Department of Mass Media Communication

The aim of the department is to form future media professionals (primarily from a theoretical and methodological perspective). The basics of scientific thinking, the ability to express competent opinions and attitudes towards current social events and to critically evaluate them, as well as skill and creativity in finding topics worthy of public attention are important attributes of every media professional. Graduates are prepared to handle the requirements of media practice from a theoretical and practical perspective and are able to successfully apply themselves on the Slovak and international labor market. The department responds flexibly to current trends in media practice, while practically oriented compulsory elective and elective courses are part of the education. It also hosts dozens of domestic and foreign experts and personalities from domestic and foreign media, press agencies, associations and other media institutions, as well as foreign universities focused on media and communication.

Teachers and doctoral students working at the department contribute to the development of the field of study of media and communication studies in their scientific and research activities. They regularly participate in domestic and international scientific conferences, seminars and symposia. They publish in domestic and foreign scientific journals devoted to the reflection of media and communication and participate in the organization of established scientific events, especially international scientific conference Marketing and Media Identity and conferences of doctoral students and young scientists Quo Vadis. Several members actively work on the editorial boards of indexed scientific journals Communication Today, Acta Ludologica and EJMAP.

Members of the department participate in solving current issues of the position of the media in contemporary society through Slovak and international scientific grants (KEGA, VEGA, APVV, cross-border cooperation projects, FPPV grants and others), or other media practice-oriented educational activities in contact with practice (e.g. seniors and media literacy). The department also cooperates intensively with similarly focused workplaces at Slovak and foreign universities, primarily within the framework of scientific research, pedagogical, publishing and mobility activities. The department's teachers are members of important Slovak and international scientific and professional organizations and associations, which include, among others, the Slovak Philosophical Association, the Slovak Theatre Society, the Slovak Journalists' Syndicates, Worlds of Journalism Study, ECREA (European Communication Research and Education Association), the International Association of Journalists and others. Members of the department are also invited to serve on the committees of regional and international competitions for creative media outputs.

FOCUS AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S SCIENTIFIC AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

• critical reflection on the media,
• media theory,
• history of media communication (journalism, film, other types of mass media),
• mass and media culture, media industry,
• new trends in media production and media entertainment,
• film, television, music and game industries,
• cultural significance of journalism in relation to a globalized society,
• journalism in the era of information and communication technologies,
• journalistic genreology,
• media philosophy,
• ethical aspects of the media and social responsibility of media companies,
• system and organization of work in the media,
• preparation, production and multiplatform distribution of media releases.