Theory and analysis of journalistic discourse

Course objectives

According to the learning objectives of the study course, the main purpose of this teaching is to provide students with the principal tools of contemporary linguistics and semiotics for analysis and production of a journalistic text, with special attention to the discoursive strategies able to promote readers’ rational understanding and emotional participation. At the end of the course the student will demonstrate: A. to know the main linguistic and semiotic tools for the analysis and production of journalistic texts, and to understand their origins and developments in the contemporary linguistic and semiotic thought (oral examination about knowledge expectations) (knowledge and understanding); B. to be able a) to analyse journalistic texts on the different linguistic and semiotic levels, in reference to different types of articles, and b) to write a syntesis of a journalistic article, taking in account different types of receivers (classroom practices: textanalysis) (applying knowledge and understanding); C. to be able to use different linguistic and semiotics tools in changeable contexts of analysis and production, making critical judgements about the sense effects of different discoursive strategies in the journalistic information (classroom practices: critical reading of different newspapers) (making judgements); D. to be able to give a research paper presentation about one of the issues of the course (individual and group presentations) (communication skills); E. to be able to go into the issues of the course with autonomous in-depth studies, starting from the debates carried out in the classroom and the given bibliographic suggestions (learning skills).

Channel 1
PIERLUIGI CERVELLI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The lessons will be organized with one part dedicated to the analysis of written or radio news texts, one part dedicated to the role of images and visual communication, and one part, when possible, to dialogue with professionals in the field.
Prerequisites
None
Books
A.M. Lorusso e P. Violi, Semiotica del testo giornalistico, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2004 U. Cardinale, Manuale di scrittura giornalistica, Torino, Utet, 2011 (cap. 3-6) I. Pezzini, Immagini quotidiane. Sociosemiotica visuale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2008
Frequency
To be considered attending, students must be present for 70% of the lessons.
Exam mode
The student will make an oral exam on the reference texts. Attending students may produce a written text analysis to be agreed upon with the teacher
Lesson mode
Frontal lessons, classroom exercises, dialogues with professionals
  • Lesson code1044897
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseMedia studies, digital communication and journalism
  • CurriculumGiornalismo
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDM-FIL/05
  • CFU6