MTM Selected Issues 2:
Securing Democracy-Relevant Journalism: Concept, Challenges, and Multi-Perspective Approaches

Master - SS '25

C. Loebbecke

2 SWS

Fridays, 12:30 - 4:00 pm (earlier ending possible, depending on number of students), max. 5 sessions!

Start: April 25, '25

Location: Pohligstr. 1, EG, S310

Held in English

Pre-Assignment Deadline: April 16, '25, 11:00 am via eMail from your sMail account (see details below)

Voluntary, not binding, but helpful: If you are interested in the course, please send an eMail from your sMail account to claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de with the course for which you want to register, your name, matr.-number, and study program. We suggest that you also add a phone number so that we can help on short notice.

Overview

There is wide agreement that healthy democracies demand flourishing independent media. However, the media, shaping our views by creating a meta-narrative of how we see the world, are "disproportionally in the hand of a few, often the very rich" (Stiglitz, 2024), which typically reduces balanced, multi-partisan coverage. In this context, this practice-oriented master-level course offers a guided discussion about the need and different options for securing 'democracy-relevant journalism'.

The course introduces the concept of 'democracy-relevant journalism', illustrates instances in various media types, and stresses the options and challenges to secure it. It discusses how different digital solutions (e.g., AI, ad-tech, blockchain applications, or trust-building measures such as fake news detection or sensor-based data collection), regulatory measures such as the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), public broadcasting in Germany, or FCC rules in the US); and market and platform designs (e.g., implementing different business models, portfolio strategies, or Digital Video Broadcasting over the Internet - DVB-I) could contribute to sustaining 'democracy-relevant journalism'.

Dates (max. 5)

April 25, May 09, May 23, June 06, June 20 - all '25.

Pre-Assignment due April 16, '25, 11:00 am via eMail from your sMail account

Choose one of three sources to start from:
Read or watch Stiglitz, J. 2024. The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society, LSE Talk (2024-04-30), www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVhGkgb1dwc OR
go to Professor Nicholas Diakopoulos lab site generative-ai-newsroom.com (do NOT go to consulting or company offerings linked on the site) OR

go check out dvb-i.tv.
In either case, focus ONLY on what you directly relate to 'democracy-relevant journalism' - not all journalism!

Tasks:

(1) Depending on our source choice, look up the biography of Stiglitz or Diakopoulos (academic background, university, major award, etc.) or summarize information on the consortium behind DVB-I (about 100-150 words).

(2) Precisely SPECIFY ONE problem in the context or 'democracy-relevant journalism' (max. 30 words).

(3) Outline ONE (!) suggested solution / contribution from the chosen source to solve or at least mediate the problem that YOU stated (100-150 words).

(4) Discuss with pros AND cons why YOU find it likely or unlikely that the suggested contribution will mediate ongoing concerns with regard to 'democracy-relevant journalism' (about 300 to 500 words).

Make sure sure to stick to ONE of the three sources for defining the problem and then to the ONE suggested solution and then offer your thoughts on exactly that solution in the context of the stated problem.

(5) Be ready to present / outline your Pre-assignment during the first course session. No slides etc., but know what you have written!

Formal requirements
- State your name, matr.-number, sMail address, and study program with start date (max. two lines!) in the header of each page; no cover sheet.

- Have ONE empty line before each task, copy the task and in the next line start the answer.

- No empty lines after stating the task, after any heading / sub-heading, after a paragraph, or after a reference.

- NEVER two empty lines!

- Do not start a new page for every new task. Do not start a new page for the reference list (if any)

- Times New Roman (TNR) 12, single-spaced

- Scientific writing style - no jokes, no slang, hardly any passive voice
- References IN THE TEXT (no footnotes), no 'ibid.' - s. some Anglo-American academic management journals
- In the references or the text as a whole: NO author first names, NO usage of reference titles.

- For formatting the reference list, see our website
- Consistent format (including spacing, etc.)
- Page numbers of references only for word-by-word citations

Delivery
Please send an eMail from your sMail account to claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de and irina.boboschko<at>uni-koeln.de; attach a non-protected word file (.doc or .docx)
- Subject line: MTM-Issues2-Pre-Lastname (your last name only, no accent, etc.)
- File name: MTM-Issues2-Pre-Lastname.doc(x) (your last name only, no accent, etc.)

Course Grading

- 25% Pre-Assignment - due April 16, '25, 11:00 am

- 40% Intermediate Assignments / Exercises and Discussion throughout the sessions - building on assignments / having digested the material

- 35% Final Assignment and presentation
It is required to at least 'pass' (grade 4.0 or better) each grading element for passing the course.
'Alle Prüfungselemente müssen mindestens bestanden sein.'

Required Course Registration:

(1) Hand in Pre-Assignment by April 16, '25, 11 am (passing the Pre-Assignment is required for passing the course).
On April 16, '25, we will list all those who will hand in the Pre-Assignment in time as course participant in KLIPS and THEREUPON you must
(2) Register for the exam on KLIPS by April 16, '25.

For any course related questions, please contact claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de from your sMail account.

© Department of Media and Technology Management