Overview

This module will help you to appreciate the fast-developing world of digital journalism. It will address how new digital techniques and practices developed across the past two decades have impacted on journalism, and on journalism’s role in wider society. Lectures and seminars will introduce you to academic studies and a host of examples in this area. It is assessed by an individual essay and group work (where you co-lead a seminar).

The module will map the digital terrain exploring the hopes and fears surrounding Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 technologies; and technological and cultural convergence of old and new media. New ways of doing journalism will examine the phenomenon of citizen journalism, the financing of online journalism when audiences no longer want to pay, and new methods of sourcing information (such as Wikileaks and Twitter). The impact of digital journalism on traditional journalism will be explored. Throughout, issues of trust, authenticity and immediacy - all issues that are intensified in the digital environment - will be examined.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D:•Knowledge of key areas/principles only•Weaknesses in understanding of main areas•Limited evidence of background study•Answer only poorly focussed on question and with some irrelevant material and poor structure•Arguments presented but lack coherence•Several factual/computational errors•No original interpretation •Only major links between topics are described•Limited problem solving•Many weaknesses in presentation and accuracy -good -C: Good•Knowledge of key areas/principles•Understands main areas•Limited evidence of background study•Answer focussed on question but also with some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure•Arguments presented but lack coherence•Has several factual/computational errors•No original interpretation •Only major links between topics are described•Limited problem solving•Some weaknesses in presentation and accuracyB: Very Good•Strong knowledge•Understands most but not all•Evidence of background study•Focussed answer with good structure•Arguments presented coherently•Mostly free of factual and computational errors•Some limited original interpretation •Well known links between topics are described•Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches•Good presentation with accurate communication -excellent -A:•Comprehensive knowledge•Detailed understanding •Extensive background study•Highly focussed answer and well structured•Logically presented and defended arguments•No factual/computational errors•Original interpretation •New links between topics are developed•New approach to a problem•Excellent presentation with very accurate communication

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and appreciate how digital journalism is impacting on traditional journalism, reflecting on knowledge gleaned from all 3 years of the degree programme so far.

• Critically analyse and evaluate digital tools such as Wikileaks and social media in terms of their reliability, authenticity and trustworthiness as news providers.

• Critically examine how traditional media are adapting new methods of news gathering and dissemination available in the digital age.

• Critically explain how digital journalism impacts on the national and global public sphere.

• Develop an in-depth view of what digital journalism is.