Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Introduction to Journalistic Language
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Introduction
Introduction to Journalistic Language is a basic training course that provides students with the theoretical and analytical foundations needed to understand how language functions in the media. Throughout the course, students analyse the specific characteristics of journalistic discourse, the linguistic and discursive mechanisms involved in the production of informative and opinion texts, as well as the processes of meaning-making that operate across different media languages —verbal, visual, audiovisual, and digital—. Particular attention is paid to the relationships between language, power, ideology, and culture, fostering a critical reading of the discourses that circulate in traditional media and digital environments.
The course combines the acquisition of fundamental concepts with the practical analysis of news articles, features, interviews, photographs, infographics, communication campaigns, and multimedia content. It provides students with the tools needed to critically interpret journalistic communication and lays the foundations for the courses in journalistic writing, production, and storytelling that students will take later in the programme.
Pre-course requirements
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Objectives
- To understand the fundamental characteristics of journalistic language as a specific form of social communication.
- To identify the main concepts and authors in discourse analysis applied to the study of the media.
- To understand the foundations of semiotics and its application to the analysis of journalistic texts, images, audiovisual messages, and digital environments.
- To analyse the mechanisms involved in the construction of meaning in informative and opinion discourse.
- To recognise the linguistic, rhetorical, narrative, and argumentative strategies used by the media to represent events and social actors.
- To critically interpret the ideological, cultural, and ethical dimensions of journalistic discourse.
- To analyse the interaction between text, image, sound, and other semiotic systems in contemporary communication.
- To use the basic terminology of discourse analysis, textual linguistics, and semiotics applied to journalism accurately and appropriately.
- To develop a critical and reflective attitude towards the processes of information production, circulation, and interpretation.
- To apply basic discourse and semiotic analysis tools to the study of real-world cases from different media and digital platforms.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Recognise contemporary social and media realities, contextualise historical events, and identify newsworthy issues at local, national and international levels.
- CN02 - Identify the various stakeholders in contemporary journalism, their roles and the operational dynamics of a digital and globalised environment.
- CN05 - Define concepts and specialised journalistic terminology in English.
- CN06 - Recognise the principal artificial intelligence tools with applications in journalism.
- CP01 - Work effectively in professional journalism teams, adapting to multidisciplinary and changing environments.
- CP02 - Apply professional ethical principles and standards of academic rigour in journalism, recognising the current legal and ethical framework and respecting the fundamental right to equality between women and men, promoting human rights, a culture of peace and democratic values, including the use of inclusive, non-discriminatory and stereotype-free language.
- CP03 - Analyse audiences within the digital media ecosystem in order to develop content for diverse audiences.
- CP05 - Critically analyse national and international journalism in order to assess its influence on public opinion and current affairs.
- CP06 - Produce innovative, multi-platform journalistic content using narrative techniques and approaches specific to each medium and format.
- CP07 - Create innovative multimedia products by integrating graphic design, emerging technologies and elements of digital culture to communicate information in an engaging and accessible way across all devices.
- HB01 - Interpret relevant data obtained from a variety of sources.
- HB02 - Present and defend journalistic projects orally and in writing in Catalan, Spanish and English.
- HB03 - Transform information into engaging and aesthetically effective messages.
- HB04 - Use a range of media research and documentation resources.
- HB05 - Distinguish between information, opinion and manipulation, applying verification and source-checking techniques to debunk misinformation and identify content generated by artificial intelligence.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Students will be able to:
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To develop creativity in order to devise innovative journalistic products.
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To communicate information and original ideas persuasively, both orally and in writing.
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To identify different journalistic genres and formats, applying the appropriate linguistic style in each case and developing an individual expressive style.
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To master verbal and body language in front of a camera, an audience or a public gathering, applying professional presentation techniques to make an impact through their communication style.
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To recognise the functions and style of journalistic language.
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To devise concise and persuasive headlines that summarise content and provide greater depth on the subject matter.
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To develop skills in writing texts on any subject within a professional newsroom, using different forms of language, an individual expressive style and an independent point of view.
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To master verbal and non-verbal communication techniques in live broadcasts, managing unforeseen situations and collaborating effectively with the production team, capturing the audience’s attention and ensuring clarity of information.
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To apply different advertising formats across various media, developing copywriting skills for the creation of persuasive texts, evaluating the appropriate advertising approach according to the client and product, and ensuring clarity, creativity and ethical standards in the development of advertising campaigns.
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To master presentation techniques and the use of the voice, employing sound resources effectively, structuring and presenting radio programmes across different genres, and applying a clear and dynamic style adapted to the medium, while reflecting on the impact of radio language on the audience.
Syllabus
Topic 1. Language as a Construction of Social Reality
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Communication, information, and meaning.
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Journalistic language as a social practice.
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Functions of language in the media.
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Objectivity, subjectivity, and interpretation.
Topic 2. Fundamental Concepts in Discourse Analysis
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Text, discourse, and context.
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Enunciation and polyphony.
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Cohesion, coherence, and thematic progression.
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Speech acts and pragmatics in journalistic discourse.
Topic 3. Discursive Strategies in News Reporting
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The construction of social actors.
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Framing and the representation of reality.
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Presuppositions, implicatures, and informational silences.
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Argumentation, legitimation, and persuasion.
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Discourse, power, and ideology.
Topic 4. Critical Analysis of Media Discourse
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Main approaches to Critical Discourse Analysis.
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Van Dijk, Fairclough, and Wodak.
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The representation of gender, diversity, and minorities.
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Political discourse and media coverage.
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Disinformation and discursive strategies in digital media.
Topic 5. Foundations of Semiotics Applied to Journalism
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The sign and systems of signification.
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Saussure and Peirce.
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Code, symbol, icon, and index.
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Denotation and connotation.
Topic 6. Media Semiotics
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Roland Barthes and contemporary myths.
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Umberto Eco and the interpretation of texts.
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Intertextuality and polysemy.
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Visual narratives and symbolic construction.
Topic 7. Digital Discourses and the Media Ecosystem
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Digital platforms and new forms of enunciation.
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Language on social media.
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Multimodality and transmedia communication.
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Artificial intelligence and automated content generation.
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Ethical challenges in contemporary journalistic discourse.
Bibliography and resources
Chandler, D. (2025). Semiotics: The basics (5th ed.). Routledge.
Johnstone, B., & Andrus, J. (2024). Discourse analysis (4th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Smith, A., & Higgins, M. (2020). The language of journalism: A multi-genre perspective (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Academic.
van Dijk, T. A. (2017). Discourse and power. Palgrave Macmillan.
van Leeuwen, T. (2008). Discourse and practice: New tools for critical discourse analysis. Oxford University Press.
Machin, D., & Mayr, A. (2023). How to do critical discourse analysis: A multimodal introduction (2nd ed.). SAGE.
Fairclough, N. (2015). Language and power (3rd ed.). Routledge.
Sarısakaloğlu, A., & Löffelholz, M. (Eds.). (2025). The handbook of artificial intelligence and journalism. Wiley.