Current active course description (last updated 2020/21)
The Journalist in Society
JOU1000
Current active course description (last updated 2020/21)
The Journalist in Society
JOU1000
The course provides an introduction to journalistic work. Learning takes place through the gathering of facts (research), and through groups of students seeking out people in a local community in Nordland, where they practice working as journalists. The groups must plan and carry out their journey to the place they are assigned themselves. This also includes organising their accommodation while they are there. Together, they will become familiar with the local community while practicing dissemination via texts, still images, live images and audio. Practical exercises at the university and in the local community will take place in parallel with theoretical teaching, especially in relation to municipal administration and policy. Press ethics and media law are included in the course. The aim is to raise awareness about journalism’s social responsibility, and about the journalist’s professional role in a local community.
Knowledge The student ...
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- has knowledge of journalism’s social responsibility and the journalist’s professional role
- has necessary social knowledge of municipal policy and administration, and of how a local community functions
- has basic knowledge of journalistic genres
- has knowledge of the media’s ethical framework and understands the ethical challenges associated with local journalism
Skills
The student ...
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- can gather and systematise facts about a local community using publicly available statistics and other relevant information
- can develop journalistic ideas and angle cases in a creative way
- can meet people and show interest and respect, both men and women of all ages, different occupational groups, school pupils, pensioners and others
- masters basic interview techniques
- can convey material from the local community in the form of journalistic texts, photos, audio(images), videos etc.
can express themselves linguistically in a deliberate and appropriate manner
General competence
The student ...
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- can plan and carry out work tasks and projects alone and together with other students
- is curious, imaginative, investigative and adaptable in their professional practice
- can reflect on their own practice and adjust it under supervision
- works in accordance with ethical requirements and guidelines
- can participate in critical, professional discussions and thereby contribute productively in a team
Mandatory
Teaching is full-time and consists of lectures, seminars and work including individual and group tasks. In addition to the teaching activity at the university, excursions to various locations in Nordland are included. The course places great demands on students regarding effort and the ability to cooperate. It is compulsory to participate on excursions and in the group work as a whole.
The programme of study is evaluated annually by the students through course surveys (mid-term evaluation and final evaluation). The evaluations are part of the university’s quality assurance system.
- Written examination (SK), 2 hours (first examination in spring 2021). Grading scheme: Pass/fail. Must be passed before the student is allowed to participate in the group examination.
- Oral (MU/M). Oral group presentation. Grading scheme: Pass/fail.
- Compulsory participation (OD). It is compulsory to participate (80%) in the teaching and activities that include organised supervision on this course, see overview in Canvas. Completion is required before being eligible for examination/assessment. Grading scheme: Approved/not approved. Represents 0/100 of the course grade.
Pen, ruler, laptop, and up to 2 bilingual dictionaries.
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
JO140U - The Journalist in Society - 15 credits
JO134U - News Journalism I - 7 credits
JO134U - News Journalism I - 7 credits
JOU1011 - The Journalist in Society - 15 credits