國立中興大學教學大綱
課程名稱 (中) 媒體、民主與全球傳播(0434)
(Eng.) Media, Democracy and Global Communication
開課單位 通識中心
課程類別 必修 學分 2 授課教師 黃柔翡
選課單位 不限系所 授課使用語言 英文 開課學期 1142
課程簡述 Every day, we encounter news and information through television, online media, and social platforms. These messages shape how we understand politics, public issues, and even each other. This course introduces students to the relationship between media and democracy and explains why media freedom matters for ordinary citizens—not just for politicians or journalists.
The course focuses on how access to information affects people’s ability to make informed choices, participate in public discussions, and hold those in power accountable. Using real-world examples from different countries, students will learn how media can support democracy, as well as how it can be distorted or manipulated.
Through lectures, case studies, and class discussions, students will examine how media environments shape political opinions, civic engagement, and democratic quality. By the end of the course, students will develop practical skills to evaluate news and online information more carefully, think critically about what they consume, and become more informed and responsible citizens in a media-saturated world.
No prior background in political science or media studies is required. This course is suitable for students from all majors.
This course is conducted in English to help students build confidence in expressing ideas and participating in discussions in a global context. For Taiwanese students, developing the ability to engage with the international community is increasingly important, and this course offers a supportive and interactive environment to strengthen those skills.
To ensure that language is never a barrier to learning, students may submit written assignments in Chinese if needed. What matters most in this course is not perfect English, but the quality of your ideas, critical thinking, and active participation.
For international students, the course provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with Taiwanese students, exchange perspectives, and gain deeper insights into Taiwan and its society. In an era shaped by generative AI, meaningful face-to-face discussion and human interaction are more valuable than ever—and this course is designed to create exactly that kind of learning experience.
先修課程名稱
課程與核心能力關聯配比(%) 課程目標之教學方法與評量方法
課程目標 核心能力 配比(%) 教學方法 評量方法
The course explores three main questions:
• Why is media freedom important for a healthy democracy?
• How can media freedom be weakened or restricted in today’s societies?
• How do fake news and misinformation influence political participation and public trust?
3.溝通能力
5.國際視野
6.社會關懷
20
40
40
習作
討論
講授
出席狀況
口頭報告
測驗
授課內容(單元名稱與內容、習作/每週授課、考試進度-共16週加自主學習)
週次 授課內容
第1週 No class (national holiday).
Introduction
• Read the syllabus carefully, especially the grading policy.
• Why is it important to study media and democracy?
第2週 • What is media? Media freedom and democracy
第3週 • Freedom of speech
• Watch “Create a new society” (from How to Become a Tyrant)
第4週 • Agenda-setting, priming, and framing
• The consequence of biased media
第5週 Speech: Doublethink Lab
第6週 No class (national holiday).

第7週 • Shall the government regulate content on social media?
第8週 • Echo chamber, social media, and its impact(1)
• Watch “The Great Hack”
第9週 Mid-term exam
第10週 • Echo chamber, social media, and its impact(2)
第11週 • Media ownership and media capture
第12週 Speech: Amnesty International Taiwan
第13週 • How do political leaders use fake news and misinformation to their advantage?
• Censorship and self-censorship under dictatorships
• Watch “Check the truth” and “Rule forever” (from How to Become a Tyrant)
第14週 • Why might negative news affect people more strongly than positive news? (1)
第15週 • Why might negative news affect people more strongly than positive news? (2)
第16週 Final Exam
自主學習
內容
   01.參與專業論壇、講座、企業分享等產官學研相關交流活動
   02.閱覽產業及學術相關多媒體資料
   03.製作專題報告

學習評量方式
• Movie Report (30%)
Students will watch three TV episodes or movie in class and submit a maximum two-page written response. You may choose to submit either two or three written responses. If three are submitted, the lowest grade will be dropped. Please ensure each report is turned in no later than one week after the viewing.
• Midterm (35%) and Final Exam (35%)
This is an in-class written examination designed to reinforce your understanding. Students can prepare 1 page (A4) cheat sheet.
Extra Credits:
1. Speech attendance and participation (5%) Participate in an English-language speech (either on campus or off campus, in person or online) related to social media or democracy. Both on-site and online events are acceptable. Please provide a screenshot or photos of the event as proof of participation and submit a written summary explaining what the speech was about. Your summary must be no more than two pages long. I will share information about the assigned speeches during our class session.
2. Oral Presentation (10%)
Students who prepare an oral presentation in which they introduce and explain three key concepts they learned in this course to their classmates.
教科書&參考書目(書名、作者、書局、代理商、說明)
There is no required textbook for this course. All quiz and exam questions will come
from the lecture slides and not from the suggested readings. That said, I highly recommend
that students read the suggested materials to better understand the academic
significance of the topics covered in this course.
For undergraduate students, you may skip the research methods sections. Please
focus on the introduction, literature review, theoretical argument, and conclusion to
understand the core ideas and contributions of the research.
課程教材(教師個人網址請列在本校內之網址)

課程輔導時間
Tue 13:00-15:00
Office: College of Management (社館大樓)Rm. 771
聯合國全球永續發展目標(連結網址)
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更新日期 西元年/月/日:2026/03/06 13:31:30 列印日期 西元年/月/日:2026 / 5 / 25
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