DIGITAL GAME DESIGN
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	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 :	Assist. Prof. AYBERK CAN ERTUNA
Course Lecturer(s):	Assist. Prof. 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;
Students will be able to describe the historical development processes of war journalism and its effects on the media.

Students will be able to explain the concepts of peace journalism and conflict-oriented journalism and discuss the basic principles of these approaches.

Students will be able to analyze conflict news presented by the media from a critical perspective and distinguish propaganda elements.

Students will be able to evaluate ethical violations in war reporting and examine the compliance of the news with ethical standards in terms of accuracy and impartiality.

Students will be able to make a comprehensive analysis by interpreting the relationship between media and conflict through historical and contemporary examples.

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)	Comprehend the conceptual importance of the game in the field of communication, ability to implement the player centered application to provide design.
2)	Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from various perspectives.
3)	Analyze the key elements that make up specific game genres, forms of interactions, mode of narratives and understand how they are employed effectively to create a successful game.
4)	Understand game design theories and methods as well as implement them during game development; to make enjoyable, attractive, instructional and immersive according to the target audience.
5)	Understand the technology and computational principles involved in developing games and master the use of game engines.
6)	Understand the process of creation and use of 2D and 3D assets and animation for video games.
7)	Understand and master the theories and methodologies of understanding and measuring player experience and utilize them during game development process.
8)	Comprehend and master how ideas, concepts and topics are conveyed via games followed by the utilization of these aspects during the development process.
9)	Manage the game design and development process employing complete documentation; following the full game production pipeline via documentation.
10)	Understand and employ the structure and work modes of game development teams; comprehend the responsibilities of team members and collaborations between them while utilizing this knowledge in practice.
11)	Understand the process of game publishing within industry standards besides development and utilize this knowledge practice.
12)	Pitching a video game to developers, publishers, and players; mastering the art of effectively communicating and marketing the features and commercial potential of new ideas, concepts or games.