Migration and Media - JSM140

• Title: Migration and Media
• Czech title: Migrace a média
• Guaranteed by: Department of Sociology (23-KS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2025
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unlimited (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Additional information: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3ANKD7c7MdqcDW6qoPaxXgjuqnpKW85cLH8TSr1GnuJ-s1%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=6532f479-0922-47d8-a531-66b46a472d75&tenantId=e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: RNDr. Tereza Freidingerová, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): RNDr. Tereza Freidingerová, Ph.D.

Annotation

This course explores international migration through the lens of media representation, drawing on insights of media studies as well as sociology and anthropology. Students will critically examine how migration is framed in traditional and digital media, and how these representations influence public perception, policy-making, and migrants’ lived experiences. The course combines theoretical insights with practical training in media analysis. Students will learn to identify discourses, framing strategies, and linguistic and visual techniques used in media coverage of migration. Throughout the semester, students will develop their own media analysis of a selected migration-related case reported in mainstream media in their native language, culminating in a final presentation and written report.



Information for MSNS students: this course is included in the CSI learning pathways

Last update: Freidingerová Tereza, RNDr., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)

Aim of the course

Aims of the course:

-        to provide students with an insight into the issue of migration through the lens of the media

-        analyse the development of the representation of the topic of migration by selected media

-        to analyse the influence of the media on personal bias in the topics of migration of each of us

 

Last update: Freidingerová Tereza, RNDr., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)

Course completion requirements

Course completion requirements:

-        compulsory personal attendance (two absences excused)

-        elaboration and presentation of an analysis of the media analysis of a selected "case"

-        compulsory participation in the final colloquium

-        written final exam (essay)

Activity	Points	Notes
Attendance	max 24 points* (min 20 points) 2 points per attended class	Two absences are allowed without penalty. Any additional absence must be compensated by preparing an in-class activity for peers on a given topic.
Final Colloquium	6 points	Full attendance is mandatory for the entire duration of the colloquium. In case of absence, students must complete an individually assigned task.
Timely submission of assignment (1st deadline)	15 points 10 points the analysis / 5 points feedback	Submission after the deadline = 0 points
Timely submission of assignment (2nd deadline)	5 points	Submission after the deadline = 0 points
Analysis presentation	40 points
Class participation	max 10 points
TOTAL	100 POINTS

A = 91 % and more 
B = 81-90 %
C = 71-80 %
D = 61-70 %
E = 51-60 %
F = 0-50 %

For course details and deadlines, see MS Teams

Course organization:
- This is an in-person course. Some lectures will be recorded.

- all study materials and analysis work will be in the "2025-2026 MSNS Migration and Media | Microsoft Teams" team in the university's MS 365 account ( @cuni.cz) not the faculty account (@fsv.cuni.cz) > I highly recommend downloading the MS Teams app to your phone for the duration of the course

Login = your CU email of the form [e-mail] (not @fsv.cuni.cz)

Password = the same as for other CU applications.

Last update: Freidingerová Tereza, RNDr., Ph.D. (03.03.2026)

Literature

Literature:

Note: the list of recommended reading is subject to change depending on current migration realities in Europe and the composition of the class by home country

 

Amores, J.J., Arcila-Calderon, C., Gonzales-de-Garay, B. (2020). The gendered representation of refugees using visual frames in the main western European media. Gender Issues, 37(4), 291-314.

Freidingerová, T., Ivanič, I., Jurečková, A. (2020). People between the lines. A handbook on migration for (future) journalists. Prague: People in Need. https://www.clovekvtisni.cz/people-between-the-lines-a-handbook-on-migration-for-future-journalists-1424pub

Heindereich, T., Lind, F., Eberl, J.M., Boomgaarden, H.J. (2019). Media Framing Dynamics of the “European Refugee Crisis”: A comparative Topic Modeling Approach. Journal of Refugee Studies, 32(1), i172-i182. https://academic.oup.com/jrs/article/32/Special_Issue_1/i172/5688809

Graf, S., Bilewicz, M., Finell, E., Geschke, D. (2013). Nouns cut slices: Effects of linguistic forms on intergroup bias. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 43, 62–83.

ICMPD (2021). Reporting migration. A handbook on migration reporting for journalists. Vienna: ICMPD. https://www.icmpd.org/news/import-news-september/momenta-project-launches-new-handbook-on-migration-reporting-for-journalists

Pospěch, P., Jurečková, A., Hacek, J., Chalupková, P., Ivanič, P., Kaal, E., Renser, B., Tokošová, E. (2019). EXPOSED: Media coverage of migration in Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovakia. Comparative Report. Prague: People in Need. https://www.clovekvtisni.cz/exposed-media-coverage-of-migration-in-czech-republic-estonia-and-slovakia-comparative-report-1325pub

Last update: Grygar Jakub, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (08.03.2023)

Syllabus

1) October 2, 2025: Introduction 

• overview of the course objectives and final assignemnt  

• Anthropological vs. Media studies approches

2) October 9, 2025: Media as actor in migration  

• Media as producers of meaning and political sentiment 

• Agenda-setting, gatekeeping, media logic 

3) October 16, 2025: Framing migration in migration coverage 
 

• Framing theory and typologies (humanitarian, security, economic, etc.) 

• Assignment of media analysis: Identification of a topic, issue, or event suitable for analysis, defining the sample, identification of media outlets and time period  

4) October 23, 2025 Language in media coverage 

• the role of nouns, adejctives and verbs  

• Assignment of media analysis: content analysis of the sample (topics, voices, language, headlines) 

5) October 30, 2025: Media image of migration and adaptation, media framing of selected cases 

• Media picture of the Global Compact on Migration 

• Media picture of migration sitaution of 2015 and 2022 

• Assignment of media analysis: discoursive analysis (media framing, narratives, what is missing) 

6) November 6, 2025: Visual represenations; digital media 

• Photos (Emotinal impact, aestetics, trauma, stereotypes) 

• Social media as tolls of mobility, communication and representation 

• Migrants as content creators 

• Assignment of media analysis: visual analysis of photographs accompanying articles 

7) November 13, 2025: Media, migration and politics  

• Media coverage and its influnce on migration policy 

• Case study: Global Impact on Migration 

8) November 20, 2025: Presentation of student analyses (group 1) 

 

9) November 27, 2025: Probably will be canceled TBC  

 

10) December 4, 2025: Presentation of student analyses (group 2)   

 

11) December 11, 2025: Presentation of student analyses (group 3) 

 

12) December 18, 2025: Final colloquium, evaluation and closing of the course 

 

Last update: Freidingerová Tereza, RNDr., Ph.D. (10.09.2025)