New Media for Political Communication and Image Building--China in Perspective with the
World
Name：
Kavita Karan
Nationality：
India
Academic Title：Professor
Home University Southern Illinois
（From）：
University, US
Email Address： kavitak@siu.edu
Undergraduate
Master
English
Preferably Basic English to follow lectures and participate in discussions
Lecture, class discussions, video screenings and case studies.
(1)
(2)
Continuous assessment, participation：50%
Final Examination：50%
2 credits
Dr. Kavita Karan is a Professor in the School of Journalism, College of Mass
Communication and Media Arts, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale,
Illinois,USA. She received her PhD from the London School of Economics and Political
Science. Dr. Karan has over twenty years of experience in teaching and
research. Her research and teaching interests include political communication,
marketing and advertising, new media technologies and development, Bollywood films,
women’s studies- beauty studies, international magazines and health communication.
Dr. Karan teaches courses in advertising and marketing, research methodology,
strategic advertising management, international communication, social issues in
advertising, and other communication courses to the graduate and undergraduate
students. She has supervised several masters and doctoral theses and works on
cross-cultural projects. Dr. Karan has presented papers at various international
conferences and contributed several papers for journals and chapters for books. Her
edited and co-edited books include Cyber Communities in Rural Asia: A Study of Seven
Asian Countries, Commercializing Women: Images of Asian Women in the Media (2008),
Singapore General Elections, 2001: Study of the Media, Politics and Public (2010),
Information Policies in Asia: Development of Indicators (2011) and Bollywood and
Globalization: The Global power of popular Hindi Cinema (2013).
How have the patterns of communication changed? From the computer to the iPad, the
mobile phone and the innumerable mobile phone apps that are changing lives of people
around the world. In this course on New Media for Political Communication and image
building- China and the world teaches students on how New Media Information
Communication Technologies (ICTs) are supporting development efforts as every
country, developed and developing are investing in infrastructure and adapting
suitable and effective new media technologies to accelerate the pace and improve
the overall development of the citizens and to reflect a positive image of the country.
Political communication is taking a new turn as elections and communicating with
the people for governance are through Internet and mobile technologies. Further,
efforts are being made to improve the people and the images of the countries through
their investments, education and their Soft Power. From the high level CEO
interacting with his worldwide partners to the rural farmer vending his potatoes
or the student in China taking an online class from a university in the US or people
from one country buying products from countries across the world.
Governments and marketers are also using technologies to reach out to their citizens
and marketers to consumers to motivate them to buy their products. The new media
is complementing mass media as integrated efforts are being made to promote countries,
people and products. Countries including China are using their Soft Power, We study
the promotion of the country, not through its political prowess but through the
cultural industries - these include movies, television, arts and drama, handicrafts,
traditional Chinese medicine among others.
In the course we study issues of globalization, new technologies in multinational
corporations, online marketing and advertising practices; technology and mass media,
social networks and transnational media productions like television programs, music,
films or magazines. The course will raise many interesting areas of study and would
stimulate discussions about the various issues of new policies and
practices. Students will learn the core concepts of Information communication
technologies and through case studies, class discussions; videos and projects will
be able to have a good theoretical and practical learning experience.
1.
Introduction to New Media for political communication and soft power for image
building – China in perspective with the world
2.
Political Communication Experiences-Japan, China and Taiwan
3.
Political Communication and Mass Media – Singapore, Indonesia and India
4.
Connecting and Engaging Societies-Social Networks - Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest etc. e-government and e-government.
ICTs and Political Communication- E-engaging Citizens- Social networks in political
communication and election studies
5.
New Media and Electoral Strategies – Election Campaigns in US and Asia –
New media campaigns and voting behavior.
6.
Class Presentations, Case Studies and Discussion
7.
China’s Soft Power - Media, Politics and the Cultural Industries – Movies,
television programs, international magazines etc. Branding of the country.
8.
Soft Power and Image Building - Broadcast Media - Movies as Soft Power – US,
India and China.
9.
International Magazines and Cultural Flows- West to East and vice versa. How
magazines are changing the global flow of products, fashion and social behaviors
10.
Class Presentations, Case Studies and Discussions.
11.
New media for Children & Youth– Impact of Mass and New media on Children
and youth
Internet Gaming -Issues of Social Behavior and Health.
12.
Children and Media – Politics of Consumption patterns and marketing – New
Generation – Gaming Video Consuming Kids
13.
The Mobile Phones- The mobile ‘apps’ and the process of information, access,
and the buying behavior.
14.
Ethics, Laws and Regulations of new media, political communication and social
networks.
15.
Final Project Presentations
16.
Final Exam- Best of Luck.
End of Course.
1. Lars Willnat & Annette Aw (2009) Political Communication In Asia. New York.
Routledge
2. Tim Unwin, (2009) ICT4D Information and Communication for Development.
Cambridge University Press.
3. Kenneth E. Clow & Donald Baack (2012) Integrated Advertising, Promotion and
Marketing Communications (Fifth Edition) Prentice Hall: Pearson.
4. The Development Dimension of ICTs for Development: Improving Policy Coherence
(2010) OECD publication
5. Promoting ICT for Human Development in Asia: Realizing the Millennium
Development Goals (2005) UNDP Elsevier
6. Manoharan A. & M. Holzer (2012). Active Citizen Participation and E-Government:
A Global Perspective (Reference Source) Information Science reference IGI Global.
Hershey. PA. USA.
7. Students will also be given a reading packet with notes for readings, relevant
book chapters and case studies. Readings of chapters will be included in the lecture
schedules.
1. Lars Willnat & Annette Aw (2009) Political Communication In Asia. New York.
Routledge
2. Tim Unwin, (2009) ICT4D Information and Communication for Development.
Cambridge University Press.
3. Kenneth E. Clow & Donald Baack (2012) Integrated Advertising, Promotion and
Marketing Communications (Fifth Edition) Prentice Hall: Pearson.
4. The Development Dimension of ICTs for Development: Improving Policy Coherence
(2010) OECD publication
5. Promoting ICT for Human Development in Asia: Realizing the Millennium
Development Goals (2005) UNDP Elsevier
6. Manoharan A. & M. Holzer (2012). Active Citizen Participation and E-Government:
A Global Perspective (Reference Source) Information Science reference IGI Global.
Hershey. PA. USA.
7. Students will also be given a reading packet with notes for readings, relevant
book chapters and case studies. Readings of chapters will be included in the lecture
schedules.