Summer School - Media Capture: The Relationship Between Power, Media Freedom and Advocacy, 26 June - 7 July 2017, Hungary

Course structure and objectives

Arguably, the biggest challenge to media freedom and independent journalism today is the systemic political corruption in which private interests shape the decision-making process in state bodies and institutions. Increasingly, a model of captive, politically instrumentalized news media financed by owners, corporations, social and political groups, or governments, is becoming dominant in most parts of the world. This has severe consequences on independent media and journalism.

The aim of this course is to provide participants (researchers, journalists, activists, media practitioners, policymakers, advocates) with in-depth understanding of the nature of these new power relations and how they influence media and journalism; and with advocacy training to help them play a role in campaigning for progressive media policy and laws in their countries.

The objectives of the course are, then, to:

1. Stimulate and advance research, scholarship and academic discourse on the relations between power, media and journalism;
2. Provide advanced training and practical skill building to enable participants to understand policies and regulations that allow state capture, and help participants learn and exchange strategies and tactics for influencing policy debates on these issues;
3. Provide a forum for policy advocates, human rights activists, journalists and policymakers to come together and discuss strategies to fight state capture;
4. Provide a forum for knowledge, experience and skill sharing of campaigns, tools, tactics and case studies in the domestic, regional and global context that address media policy and journalism;
5. Identify a core group of scholars working in this area and nurture their research interests and capabilities with the aim of future collaborations amongst faculty, course participants, organizations and CEU;  
6. Gain hands-on experience to develop an advocacy strategy for improving transparency in the decision-making process and fairness in regulation of media;
7. Develop the network of researchers and practitioners engaged in studying and responding to the adverse effects of state capture on independent media, journalism and journalists.

Sessions will feature a mix of lectures, group discussions, hands-on practicums, as well as two field trips within Budapest to meet with organizations engaged with work in this field. The course will be organized thematically across each day, building from macro issues and broad conceptual overviews to specific target topics and case studies, including introduction to different research methods and technologies. The teaching style will be interactive and participatory. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of key literature, scholars, networks, and research projects related to state capture and media power, of which will be of use to them in their scholarship and applied work back home.

Financial Information

Program Costs

• Tuition Fee: 550 EUR ("Early Bird" fee: 500 EUR)
• Accommodation in CEU Residence Center:
  • In Single room: 28 EUR/ night / person - including breakfast
  • In Shared Double room: 17 EUR/ night / person - including breakfast
• Estimated living costs: 150 - 250 EUR

Financial Aid

All applicants are eligible to apply for financial aid. As the number of scholarships available is limited, funding offered by institutions or individuals is welcome. When choosing a financial aid package, please consider if you or your organization can contribute to the program expenses.

SUN Packages

All packages will include the following:

• a minimum of 24 tuition hours per week
• a certificate of attendance
• access to course E-learning page (with readings, assignments, etc.)
• access to CEU facilities (Library, IT services, sports centre including the use of the indoor swimming pool, tennis courts at the Residence Center)
• some social and cultural events depending on the course schedules (e.g. welcome and farewell reception / outings /fieldtrips / film screenings, etc.)

1. Fee-Paying Package

Financial aid: N/A
Participant's own contribution: tuition, travel, accommodation, health insurance and living expenses

Payment deadlines

• April 30 (Early Bird fee)
• May 28 (Full tuition fee)

Cancellation Policy

In the event of cancellation, CEU will refund the tuition fee as follows:

• Before May 28 - CEU will fully refund the tuition fee.
• Between May 28th and 14 days prior to the course starting - 80% of the tuition fee will be refunded. 
• Within 14 days of the course starting - no refund for tuition fees will be given. 

2. Financial Aid packages

• Tuition Waiver
  Financial aid: tuition fee waived
  Participant's own contribution: health insurance, travel, accommodation and living expense.
• Partial SUN Scholarship
  Financial aid: tuition fee waived and free accommodation in a double room
  Participant's own contribution: health insurance, travel and living expenses
• Full SUN Scholarship
  Financial aid: tuition fee waived; free accommodation in a double room and a full or partial travel grant
  Participant’s own contribution: health insurance and living expenses.

