Communication as a social force CM1009
(All) Lecture summaries
Important term used in lecture
Concept/important person
Lecture 1 08/02
Today, almost everything is mediatized. Mediatization will be the main concept through the
course of CSF.
- The quantifiable self - self tracking through technology such as Apple watches, sleep
apps and meditation apps.
Mediatization theory - the duality of media as an independent institution and as intertwined
with other institutions it investigates the complex relations between media and other
institutions.
- Media have become an integrated part of social institutions and media have grown
into an (independant) social institution.
Media can:
1. Extend human communication (talk through each other from anywhere on the world)
2. Substitute activities; face-to-face becomes mediated (on campus to full online
classes)
3. Merge activities; mediated + face-to-face (hybrid classes)
4. Force activities to adapt to medias format (online school due to covid)
Mediated - done through media
Mediatization - the changes that media causes
Media logic - a form of communication, and the process through which media transmit and
communicate information
1. rules and codes of media
2. frame of reference in the production of media culture
3. visions, conventions, styles and affordances (uses) of media
Field theory (for mediatization by Bordieu) - examines patterns of interaction between the
individual and the total field, or environment
- Consists of autonomous poles: field acts according to its own logic
- Consists of heteronomous poles: field acts under the influence of other fields
Structuration theory (for mediatization by Giddens) - structures formed by rules and
resources are modified by agents and agents act within the frames of structure
Media logic influences the heteronomous poles.
The constant action and sharing may result in a change in institutions.
Media causes forms of protests and solidarity (for example climate protests)
- Those protests/solidarity just exist because of the media, so media are not powerful
simply because they are used everywhere but we need a theory that can properly
explain why pervasive media can impact social practices and social institutions.
Key questions:
Noor Borggreven 612552 08/02/22
, 1. Why do we need a new/different theory of media and social change?
Media are not powerful simply because they are used everywhere
2. What are the key characteristics of the theory of mediatization?
Media = integral part of institutions, but also its own institution with its own
logic (influencing other institutions’ rules, attitudes and practices)
3. (How) Can we empirically research the mediatization of different social institutions?
E.g. through studying traces of media logic
Lecture 2 15/02
Recap week 1
Process of mediatization:
1. Media as an institution (structure/field) with their own rules, resources and agents
2. Media integrated to other institutions sharing media logic (heteronomous poles)
3. Agents acting under shared (media) logic within other institutions
4. Institutions changing as a result shared of media logic and social action
Mediatization of politics
Where do you get political information?
- Media as a necessity in the political domain and as a public sphere (Mazzoleni &
Schulz)
- Convergence and participatory culture (Jenkins & Deuze)
- Mediatization as a long-term process and core aspect of our societies (Esser &
Stromback)
Political logic - The public face, tactics, and strategies for winning political support and
publicity of a political group
1. Polity (organization/institution) - system of rules regulating political processes
2. Policy - processes of defining problems and forming policies
3. Politics - processes of garnering support for one’s candidacy, including the self
presentational side of politics
Stromback’s Model for the Mediatization of Politics
Most important source of ← First dimension → Most important source of
information: experiences information: the media
Media mainly dependent on ← Second dimension → Media mainly dependent of
political institutions political institutions
Media content governed by ← Third dimension → Media content governed by
political logic media logic
Political actors governed by ← Fourth dimension → Political actors governed by
political logic media logic
- Third dimension: Media interventionism - indicators that media coverage is shaped
by journalistic interventions, reflecting media logic rather than the wants and needs of
political institutions and actors.
Noor Borggreven 612552 08/02/22
(All) Lecture summaries
Important term used in lecture
Concept/important person
Lecture 1 08/02
Today, almost everything is mediatized. Mediatization will be the main concept through the
course of CSF.
- The quantifiable self - self tracking through technology such as Apple watches, sleep
apps and meditation apps.
Mediatization theory - the duality of media as an independent institution and as intertwined
with other institutions it investigates the complex relations between media and other
institutions.
- Media have become an integrated part of social institutions and media have grown
into an (independant) social institution.
Media can:
1. Extend human communication (talk through each other from anywhere on the world)
2. Substitute activities; face-to-face becomes mediated (on campus to full online
classes)
3. Merge activities; mediated + face-to-face (hybrid classes)
4. Force activities to adapt to medias format (online school due to covid)
Mediated - done through media
Mediatization - the changes that media causes
Media logic - a form of communication, and the process through which media transmit and
communicate information
1. rules and codes of media
2. frame of reference in the production of media culture
3. visions, conventions, styles and affordances (uses) of media
Field theory (for mediatization by Bordieu) - examines patterns of interaction between the
individual and the total field, or environment
- Consists of autonomous poles: field acts according to its own logic
- Consists of heteronomous poles: field acts under the influence of other fields
Structuration theory (for mediatization by Giddens) - structures formed by rules and
resources are modified by agents and agents act within the frames of structure
Media logic influences the heteronomous poles.
The constant action and sharing may result in a change in institutions.
Media causes forms of protests and solidarity (for example climate protests)
- Those protests/solidarity just exist because of the media, so media are not powerful
simply because they are used everywhere but we need a theory that can properly
explain why pervasive media can impact social practices and social institutions.
Key questions:
Noor Borggreven 612552 08/02/22
, 1. Why do we need a new/different theory of media and social change?
Media are not powerful simply because they are used everywhere
2. What are the key characteristics of the theory of mediatization?
Media = integral part of institutions, but also its own institution with its own
logic (influencing other institutions’ rules, attitudes and practices)
3. (How) Can we empirically research the mediatization of different social institutions?
E.g. through studying traces of media logic
Lecture 2 15/02
Recap week 1
Process of mediatization:
1. Media as an institution (structure/field) with their own rules, resources and agents
2. Media integrated to other institutions sharing media logic (heteronomous poles)
3. Agents acting under shared (media) logic within other institutions
4. Institutions changing as a result shared of media logic and social action
Mediatization of politics
Where do you get political information?
- Media as a necessity in the political domain and as a public sphere (Mazzoleni &
Schulz)
- Convergence and participatory culture (Jenkins & Deuze)
- Mediatization as a long-term process and core aspect of our societies (Esser &
Stromback)
Political logic - The public face, tactics, and strategies for winning political support and
publicity of a political group
1. Polity (organization/institution) - system of rules regulating political processes
2. Policy - processes of defining problems and forming policies
3. Politics - processes of garnering support for one’s candidacy, including the self
presentational side of politics
Stromback’s Model for the Mediatization of Politics
Most important source of ← First dimension → Most important source of
information: experiences information: the media
Media mainly dependent on ← Second dimension → Media mainly dependent of
political institutions political institutions
Media content governed by ← Third dimension → Media content governed by
political logic media logic
Political actors governed by ← Fourth dimension → Political actors governed by
political logic media logic
- Third dimension: Media interventionism - indicators that media coverage is shaped
by journalistic interventions, reflecting media logic rather than the wants and needs of
political institutions and actors.
Noor Borggreven 612552 08/02/22
