MJ4400 Global Journalism: Conflict, Safety and Peace Course description

The course aims at developing advanced competence when it comes to critical research traditions related to post-colonial studies, for example Orientalism and Occidentalism critique, theories of nation and identities, migrancy and transnationalism. Students will also acquire competence in analyzing the links between globalization processes and ethnical dimensions within and between nations and regions. The role of safety for journalists covering war and conflicts is central to the course.

No prerequisites

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

Knowledge

The student

• has acquired thorough knowledge on the variety of theories on globalization and conflict
• has reached a deeper knowledge of the challenges for journalistic safety and issues of impunity
• has acquired solid historic and actual knowledge  of journalistic performances in war and conflicts

Skills

The student

• can use appropriate theories and methods in journalism and media studies to analyze issues of media globalization and conflict coverage
• can analyze media texts in order to reveal approaches to diversified societies and differing cultures, for example ethnocentrism and multiculturalism, and to be more aware of different alternative journalistic approaches to diversity and globalization
• can analyze mechanisms which promote peaceful or violent solutions to conflicts, including journalistic performance in wars and conflicts, and improve professional competence concerning the safety of those who produce journalism accordingly
• has developed his/her skills in alternative reporting based on for example the principles of peace journalism

General competence

The student

• is able to analyze professional and occupational issues as well as questions in research ethics in the field of journalism, diversity and globalization
• is well qualified to present academic as well as journalistic material and is able to give and receive constructive criticism and response
• has acquired a deeper understanding of the role of media and journalism in a globalized and diversified late modern society

The course includes lectures, discussions, multimedia conferences and group work.  The course will be organized as two seminar weeks, with the following topics:

• General theories on globalization - and the media
• War, peace and human rights
• Safety for journalists covering conflicts

No course requirements

For the main assessment, the students may choose one of two term papers.

Either

• A term paper of 15-18 pages, 1,5. line space, Times New Roman size 12, within the thematic field of the course.

Or

• A reportage selecting a topic within the general framework of the course. The reportage has to be developed either in digital or print format (5-6 pp. plus photos), radio (7-8 minutes), TV (4 minutes) or photo (approximately 8 photos) followed by a reflection paper, 5-8 pages, discussing the textual material on a theoretical level helped by the course syllabus.

Both alternatives may be written in either English or Norwegian.

The exam will be assessed according to a grading scale where A (highest) and E (lowest) denote a pass and F denotes a fail.

Assessment is done by an examination committee with one internal and one external examiner.

A bachelor-s degree or equivalent. The minimum academic requirement for admission is the grade C, in accordance with Regulations Relating to Admission to Master's Degree Programmes at HiOA.