HOW TO APPLY

Please read the following directions carefully.

Below is the list of the documents you need to prepare or arrange for submission:

1. Completed online SUN Application Form
2. Full curriculum vitae or resume, including list of publications, if any
3. Letter of Recommendation
4. Statement of Purpose (400-500 words)
5. Case study related to the applicant’s home institution/organization work or part of their academic research on a matter of some aspect of media and state capture; and/or imbalances of media power; or the relationship between media institutions and corruption (max. 20 pages)

Optional attachments:

• A copy of an English language proficiency certificate for non-native speakers of English (if available)
• A copy of an additional recently published relevent article in English (if available) 

1. Online Application Form

SUN's Online Application Form, delivered by Embark, enables the online submission of the application form itself as well as all other relevant documentation, including CV's and resumes, letter of recommendation, statements of purpose and application essays (such as research proposal, case study, paper proposal, writing samples, academic records, etc.), eliminating all paper mailing to the SUN Office.

In addition, applicants will be able to use this system to track their progress and learn the outcome of their admissions evaluation online. Admissions decisions will be available to applicants as soon as they are entered into the system.

Please note that you can only apply to one course.

The application form is password-protected. 

1. a) In case you have started an application for our program in previous years, you can use your old login and password and can log in as a "Returning Embark User" (right-hand side of the page). In case you cannot remember your old password, click on the "Forget your password?" link.
2. b) In case you have not started an application before, please register first in the "New User?" section (left-hand side of the page). For registration please click on "Create an Account" and provide the requested information. Embark will send you your password by email and then you can log in and start your application, this time already as a returning user.

Further user's instructions for the online application are included in the form itself.

2. Full curriculum vitae or resume, including list of publications, if any

Please upload your Curriculum Vitae or resume, including a list of publications, if any.

3. Letter of Recommendation

Applicants must have one letter of recommendation submitted. Please arrange for a letter of recommendation to be written by a referee (faculty member, employer, supervisor, etc.) who can attest to your abilities, qualifications and academic/professional performance. Please advise the referee about the title and content of the course you are applying to. The letter must be completed in English and submitted by the referee online via the online application facility.

4. Statement of Purpose (400-500 words)

Please describe what about the course subject interests you; how the course is relevant to your research or professional work; and in what ways you expect to benefit from it. You are advised to consult the detailed course description on the course web page so that the statement of purpose is in accordance with the main objectives of the course.

5. Case study on a communication policy issue (max. 20 pages)

Please upload an English-language document related to your home institution/organization work or part of your academic research on a matter of some aspect of media and media capture; and/or imbalances of media power; or the relationship between media institutions and corruption. The course seeks to bring together both academics and practitioners working in the space of media freedom. The piece should give us an idea of your academic and/or professional writing skills in the field, and an idea of your experience in the course subject.

Optional attachments:

• A copy of an English language proficiency certificate for non-native speakers of English (if available)

As proof of your English language proficiency, if you have passed a language exam, please upload a scanned copy of your English language exam result in the online application system.

• A copy of an additional recently published relevent article in English (if available)

If you have an additional article or essay relevant to the course, you may also upload it in the online system.

All application materials must be submitted electronically with the online application form. CEU does not accept application documents by e-mail or fax. Candidates who may experience difficulties with the online submission of their documents should contact the SUN Office.

CEU does not return application documents, or copies thereof under any circumstances. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Inquiries
If you need help or more information during the application process, please feel free to contact the SUN staff:

E-mail for inquiry and correspondence: summeru@ceu.edu
Tel: (36-1) 327-3811
Fax: (36-1) 327-3124
Skype (free Internet telephone): ceu-sun

Notification

The SUN Office will notify applicants about the selection results around the end of April. Please check the 'Important course dates' section on the relevant course web sites for earlier or later planned notification deadlines. The final decision is not open to appeal.

For more information click "Further official information" below.

This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

https://summeruniversity.ceu.edu/media-2017