Class Sociology of the Media and Public Opinion

This unit focuses on the study of the genesis, evolution and transformations of the modern sphere of communication and the transformative action that this will have in social representations, offering students the sociological framework in which they can deepen some essential concepts in the research of communicative processes.

To this end, fundamental concepts about mass culture and cultural consumption will be addressed, such as the analysis of the reception of mass communication and its impacts on the constitution of public opinion.

I. PUBLIC SPACE AND PUBLIC OPINION

The Constitution of the modern public space.

Public space and public opinion.

Modes of formation of public opinion and of the public.

The plurality of public spaces.

II. MEDIA AND SOCIETY

Mass society, the mass media and consumer society

Massification and diversification.

Media, economic and social powers fields.

Journalism: tradition and innovation.

Media in a deep mediatized society

III. THEORIES OF THE EVENT AND THE PUBLIC PROBLEM

The Event.

The agenda setting.

IV. MEDIA AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF COLLECTIVE MEMORY

Media, construction of narratives and the collective memory building.

Collective memory(ies) and the identities statement.

Invisibility, silence, and the emergence of counter-hegemonic narratives.

V. SOCIETY, NEW MEDIA AND PUBLIC SPACES

1 - Participation cultures?

- Expressions and cultures of opinion.

2 - Cultures of disconnection and resistance to the media

- Resistance, rejections and information fatigue

Theoretical presentation sessions will be alternated with discussion sessions and debates using texts and other resources capable of provoking critical discussion.
Attendance at 70% of classes is compulsory
Written research paper (30%). Each group assignment must be original, be between 10 and 13 pages long (Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 spacing) and include the respective bibliography actually used and mandatory for a positive evaluation. Due by December 16, 2023.
Must contain concepts/authors worked on in class in conjunction with the idea developed in the work.
Small assignments developed during the semester (10%)
Presentation and oral defense of group work (10%): November 27, 2023
Written knowledge assessment test (50%): December 16, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.
Failure to meet the assessment dates will result in a penalty.
The UC exam is a written test to assess the entire semester's material.

ABRANTES, J.C. e DAYAN, D. (org.) (2006). Televisão: das audiências aos públicos. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte.

BABO, I. (2015). Espectadores e públicos activos. Vega: Lisboa.

BABO-LANÇA, I. (2006). A configuração dos acontecimentos públicos. Coimbra: Edições Minerva.

BRITES, M.J. (2017). Young people and daily life contexts of news appropriation. Cuadernos.info, 40, 123-136. doi: 10.7764/cdi.40.1059

CASTELLS, M. (2002). A era da informação: Economia, Sociedade e cultura. A sociedade em rede. Vol.1. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.

ESTEVES, J. P. (org.), (2002). Comunicação e Sociedade, Lisboa: Livros Horizonte.

FRASER, N. (1990). Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy. Social Text, 25/26, 56-80.

HABERMAS, J., Lennox, S., & Lennox, F. (1974). The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article (1964). New German Critique, 3 (Autumn, 1974), 49-55.

MAIGRET, E. (2015). Sociologie de la communication et des médias. Armand Colin: Paris.