Aims

Upon completion of this course the student have reached the following goals:

• The student can make a detailed substantive analysis about the consequences of digital media production and consumption for democracy and critically reflect about phenomena of digitalization and platformization like online misinformation and disinformation, botification, and bias in algorithms;
• The student can interpret insights and interpretations from scientific literature about contemporary digital media production and consumption from different disciplines and geographical perspectives, place them in a broader theoretical context and integrate them coherently;
• The student can point out in a constructive way the different viewpoints and activities of various (new) actors in digital media production that is marked by media convergence and user-generated content and reflect about digital media consumption and consumer preferences in a changing media landscape;
• From his/her personal analysis, the student can enter into a dialogue with insights and/or hypotheses found in the literature, whether the focus is on the production of digital content, the structure of the industry, the work of professionals or the meaning generated with users and consumers;
• The student can critically reflect on media regulation and platform behavior in different geographic contexts from a historical perspective and with a view to their future orientation and innovation potential;
• The student can work collaboratively on questions of digital media production and consumption in different geographic contexts.

These goals are announced at the start of the course.

Previous knowledge

Students are part of a bachelor- or master programme in the social sciences (preferably communication sciences or media studies) and part of the international Erasmus exchange programme.  

Is included in these courses of study

• Master in de communicatiewetenschappen (Leuven) 60 ects.
• Master in de communicatiewetenschappen (Leuven) 60 ects.
• Master in de bedrijfscommunicatie (Leuven) 60 ects.
• Master of Sociology (Leuven) 60 ects.