, Trends and Technologies you will learn to critically reflect on current evolutions in the field of media and journalism in Europe, with a specific focus on digital disruption. You will bridge theoretical knowledge and journalism practice by applying theoretical concepts to understand, critically assess and formulate prospective insights on specific journalistic case studies in Europe.

Every week in class, we will discuss a specific trend in journalism, based on academic texts, trend reports and expert insights you collect and read in preparation of the discussion. You will position yourself as an expert in the field of journalism by writing a white paper on a journalistic trend or technology of your choice, deepening your readers' understanding of it and elaborating on the issues at stake. You can find a selection of previous white papers in our collection on Medium. 

Course titular: Prof. Ike Picone

6 ECTS - Semester 1



In this seminar-based course you will get to know the concepts and theories to understand and critically reflect on the relations between journalism, the political field and ideology. How does journalism influence how we see the world? Why do journalists focus on certain events and topics whilst they ignore others? How can we understand the way they 'frame' reality? What are the political consequences of news selection and of the way journalists describe the world? What are the differences between mainstream journalism and alternative journalism, and why does this matter?

Through weekly group discussions of academic texts you will develop the vocabulary and critical perspectives to answer these questions. You sharpen your critical-analytical skills by writing two opinion articles, one about journalism and the economy and one about journalism and nationalism and/or war. And you get to show your insight into the relations between journalism, politics and ideology and your ability to use concepts to analyse these relations in an open book oral exam.

Course titular: Prof. Benjamin De Cleen.

6 ECTS - Semester 1



How does journalism function as a business and how does that impact the content of journalism? Why do states fund public broadcasters? What are the political and economic threats to press freedom and pluralism? And what are the economic and political tools to safeguard press freedom? This course provides students with an in-depth overview of concepts and theories relevant to the study of the political economy of journalism. It sets out from a general introduction to political economy, moves to the political economy of media/communication, and then to the various political-economic systems of journalism in Europe. Building on this, you move on to a more advanced study of specific sub-aspects of the political economy of journalism that are related to contemporary issues.

You will acquire the tools to understand and critically evaluate current issues regarding press freedom and the relationship between the state, citizens and private actors in journalism. You prove your understanding of the political economy of journalism and your ability to critically analyze important cases during a written and oral exam where you discuss your written responses with the professor.

Educational team: Prof. Sara De Vuyst (course titular) & Prof. Yazan Badran

6 ECTS - Semester 2

The course will cover, amongst others, the following topics:

• The EU decision-making process;
• The main theories of EU integration;
• The main theories of the Public Sphere and the European Public Sphere;
• The EU Information and Communication policy and the role and responsibilities of the main EU institutions;
• The EU public sphere(s) and its state of the art and challenges ahead;
• The role and interplay of EU governance and EU citizenship and identity building in the making of a critical EU Public Sphere;
• The EU as a participative and deliberative polity;
• Specific topics, themes and case studies related to the topics above might be included according to the EU Institutional agenda and the development of the EU integration process.
  
   

Course titular: Prof. Luciano Morganti

6 ECTS - Semester 2



How do journalists work today? How has technology changed journalism as a business? How has it changed the work of journalists? How do journalists engage with audiences today? What is digital storytelling? How does data journalism work? How can technology be used to collaborate on large journalistic projects? How do media monetize journalistic content in a digital age? And how do individidual journalists operate as journalistic entrepreneurs in this context?

The course consists of a mixture of lectures, guest lectures and visits of media organisations. You will write an assignment in which you integrate and apply the acquired knowledge into a blueprint for your own innovative media project, which focuses on innovation in an existing media organisation or on a journalistic start-up.

Course titulars: Prof. Ike Picone and Prof. Cristina Gonzalez

18 ECTS - Semesters 1 & 2



Your master thesis is the perfect opportunity to get an in-depth insight into a specific topic of your interest. To give some examples: in the past years, students have interviewed female journalists about gender dynamics in the newsroom, analysed the impact of Twitter on journalistic practices, studied how young people read news using new media, analysed the social media strategies of Marine Le Pen, studied the discourse of Alternative für Deutschland, assessed the impact of the Berlusconi media empire on Italian politics.

You will be guided through the process by a supervisor, with whom you will have regular meetings. We make sure there is a good match between your interests and the expertise of your supervisor, to ensure a fruitful collaboration.

