The Information Firm, last year’s subject of the degree in Journalism, aims to provide students with the necessary tools to understand the nature as well as functioning of news companies and the media market. Additionally, it seeks to train students in the design and development of a viable business plan for an information company.

Once the subject has been completed, the student will be able to achieve the following competencies:



1- Learn the general concepts about the nature, structure and organization of the information firm.



2- Develop themselves with ease in the process of setting up an economic activity and the creation of a commercial company.



3- Get to know the peculiarities of the information firm as well as its evolution over time.



4- Understand the way in which the information firm distributes and markets its contents.



5- Identify the main sources of income as well as the main expenses of the information firm.



6- Have a good command of the resources to carry out a business plan in harmony with the needs of an information firm.



7- Comprehend the current media market and the strategic movements of large communication groups.



8.- As in a communication company, team work ability will be assessed.

1- The firm

1.1. Concept

1.2. Types of commercial companies

1.3. Funding sources

1.4. Accounting

1.5. Taxation system

1.6. Human resources

1.7. Setting up a commercial activity. Business plan



2- General concepts of the information firm

2.1. Origin and evolution

2.2. Characteristics

2.3. Structure and organisation

2.4. Typology



3- Commercialisation of the informational product

3.1. Strategical and operational marketing

3.2. The informational product

3.3. Incomes and expenses in the information firm

3.4. Distribution

3.5. Promotion

3.6. Audience and diffusion measurement

3.7. The advertising sector





PRACTICAL CONTENT

Design of a journalistic company project, in addition to other practices aimed at acquiring the skills explained.

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 35
  • Individual works (%): 20
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 35
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 10

IContinuous evaluation (in the situation of normality or semi-normality, that is, of not absolute lockdown):



To complete the course through continuous assessment, a number of practical activities will be requested, in addition to a written exam on the theoretical content.



The qualification percentages will be as follows:



1- An individual test on theory will be equivalent to 35% of the total mark

2- The design of an information firm project to be developed in group (and presented in class) will account for 35% of the total mark

3- A research wok on a specific communication company will constitute 20% of the total mark

4- An individual presentation of a topic related to the information firm in any of its variants (financing, audience measurement in relation to the advertising market, new subscription formulas) will mean 10% of the total mark



In the event of total lockdown, the continuous evaluation will be adapted as follows:



- The individual and theoretical exam will not be carried out

- The group business plan project will constitute 50% of the total mark

- The individual research work on a real information firm will suppose 30% of the total mark

- Individual and practical exercises will be equivalent to 20% of the total mark





ORDINARY CALL: Guidance and withdrawal

In accordance with art. 8.3 of the Regulatory framework of Student Body Assessment, students who wish to abandon continuous assessment and adhere to the final exam must submit a writing message to the teacher within the first nine weeks of the semester, that is, before November 9th 2020.



FINAL ASSESMENT:

- In the situation of non-total confinement, those who for justified reasons could not participate in the continuous evaluation system have the possibility of accrediting knowledge and skills achievement through the final evaluation system. This will consist of:



1. A practical work: 40% (of the total mark)

2. An exam of theoretical and practical content: 60% (of the total mark)





- In case of total confinement:



1. A business plan focused on an information firm: 60% (of the total mark)

2. Other practical work and activities related to the theory of the subject: 40% (of the total mark)



In accordance with article 12.2 of the Regulatory framework for Student Body Assessment, students may withdraw from the call within a month before the end of the teaching period, that is, before November 18th 2020. The resignation must be submitted written to the teacher of the subject.

For those students taking the final exam, withdrawal will be a fact when not attending the test on the official evaluation day. Finally, note that the Business Plan is a mandatory requirement for both taking the theoretical exam and passing the subject.

EXTRAORDINARY CALL: Guidelines



The same system will be followed as in the ordinary call

Basic bibliography

NIETO, Alfonso e IGLESIAS, F.La Empresa Informativa. Barcelona: Ariel, 2000

CRESPO DE LARA, Pedro. La empresa periodística en vivo. Barcelona: Ariel, 1995

In-depth bibliography

Albarran, Alan B. Media Economics: Understanding Market, Industries and Concepts. Iowa: Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, 1996
Archier, G. y Serieux. La empresa del tercer tipo. Una nueva concepción de la empresa. Barcelona: Planeta, 1985
Bustamante, Enrique. La televisión económica. Financiación, estrategias y mercados.. Barcelona: Gedisa, 1999
Bustamante, E. y Zallo, R. Las industrias culturales en España. Madrid: Akal, 1988
Drucker, Peter F. La gerencia de empresas. Buenos Aires: Sudamericana, 1984
Farias García, P. y Farias Batlle, P. En torno a la libertad de empresa informativa. Madrid: Editorial Complutense, 1994
Freire, Andy Pasión por emprender. Aguilar, 2004
Gallo, M. Angel. Responsabilidades sociales de la empresa. Pamplona: IESE-EUNSA, 1980
Garitaonandia, Carmelo y Sánchez-Tabernero, Alfonso. Las empresas informativas en Europa. Bilbao: UPV-EHU, 1992
González Ballesteros, Teodoro.Legislación informativa. Madrid: Colex ed., 1991
Goulden, John. Newspaper Management. Londres: Heinemann, 1967
Larrañaga, José y Díaz Noci, Javier (coords.). El periodista ante el mercado laboral. Bilbao: UPV, 2003
Lavine, John M. Gestión de empresas informativas. Madrid: Rialp. 1992
Mateo, Rosario de. La empresa periodística en los ochenta. Barcelona: Fundación Conde de Barcelona, 1988
Nieto, Alfonso, y Mora, J.M.. Concentración informativa en España, Prensa Diaria. Pamplona: Universidad de Navarra, 1989
Pérez Gorostegui, Eduardo. Economía de la empresa. Introducción. Madrid: Editorial Centro de Estudios Ramón Areces, 1993
Sánchez-Tabernero, Alfonso. El Correo Español-El Pueblo Vasco y su entorno informativo. Pamplona: Universidad de Navarra, 1990
SPRI. Diez pasos para crear una empresa. Bilbao, 2001
Tallón, José. Curso de Empresa Informativa. Madrid, 1988
Uría, Rodrigo. Derecho Mercantil. Madrid: Marcial Pons, 2002

Web addresses

www.webbusinessonline.com
www.infonomia.com
www.invertia.es
www.revecap.com
www.economyweb.com