Class Media Analysis

The unit focuses on critical journalism - the grounded, independent analysis of cultural works, products and practices - and recovers one of the craft's oldest and now most neglected traditions. Its field of action extends from the concept and history of criticism, from Voltaire to the great Portuguese critics, to its specific practices: film, literary, music, gastronomic, sports and visual arts criticism. It operates where the crisis is most visible: the digital age, sponsored content and lifestyle journalism, which blur the line between journalism and strategic communication. It trains critical judgement: distinguishing criticism from news and opinion, evaluating with rigour, impartiality and fairness, and producing critical analysis under demanding ethical rules. In the 3rd year of the Communication and Journalism degree, the unit restores to journalists' training a competence schools stopped teaching - one that media literacy demands.

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1. What is critical journalism: similarities and differences between social sciences and critical analysis journalism; distinctions between news and criticism; investigating for a news piece and for a review; the concept of criticism. 2. History of critical journalism: Voltaire and his "Advice to Journalists"; historical milestones and key figures. 3. Critical journalism in Portugal: the best examples of journalistic criticism; the best-known critics and their working practices; ethical and deontological rules. 4. The crisis of critical journalism: the challenges of the digital age; sponsored content and the problematic practices of lifestyle journalism; the importance of media literacy and critical thinking. 5. Practices of critical journalism: gastronomic, literary, music, sports, film and visual arts criticism.  

The unit combines theory and practice, with questioning- and cooperation-based approaches that foster curiosity, peer learning and self-assessment. Problem-based learning strategies and realistic exercises (Savin-Baden & Major, 2004) develop critical thinking and autonomy. Lectures and the analysis of examples of critical journalism - with viewing of videos and documentaries - frame concepts and the sector's good and bad practices, strengthening argumentative skills (Kim et al., 2006). Guest professionals of critical journalism share their experience; in those classes, students produce texts, essays and critical notes on the session, in writing exercises that feed into assessment. Project-based learning structures the final critical analysis assignment, individual or in pairs, with continuous feedback (McLaughlin et al., 2022). In-class discussion of topics and tutorials ensure ongoing support.

Carroll, N. (2009). On Criticism. Routledge. Hanusch, F. (Ed.) (2014). Lifestyle Journalism. Routledge. Kristensen, N. N., & From, U. (Eds.) (2017). Cultural Journalism and Cultural Critique in the Media. Routledge. Piza, D. (2003). Jornalismo Cultural. Contexto. Titchener, C. B. (2005). Reviewing the Arts (3.ª ed.). Routledge. Voltaire (1737). Conseils à un journaliste. In Œuvres complètes de Voltaire. [Ed. moderna: Gallimard]