POLITICAL COMMUNICATION - 2025/6

Module Overview

This unit is concerned with understanding the role of political communication in contemporary politics. Arguably parties use the media to influence voters, but the media also has a role in holding (selected) politicians to account. This unit explores the various theoretical perspectives on the role of political communication and the media, before moving on to consider a series of empirical examples. The unit also covers key topics relevant to political communication including the relationship between political parties and the national media; whether it is the role of political broadcasts, televised debates, or the impact of rolling news coverage on the ability of politicians to control the media. It considers how changes in media have offered new opportunities for citizenship and democracy, including agenda setting. It also considers how parties and political organisations have adapted to use these new media. There is a focus on key issues in contemporary politics and case studies will be situated throughout the module. Students will also gain coding and content analysis skills in order to explore how key topical political themes are framed in political communication.

 

The module complements and expands elements of POL 1012 (Introduction to Politics), particularly structuralist theories of the state. It will also complement knowledge gained of British politics in POL 1017 (Debates in British Politics). The coding and content analysis skills also build on knowledge gained in Approaches to Research (POL 2027); although this module is not a pre-requisite – full training will be given as part of this module. There are no pre-requisites for this module and students have the opportunity to carry out independent research on a media/theme of their choice for the critique assessment.

 

Module provider

Politics & International Relations

Module Leader

MIDDLETON Alia (Politics IR)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Constructions of reality


• Spin techniques


• Press partisanship and framing


• Campaign strategies


• Political speech-writing


• Branding in politics

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• The ability to apply theoretical concepts to political communications


• The collection and analysis of original communication material

• Strong use of primary research skills.


• The ability to integrate original research with existing literature/knowledge.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Media Critique: 2000 words 


• Essay : 2000 words 

For the media critique students are required to critically examine a topic or individual actor of their choice and understand how this is represented in the press. Students may compare the same topic/individual at different points in time, or in an international press comparison. Assessments deadlines to be confirmed – students should refer to the Module Handbook prior to the start of semester.

 

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will receive feedback on the first assessment before submitting the essay. Time will be set aside in seminars to discuss aspects of the assessment. Where students are asked to complete small tasks in advance of - or during - classes, verbal feedback will be given to the group as a whole.

Module aims

• Introduce students to a range of theoretical perspectives on the role of the political communication
• Offer an insight into which the media facilities political engagement
• Consider the impact of new media on parties and voter behaviour
• Understand key ways in which political communication facilities citizenship
• Employability - students are trained in data collection, coding and analysis, with the media critique closely mimicking a typical report/article structure, easily transferrable to the workplace. Students are also trained in how to speak effectively.
• Resourcefulness - feedback is provided at individual and class level, specifically on what students can take forward into future assessments.
• Global intelligence - students are encouraged to select a topic/individual from anywhere in the world to explore in their critique. The material engages with communication in a variety of cultural contexts
• Sustainability - the module specifically examines communication by non-state actors, including environmental actors.
• Digital capabilities - the module trains students how to use online newspaper databases, and requires them to engage actively (for simulations, but also data collection) to engage with a variety of media streams

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Encourage critical engagement with political communication.

• Facilitate the analysis of political communication by encouraging the use of transferrable research skills

• Encourage independent research between classes

The learning and teaching methods include:

Workshop sessions to include: lectures, prescribed reading, group discussions, coding sessions, independent study, research and analysis of primary material. May include the preparation of short tasks prior to the weekly seminars (information to be given to students in the preceding seminar).

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POL3082

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.