MJ4300 Science and the Media: Challenges for Journalism and Communication Course description

Ingen forkunnskapskrav.

The course will use varied, student-active work methods. Teaching is session based and is organised as two sessions lasting four or five days, including one study day. Teaching methods vary between lectures and more student-active learning methods. Aside from session-based teaching, the teaching methods used are preparations and self-study, and work on the examination assignment. Students will choose an area of interest relevant to work with young people on the basis of the knowledge base introduced in the course. The students will prepare a project plan for a health promoting/preventive project that is feasible in practice.

The student should have the following learning outcomes upon successful completion of the course:

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of how science is put to use and how it shapes and is shaped by society
• has thorough knowledge of how the media represents science, scientific uncertainty and risks

Skills

The student

• is able to critically analyze practical journalistic work and science writing which covers scientific issues or uses scientists as expert sources
• is able to critically use this knowledge to explore other ways of representing science and science related issues in journalistic work and science writing
• has developed and perfected his/her science journalism and/or science writing
• can apply relevant methods to explore this area of journalism and science writing
• can inspire colleagues and students to reflect on the role of science in society and journalism/science writing
• is able to communicate key issues in the research area Science and the media

General competence

The student

• is able to analyze professional and occupational issues as well as questions in research ethics
• is well qualified to present academic scientific work as well as analysis of journalistic and science writing material and is able to give and receive constructive criticism and response
• is able to discuss ethical issues in science
• has acquired journalistic and/or science writing skills through practice and increased knowledge of the scientific processes and science reporting

Individual project examination in the form of a topic chosen by the student that is developed during the course. Scope: 2,500 words (+/- 10%).

Resit examination: If the student is awarded the Fail (fails the written assignment), he/she will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

Gradert skala A - F.

Det benyttes to sensorer, og for minst 25 prosent av besvarelsene skal den ene sensoren være ekstern. Karakterene på de besvarelsene som er vurdert av ekstern sensor danner grunnlag for å fastsette nivå på besvarelsene innenfor de ulike karakteruttrykkene. Interne sensorer skal ta hensyn til ekstern sensors vurdering ved sensurering av alle eksamensoppgaver.

Ragnhild Kristine Olsen

All exam papers are assessed by an internal examiner. In addition, at least 25 % of the exam papers will be assessed by an external examiner, whose assessment will form the basis of the level for each grade within the grading scale. The internal examiner’s assessment of all papers shall be based on the external examiner’s assessment.