Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Information Theory
Teaching staff
Introduction
The right and access to information are fundamental in democratic societies. In this context, we will ask ourselves how the media work and what influence they have on public opinion, why the exercise of freedom of the press is important, and what role communication professionals and the audience play in the current digital scenario.
The objective of the Information Theory subject is for students to learn the basic concepts of information and communication and its main actors, and develop a reflective and critical view of current affairs in order to understand reality.
For this reason, we will also delve into the origin and evolution of the mass media and we will open new horizons by working on the communication formulas and platforms that the Internet offers us in the age of disinformation.
The basics of how to act in the face of crisis communication in the context of digital platforms will also be learned, so that future advertising and public relations professionals have tools to face possible problems in the development of their work.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 12 - The ability to produce spoken and written texts
- 34 - The ability to objectify and quantify (facts, statistics, etc.).
- 64 - Knowledge and mastery of bibliographic repertories
- 69 - Knowledge and mastery of the different techniques used to contrast information
- 72 - Knowledge and mastery of the principle techniques for scientific and journalistic investigation
- 73 - Knowledge and mastery of techniques to analyze sources of information.
Syllabus
UNIT 1: basic concepts
- What do we understand by communication and information
UNIT 2: the evolution of the media
- From the printing press to the internet
- Digital and mobile journalism. New platforms
UNIT 3: Communication and public opinion
- The communication professional. Investigation journalism: case study
- Communicate information: sources, selection and criteria
- The media (public and private) in Catalonia and Spain
- Functions, influence and power of the media
- The right to information. How do we get informed? The role of the audience
- The formation of public opinion / Freedom of the press
UNIT 4: Information verification
- Truth and post-truth
- Infoxication
- Fake news / Deep fakes
UNIT 5: Crisis communication.
- How to act before a problem?
- Brand building
- Reputation management
- Influencers
Teaching and learning activities
In person
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | ECTS CREDITS |
| Lectures. In lectures, lecturers/professors not only transmit content or knowledge, but also, and above all else, attitudes, motivation, skills and values, etc. They also ensure that participants can express their opinions and arguments to the other students. | 2,6 |
| Coaching. Monitoring how students learn the content of the subject, either individually or in groups. In the coaching sessions, mistakes will be corrected, queries answered, and exercises and activities to achieve the established objectives will be suggested. | 0,6 |
| Seminar. This activity will consist of taking an in-depth look at specific up-to-date topics in a monographic manner-in some cases these topics will have been debated socially-, via active work in small groups. | 1,0 |
| Practical workshop. A highly practical working activity, where students can acquire skills that are practical or also theoretical (intellectual skills, logical skills, critical skills, intellectual learning skills, study skills, quoting skills, etc). | 0,8 |
| Lab. Working groups that combine theory and practice. The aim of these is not to undertake already known techniques, but instead to make progress that is both theoretical and technical. These Lab sessions will culminate in the creation of a professional or semi-professional product. | 1,0 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
-First call:
- Attitude and participation (10%)
- Practices (40%)
- Final exam (50%)
*To pass the subject, the student will have to pass both the practices and the final exam with a minimum grade of 5.
-Second call and successive: 100% final exam.
IMPORTANT:
-The UIC spelling regulations will be applied to all papers and exams. Without exceptions.
-Plagiarism in any of the evaluable activities will mean automatic failure of the subject.