6 ECTS credits
172 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4016222FNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Communication Sciences
Educational team
Luciano Morganti (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
24 contact hours Lecture
148 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The Brussels Talking: Europe, Media and Society is a prestigious lecture series with invited guest speakers on the European Media, Journalism, Public Sphere and the Digital Information Society. These Lectures concern economic, political, technical, legal and societal aspects of the above mentioned topics in a context of European integration and European societal changes. Brussels Talking complements the courses offered in the Masters on New Media and Society in Europe and the Masters on Journalism and Media in Europe academic programmes. They aim to provide a full-portfolio description of the European Media, Journalism, Public Sphere and Digital Information Society, with speakers coming mainly from policy and European institutions, industry and academia.

Their purpose is to enhance understanding of topical debates about the dynamics of the European society and of European integration through prestigious lectures or round tables of experts, both followed by discussions with the students. Lectures and round tables usually last around 45-60 minutes as do the debates that follow.

Additional info

- Documents and PPTs of the different presentations will be distributed and made available during the semester.

- Background literature will be provided at the beginning and during the lectures Series and some days before the specific lectures take place.

Teaching Methods

The Lecture Series has a mix of teaching methods: lecture style, independent self and independent-learning and practical learning. Most of the Lecture Series are interactive and require the student to read and process the material distributed in advance to be able to fully understand the topics and concepts discussed. 

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

  • Lecture:  24 hours (12 x 2 hours) including intro to the course (2 hours – first class of the course) and 1 mid-term and 1 final assessment with the teacher (2 x 2 hours) also oriented to prepare for the oral exams.
  • Self: 148 hours
    • reading of literature before coming to class, amounting to 5 hours per lecture: 50 hours (10 lectures x 5 hours)
    • preparation and writing of questions for guest speakers: 18h (9 x 2 hours)
    • preparation for oral exams: 80 hours (8 hours per lecture) 
 
Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

The lectures series contributes to the following Masters’ learning outcomes:

  • Students show in-depth knowledge, understanding and insight within the field of communication sciences and in relation to the latest evolutions and discussions at both the national and international level.
  • Students show in-depth knowledge, understanding and insight within the field of communication sciences and in relation to the latest evolutions and discussions at both the national and international level regarding media, journalism, internet and globalization.
  • Students demonstrate the ability to critically contextualise and evaluate current national and international developments and discussions, and are able to independently deepen insights related to complex problems on the basis of an original framework of analysis, thereby expanding the theoretical basis related to their own fields of interest.
  • Students demonstrate the ability to critically contextualise and evaluate current national and international developments and discussions, and are able to independently deepen insights related to complex problems on the basis of an original framework of analysis, thereby expanding the theoretical basis related to media, journalism, internet and globalisation.
  • Students show an open and constructive attitude whilst having respect for other views and beliefs.
  • Students are open to scientific doubt and societal pluralism. They demonstrate courage, ambition and perseverance in questioning both established insights and alternative points of view.
  • Students act upon an open attitude in a culturally diverse international context. They critically reflect on their own (geographical, social, cultural, local, personal, …) position.
  • Students demonstrate the skill to discuss and debate current societal and scientific topics and theoretical developments within the field of communication studies. The students discuss issues on the basis of critical and substantiated reflections and research findings, open-mindedly and willing to acknowledge other arguments.
  • Students demonstrate the skill to discuss and debate current societal and scientific topics and theoretical developments related to media, internet and globalisation. The students discuss issues on the basis of critical and substantiated reflections and research findings, open-mindedly and willing to acknowledge other arguments.
  • Students are able to independently elaborate, organise, plan and conduct their own critical thinking engage in critical discussion and convincingly communicate their reasoning.

After taking these series of two hour classes and conferences students will:

  • have a better and deeper understanding of the complexity of the evolving digital media and society and the intertwined socio, political, economic and legal aspects
  • be able to engage in and understand different viewpoints on current critical issues regarding media, journalism and the digital society
  • have a better and more complete view over the complex institutional context of the evolving landscape of media, journalism and globalising society

 

 
 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 80% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 20% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 80% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Presence and Interaction with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

- The student will have to sit an oral exam based on the content of the different lectures.

- The student is expected to be present during the lectures of the Lecture Series. Absence can result in a lower grade/evaluation.

The final grade will be the combination of:

  • an oral exam based on the content of the different guest lectures and the documents distribute by the guest speakers and the teacher;
  • presence at and interaction during the guest lectures and the quality of the questions prepared for the guest speakers.

Guidelines about the oral exams and the presence and interaction will be distributed at the beginning of the semester.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Communication Studies: Digital Media in Europe