MJ5100 Investigative Journalism and Cross Border Cooperation Course description

Journalism is changing and so is investigative journalism. Amongst the factors that affect investigative journalism are emerging digital media and changing technology. This course aims to encourage investigative journalism in digital times and gives students the opportunity to collaborate across borders using digital technology. A rising trend within international investigative journalism is to collaborate across borders and exchange useful information and data. Similarly, investigative journalists increasingly work in interdisciplinary teams drawing on expertise from such fields as law, economy, information technology and social science. The course seeks to deepen the understanding and knowledge of such investigative journalism.

The course will emphasize digital ways to investigate data. Students will learn principles of big data harvesting and analysis, and they will collaborate internationally with other students either on analyses of digital working methods or on doing more practical research related to investigative stories.

Another important aspect will be securing digital life and protecting sources when doing collaborative investigations across borders.

Language of instruction is English.

While there are no formal prerequisites, it is beneficial to have taken courses in investigative journalism to get the most out of this course.

None (see recommended preliminary courses).

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 acquired deeper understanding of methodologies in digital investigative journalism
• has acquired solid knowledge of investigative journalism
• has got insight into how to collaborate across borders by utilizing digital tools
• has developed an understanding of ethical perspectives of investigative journalism

Skills

The student

• can use appropriate methods to develop and conduct an investigative journalistic project
• can use digital tools to harvest and analyze relevant data

General competence

The student

• is able to analyze ethical and legislative concerns as a result of investigative journalism
• is capable of gathering data in national as well as international contexts and analyze ethical and legislative concerns as a result of such work

Lectures and workshops.

The teaching takes place in person, on campus.

The following coursework requirements must be approved for the student to be eligible to take the exam:

1. Coursework 1: Explore and present a case of cross-border investigative collaboration in journalism. This assignment will be done in groups to encourage collaboration between students.
2. Coursework 2: Presentation and analysis of literature from the reading list. This assignment will also be done in groups to facilitate critical discussions about the texts.
3. Coursework 3: A brief analysis of the long-term outcomes of the cases described in Coursework 1, based on insights from the reading list.

All assignments must be written in English

Purpose of the Coursework Requirements:

The aim of the coursework is to familiarize students with landmark cases of cross-border investigative journalism to understand the associated challenges and opportunities. Additionally, the coursework is designed to promote critical thinking about cross-border journalism’s role in society and engage students with relevant theories and concepts.

All coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadlines for the student to qualify for the exam. If any coursework is not approved, students will be allowed two opportunities to submit a revised version by a set deadline.

Scope of the Coursework:

The details of each assignment will be provided at the start of the semester. The expected length for each assignment is 3-5 pages. The scope of the presentations is 15-20 minutes. In case an assignment is not approved, students may submit a revised version within a set deadline. For reasons such as illness or other valid circumstances, an individual deadline can be set by the teacher. If a student fails to meet the deadline for at least four of the assignments, they will lose the right to submit the assignment and, consequently, the right to sit for the exam.

The exam is a four-days written individual home examination of approximately 10 pages (not including front page and literature list). The 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.

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