JB3320 Unraveling the Numbers - financial reporting Course description

The ability to effectively interpret and communicate complex economic information is more crucial than ever. This is a specialized course designed for journalism students who aim to master the art and science of financial reporting, with an emphasis on leveraging data science and programming skills to enhance their stories.

Language of instruction is English. 

This course is within the same specialization as the elective course Digital investigative journalism

This course offers an introduction to the practice of writing and reading academic literature. Communicating properly, both in written and oral form, is a cornerstone of research. This course therefore also contains an element of rhetoric and writing techniques. The course will cover common concepts from research methods, such as qualitative and quantitative methods. A brief introduction of the philosophy of science helps us put the vast variations of research in context. Finally, the course introduces research and professional ethics.

After completing the course, the student shall have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student will:

• Recognize and understand the various sources from which financial data can be gathered, including government databases, company filings, etc.
• Learn essential data science techniques such as data collection, data cleaning, and data visualization.
• Gain a foundational understanding of key financial terms, jargon, and frameworks

Skills

The student will:

• Learn how to use basic programming skills (i.e. Python, R or Excel), to collect and manipulate data for reporting.
• Gain hands-on experience in using data visualization tools to make complex financial data more understandable to the general audience.
• Acquire the skill of narrating complex financial stories in an easy-to-understand manner, including infographics, charts, and other visual aids.

General competence

The student will:

• Understand and apply ethical guidelines in financial reporting
• Develop the ability to critically evaluate financial data, statements, and sources for credibility, bias, and other potential issues.
• Become proficient in communicating complex financial topics in a way that can be easily understood by the general public.

The teaching takes place in person, on campus.

A student who has completed this course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

On successful completion of this course the student:

• has thorough knowledge of writing in research processes
• has advanced knowledge of forums and channels in which research results are published
• has an introductory knowledge of the philosophy of science related to falsificationism, paradigms and research programs
• has thorough knowledge of the ethical basis for professional codes of conduct
• has advanced knowledge of writing styles related to research
• has thorough knowledge of structural templates for essay texts
• has thorough knowledge of the Toulmin model and its applications

Skills

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can find research literature in literature databases
• can analyse and critically evaluate various information sources
• can write summaries using his/her own words
• can use electronic reference tools
• can identify the research method used in a scientific text
• can explain the application of a research method in a research project
• can organize research literature in such a way as to identify patterns and commonalities
• can communicate a research-related topic using digital media
• can write texts using classic style

General competence

On successful completion of this course the student:

• can reflect and discuss plagiarism
• has a thorough knowledge of responsibility for author and co-authorship in accordance with the Vancouver Convention

All modules will be taught as lectures / seminars with assignments for students. Throughout the course, students will work on an individual essay from their own specialization topic. The essay will contain:

• a literature survey
• a discussion on the methods applied by the researchers in the material reviewed in their survey
• a discussion on the ethical challenges related their topic both with regard to the research applied and relative to uses in society

The essay will give the opportunity for the student to tie together all modules in this course into a cohesive document.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

Two mandatory assignments:

• One recorded presentation of between 5 and 10 minutes.
• A spreadsheet containing results of a research survey including columns for relevant meta-information with at least 7 relevant research papers

Grade scale A-F

All exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.