Module: Social Media, Journalism & Democracy

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Social Media, Journalism & Democracy
Module Code	MCO1051 (ITS: CM5630)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

The module examines the development and direction of social media, its impact on political, economic and social life and the implications for journalism and civic engagement.

Learning Outcomes

1. recognise the impact and influence of social media on political, economic and social life;
2. demonstrate how social media affects the behaviours by citizens and governments in different parts of the world;
3. critique the impact of social media on journalism practice;
4. assess the role of social media in citizen agitation and democratic transition
5. describe the impact of new business models on the media and on journalism

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	Lecturer
Seminars	11	Seminars
Assignment Completion	100	Assignmewnt
Independent Study	117	Self-directed learning
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	11008	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	Alessio Cornia	Module Teacher	Eileen Culloty, Jane Suiter

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Individual case study (1,600 words, Wordage could be +/- 10%)	30%	Week 8
Assignment	Individual essay (3,600 words; Wordage could be +/- 10%)	70%	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

Outline
Although a recent phenomenon, social media has opened up new opportunities for journalism while also challenging the traditional understanding of public participation and potentially empowering audiences and civil society organisations by offering new platforms for free expression and social activism. This module explores the meaning of this digital public sphere, examines its impact on media and politics and critically evaluates the transformative claims for platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The module examines the theoretical and practical contexts within which social media exist and relate the skills of social media to trends in the political, communication and media sectors.

Topics
Social media and the news industry; Algorithms and the power of platforms; Echo chambers, filter bubbles, and political polarization; Social media economics and logics; Social media and politicians; Social media, participation, protest, and democracy; Social media and journalists

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Dijck, J. van, Poell, T., & Waal, M. de.: 2018, The platform society, Introduction, Ch. 1, 2, 3, 7, Oxford University Press, New York,
Burgess, J., Marwick, A., & Poell, T. (eds): 2018, The SAGE handbook of social media, SAGE, Thousand Oaks, CA,
Sunstein, C.R.: 2017, #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media, Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford,
Bucher, T.: 2018, Ifâ€¦ Then: Algorithmic Power and Politics, Oxford University Press, New York,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None

This module has been assigned the code: CM563