JB3300 Green conflicts and journalism Emneplan

There are increasing numbers of conflicts, related to nature, climate change and the environment. There are conflicts over the general understanding of environmental ills and conflicts over what environmental problem to prioritize, when and where. After the apparent recognition of the need to "solve the crisis" and embark upon the necessary "green transitions" of our societies, new conflicts emerge between different stakeholders. Journalism has a key role mediating green conflicts.

In this course we introduce the fundamental environmental problems of our time through the prism of conflict. On a descriptive level, we ask: What are the major green conflicts, and what role does journalism play? We also explore the normative question of how journalists themselves may handle conflicts - in their approach to environmental problems becoming existential, for both societies, human beings, and all living things.

This course will be taught in English.

None

Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to achieve the following learning outcomes defined in knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

Studenten has knowledge of

• Key green conflicts related to various environmental problems (climate change, biodiversity loss, land-use, etc) in different contexts.
• Green conflicts related to green transitions, for example in the extraction of minerals to power the shift to reneweable energy.
• Different normative positions in environmental communication and journalism

Skills

The student can

• Identify and develop ways of handling green conflicts in journalism
• Identify different societal interests behind green conflicts
• Identify and develop creative ways of engaging audiences in journalism related to green conflicts

General competence

The student

• Understands how society and nature intersect and produce a panoply of green conflicts
• can reflect, reason and justify ways in which journalists could cover green conflicts
• Is aware of risks and benefits of focusing on conflict in environmental communication.

The students work in the following ways:

• Plenary lectures and debates
• Group work
• One field trip in groups outside of OsloMet, to find sources with different agendas in a chosen green conflict
• Presentations One field trip in groups outside of OsloMet, to find sources with different agendas in a chosen green conflict

The teaching takes place in person, on campus.

To qualify for the exam, the student needs to comply with the following work requirements:

· Work requirement 1: Curricula presentation. Part of the curricula must be presented as part of a group presentation of no less than 10 minutes to class.

· Work requirement 2: Presentation of term paper in draft form (minimum 2 pages) to the class, either individual or in pairs.

The purpose of these work requirements is to share and synthesize the curricula to the rest of the class and to get feedback on drafts of the term paper.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by a given deadline.

The exam is an individual analytic, theory-based term paper investigating journalism of green conflicts, 8-12 pages.

The exam can be written in Norwegian or English.

Font type and size: Arial / Calibri / Verdana 12 pt. Line spacing: 1.5

All aids are permitted, as long as the student complies with the rules for source referencing

Grade scale A-F

All exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.