MJ4401 Media in war, crisis and conflict Course description

The media are influential in raising awareness and building knowledge of conflicts and wars, and increasingly also become part of/are used in various conflicts. This course brings together theory and practice to explore the possibilities and challenges involved in contemporary reporting of peace and conflict. Whereas new technologies mean increased surveillance and enhanced disinformation processes, they may also involve new possibilities for journalists covering crisis and conflict. The minority and gender dimensions of conflict reporting will be of particular interest to discussions of whose perspectives we actually get to hear or see through the news media. Parts of the course reflect upon how in times of war, crisis and conflict, the dangers media workers are exposed to are more imminent than in ordinary times, and focus on what individuals and institutions can do to limit such dangers.

None.

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

Knowledge

The student

• has acquired knowledge of theories on media and conflict

• has acquired a deeper understanding of the role of media and journalism in conflict and crises, including how certain actors may use online disinformation to suppress human rights and undermine the trust to media

• has reached a deeper knowledge of the challenges for journalistic safety during crises and conflicts

Skills

The student

• can use appropriate theories and methods in journalism and media studies to analyze issues of conflict coverage and reveal various approaches to peace and conflict

• is able to communicate key issues in the research area media and conflict and the current challenges to and possibilities for quality crisis and conflict reporting

• can inspire colleagues and students to reflect on the importance of physical and digital safety and improve professional competence concerning the digital and physical safety of those who produce journalism accordingly

General competence

The student 

• is able to analyze professional and occupational issues in the field of media and conflict

• is well qualified to present academic as well as journalistic material and is able to give and receive constructive criticism and response

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

• General theories on media, crisis and conflicts

• War, peace and human rights

• Physical and digital safety when covering crises and conflicts

No course requirements.

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

Either

• An analytic, theory-based paper of 15-18 pages within the thematic field of the course. The topic can be freely chosen within the frames of the course and in agreement with the course supervisor.

Or

• A reportage selecting a topic within the general framework of the course in agreement with the course supervisor. The reportage has to be developed either in digital or print format (5-6 pages. 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 supported by the course syllabus.

Both alternatives may be written in either English or Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language). For the reportage term paper, the student is encouraged to seek cooperation with a newsroom.

Students who have failed a regular examination may submit a revised version of the exam one time. Students with legitimate absence are entitled to submit the term paper to the new examination.

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

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.