6 ECTS credits
163 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4016227FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Communication Sciences
Educational team
Karen Donders (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

21 contact hours Lecture
15 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
127 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course provides an overview of European media markets. It provides an insight in the characteristics of media and communication goods and services; main revenue streams and main players; and new media trends. Topical issues/cases related to European media and communication markets, diverging interests of different players and strength/weaknesses/opportunites and threats receive special attention. The course relies in part on preparatory work of students, in particular on topical cases assigned to each student.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Slides European Media and Communication Markets, Karen Donders and guest lecturers
Digital course material (Recommended) : Topical cases European media and Communication Markets, karen Donders and students
Additional info

The course relies on three building blocks: (1) lessons by Karen Donders on audiovisual production, aggregation and distribution; (2) guest lectures on, for example, radio, mobile telecommunications, film production, social media, and apps; (3) presentation and discussion of topical cases by students. Preparation of topical cases by means of a short essay and presentation and discussion thereof are an integral part of the students’ evaluation.

Teaching Methods

- Lecture: collective contact-dependent moments during which the lecturer engages with learning materials
- Seminar, Exercises or Practicals (Practical): collective or individual contact-dependent moments during which the students are guided to actively engage with learning materials
- Independent or External Form of Study (Self): independent study

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

Lecture: 21 hours

  • lectures: 18 hours (7 x 2-3 hours)
  • optional: 1 master class on a specific European media market: 3 hours

Practical: 15 hours

  • discussions in group context on topical issues, with presentations by students: 15 hours (6 x 2,5 hours)

Self: 127 hours

  • preparation lecture (slides): 7 hours (7 x 1 hour)
  • preparation practical (preparation topics via essays other students): 12 hours (6 x 2 hours)
  • preparation 2 essays and 2 discussions based on sources looked up by students: 64 hours
  • preparation 1 presentation: 4 hours
  • preparation exam (incl. presentation exam): 40 hours (5 days of 8 hours)
Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

This course contributes to the following general learning results of the master in communication studies:

  • Students show in-depth knowledge, understanding and insight within the field of communication sciences and in relation to the latest evolutions and discussions at both the national and international level regarding media, internet and globalization.
  • Students act upon an open attitude in a culturally diverse international context. They critically reflect on their own (geographical, social, cultural, local, personal, …) position.

Specific aims are:

At the level of reproduction and understanding of the course materials:

  • The student knows which characteristics different media services have (e.g., television production, radio broadcasting, social media, film) and can explain these characteristics and illustrate with examples.
  • The student knows what the structure is of different media markets (for product, Member State, big vs. small Member State level) and can explain this with examples.
  • The student knows which trends influence revenue models in European media markets and can explain this with examples.

 At the level of application and analysis:

  • The student can apply the course materials (e.g., characteristics of television production) to recent case studies (e.g., how can we explain that Endemol sells lots of formats, but is not profitable?).
  • The student can see the relations between different parts of the course, among others through identifying the differences and similarities between different media product and geographical markets (e.g., which trends are putting pressure on revenue models in the broadcasting and press market and do we see the same trends in both markets?) and explain these (e.g., revenue models in the press sector are under pressure because people are less willing to pay for news + because online revenues from advertising are on average lower than is the case in traditional advertising => this is something we see in different European markets such as …).

At the level of evaluation and creation:

  • The student can engage in the research of a topical issue, relate this to course materials, and write a succinct non-scientific essay on it. The essays should be descriptive, analytical and evaluative in nature.
  • The student can argue for or against a certain viewpoint throughout his/her essay and can defend this point in a structured, well-argued manner during class.

 

 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 40% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 60% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral Exam with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Essays with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.
  • Participation_Discussion with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Students are evaluated on:

  • their essays on topical issues
  • their participation in class, in particular during group discussions
  • an oral examination

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Communication Studies: New Media and Society in Europe
Master of Communication Studies: Journalism and Media in Europe