Gender studies, cultures and policies for media and communication

The overall goal of the course is to contribute to the education of future journalism professionals capable of fostering production routines and creating informational content that promotes gender equality and women's empowerment, thereby helping to address and reduce gender imbalances. Specific objectives include: - providing knowledge on how images and narratives can either reinforce or challenge gender inequalities; - offering insight into the academic literature on the relationship between women and journalism; - examining the historical contribution of women to the journalistic profession; - equipping participants with the theoretical, conceptual, and analytical tools needed to independently evaluate journalistic representations related to gender, with particular attention to stereotypical and non-stereotypical portrayals of women and the LGBTQI+ community; - developing gender-sensitive communication skills, both verbal and visual/multimedia, specifically applied to media contexts including broadcast and digital platforms; - building knowledge and skills related to source research methods, database access, engagement with press offices, and use of digital tools that support gender equality initiatives; - offering knowledge and skills in fact-checking within the context of disinformation and post-truth; - developing the ability to produce gender-sensitive journalistic texts. More broadly, the course aims to prepare media professionals capable of designing gender-sensitive communication campaigns, producing journalism that accurately represents and narrates gender-related issues, and working in press offices and communication departments within organizations committed to gender equality policies.