Democracy, media, and technology

  • Teaching

    Details

    Faculty Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences
    Domain Communication and Media Research
    Code UE-EKM.00957
    Languages English
    Type of lesson Lecture
    Level Master
    Semester AS-2025

    Schedules and rooms

    Summary schedule Monday 10:15 - 12:00, Hebdomadaire (Autumn semester)
    Hours per week
    		2

    Teaching

    Teachers
    • Hänggli Fricker Regula
    Assistants
    • Zai Florin
    Description

    Democracy is a government by the people. How can we ensure that established democracies continue to evolve, and that people accept and support the state and its policies? In the first block, we establish a foundational understanding of democracy. We examine its legitimacy, the Greek origins of democracy, and the characteristics of democratic models. In the second block, we discuss expectations of the public sphere and the role of the media in both democracy and society. The third block addresses digital technology (including algorithms, AI, etc.) from a structural perspective, analyzing their impact on democracy. In the fourth block, we focus on innovation and the need for auditing.
    Training objectives

    By the end of the course, you will be able to define democracy, articulate expectations of the public sphere and the functions of news media, and can discuss institutional/structural aspects of the tech (platform) industry and their consequences and remedies for democracy.
    Available seats 40
    Softskills Yes
    Off field Yes
    BeNeFri Yes
    Mobility Yes
    UniPop No

    Documents

    Bibliography

    Olat, Download texts and slides
  • Dates and rooms
    Date Hour Type of lesson Place
    15.09.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    22.09.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    29.09.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    06.10.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    13.10.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    20.10.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    27.10.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    03.11.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    10.11.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    17.11.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    24.11.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    01.12.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
    15.12.2025 10:15 - 12:00 Cours
  • Assessments methods

    Evaluation continue - AS-2025, Session d'hiver 2026

    Assessments methods By rating
    Descriptions of Exams

    Kurs mit fortlaufender Evaluation: nach der Einschreibeperiode können Sie sich nicht mehr von der Einschreibung zurückziehen (s. Sessionskalender auf der Webseite der Fakultät).

    Keine Wiederholungsprüfung
  • Assignment
    Valid for the following curricula:
    BeNeFri - Sciences économiques et sociales
    Version: 2018-SP_V01 - SES BeNeFri
    Course > Master course offering for BeNeFri Students
    Complementary learnings in SES or mobility students
    Version: ens_compl_ses
    Mster course offering for Mobility Students
    Digital Society 90 [MA]
    Version: SA25_MA_PA_en_vo1
    DSS 4: Digital Society in the Making: Analyses and Debates
    European Studies 30 [MA]
    Version: SA14_MA_PS_bil_v01
    Enjeux économiques, politiques et sociaux en Europe > Modul "Economie" (Option A)
    European Studies 30 [MA]
    Version: SA24_MA_P2_bil_v01
    Module 2 : L’Europe en tant qu’espace politique
    European Studies 90 [MA]
    Version: SA24_MA_PA_bil_v01
    Module 2 : L’Europe en tant qu’espace politique
    Ma - Accounting and Finance - 120 ECTS
    Version: 2024-SP_V02 - DD Caen
    UniFr courses > Elective courses - Max 18 ECTS > SES Master level courses
    Ma - Accounting and Finance - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V02 - Dès SA-2024
    Course - 72 ECTS > Minimum 0 / maximum 1 optional master course offered at the University of Fribourg, if 72 ECTS not yet reached in the above modules > SES Master level courses
    Ma - Business Communication - Management - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2022-SA_V03
    Courses - 60 ECTS > Management > 30 ECTS parmi les modules : > MAR: Marketing
    Ma - Business Communication : Business Informatics - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2024-SA_V03
    OPTION Information Management > Business Informatics Courses > Modules management > MAR: Marketing
    Ma - Business Informatics - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2020-SA_V01
    Classes - min. 45 ECTS > Modules management - max. 15 ECTS > MAR: Marketing
    Ma - Communication and Society - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V03
    Forschungsbereiche > Political Communication
    Forschungsbereiche > Inter- & Transdisciplinary Perspectives
    Political Communication
    Ma - Economics - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V04
    Le choix de l'option se fait par l'inscription au premier cours dans l'une des options possibles. > Public Economics and Policy > Elective courses in Public Economics and Policy > Elective courses of the SES Faculty - max. 15 ECTS > SES Master level courses
    Le choix de l'option se fait par l'inscription au premier cours dans l'une des options possibles. > Business Economics > Elective courses in Business Economics > Wahlkurse der SES-Fakultät - max. 15 ECTS > SES Master level courses
    Le choix de l'option se fait par l'inscription au premier cours dans l'une des options possibles. > Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility > Elective courses in Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility > Elective courses of the SES Faculty - max. 15 ECTS > SES Master level courses
    Le choix de l'option se fait par l'inscription au premier cours dans l'une des options possibles. > Quantitative Economics > Elective courses in Quantitative Economics > Courses from the SES faculty - max. 15 ECTS > SES Master level courses
    Course selection for the Master WITHOUT options > Elective courses > Elective courses of the SES Faculty - max. 15 ECTS > SES Master level courses
    Ma - International and European Business - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V01 - dès SA-2024
    Courses > Additional courses > SES Master level courses
    Ma - Management - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V03 - Dès SA-2024
    Courses: min. 72 ECTS > Elective courses > SES Master level courses
    Ma - Marketing - 90 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V03 - Dès SA-2024
    Courses - 72 ECTS > Elective Master courses from the whole university > SES Master level courses
    MiBa - Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung - 30 ECTS
    Version: 2015-SA_V01
    Kurse > Vorlesung "Media and Democracy" (FS) oder "Economie et stratégies des médias"

    MiMa - Business Informatics - 30 ECTS
    Version: 2020-SA_V01
    Cours > Modules management > MAR: Marketing
    MiMa - Communication and Society - 30 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V01
    Pflichtkurse 15ECTS
    MiMa - Gestion d'entreprise - 30 ECTS
    Version: 2021-SA_V01
    Elective courses - 30 ECTS > MAR: Marketing