Communications Theory and Techniques in Journalism

The course is divided into two base parts, theoretical and practical. In the first, students are confronted with theories concerning the universe of good communication and its distortions, their history and technical aspects (with particular regard to philosophical, historical, literary, political, semi-secular, cyber and journalistic contexts). In the second part, students delve into the practical methods of composing articles in written form and oral and visual communication. The fundamental step is the one that marks the narrative path from the announcement to the news (through the fabula, or plot), using the headline, incipit, explicit, and the identification of the theme (topic) and subthemes, as well as to the rhetorical embellishments, all with the ultimate goal of objectivity and effectiveness. A central role is played by practical exercises, which also include direct contact of the students with external witnesses, to be translated into the form of journalistic composition.

By the end of the course the student must be able to apply the communication techniques learned to any area of journalistic, professional or collaborative activity, and with regard to every modern medium: newspaper, television, radio or digital communication. But the references learned are also aimed at bringing together the professional fields of advertising, marketing, the press office and public relations in the economic, commercial, artistic and general creative sectors, as well as of any form of journalistic expression, even non-verbal, from the interview to the review, which enters the public discourse (including presentations, brand journalism, storytelling, copywriting, augmented and native journalism), so as to master and respond to professional communication situations quickly.