1) Course overview, methods of evaluation, defining terminology 2) A history of the development of democratic principles, from Ancient Greece to the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the fledgling democracies of the post-colonial world.

This class examines the founding principles of free speech in the pursuit of self-realization and democratic values. It aims to highlight the paradoxical nature of the democratic system as a dialectic, and raises issues of the Self and Other as posed by Hegel.

Looking at the theories of four key thinkers (Lippmann, Dewey, Bernays, and Habermas) the ideas of the public sphere and public opinion will be examined. Additionally, Adam Curtis’ landmark documentary The Century of the Self, will be used to help understand the development of public relations in 1920s United States, and the resulting explosion of psychoanalysis as a tool of public persuasion.

To examine the impact of big business and corporate media oligopolies on the dissemination of information. Special attention will be paid to Chomsky and Herman’s five point ‘Propaganda Model.’

An investigation into the seismic impact of the internet on information dissemination; specifically examining issues regarding: social media, open source, blogging, fake news, and the impact of algorithms on the polarization of political opinion.

Based on all classes and readings up to this point of the semester, the exam will be in the form of multiple-choice questions and short essays.

Using investigative research from a series of press freedom NGOs, students will examine the rates of journalistic freedom worldwide, establishing what are the current trends and in what direction are they moving? Several international case studies will be used in our analysis: Gaza, Georgia, Kashmir, Mexico, Myanmar, and Serbia

Follows Pasha Talankin, a small-town Russian teacher and school videographer who secretly documented mandatory pro-war curriculums and militarized youth groups before escaping into exile. It won the 2026 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature and was subsequently banned by a Russian court.

MOTION I: This house believes that hate speech laws should override absolute freedom of expression. MOTION II: This house believes that independent online content creators are better democratic watchdogs than traditional journalists.

Political disinformation and manipulation distort public discourse by presenting information out of context to gain support. To effectively counter these unethical practices, citizens must learn to recognize how they operate, as the core principles of manipulation remain unchanged despite modern digital advances. This lecture and workshop teach participants how to identify political content, dismantle hidden messages on platforms like TikTok, and craft meaningful responses.

To understand the role of whistleblowers and the rise of Wikileaks, its role in journalism, the arguments for and against the dissemination of classified information, and ultimately its impact on an informed citizenry. Snowden's revelations of NSA and GCHQ mass surveillance will also be central to our discussion.

The ideas in this class will revolve around the theories of James Curran in his book 'Media & Democracy,' regarding the ways in which both film and TV entertainment media often present a wide array of political persuasions; from the empowering rhetoric of liberal individualism, to the tight social bonds of conservative collectivism.

Based on all classes and readings from the whole course. The exam will be in the form of multiple-choice questions and short essays.

Understanding the paradoxical position of the government in the regulation of media outlets in the interest of democratic values. The Fairness Doctrine of 1949 and issues of net neutrality in the 21st century will be central to the class.