Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Information Sources, Data and Data Storytelling in Journalism
Course Code
SZF_313
Branch of Science
Media and communications; Other Sub-Branches of Mass Media and Communication
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Communication Science; Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Līga Ozoliņa
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Kuldigas Street 9C, Riga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the course is to develop students’ knowledge and skills in working with information sources and data, enhancing their ability to critically and responsibly evaluate and use them in the production of analytical, audience-oriented journalistic stories.
Preliminary Knowledge
Understanding journalism and its professional practices and values; knowledge and skills of journalistic genres such as news and interview.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Understand the types of sources of information, their characterisation and their role in journalism.
2.Is familiar with the principles for assessing the reliability of information sources and the basic methods of verification.
3.Understand the importance of data in journalism, data types and key data sources.
4.Is familiar with the basic principles of data acquisition, processing and analysis.
5.Understands the basic principles of data storytelling and data visualization in journalism.
Skills
1.Able to independently find, select and evaluate different sources of information.
2.Can plan and implement information acquisition, such as interviews and telephone interviews and press conferences.
3.Able to verify facts and use verification methods to ensure accuracy of information.
4.Can acquire, structure, and analyze data at a basic level using simple tools.
5.Able to create simple data visualizations and use them in journalistic stories.
6.Can adapt the story of data journalism to the needs of the audio format.
Competences
1.Be able to critically and responsibly evaluate sources of information and data, aware of their limitations and impact on content.
2.Able to develop a source and data-driven journalistic story independently and/or in small teams.
3.Integrates information sources and data into a unified, logical and audience-friendly narrative.
4.Observe journalistic professional and ethical norms in working with sources and data.
5.Able to reflect on their work and/or other work by arguing for the (un)relevance of the chosen sources, methods and solutions.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Preparation for simulation of telephone interviews |
-
|
-
|
|
2.
Preparing for a press conference |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
3.
Post-press news |
10.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
4.
Completion of the course evaluation questionnaire |
-
|
-
|
|
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course, at the end of the course the student must complete the study course assessment questionnaire on the student Portal. It is anonymous and its results become available to the lecturer in aggregate form only at the beginning of the next semester, so the student’s assessments during the course cannot be affected in any way. |
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Participation in a simulation of a telephone interview |
20.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
2.
Participation in a simulation of a press conference |
10.00% from total grade
|
Test
|
|
3.
Data Journalism Project |
50.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Sources of information and data in journalism. Difference between facts, opinions and data
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Types of information sources, their quality and reliability
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Collection, sourcing and mapping of information
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Interview as information gathering method
|
|
Question types, question creation
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Telephone interview
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Question types, question creation
|
|
Simulation of telephone interviews
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Question types, question creation
|
|
Press conference as information source
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Question types, question creation
|
|
Press conference simulation
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Press conference simulation
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Fact checking and verification
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Data journalism. How it differ from journalism with data?
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Data journalism process.
|
|
Data sources. Methods for searching/retrieving data. Sensory programming for data scraping
|
|
Data Journalism Project
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Data analysis for journalists
|
|
Data Cleaning
|
|
Data Journalism Project
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Sensory programming and use of AI plugins for data analysis
|
|
Data Journalism Project
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Basics for data visualisation and data storytelling
|
|
Data Journalism Project
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Grinding a data story; its adaptation for an audio format
|
|
Data Journalism Project
|
-
Test
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Data Journalism Project
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Brooks, B. S. (2020). News reporting & writing / the Missouri Group, Brian S. Brooks, Beverly J. Horvit, Daryl R. Moen. (Thirteenth edition.).Suitable for English stream
2.
Fernandez, J. M. (2020). Journalists and Confidential Sources: Colliding Public Interests in the Age of the Leak (1st edition). London: Routledge.Suitable for English stream
3.
Liliana Bounegru, B., & Jonathan Gray, G. (2021). The Data Journalism Handbook: Towards A Critical Data Practice (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
1.
Franklin, B., & Carlson, M. (2011). Journalists, Sources, and Credibility: New Perspectives (1st ed., Vol. 1). New York: Routledge.Suitable for English stream
2.
Lee-Potter, E. (2017). Interviewing for journalists (3rd ed.). Routledge.Suitable for English stream
3.
Feigenbaum, A., & Alamalhodaei, A. (2020). The Data Storytelling Workbook (1st ed.). Routledge.Suitable for English stream
Other Information Sources
1.
Global Investigative Journalism NetworkSuitable for English stream
2.
DataJournalism.orgSuitable for English stream