Course description for 2022/23
The Journalist in Society
JOU1000
Course description for 2022/23
The Journalist in Society
JOU1000
When local journalists describe the positive aspects of their profession, they often mention that the job offers variety, freedom and experiences, allows them to meet new people and opens the door for collaboration with others. In "The journalist in society" we try to recreate such qualities, while the students are thrown into their first journalistic challenge: learning to understand a local community, and communicating it to others, using mobile phones and other simple technology.
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.
The course presupposes admission to the Bachelor of Journalism.
Students must have been admitted into the bachelor program in journalism in order to sign up for this course.
Knowledge The student ...
- 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 ...
-
- 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 ...
-
- 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
In addition to semester fees and syllabus literature, students must expect some expenses for excursions and practice production in the local community they are allocated. Nord University provides financial support for such travel and accommodation in accordance with guidelines laid down in the Rector's Decision 17/04490, 29 June 2018.
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.
- 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 written school examination. Grading scheme: Approved/not approved. Represents 0/100 of the course grade.
- Assessment task (AK). Oral group presentation. Completion is required before being eligible for written school examination. Grading scheme: Pass/fail. Counts for 0/100 of the grade.
- Written examination (SK), 6 hours (from 2024). Grading scheme: A-F. Counts for 100/100 of the grade.
None
EX150S Study Foundation Semester - Individual, Society and Science
JOU1001 Practical language and communication
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