18 ECTS - Semester 1 & 2



The master's thesis with the pre-doctoral track variation is a piece of work that completes the master's programme. By carrying out the ‘pre-doctoral track’ as a master's thesis, the student demonstrates analytical and synthesis abilities, as well as an independent problem-solving ability at an academic level. The “Master thesis: Pre-doctoral track” is a track for motivated students with a high research potential and with an interest in doing a PhD in the future. Excellent and motivated students (see admission criteria) can opt for this course, instead of the ‘classic’ master's thesis course.

6 ECTS - Semester 1



The course takes an interdisciplinary look at the role and meaning of data and privacy in mediated communication, online platforms and society, from a social, economic, technological and regulatory perspective. You will discuss central theories, research, terminology, current issues, and future challenges in big data, privacy, ethics, media literacy and user empowerment in different fields of society, from the perspective of Media and Communication Studies and STS (Science & Technology Studies). The course incorporates three inextricable and mutually determining components: artefacts, practices and social arrangements.

The lectures take an in-depth look at national and international developments in social media, sharing economy applications and data technologies (e.g. Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Uber, Internet-of-Things, Smart Cities, health apps,…). You apply the knowledge in concrete and interactive class exercises. This is coupled with practical interventions by scientists, government officials, public organisations (e.g. Belgian Privacy Commission), companies, civil society organisations, artists and other stakeholders.

Course titular: Prof. Jo Pierson.

6 ECTS - Semester 2

This course aims to define, describe and analyse media markets in Europe. We focus on aspects of market structure, content production, distribution and financing, and the disruptions affecting European media markets today and tomorrow. The course consists of 2 main modules. The first module provides an insight into the characteristics of media markets, the impact of digitisation, market concentration, business data analysis and media trends. The second module focuses on specific cases in the broad media industry, including video games, podcast, music and video streaming industries.



This course is built on a hybrid model with combinations of online teaching and teaching on campus. It consists of three building blocks:

1. A series of online courses on market trends, theory and structure
2. A series of on-campus lectures looking into specific markets (podcast, music, video games, streaming, format production)
3. A business analysis assignment developed and presented by students.

Educational team: Prof. Tim Raats (course titular) & Prof. Marlen Komorowski

6 ECTS - Semester 2

In this course, we read, review and critically discuss pioneering theoretical work, key texts and essential concepts regarding the broad and multidisciplinary field of media, culture and globalisation. 

How has the field of (media and cultural) globalisation developed historically? Is globalisation new? What have been turning points in globalisation’s development and the globalisation of media and culture? Are these developments positive/negative and for whom?

We tackle these questions by exploring a myriad of concepts, authors, and theoretical approaches that have attempted to grapple with the nexus between media, culture and globalization, including: Cultural imperialism, scapes, flows and counter-flows, postcolonialism, and new approaches to the study of space and place.

Finally, the students prepare a critical essay in which they scrutinise a particular topic of choice related to the course's contents.

Course titular: Prof. Yazan Badran and Prof. Catalina Iordache

6 ECTS - Semester 2



What is populism? How do left-wing and right-wing political movements use populist strategies? What is the relation between media, journalism and populism? This course focuses on populist and radical political discourses in Europe. Drawing on different perspectives in communication and political theory and discourse studies it provides you with the concepts to understand and study populist and radical political discourses. The course also looks at how mainstream political voices have reacted to populist contenders. In the weekly seminars you discuss academic texts and journalistic texts on populism to analyse different kinds of populist politics, especially the populist radical right and left-wing populisms in Europe.

You show your conceptual insight into populism in a critical-analytical essay about a selected populism-related topic. Your conceptual insights and ability to apply concepts is also tested in an open book exam.

Course titular: Prof. Benjamin De Cleen

6 ECTS - Semester 2



In this course, you will learn about the what, why and how of lobbying and advocacy.

The course is taught in English at our French-speaking sister university Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). ULB is a ten-minute walk or a short tram ride from VUB.

12 ECTS - Semesters 1 & 2



The fundamental goal of the traineeship programme in the International Master's of Journalism and Media in Europe is to have practical training and acquire practical skills. Concretely, the internship programme aims for students:

• to operationalise and test, in a professional environment, the theoretical knowledge obtained in following the Master's;
• to develop professional skills and competences in light of future jobs/careers (incl. networking);
• to critically (self-)reflect on both the institutional environment and company/organization, as well as on personal development (knowledge-building, skills, strengths and weaknesses, ...) during the traineeship