Module description
What is data journalism? What are digital investigations? What kinds of techniques and approaches are journalists using to create, use and tell stories with data? What kinds of data sources and methods do investigators, artists and activists use to produce facts based on information in the public domain?
In the last few years, journalists, investigators, artists and activist groups have been experimenting with different techniques for investigation, analysis, storytelling and interactivity with public data. These developments have been referred to as data journalism and digital investigations. This module will explore these dynamic fields, including how digital data is being put to work to enable different forms of making sense, telling stories and involving publics.
Students will learn how to develop a "critical data practice" for understanding and working with data and digital methods. This will include critically reflecting on the data sources, tools, techniques and methods of data journalism and digital investigations through a series of readings, as well as learning how to assemble, clean, analyse, visualise data and develop stories and investigations through their own projects.
Building on tools and pedagogical innovations from leading centres for data journalism and digital investigations education, the module will adopt a 'flipped classroom' approach supporting collaborative student projects through engaging digital resources and workshops.
This module uses a flipped classroom model. This model enables active student learning by working on projects with instructor support and a carefully designed package of materials. This package includes bespoke worksheets, video tutorials, “how-to” articles, datasets, tools, shared working spaces and forums for learning outside the classroom. The lion’s share of classroom time is for deep, collaborative work on project development with instructor support in a workshop format. Prior to class students are expected to watch video lectures, do readings, learn how to use software tools and implement research protocols with the help of software tool tutorials and worksheets, as well as to progress with their research projects. Time in class is dedicated to hands-on work on group projects with support from module convenors and other guest experts. The individual learning activities prior to each class are essential for students to be able to make progress on their projects during class and for student success on this module. In the final seminars students present the preliminary outcomes of their projects. These presentations offer an opportunity for formative feedback from module convenors and other experts ahead of finalising and submitting the projects for summative assessment at the end of the module.
Assessment details
- One x Data Journalism Project (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
Over the course of the semester, students will be:
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Provide a critical introduction to the fields of data journalism and digital investigations, including associated practices,
cultures and technologies.
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Learn about different ways of constructing stories with and about data, as well as critically accounting for the sociotechnical infrastructures and practices involved in creating, using and sharing data in journalism.
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Learn about digital investigation techniques, including data sources and methods used to produce facts by collecting and analysing public information.
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Develop a sensibility for "critical data practice" by combining hands-on experimentation with critical reflection on
data journalism and associated developments.
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Support students to collaboratively design and implement projects in the areas of data journalism and digital investigations.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the module, students will be expected to be able to:
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Understand and account for what is involved in assembling, analysing, visualising and producing stories and investigations with digital data from a variety of sources.
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Collaboratively design, implement, and reflect on their own data journalism and digital investigations projects.
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Critically assess and engage with recent research and debates about data journalism, digital investigations and the politics of data from a range of disciplinary perspectives, including science and technology studies, media studies, and internet studies.
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Analyse and empirically study conventions and practices associated with data journalism and digital investigations in the context of social and cultural research on quantification and datafication.
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Engage in self-regulated learning by identifying their learning needs, setting learning goals, identifying sources and resources that would address their needs and goals, and efficiently organising their learning time.
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Collaborate with others as a member of a project team, inhabit a project role responsibly, and make contributions and decisions in group work settings.