COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 102	B	2	3	0	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Reina Shehi , Thursday, 13:30- 15:00
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E 311, 09:30-12:15
Course Description:	This course offers an introduction to political communication, a preeminently practical activity whose role in informing, influencing and legitimizing decisions is crucial to both domestic and international politics. Ethical aspects of this activity will be mentioned during the semester as they are applicable, but in general the course looks at political communication as a distinct field, in which ethical principles and issues of performance need to be balanced. The course is practically oriented; it will include lectures and seminar discussions both on scholarly readings and on students’ work.
Course Objectives:	The aim of this course is to teach students the theory and practice of political communication as a crucial mean of connecting the state with the people. The course aims to cover the main methods of political communication and show students how to use them effectively and efficiently. The whole course is built upon the core question of who says what to whom via which channels with what effects? The first part of the course focuses on new perspectives on how to measure effects and content of media and latest development in methods for studying political communication in the varying contexts of traditional, old and new media. The second part presents research on the role and practice of communication implemented by executive politicians and officials of public institutions to share with people their political rationale. In addition, the course discusses the foundations of oratory within politics, sometimes considered as one of the most important democratic tools. The third part of the course examines mainly the power of the internet and the role of digital media in shaping political decisions and even portraying wars. Two weeks of the course syllabuses are specifically devoted to the performance of political communication in the context of new democracies (case of East- Central Europe) and context of crisis (case of British Phone Hacking Scandal). Finally, students will also work in groups to research models of political communication in Albania and Western Balkan Region.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction: The History and Methods of Political Communication
2	Agenda- Setting and Framing Theory
3	Political Marketing and Political Campaign
4	Government Communication
5	The power of Rhetoric
6	Measuring Affect, Emotion and Mood in Political Communication
7	Midterm Exam
8	News Values
9	The Internet and Citizenship
10	News Media and War
11	Political Communication and Political Accountability
12	Case Study: Never Waste a Good Crisis: The British Phone Hacking Scandal and its implications for politics and the press
13	Political Communication in a Globalized World
14	Students' Projects

Prerequisite(s):	N/A
Textbook:	Semetko, H. A., & Scammell, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Sage handbook of political communication. Sage Publications. Kenski, K., & Jamieson, K. H. (Eds.). (2017). The Oxford handbook of political communication. Oxford University Press. McNair, B. (2017). An introduction to political communication. Taylor & Francis
Other References:	Fuga, A. (2008), Media, Politika dhe Shoqeria, ISPL/ Botimet Dudaj Zguri, R. Marrëdhëniet mes Medias dhe Politikës në Shqipëri. Albanian Media Institute & Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	To learn about the main actors in a society and how each produces political communication.
2	To learn about the multidisciplinary literature of political communication not only as an academic study but also in the way it is practiced.
3	To understand the role of media in a democratic society as the communicator of political views and as a watchdog for political actors
4	To have a clear understanding of the most effective methods of political communication.
5	To perceive the role of contextual issues in constructing communication.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) (Old) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	3
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	3
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	4
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	4
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	3
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	3
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	2
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	3
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	5
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Project	1	30
Case Study	2	5
Final Exam	1	30
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	2	32
Mid-terms	16	1	16
Assignments	12	1	12
Final examination	17	1	17
Other			0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5