Lecturer: Dr. Isabella Gonçalves

Why do people engage with media, and why are more individuals choosing to avoid the news altogether? This course examines key theories and methods of media use research, the major media use studies in Germany, and the growing number of news avoidance globally. In the first part of this seminar, students will learn about the broader field of media use research, with seminar sessions focusing on different used methods, key communication theories (such as Uses & Gratifications, Mood Management Theory, and Selective Exposure) and major studies on media use in Germany. The second part focuses on news avoidance, exploring the motivations, cognitive processes, and social dynamics behind this behavior. Through debates, group activities, and comparative analyses of news avoidance across countries, students will evaluate its implications and consider whether it reflects a problematic trend.

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