MJ4501 Journalism, Innovation and Social Media Course description

The course aims at encouraging critical journalism combined with analysis and debate regarding changing conditions for journalism due to digitalization, ownership structures and social media platforms' impact on the media industry. The course aims at deepening the knowledge about the changing conditions for news production, distribution and consumption brought forward by emerging technology, ownership structures and changes to revenue streams for funding of journalism.

None

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

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of how changes related to digitalization, media innovation and social media affect journalism as an institution and cultural practice 
• has knowledge about media innovation and the shifting financial conditions influencing the funding of journalism
• has thorough knowledge about how the interrelationship between social media platforms has resulted in changing news distribution and consumption
• has knowledge about research into the productiion and circulation of disinformation/ misinformation via digital media platforms                 

Skills

The student

• can analyze developments in  funding of the news media internationally and nationally
• can analyze how digitalization and social media platforms impact the production, distribution and consumption of news
• can critically analyze news publishers approaches to user participation  via different nonproprietary social media platforms, and their consequences for journalism
• can find, analyze and refer to relevant information and literature in order to develop research questions and undertake independent research or development projects
• can independently assess and discuss concepts in academic literature, and also make intellectual use of such in writing academic text

General competence

The student

• is able to analyze professional and occupational issues 
• is trained in innovative thought and able to apply her/his knowledge and skills in areas such as innovation, digitalization and social media
• can use the competencies and skills acquired in new ways in order undertake advanced tasks and projects
• can transfer knowledge on key challenges within the field to specialists and the public
• can contribute to the creation of new knowledge and processes of innovation within the field

Lectures and workshops.

No coursework requirements

An individual term paper of 12-15 pages. The term paper may be written in either English or Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language). Font and font size: Arial/Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Oscar Westlund