Class Scientific Journalism

The Science Journalism Curricular Unit aims to prepare students for the journalistic coverage of science and technology. Science, understood as a source of knowledge and understanding of the world with strong implications for economic development and the well-being of societies, is an important element in promoting the quality of decisions in public and individual life. The discipline of science journalism seeks to provide theoretical and practical tools for future journalists or communication technicians to deal with science and technology in the various contexts in which they operate, namely in the production of journalistic texts that are simultaneously appealing, informative and enlightening.

Not applicable

CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS Dissemination and popularization of science The role of science journalism (SJ). The scientific process (the scientific method, the structure of a scientific article, peer review, strategies for interrogating scientific literature); JOURNALISM-SCIENCE INTERACTION Scientific/journalistic ethics Interaction between journalists and scientists Scientific uncertainty and controversy SCIENCE JOURNALISM Newsworthiness criteria Journalistic/scientific fact Sources of SJ: press offices; scientists and digital sources Scientific/journalistic language The role of the journalist/scientist Representation of science in the media NEWS CONSTRUCTION From event to news: Collection and processing of information Contextualization of scientific information  

  One of the methodologies applied in the classroom context is Project-Based Learning, in which students engage in active learning through a project they develop under the guidance of the teacher. Students will integrate one of the activities developed within an academic research project and will collaborate with the teacher to produce an academic event, as well as to develop the entire process of communication and journalistic coverage of the project.

Comfort, S. E., Gruszczynski, M., & Browning, N. (2024). Building the Science News Agenda: The Permeability of Science Journalism to Public Relations. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 101(3), 637–656. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990211047949 Dunwoody, S. (2020). Science Journalism and Pandemic Uncertainty. Media and Communication, 8(2), 471–474. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i2.3224 Sampaio-Dias, S., Silveirinha, M. J., Garcez, B., Subtil, F., Miranda, J., & Cerqueira, C. (2023). “Journalists are Prepared for Critical Situations … but We are Not Prepared for This”: Empirical and Structural Dimensions of Gendered Online Harassment. Journalism Practice, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2023.2250755 Garcia, Ricardo, Maria Joa¿o Valente Rosa e Luisa Barbosa (2016), Que nu¿mero e¿ este? Um guia sobre estati¿sticas para jornalistas, Fundac¿a¿o Francisco Manuel dos Santos.