| CODE | MCS3170 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | International Journalism | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will introduce International Journalism to the students, identifying the key challenges and opportunities for reporters: resource limitations; dependence on international sources; examples of collaborative cross-border journalism will be explored to overcome limitations; and low audience interest. The critical focus areas of the study-unit will be: (a) Gaining an understanding of key global issues. (b) Explaining Context. (c) Rendering the global Local. International organisations and global issues will be introduced, as well as the issues pertaining to climate change and its impacts. The nature and extent of the European Union will be explained, and the students will also be introduced to reporting on geopolitical conflicts, not least the Russo-Ukrainian war, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the 鈥淲ar on Terror and its aftermath. Throughout there will be an effort made to localize distant issues: how Malta was impacted by the humanitarian crises in the Middle East and the war in Iraq. Moreover, as a global maritime hub, how it is indirectly impacted by the activities of Houthi rebels as they are targeting shipping lanes that connect the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The United States and NATO in the Trump era will feature in the study-unit, as well as China as a geopolitical contender. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to: - Help students develop a foundational conceptualisation of the complexities and responsibilities of international journalism. - Help students Identify and critically engage with key challenges such as limited resources and the need for localized reporting. - Appreciate the value of cross-border collaborations. - Produce insightful and relevant journalism that connects international events to local audiences. - Examine the political, humanitarian, and environmental dimensions of major international developments. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Have transferable skills that are valuable across various professional contexts. One key skill is the ability to conduct comprehensive research and interpret complex data related to global issues. - Participate in policy analysis, market research, and academic research, where critical thinking and data interpretation are essential. - Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, students learn to navigate diverse contexts, making them adaptable and resourceful in their future careers. - Examine and investigate global issues critically, categorizing and classifying information based on its relevance and significance. - Compare different perspectives and critique sources effectively. - Appraise the impact of historical, social, and political contexts on current events. - Foster a nuanced understanding of complex situations, enabling graduates to contribute thoughtfully to discussions in any professional setting. - Synthesise information - to combine diverse sources and perspectives into cohesive narratives. - Organize facts and viewpoints effectively. - Enhance their capacity to communicate complex ideas succinctly and persuasively. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Have transferable skills that are valuable across various professional contexts. One key skill is the ability to conduct comprehensive research and interpret complex data related to global issues; - Participate in policy analysis, market research, and academic research, where critical thinking and data interpretation are essential; - Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, students learn to navigate diverse contexts, making them adaptable and resourceful in their future careers; Another important transferable skill developed in the course is analytical thinking. Students will learn to examine and investigate global issues critically, categorizing and classifying information based on its relevance and significance. This analytical framework empowers them to compare different perspectives and critique sources effectively, skills that are highly sought after in various sectors, including business, law, and non-profit organizations. The ability to appraise the impact of historical, social, and political contexts on current events fosters a nuanced understanding of complex situations, enabling graduates to contribute thoughtfully to discussions in any professional setting. Additionally, the study-unit emphasizes the synthesis of information, teaching students how to combine diverse sources and perspectives into cohesive narratives. This skill is crucial not only for journalism but also for roles in communications, marketing, and project management, where clear and compelling storytelling is vital. By learning to organize facts and viewpoints effectively, students enhance their capacity to communicate complex ideas succinctly and persuasively. Furthermore, the emphasis on evaluation fosters critical judgment鈥攕tudents become adept at assessing the credibility of information sources and justifying their conclusions with well-researched evidence. These skills collectively prepare graduates for success in a wide range of careers that require effective communication, critical analysis, and strategic thinking. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Baylis, J. Smith, S and Owens P. (2020) The Globalisation of World Politics (8th Edition), Oxford University Press. Supplementary Readings: - Leigh, D. (2019) Investigative Journalism: A Survival Guide, Palgrave Macmillan. Full text available via HyDi. - Calvocoressi, P. (2009) World Politicis since 1945 (9th edition). One copy at Junior College. - Willians, K. (2011) International Journalism, Sage. Available online via HyDi. |
||||||||||||
| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE MCS1030 | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||
| LECTURER/S | |||||||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||||||