In this module, students will build an understanding of the role and context of data journalism in the light of developments in online ‘data dumping' by ‘hacktivists' and accompanying changes to the role of the professional journalist as the traditional ‘gatekeeper' to news and information. Students will gain practical skills in searching for and developing original investigative stories from online datasets, as well as learning how to make use of basic digital tools to visualise their findings in dynamic graphic formats.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Fortnightly 1-hour lecture in TB1 Weekly 1.5 hour workshop in TB1 Two hourly fortnightly workshop in TB2 Total | 6 16.6 12 34.5 |
Guided independent study | 265.5 | |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
Formative:
The assessment strategy tests the students' ability to search and decipher online data sets and use data journalism tools to identify and research investigative stories. Formative assessment will include in-class practical exercises in selecting data journalism methods and visualising data using digital tools
Summative:
Portfolio consisting of two elements:
Assessed presentation at the end of TB1 in which students are required to demonstrate their understanding of the role of data journalism in the industry today, a detailed plan for an original investigation based on a particular dataset and a ‘dummy' visualisation showcasing their technical knowledge gained in TB1. 30%
Self-directed investigative data project at the end of TB2, in which students will submit their findings including data visualisation, preceded by a short gateway presentation in which students must describe and explain their work in progress for the project. 70%
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
Use online datasets effectively to search for, identify and develop original investigative stories | In class practical exercises (formative). Assessed presentation TB1 and self-directed project TB2 (summative) |
Use digital tools to filter and visualise online data findings | In class practical exercises (formative). Assessed presentation TB1 and self-directed project and gateway presentation TB2 (summative) |
Understand the role of data journalism in the industry today | Assessed presentation TB1 (summative) |
Demonstrate core investigative skills to produce a piece of original investigative journalism etc | Self-directed project and gateway presentation TB2 (summative) |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
CWK | Plan for data investigation | 30 |
CWK | 1500 word data project | 70 |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
Core Text(s):
Brooke, H. (2006) Your Right to Know: A Citizen's Guide to the Freedom of Information Act. London: Pluto Press.
Gray, J., Chambers, L., and Bounegru, L. The Data Journalism Handbook
(available free online at: http://datajournalismhandbook.org/)
Mair, J. and Lance Keeble, R. (eds) Data Journalism. Bury St Edmunds: Arima Publishing.
Montague, B. and Amin, L. (2012) FOIA without the Lawyer. London: Centre for Investigative Journalism.
Rogers, S. (2013) Facts are Sacred. London: Faber and Faber.
Brooke, H. (2012) The Revolution will be Digitised: Dispatches from the Information War. London: Windmill Books.
Brooke, H. (2011) The Silent State: Secrets, Surveillance and the Myth of British Democracy. London: Windmill Books
Greenwald, G. (2015) No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA and the US Surveillance State. New York: Picador USA.
Harding, L. (2014) The Snowden Files. London: Guardian Faber Publishing.
Leigh, D. and Harding, L. (2011) Wikileaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy. London: Guardian Books.
Weinberg, S. Wikileaks and the Age of Transparency. Yale: Yale University Press.
Guardian datablog:http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog
FT datawatch blog:http://blogs.ft.com/ftdata/
Information is Beautiful:http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/