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  2. Science Journalism [JOU2108]

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Science Journalism

  • Unit Code

    JOU2108

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

Scientific and technological advancements have repercussions on the health of individuals, cultures, economies and the planet itself. Journalists play an important role in informing the public about the progress of science and technology and the media is a forum for debate about the social, financial, legal and ethical issues that scientific advancements bring. This unit seeks to familiarise students with the basic processes of scientific progress and to develop skills in communication about science to readerships with different vocabularies and knowledge bases.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded JOU4108

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse scientific controversies/ethical dilemmas that have repercussions in the public sphere.
  2. Apply understanding about vocabularies and scientific literacy to construct science stories that are appropriate for specific readerships.
  3. Discuss how science is funded, assessed and organised internationally.
  4. Discuss scientific processes and methods.
  5. Evaluate the newsworthiness of a range of scientific events.
  6. Generate appropriate questions to ask in science journalism interviews.

Unit Content

  1. An introduction to a range of newsworthy science topics covering basic key concepts, anticipated new developments and issues these may raise.
  2. Financial and political drivers behind the advancement of particular types of science, and to the ways that scientific data can be used, and misused, to promote political and financial ends.
  3. Issues to do with narrative, vocabulary and assumed knowledge that journalists need to consider when reporting on science-related topics.
  4. Practical exercises in writing and critiquing science articles, including interviewing scientists and writing articles about their work.
  5. Processes that underpin the advancement of scientific knowledge (including the peer review system) and the movement of products and ideas arising from scientific research into culture and common use.
  6. The role of the media in facilitating debate about ethical issues stimulated by scientific advancement or findings.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Workshops with lecture and interactive activity.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioSeries of 4 tasks40%
AssignmentProfile feature article *30%
ParticipationMarks for activities in class30%

* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency

Text References

  • Pearson, M., & Polden, M. (2011). The journalist's guide to media law. (4th ed.). Australia: Allen & Unwin.
  • News Ltd. (2007). Style. Southbank, Australia: News Custom Publishing.
  • Lamble, S. (2010). News as it happens. Melbourne, Australia: OUP.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

JOU2108|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: Communications and Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Science Journalism

  • Unit Code

    JOU2108

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

Scientific and technological advancements have repercussions on the health of individuals, cultures, economies and the planet itself. Journalists play an important role in informing the public about the progress of science and technology and the media is a forum for debate about the social, financial, legal and ethical issues that scientific advancements bring. This unit seeks to familiarise students with the basic processes of scientific progress and to develop skills in communication about science to readerships with different vocabularies and knowledge bases.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded JOU4108

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse scientific controversies/ethical dilemmas that have repercussions in the public sphere.
  2. Apply understanding about vocabularies and scientific literacy to construct science stories that are appropriate for specific readerships.
  3. Discuss how science is funded, assessed and organised internationally.
  4. Discuss scientific processes and methods.
  5. Evaluate the newsworthiness of a range of scientific events.
  6. Generate appropriate questions to ask in science journalism interviews.

Unit Content

  1. An introduction to a range of newsworthy science topics covering basic key concepts, anticipated new developments and issues these may raise.
  2. Financial and political drivers behind the advancement of particular types of science, and to the ways that scientific data can be used, and misused, to promote political and financial ends.
  3. Issues to do with narrative, vocabulary and assumed knowledge that journalists need to consider when reporting on science-related topics.
  4. Practical exercises in writing and critiquing science articles, including interviewing scientists and writing articles about their work.
  5. Processes that underpin the advancement of scientific knowledge (including the peer review system) and the movement of products and ideas arising from scientific research into culture and common use.
  6. The role of the media in facilitating debate about ethical issues stimulated by scientific advancement or findings.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Workshops with lecture and interactive activity.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PortfolioSeries of 4 tasks40%
AssignmentProfile feature article *30%
ParticipationMarks for activities in class30%

* Assessment item identified for English language proficiency

Text References

  • Lamble, S. (2010). News as it happens. Melbourne, Australia: OUP.
  • News Ltd. (2007). Style. Southbank, Australia: News Custom Publishing.
  • Pearson, M., & Polden, M. (2011). The journalist's guide to media law. (4th ed.). Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

JOU2108|1|2