Course objectives

The course is designed as a series of lectures and discussions that acquaint students with selected topics in current research on media and media audiences. It is taught by experts from the Department of Media Studies and Journalism and the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society (IRTIS), who will introduce students to areas within their current research interests and activities. Upon completing the course, students will have an overview of the latest research in media studies on the topics listed below.

Course requirements

Students are expected to complete the assigned readings before each lecture. Students registered under the code CMA17 have additional readings assigned in some weeks (reflecting the higher credit value).

While lecture attendance is not mandatory, it is highly recommended.

The students are also required to:

Register for the essay topic

Each student must register for one topic from the course Topic List available in the Information System (IS). Please note that the number of students per topic is limited.

• Registration starts: December 3, 2025, at 17:00
• Registration ends: December 10, 2024 (midnight)

Write an essay communicating research findings to the public

• Objective: Write a popular science article that introduces a scientific topic to the general public, summarizing relevant research in a way that is accessible and engaging. Use clear, non-technical language and provide explanations for any specialized terms or concepts. You are encouraged to include visual materials, such as graphics or expert quotations, to enhance the readability and understanding of your article. Proper citation and referencing of sources are required (any standard citation style, such as APA or MLA, may be used). Further details will be provided at the introductory and closing lectures.
• Sources: at least 2 academic, peer-reviewed sources that are not listed as required readings (more sources recommended)
• Length: 2-3 standard pages (i.e., 3,600–5,400 characters without spaces), excluding list of references & direct quotations
• Deadlines:
  • 1st attempt: January 7, 2026 (midnight)
  • 2nd attempt: January 26, 2026 (midnight)
  • 3rd attempt: February 9, 2026 (midnight)

Detailed information about the course requirements will be discussed at the first introductory lecture on September 17. The assignment will also be discussed at the last lecture on December 10.

Timely completion of all tasks is necessary to successfully complete the course and earn credits.

If your assignment does not meet the requirements, or you do not submit it in time, you will get a failing grade (N). Students taking the course for the first time have 3 attempts to finish the course; those who are retaking the course have 2 attempts.

Example (of a student cutting it very close): 

• A student is taking the course for the first time.
• Their paper did not meet the requirements -> N for the 1st attempt.
• They missed the deadline for revision -> N for the 2nd attempt.
• Finally, everything is ok -> P (passed) for the 3rd attempt, course done!

Please note that grading the essays will take about one week.

Contacts

• For general questions about the assignment or the course, or if you need to complete the course earlier, please contact Vojtěch Mýlek (mylek@fss.muni.cz) or Marie Jaroň Bedrošová (marie.bedrosova@mail.muni.cz)
• For topic-specific inquiries, please contact the relevant lecturer. 

Lectures

Lectures are on Wednesdays, 12:00-13:40, in AVC (5.34)