Narrativity in the Media - Period 4

In numerous communication domains, including news, advertising and health communication, message design techniques are applied that we recognize from literary novels and television soap operas. It seems advantageous to turn a message into a good story. A reader or viewer will be more captivated or even transported into a narrative world, becoming more susceptible to certain information and maybe changing their beliefs or attitudes. However, when communicators apply narratives to other domains, they will also encounter problems. For instance, what happens to the truth claim of reliable news when it borrows elements from mythical stories? Or even when the journalist becomes a participant in the news story? Do consumers trust advertisers when they discover that their narratives were meant to persuade them? Will health messages be taken seriously when they read like a story? You will find detailed answers to these questions by analysing the specific narrative techniques used in different genres and media platforms.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.