Political Communication in the US 4219-SF046
This course offers students an engaging exploration of political communication in the United States, examining how politicians, parties, media, and public figures prepare messages, shape public opinion, and respond to social and technological changes. Rather than focusing solely on theory, the course emphasizes active participation and collaborative learning, allowing students to experience how political messages are developed, delivered, and received.
Throughout the course, students will work together on different tasks, projects, simulations, and case studies that cover topics such as political persuasion, partisanship, campaigns, advertising, and crisis communication. The course will also explore presidential debates, the role of the First Lady, political satire and parody, and the growing influence of the internet and social media.
By engaging in group work, discussions, and simulations, students will practice strategic thinking, message design, and collaborative problem-solving. They will gain a deeper understanding of both the theory and practice of political communication while developing the skills necessary for success in real-world political environments.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the students:
KNOWLEDGE
- have basic knowledge of the definition of political communication, its types, history and evolution
- understand the specifics of political communication in the US
- have basic knowledge of the symbols, political marketing and different actors in political campaign, as well as of the role of the media in image building
SKILLS
- can search, analyse, evaluate, select and use information on political communication from various sources
- can assess the integrity of the politicians’ image and the effectiveness of their political communication
- can distinguish forms of political communication depending on the situation, time and target
SOCIAL COMPETENCES
- are able to receive critically media coverage of political communication in the US
- can take a stand in discussions on the US political communication
- are ready to use knowledge of US political communication in their professional careers
Assessment criteria
The final grade is based on participation points earned by students during class activities. Points are awarded for engagement in discussions, group work, presentations, decision-making tasks, and role-playing exercises, etc. The grading scale is as follows:
100% → 5!
90–99% → 5
80–89% → 4.5
70–79% → 4
60–69% → 3.5
50–59% → 3
The number of absences may not exceed 2.
Bibliography
Core reading:
A. Davis, Political Communication, A New Introduction for Crisis Times, Cambridge, Polity, 2019.
R.E. Denton, G.C. Woodward, Political Communication in America, New York, Praeger, 1990.
T. Płudowski (red.), American Politics: Media and Election, Adam Marszałek, Toruń, 2005.
D.L. Helfert, Political Communication in Action: From Theory to Practice, Boulder, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2017.
R.M. Perloff, The Dynamics of Political Communication. Media and Politics in a Digital Age, New York – London, Routledge, 2013.
Further reading:
A. Davis, Political communication and social theory, New York – London, Routledge, 2010.
B. McNair, An introduction to political communication, New York – London, Routledge, 2011.
G.D. Rawnsley, Political communication and democracy, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
H.A. Semetko, M. Scammell (red.), The Sage handbook of political communication, Los Angeles, Sage, 2012.
J.S. Tuman, Political communication in American campaigns, Los Angeles, Sage Publications, 2008.
G. Wolfsfeld, Making sense of media and politics: five principles in political communication, New York-London, Routledge, 2011.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: