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
SOC4060	New Communication Technology and Society	Spring	3	0	3	6

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 :	Prof. Dr. AYŞE NİLÜFER NARLI
Recommended Optional Program Components:	None
Course Objectives:	This course explores the past, present and future of communication technologies and their impact on the society and media. It covers analytical perspectives, concepts and theories to understand communication technologies historically and conceptually and to examine radical changes in organization of society, labor and politics, brought about by the recent development in communication technologies and diffusion of digital technologies. It provides various perspectives on the co-construction of society and communication technology, with a recognition that communication technology represents a complex set of practices, norms, and values that both reflect and shape our convictions about personhood, identity, time, class, gender, space, labor, and politics. It also covers the social dynamics and the use of communication technologies.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
(1) Demonstrate the knowledge of the history of communication technologies
(2) Understand the general relationship between technology, communication, society, and culture
(3)Demonstrate the knowledge of the major conceptual and research issues related to communication technology
(4)Analyze and discuss contemporary key social issues (identity, politics, human rights) related communication technology
(5)Understand the internal and external dynamics that affect the use of communication technology
(6) Demonstrate the ability to understand virtual space and society
(7) Analyze communication technology in the Turkish context
(8) Develop a research proposal and design research project to study communication technology and society

Course Content

Week 1, September 18th: Introduction
Meeting with the class, introduction of the course syllabus and course material.
Week 2, September 25h: Early History of Communication Technologies
Discuss about the earliest communication technology and invention of writing
Printing, Sounds that Travel: Telegraphy and Telephone
“The Optical Telegraph”, Daniel Headrick, “Time, Space and the Telegraph” by James W.Carey, in Communication in history: Technology, culture, society. Routledge. Crowley, D., & Heyer, P. (2015).
Week 3, October 2th: Mass Communication Technologies and Social Construction of Technology
Wireless Communication, Radio and Televison
Robert S. Fortner and Darya Yanitskaya,, (2014) “Theoretical Perspectives on the Social Construction of Technology “ in the Handbook of Media and Mass Communication Technology, John Wiley&Sons
Week 4, October 9th : Advent of Communication Technologies
Digital Communication, Computer and Internet
Documentary film : Lo and Behold : Reveries of the Connected World by Werner Herzog
Week 5, October 16th: The Mobile Phone and…
Smartphone, identity, democracy
Sherry Turkle, “Always-On/Always-On-You: The Tethered Self” in Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies 2008
Week 6, October 23th: Political actions and Media
Howard Rheingold, “Mobile Media and Political Collective Action” in Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies 2008
Netflix Follow this: Fake news episode
Week 7, October 30th: Communication Technology, Innovation, Social Change and Future
Ingeborg Astrid Kleppe and James Hosea, “Connecting local food to global consumers via the Internet” in Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Society. Being Rural in a Digital Age.
Marsaili Macleod, “Revitalising rural Europe’s indigenous languages” in Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Society. Being Rural in a Digital Age.

Week 8, November 6th: Midterm Exam
Week 9: November 13nd: Theories of Communication Technologies: Network Society and Global Village
Castells, M. (2007). Communication, power and counter-power in the network society. International journal of communication, 1(1), 29.
Mcluhan, M.(1964) Understanding Media, the extensions of man, Newyork: McGraw-Hill
Week 10, November 20th: Communication Technology and Digital Divide
Submit research proposal
Antonelli, C. (2003). The digital divide: understanding the economics of new information and communication technology in the global economy. Information Economics and Policy, 15(2), 173-199..
Viviana Rojas, Joseph Straubhaar, Debasmita Roychowdhury, and Ozlem Okur (2004)“Communities, Cultural Capital, and the Digital Divide” in Media Access. Social and Psychological Dimensions of New Technology Use
Additional Readings: Linda A. Jackson Gretchen Barbatsis Frank A. Biocca Alexander von Eye Yong Zhao Hiram E. Fitzgerald ,(2004) “Home Internet Use in Low-Income Families: Is Access Enough to Eliminate the Digital Divide? In in Media Access. Social and Psychological Dimensions of New Technology Use
 Week 11, November 27th: Living a Virtual Life and Games-
Kolo, C., & Baur, T. (2004). Living a virtual life: Social dynamics of online gaming. Game studies, 4(1), 1-31.
Additional Reading: T.L. Taylor(2006) , Play between Worlds. Exploring Online Game Culture, the MIT Press
Terms and Conditions May Apply- Netflix documentary
Week 12, December 4th: Oral Presentation of Project
Each student has 15 minutes to present research project
Week 13 December 11th Oral Presentation of Project Continued
Each student has 15 minutes to present research project
Week 14, December 18th : Oral Presentation of Project Continued and Final Concluding Remarks

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week

Subject

Related Preparation

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks:	Bu derste her hafta farklı makaleler okunacaktır. Makaleleri Fotokopi Merkezi'nden edinebilirsiniz. Lütfen okumaları dersten önce zamanında yapınız. / We will go through different articles throughout the course. I will leave the articles for each class one week before the class to Copy Center at school. Please read the articles before you come to class.
References:	Yok / None

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements	Number of Activities	Level of Contribution
Attendance	14	% 15
Homework Assignments	1	% 5
Presentation	1	% 15
Midterms	1	% 30
Final	1	% 35
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 65
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 35
Total		% 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities	Number of Activities	Workload
Course Hours	14	42
Study Hours Out of Class	14	28
Presentations / Seminar	3	9
Project	4	12
Homework Assignments	1	3
Midterms	1	3
Final	1	3
Total Workload		100

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.