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CSS Journalism and Mass Communication Syllabus
Journalism and Mass Communication is a 100-mark Group VII optional subject in the CSS written exam, examined in one three-hour paper. Below is FPSC's official syllabus, word for word: every section, topics and suggested readings.
- Marks
- 100
- Papers
- 1
- Time
- 3 hours a paper
- Group
- Group VII
- Subject code
- 45
The paper
100 marks- I.Introduction to Mass Communication
- •Concept – Definitions, Need/Importance/Purposes, Types of Communication, Process of Communication, Basic Models.
- •Functions of a model, Evaluation of a model
- •Basic models in Mass Communication: -
- •Lasswell’s Model (1948)
- •Shannon-Weaver model (1948)
- •Osgood,s model (1954)
- •Schramm’s model (1954)
- •Newcomb’s symmetry theory (1953)
- •Westley-McLean’s model (1976)
- •Gerbner model (1956)
- II.Mass Communication Theories
- •Normative theories of the press: Schramm’s four theories and criticism on these theories
- •Media as agents of power
- •The Spiral of silence
- •Media Usage and gratifications
- •Media hegemony
- •Diffusion of innovations
- •Powerful effects model: hypodermic needle, magic bullet theory.
- •Moderate effects model: two-step and multi-step flow of communication.
- •Powerful media revisited: Marshal McLuhan’s media determinism
- III.Global / International Communication
- •The Historical Context of International Communication
- •Globalization, technology, and the mass media
- •Communication and Cultural imperialism
- •Communication Flow in Global Media: Imbalance in the flow of information between North and South
- •McBride commission and its recommendations.
- •International Communication in the Internet Age: the new social media and its effects on developing world
- IV.Media and Society
- •Mass media and social change
- •Media as a social system: The balance between interrelation and interdependence
- •Media freedom and its role for democracy,
- •The functional approach to mass media: four social functions of the media
- •Media as an awareness agent
- •Mass media and social representation
- V.Mass Media in Pakistan:
- •Media system in Pakistan: historical, chronological, and analytical review
- •The system of journalism and the media system
- •Employer-employee relations in Pakistani media
- •Government-press relations
- •Press in Pakistan: The newspaper industry, from mission to the market
- •Electronic media: from total dependence to enormous power
- •The new 24/7 television: uses and abuses
- •The new radio: potential for change and the present performance.
- •The question of freedom and responsibility
- VI.Development Support Communication
- •Theories of development support communication with specific focus on the developing world
- •The dominant paradigm of development: historical, analytical perspective
- •The Alternative paradigm of development
- •Small is beautiful: community development as a snowball effect.
- •Globalization vs Localization
- •Glocalization
- •Social Marketing: how to infuse new ideas into a developing population
- VII.Public Relations:
- •Concept of Public Relations
- •Historical development of public relations: from press agentry to PR
- •Public relation in Pakistan
- •Ministry of information
- •Press Information Department (PID)
- •Public relations and publicity
- •PR as a tool for governance
- •Private PR agencies and their structure
- •Basic methods of PR: press release, press note, press conference
- •PR Ethics
- VIII.Media Laws and Ethics:
- •History of Media Laws in Pakistan
- •Development of media regulations from British colonial era to independent Pakistan
- •Libel, Defamation and relevant portions of PPC
- •PPO, RPPPO
- •PEMRA: establishment, development, and operational mechanisms
- •Press Council of Pakistan (PCP)
- •Citizens Media Commission: need, present status, and reasons for inactivity
- •Press Code of Ethics
- •Inability of the media to develop a code of ethics as an institution
- •The media’s quest for freedom and its inability to self regulate.
Suggested readings
- 1.Broadcast Regulations: the German ExampleMetzger, Herbert. FES 1993.
- 2.Communication Models for The Study of Mass Communication, 2nd EdMcQuail, Dennis &Windhal, Swen, Longman, 1982.
- 3.Convergence Culture: Where old and new MediaBlackwell publishing Ltd, USA.
- 4.Communication Theories: Origins, Methods and Uses in the Mass Media 5th EdWerner J. Severin, James W. Tankard Jr. Longman, 1997.
- 5.Diffusion of Innovations 5th EdRogers, Everett M. Free Press 2003
- 6.Ethics in Journalism: A Reader on Their Perception in the Third WorldKunczik, Michael (Ed.). FES 1999.
- 7.Handbook of International and Intercultural Communication 2nd EdGudykunst & Mody, Sage, 2001.
- 8.McQuail's Mass Communication Theory, 4th EdDenis McQuail. Sage, 2000.
- 9.Media And Society into the 21st Century: A Historical IntroductionBlackwell publishing Ltd, USA.
- 10.“Media / Impact”Wads Worth/ Thompson Learning, Belmont, CA
- 11.“Media Now: Communication Media in the Information Age”Wads Worth/Thompson Learning, Belmont, CA
- 12.News Media and Journalism in PakistanKhan, Altaf. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. June 2011.
- 13.News Media and Journalism in Pakistan and Germany (Ed.)Khan, Altaf. Peshawar, 2003.
- 14.Participatory DevelopmentHasan, Arif, Oxford, 2010.
- 15.Political Communication in Britain: The Leader Debates, the Campaign and the Media in the 2010 General Election, (Ed)Palgrave McMillan, UK
- 16.Political Communication in Asia,Roultage, NY.
- 17.“Precision Journalism: A Reporter’s Introduction to Social and Science Methods”, 4th EdRowman and Littlefield, Lanham, MD.
- 18.Report and Recommendations of the Media Commission, appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, 2013FES, Islamabad, 2013.
- 19.Reporting the Frontier: Media Capacity Building for Peace in Pakistan’s Tribal AreasKhan, Altaf VDM Verlag Dr. Müllere.K. June 2011.
- 20.“Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Vidoes”,.3rd editionCarbondale: Southern Illinois Press, 2002.
- 21.“Directing the Documentary”, 4th editionFocal Press, 2004.
- 22.“Documentary Storytelling: Making Stronger and More Dramatic Nonfiction Films”, 2nd editionFocal Press, 2007.
- 23.Principles of EditingMcGraw-Hill 1996
- 24.Journalism–Principles and PracticesVistaar Publications 2006
- 25.The Hand Book of New MediaLondon: Sage
- 26.Applying Communication Theory for Professional Life: An Introduction (2nd Edition)London: Sage
- 27.Controversies in Contemporary AdvertisingNewbury Park: Sage Publications
- 28."Public Relations-Writing & Media Techniques"Harper Collins College Publishers, NY
- 29.Telecommunications Policy in Pakistan”Telematics and Informatics
- 30.“Guaranteeing Copyright- Media Manager’s Guide to Pakistani Broadcast Law”Media Manager Companion Series Internews Pakistan
- 31.“Model Freedom of Information Act”, 2001Consumer rights Protection Commission of Pakistan
Past papers
FPSC's Journalism and Mass Communication papers from 2016 to 2026, as text. Open a year, or see them all.