Module: Perspectives on Political and Business Journalism

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Perspectives on Political and Business Journalism
Module Code	JRR1018 (ITS: CM3008)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module will critically examine debates about mainstream and alternative media coverage of politics and the economy in Ireland and internationally with particular focus on the contribution of journalism to democracy. The module will focus on the power of communication in an environment where technological change, new media platforms and the 24-hour news cycle are impacting on the production of quality political and financial journalism. The module will combine exploration of theoretical approaches with practical work in critically assessing the changing nature of contemporary political and financial journalism. Teaching and learning will combine lectures, seminars and site visits to relevant organisations.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand key concepts, issues and debates related to the connections between journalism, the public, and the political and financial systems;
2. Identify the roles and motivation of political and financial journalists;
3. Explain the production of political and financial journalism
4. Recognise the relations of political and financial journalists with public relations professionals
5. Demonstrate skills for the analysis and evaluation of arguments and evidence in the academic literature
6. Critically analyse examples of political and financial journalistic output

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Seminars	12	No Description
Assignment Completion	22	No Description
Independent Study	69	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10863	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Kevin Rafter	Module Teacher	Mark O'Brien

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	A case study (2,500 words) involving critically reflection on both theory and examples of media practice and its relationship to politics and/or the economy	60%	n/a
Presentation	Research Assignment Presentation	30%	n/a
Participation	n/a	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Journalism, Public & Power

Introduction to Political Journalism

Introduction to Financial Journalism

Elites and Sources

Pack Journalism & Group Think

Framing of Political and Financial News

News Cycles and News Platforms

Financial, Economic and Business Concepts

Corporate and Political Public Relations

Gender in Political and Financial Journalism

Reporting the Crisis

Indicative Reading List

Books:

De Vreese, Claes, Esser, Frank, and Hopmann, David Nicolas, (eds.: 2016, Comparing Political Journalism, Routledge, London,
Cappella J and Jamieson K: 1993, Spiral of Cynicism The Press and the Public Good., Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Cushion, S. 2015: 2015, News and politics: the rise of live and interpretive journalism, Routledge, London,
Franklin B: 1997, Newszak and News Media, Arnold, London,
Hayes, Danny and Lawless, Jennifer L: 2016, Women on the Run: Gender, Media, and Political Campaigns in a Polarized Er, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,

Articles:

Albaek, E: 0, The interaction between experts and journalists in news journalism, Journalism, 12(3), 325, 514976
2012: The Today programme and the banking crisis, Journalism, 1, 514977, 1
No alternative to austerity: How BBC broadcast news reported the deficit debate: Media, Culture & Society, 1, 514978, 1, Doyle, G. 2006
Journalism: 7(4), 433, 514979, 1, Fahy, D., O’Brien, M., & Poti, V, 2010
12: 5, 514980, 1, Manning, P, 2013, Financial journalism, news sources and the banking crisis
173: 514981, 1, McMenamin, I., Flynn, R., O’Malley, E., & Rafter, K, 2013, Commercialism and election framing: A content analysis of twelve newspapers in the 2011 Irish general election, International Journal of Press/Politics
514982: 1, Mercille, J, 2013, The role of the media in sustaining Ireland’s housing bubble, New Political Economy, 19(2), 282,
1: Rafter, K., 2014, Voices in the Crisis: The media elites who interpreted Ireland's banking collapse, European Journal of Communications, 29(5), 598,
Rafter, K.: 2017, “‘Insufficient critique’–The Oireachtas Banking Inquiry and the media.”, Administration, 65(2), 89, 514985
2010: What are financial journalists for?, Journalism Studies, 11(2), 158,

Other Resources

None