Having done this module the student has acquired an overview of the research traditions and directions in the field of communication and media studies. He/she can figure out the turning points in the history of the field and to place research traditions into the context of society and culture. The student is also able to see how research directions are connected to the development of media and technology and to assess their relations to media structures and regulation as well as to professional practices and education.

The module focuses on stages of mass communication research and its paradigm shifts as part of development of a post-industrial society. The module is composed of lecture course (20 h) with a book of classics (3 ECTS) and a book examination (1 book + 1 article, 2 ECTS).The lecture course is done by a diary and the classic as book essay, both to be assessed by Professor Nordenstreng.  The examination of Pietilä's book (either in Finnish or English) plus an article are done separately as an electronic examination. About the books in the exam see the lists in the curriculum. Examiner: Professor Taisto Hujanen.