PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY
Bachelor	TR-NQF-HE: Level 6	QF-EHEA: First Cycle	EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code	Course Name	Semester	Theoretical	Practical	Credit	ECTS
NMD3120	Media and Conflict	Spring Fall	3	0	3	5

This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction:	English
Type of course:	Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level:	Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery:	Face to face
Course Coordinator :	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TİRŞE ERBAYSAL FİLİBELİ
Course Lecturer(s):	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi AYBERK CAN ERTUNA
Course Objectives:	In this course the challenges that journalists face when reporting on war will be examined through historical examples. We will assess the role of the media in conflicts and conflict resolution and discuss the moral and ethical issues about reporting wars.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
This course aims to help students develop following skills:

1. A knowledge of historical progress of reporting wars and conflicts
2. Ability to assess conflict coverage in the media from a critical perspective
3. A knowledge of different types of written and audio visual dispatches from front lines
4. An understanding of concepts; peace journalism and conflict sensitive journalism

Course Content

“Nothing in the field of journalism is more glamorous than being a war correspondent” said famous American broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite. However, it is also the most challenging one, not only because of the potential physical and psychological hazards of the field, but also because of the political, social, economic and sometimes technological pressures. Therefore in this course the role of media in times of conflict and resolution, reporting from the war zone and journalistic ethics will be discussed throughout the term.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Subject	Related Preparation
1)	Introduction to the course
2)	Wars, conflicts and journalism: Introduction of basic definitions, discussing the transformation of the armed conflicts
3)	From Crimean War to World War II: Discussing how technology transformed war reporting (telegraph, photography and cinema), analyzing the effects of propaganda and censorship
4)	Vietnam War and Falkland War: Discussing the effects of TV journalism and political repercussions
5)	24/7 News reporting and war in Afghanistan: Analyzing the framing and "spinning" of wars; CNN Vs. Al Jazeera
6)	Gulf War and Iraq Wars: Discussing the effects of press pools and embedding on journalistic practice
7)	Class discussion
8)	Ethical issues in war journalism: Discussing the international efforts in defining ethical standards
9)	Peace journalism: Analyzing the concepts of peace journalism and conflict sensitive journalism
10)	Reporting conflicts in the age of Internet: Analyzing the role of social media and open source intelligence in conflict reporting
11)	Safety of journalists: Understanding how journalists prepare for missions in conflict zones and safety in the field
12)	Guest Speaker: Learning from the experiences of a seasoned war reporter
13)	Presentation of projects
14)	Presentation of projects

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:

- Cottle, S. (2006). Mediatized Conflict: Developments in Media and Conflict Studies, Berkshire: Open University Press.
- Entman, R (1993). Framing: Toward Clarification of a Fractured Paradigm, Journal of Communication 43(4), 51-58.
- Galtung J., Fischer D. (2013) High Road, Low Road: Charting the Course for Peace Journalism. SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice, vol 5. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32481-9_8
- Hanitzsch, T. (2004). Journalists as Peacekeeping Force? Peace Journalism and mass communication theory. Journalism Studies, 5 (4), 483-495.
- McLaughlin, G. (2002). The War Correspondent, London: Pluto Press.
- Noris, P., Kern, M., Just, M. (2003). Framing Terrorism: The News Media, the Government and the Public, New York: Routledge.
- Thussu, D.K., Freeman, D. (2003). War and the Media (pp. 87-98). London: Sage Publications.
- Zeitoff, T. (2017). How Social Media Is Changing Conflict, Journal of Conflict Resolution. 61 (9). 1970-1991.

References:

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements	Number of Activities	Level of Contribution
Attendance	14	% 10
Homework Assignments	1	% 10
Midterms	1	% 30
Final	1	% 50
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 50
Total		% 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities	Number of Activities	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Course Hours	14	3	42
Study Hours Out of Class	14	5	70
Homework Assignments	1	4	4
Midterms	1	3	3
Final	1	3	3
Total Workload			122

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect	1 Lowest	2 Low	3 Average	4 High	5 Highest

	Program Outcomes	Level of Contribution
1)	To prepare the students to become communication professionals by focusing on strategic thinking, professional writing, ethical practice and innovative use of traditional and new media
2)	To be able to create effective public relations plans using fundamental planning components that include situation analysis, public profile, objectives, strategies and tactics.
3)	To be able to apply theoretical concepts related to mass communication, consumer behavior, psychology, persuasion,sociology, marketing, and other related fields to understand how public realtions works.
4)	To be able to have the ability to explain and identify problems associated with the relationships between events and facts in the areas of public relations, persuasive communication, communication management, corporate communications.
5)	To be able to analyze primary and secondary research data in the fields of perception and reputation management and corporate communication practices.
6)	To be able to search, write, and design articles, newsletters, and fliers, brochures, and announcements, in styles and formats appropraite various audiences, mediums and settings.
7)	To be able to apply the underlying theories of communication and the necessities of work safety to different types of public relations processes and campaigns.
8)	To be able to develop creative and persuasive management skills in terms of reputation, employee relations, leadership and similar corporate practices.
9)	To be able to take responsibility in an individual capacity or as a team in generating solutions to given scenarios which can occur in public relations processes.
10)	To be able to understand how an organizational culture works and how employees and leaders create messages as a communication tool.
11)	To be able to critically discuss and interpret theories, concepts, methods, tools and ideas in the field of public relations.
12)	To be able to to use information, communication technologies and computer software with the required level of public relations, marketing communication, persuasive communication, communication management, corporate communications.
13)	To be able to explain and describe business marketing activities, economics, business law and global business practices.
14)	To be able to recognize national and international, social and cultural dimensions of public relations.