Course Syllabus for students Autumn 2021

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

- identify the basic ideals and principles of traditional journalism and the function it serves in society
- recognize and explain different theoretical perspectives within journalism research
- discuss the ongoing changes of journalism and the media landscape

- use established tools and methods to produce journalistic material

- use the principles of source criticism to evaluate the validity of information

- critically appraise journalistic products by comparing them to the basic ideals and principles of journalism

- question or defend the role of traditional journalistic ideals and ethics in the new media landscape

• The societal role and purpose of journalism
• The changing media landscape: working conditions, false information, citizen and participatory journalism
• Theories within journalism research: agenda- setting theory, framing theory, media logic theory
• Ideals and principles: verification, objectivity, independence and ethics
• Tools and methods: research, source criticism, news values and news angles, photography, transmedia storytelling and interviewing

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and exercises performed individually or in groups. A digital learning platform is used.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive instruction/supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted. After that, the right to receive instruction/supervision expires.

The teaching is conducted in English.

General entry requirements and 45 credits in Media and Communication Science or equivalent. English proficiency is required. Exemption is granted from the requirement in Swedish.

The course is graded A, B, C, D, E, FX or F.

The grades A, B, C, D and E are all passing grades. For courses with more than one examination, students are given a final grade based on an overall assessment of all examinations included in the course. The final grade of the course is issued only when all course units have been passed. The examination is based on instruction and course literature.

The examination must allow for students to be assessed on an individual basis. Students may not make a second attempt at any examination (or element of examination) already passed in order to receive a higher grade. Further information concerning assessment and grading criteria is provided in a study guide distributed at the beginning of the course.

Students are guaranteed a minimum of three examination occasions, including the regular occasion. If a student has failed the same examination three times, the student is entitled to request that the next examination is assessed and graded by a new examiner if possible. The decision to accept or reject such a request is made by the vice dean of education.

In case the course is terminated or significantly altered, examination according to the present course syllabus shall be offered on at least two occasions in the course of one year after the termination/alteration.

For this course, the examination is based on:
- Three mandatory workshops (ILOs 1,4) (below named laboratory assignments)
- Group presentation (ILOs 1,3,5)
- Individual written assignment 1 (ILOs 1,2,3,6,7)
- Individual written assignment 2 (ILOs 1,4)
- Seminar (ILO 6)

You will need an E on every assignment to pass the course. You will need 4 credits with higher grades (A, B), to get higher grades (A, B) on the course as a whole.

Name of the Test	Value	Grading
Three individual laboratory assignments1	1 credit	U/G
Group presentation1	1.5 credits	U/G
Individual written assignment 1	2 credits	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Individual written assignment 2	2 credits	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Seminar1	1 credit	U/G

¹ The examination is graded Fail (U) or Pass (G)

At the end of the course, a course evaluation is performed and commented on by the course coordinator and, if possible, a student/students (course developer/s). The course evaluation, which is published on the relevant learning platform and submitted to the study administration, is to function as a basis for future improvements to the course.

Eldridge II, Scott. A. (2017) Online Journalism From the Periphery. Routhledge. 190 pages.

Higgins, Elliot. (2021). We are Bellingcat. Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd. 272 pages.

Kovach, Bill. & Rosenstiel, Tom. (2014). The Elements of Journalism. Three Rivers Press. 332 pages.

Zion, Lawrie. & Craig, David (editors). (2014). Ethics for Digital Journalists. Emerging Best Practices. Routledge. 240 pages.

Compendium. 100 pages

Citing Sources – How to Create Literature References. http:ju.se/library/search--write/citing-sources---how-to-create-literature-references.html

Information Material about Anti-Plagiarism at Universities. The Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide – Jönköping University. Found in the course activity on the learning platform.
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