Facts and Fiction

"Fake news", propaganda, media manipulation and other forms of disinformation have dominated the media and political landscapes over the past few years. A major question is how journalists should respond to an increasingly complex media and information landscape, which questions factuality and traditional authorities of knowledge, such as journalism and academic research. In this course, students will learn how disinformation diffuses in society, how to detect it, and which methods of fact checking and source criticism can help journalists to counter disinformation.

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of

• the role of fake news and other forms of disinformation in society
• different methods of fact checking and source criticism
• visual literacy
• the role of legacy, social and alternative media in diffusions of disinformation
• how to counter disinformation based on cognitive research

Skills

The student

• can perform fact checking
• can critically reflect on concepts like disinformation and journalistic authority
• has advanced skills in the critical assessment of sources

General competence

The student

• is competent in media and visual literacy
• can critically reflect on the possibilities and limitations of journalism¿s role as a conveyer of facts and truths

The course is organized in gatherings of intensive tuition, with lectures, workshops, group presentations and discussions.

Participation during class sessions is mandatory. Students who have more than 20 percent absence from class sessions will have to hand in an additional assignment. Students who have more than 25 percent absence from class sessions will not be qualified to take the exam.

The coursework requirements consist of three obligatory assignments. Two of the assignments will be practical and one theoretical. All three assignments must be approved before the student can take the exam.

If the assignment is not approved, the student may hand in a new, improved version within a set deadline. In the event of illness or other documented absence for compelling reasons, special deadlines can be agreed with the lecturer. If a student fails to submit work within the deadline stipulated in the course plan or agreed with the lecturer, the assignment cannot be submitted, and the student will lose the right to take the exam.

Analytical paper (6-8 pages). Three days take home exam.

The evaluation is graded according to a scale from A to E for passed and F for not passed.

Students who have failed the ordinary examination, and students with legitimate absence, are entitled to a new examination.

One internal evaluators will set the grades. 25 per cent of te examns will be assessed by an external and internal examinor. The internal examiner’s assessment of all papers shall be based on the external examiner’s assessment.