GLCb2012 It's fake news!

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Otto Eibl, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Miloš Gregor, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Petra Mlejnková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Miloš Gregor, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 12:00–13:40 U42
Prerequisites
none
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the critical thinking and the basic rules of a critical approach to information processing, news, and arguments. Structure of the course covers the phenomenon of fake news from different perspectives – from history and media analysis to the fake news as s subject of the national threat. At the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate the credibility of news information independently, they will acquire basic procedures and principles in data verification procedures, and at the same time, they will be equipped with a basic set of knowledge necessary for argumentation skill.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be:
- able to evaluate the authenticity of news;
- able to process and verify data of any kind;
- equipped with a basic set of knowledge needed for argumentation skills.
Syllabus
  • PART ONE: classes weekly:
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Critical thinking and how to work with information sources (Eibl)
  • 3. Media literacy and media effects (Eibl)
  • 4. History of fake news and selected case studies (Gregor)
  • 5. Security aspects of phenomenon (Mlejnková)
  • 6. Manipulative techniques and principles of fake news (Gregor)
  • 7. Reading week (no lecture)
  • 8. Counter-measures against disinformation in the EU countries (Mlejnková)
  • PART TWO: seminars
  • 9.-11. Block of three classes dedicated to the team presentations (Eibl, Gregor, Mlejnková)
  • 12. Discussion on development and recent trends in fake news (Eibl, Gregor, Mlejnková)
  • 13. Final test
Literature
  • NICHOLS, Tom. (2017). The death of expertise: the campaign against established knowledge and why it matters. New York: Oxford University Press, 13-39, 105-133, 170-208.
  • MERLOE, P. (2015). Election Monitoring Vs. Disinformation. Journal of Democracy 26(3), 79-93. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • JOSELIT, David (2017). Fake News, Art, and Cognitive Justice. October Magazine (MIT Press Journal), Issue 159 (Winter),14-18.
  • ALTHUIS, Jente, HAIDEN, Leonie (2018, eds.). Fake News. A roadmap. Riga: NATO StratCom COE, 68-77.
  • MEJIAS, Ulises A., VOKUEY, Nikolai E. (2017). Disinformation and the media: the case of Russia and Ukraine. Media, Culture & Society 39(7): 1027-1042
  • SLOMAN, Steven A., FERNBACH, Philip. (2017). The knowledge illusion: why we never think alone. New York: Riverhead Books, 2017, 35-138.
  • SOUTHWELL, Brian G., THORSON, Emily A., and SHEBLE, Laura. 2018. Misinformation and Mass Audiences. University of Texas Press, 15-34, 109-123, 195-231.
  • BARTLETT, Bruce R. The truth matters : a citizen's guide to separating facts from lies and stopping fake news in its tracks. First edition. New York: Ten speed press, 2017, 136 stran. ISBN 9780399581168. info
  • GAINES, Elliot. Media literacy and semiotics. 1st ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, xii, 181. ISBN 9780230108288. info
Teaching methods
team presentation, seminar, essay, and final test
Assessment methods
Terms of completion of the course:
‣ Students are required to write an essay (text range three to four pages) on the topic: My perception of fake news as a threat for democracy. Students can get a maximum of 15 points. Deadline: TBD.
‣ Students are obligated to create group of two or three people and choose one of the topics suggested by the lecturers during the introduction lecture. Presentation will be held in the seminar class (see below) by using ppt, or other presentation program. Maximum length of presentation is 20 minutes. Students can get a maximum of 40 points.
‣ Seminar attendance: 5 points.
‣ The final written test will cover obligatory literature and consists of open questions. Students can reach a maximum of 40 points.
‣ Students are required to obtain at least 60% of points from the final test.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/GLCb2012