Communication and Media in Social Work (4 cr)

Evaluation scale

1-5

Objective

Students are familiar with social importance of media and communication from different perspectives of social work and activities. Students analytically examine media contents and recognise perspectives presented by various interest groups. They can explain how media acts and what kind of meanings it keeps inside.They can apply means of communication and influence. Students have argumentation and information seeking skills. They are familiar with the internal and external communication principles and practices in work communities. Students are familiar with the professional etiquette in social media. Students also examine communication culture from the perspective of sustainable development.

Content

- media literacy: perceiving media reality and working as social work professional in media environment
- influence in society as part of empowering social work
- communication in society
- ethical instructions of media

Materials

- Hirvonen, M., & Kinnunen, T. (2020). Saavutettava viestintä. Gaudeamus.
- Hurskainen, J., Paasivirta, A., Yliruokanen, K., Haapala, M., Jokela, C., Santalahti, V., Taipalus, V., Aarva, N., Soini, S. & Westlund, O. (2023). Miten vaikutan ja viestin lastensuojelusta. Lastensuojelun Keskusliiton verkkojulkaisu 3/2023.
- Kortesuo, K. (2016). Riko lasi hätätilanteessa: Kriisiviestinnän pikaopas johtajalle. Kauppakamari.
- Pietilä, A., & Pietilä, A. (2018). Uutisissa valheita, valheista uutisia. Art House.
- Tiitinen, L. (2017). Sosiaalityö ja viestintä. Teoksessa: Sosiaalityön käsikirja. Kananoja, Miettinen & Marjamäki (toim.). Tietosanoma. Helsinki.
- Tiitinen, L. (2019). Kamppailu sananvapaudesta: sosiaalialan ammattilaisen toiminta ja valtasuhteet mediavaikuttamisen kentällä. Lapin yliopisto.

Teaching methods

Lectures, self-access learning, group work and discussions, media analyses. Assignment as agreed in the course.

Employer connections

Does not include any practice period.

Completion alternatives

Online course

Student workload

108 hours, including contact learning.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students
- are able to recognize the importance of communication and media in society
- are able to recognize the wholeness of methods which media uses
- are able to recognize their individual behavior concerning media and communication and connected attitudes.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students
- have capacities to itemize contents of media
- can bring out topics, which are essential from the perspective of citizens' empowerment
- are able to recognize their individual values and attitudes
- are able to recognize their responsibilities in communication-related tasks
- have capacities to assess media contents and use the means of media and communication as part of empowering social work

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students
- have competencies to evaluate and analyze critically the contents produced by different media sources
- have skills to act in network of citizens, media and other interest groups based on principles of empowering social work
- have capacities to recognize the influence of their individual values and attitudes to their actions
- are able to use the the means of media and communication as part of empowering social work

Further information

Students can choose between this and the following courses:
- Structural Social Work
- Community-Oriented Social Work
- Empowering Social Work