Investigative Journalism
Code: 103089 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2501933 Journalism | OT | 3 |
| 2501933 Journalism | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Luiz Peres Garzezi
- Email:
- luiz.peres@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
The students must have very good knowledge of social news. Students must have a good background in all theoretical and practical aspects of journalistic work. Students must have sufficient capacity to properly locate, deal with and deal with personal sources and to locate, analyze and use documentary sources of all kinds, including those accessible through the Internet. Students must have an advanced user level for computer software. Office automation (spreadsheets and database managers). They have to know how to use the advanced search functions in search engines, and also the most common specific tools to capture information on the Internet and to analyze its contents).
Students must also have a sufficient command of Catalan and Spanish, in which the classes will be taught and most of the teaching materials will be.
Objectives and Contextualisation
1) Train for investigative journalism
2) Train the management of journalistic investigative work
3) Acquire ethical and deontological criteria related to quality journalist and journalistic investigations.
Competences
- Journalism
- Abide by ethics and the canons of journalism, as well as the regulatory framework governing information.
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Be familiar with and apply the theoretical and practical foundations of journalistic writing and narrative and its applications in the different genres, media and formats.
- Demonstrate a critical and self-critical capacity.
- Differentiate the discipline's main theories, its fields, conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and approaches that underpin knowledge of the subject and its different areas and sub-areas, and acquire systematic knowledge of the media's structure.
- Identify modern journalistic traditions in Catalonia, Spain and worldwide and their specific forms of expression, as well as their historic development and the theories and concepts that study them.
- Introduce changes in the methods and processes of the field of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and demands of society.
- Relay journalistic information in the language characteristic of each communication medium, in its combined modern forms or on digital media, and apply the genres and different journalistic procedures.
- Research, select and arrange in hierarchical order any kind of source and useful document to develop communication products.
- Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Use a third language as a working language and means of professional expression in the media.
- Value diversity and multiculturalism as a foundation for teamwork.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse the sex- or gender-based inequalities and the gender biases present in one's own area of knowledge.
- Communicate using language that is not sexist or discriminatory.
- Compare the different traditions in handling specialised information.
- Conceptualise the theories and techniques of specialised journalism.
- Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
- Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
- Demonstrate a critical and self-critical capacity.
- Demonstrate practical knowledge of specialised journalism.
- Distinguish theories of journalistic writing and narrative to apply them to the different theme-based information specialisms.
- Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
- Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
- Incorporate the principles of professional ethics in producing information specialised in investigative and precision journalism.
- Know how to build texts in a third language that adapt to the structures of journalistic language and apply them to the different theme-based information specialisms.
- Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
- Relay in the language specific to each communication medium narrative journalism specialised in research and precision.
- Research, select and arrange in hierarchical order any kind of source and useful document to develop communication products.
- Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Use interactive communication resources to process, produce and relay information in the production of specialised information.
- Value diversity and multiculturalism as a foundation for teamwork.
- Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.
Content
1. Epistemological and historical foundations of investigative journalism
- Basics and conceptual elements.
- Investigative journalism and pseudo-investigative journalism
- Origins and development (US, Europe, Latin America and Spain)
2. The investigative journalism labor
- Methods and techniques
- Management of personal and documentary sources.
- Types of investigation
- Verification processes, ethical and legal issues
3. Challenges over investigative journalism in the digital age
- Data journalism and other resources
- New narratives, multimedia, and content management formats
- Transparency, accountability, and the digital environment
The content of the course incorporates gender perspective.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Master classes | 18 | 0.72 | 4, 8, 12, 15, 21 |
| Practices. | 24 | 0.96 | 8, 12, 15, 21 |
| Seminars. | 18 | 0.72 | 8, 12, 15, 21 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Evaluation. | 3 | 0.12 | 4, 12, 21 |
| Tutorials | 3 | 0.12 | 4, 8, 12 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Reading, analysis and synthesis of texts, preparation and realization of works. | 80 | 3.2 | 4, 8, 12, 13, 21 |
This course is deeply practical. While we will delve into theories, we will primarily focus on applying these concepts to real-world cases and discussions.
The group's practices will simulate the operation of a journalistic newsroom in charge of developing investigations corresponding to different journalistic projects proposed by students. The production of content for UABmèdia will be considered.
Work groups will operate with a high degree of autonomy, under the guidance of the teaching staff. Your active participation in both theoretical and practical sessions, as well as your ability to work independently and coordinate with your peers, will be key to your evaluation.
To facilitate the preparation of the work, the teaching staff and the class group will have maximum organizational flexibility with the priority objective of correctly developing the research tasks. The carrying out of external activities will be considered.
In any case, the teaching staff will supervise and control the development of the proposals promoted by the students.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case analysis | 20% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
| Exam | 20% | 1 | 0.04 | 4, 8 |
| Report of the investigative journalism | 15 % | 1 | 0.04 | 4, 8, 12, 21 |
| Research report | 45% | 1 | 0.04 | 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 |
Assessment
THE EVALUATION ACTIVITIES ARE:
- Activity A – Case analysis, 20% of the final grade
- Activity B - Exam, 50% of the final grade
- Activity C – Assignment (reportage), 30% of the final grade.
- Activity D - Report on the research for the assignment, 15% of the final grade.
To pass the course, a minimum grade of 5.0 must be obtained for each of activities A, B, C and D.
RE-EVALUATION:
Students will have the right to be re-evaluated for the subject if they have been evaluated from the set of activities, the weight equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade for the subject. In order to be able to present the re-evaluation of the subject, it will have had to obtain the average mark of 3.5. The activity that is excluded from the recovery process is coursework (Assignment).
SECOND REGISTRATION:
In the case of second registration, students may take a single synthesis test that will consist of a short content test with a theoretical and practical section, using the bibliography indicated by the teaching staff and a proposal for a research report on a scientific topic.
The qualification of the subject will correspond to the grade obtained on the synthesis test.
PLAGIARISM:
In the event that the student performs any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that could be instructed. In the event, that several irregularities occur in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.
UNIQUE ASSESSMENT:
The course's unique assessment system is based on the following percentages:
A) 50% Theoretical test on the content syllabus.
B) 30% Course work.
C) 20% Oral presentation to comment and argue about one of the cases studied.
The grade of the single assessment will be the result of the grades of the theoretical, written and oral presentation tests. The dates for these tests will be announced at the beginning of the course through the course's calendar.
RECOVERY OF THE UNIQUE ASSESSMENT: It will consist of a synthesis test that will incorporate questions about content, solving cases and a part of oral presentation. Those students who have taken the tests of the single assessment and have obtained at least a 3.5 in the overall grade of the subject may apply. The date will be announced at the beginning of the course.
Bibliography
Allan, S. (2023). The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism (Second edition). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003174790
Bebawi, S., & Onilov, O. (Eds.). (2023). Different Global Journalisms : Cultures and Contexts / edited by Saba Bebawi and Oxana Onilov. (1st ed. 2023.). Palgrave
Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18992-0
Burstiner, M. (2018). Investigative Reporting: From Premise to Publication (Second edition.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203702307
Carson, A. (2020). Investigative journalism, democracy and the digital age. Routledge.
Chicote Lerena J. (2006). Los enemigos del periodismo de investigación. Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico, 12, 71-90. https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ESMP/article/view/ESMP0606110071A
Chicote, J. (2006). El Periodismo de investigación en España : causas y efectos de su marginación. Fragua.
Colbran, M. (2022). Crime and Investigative Reporting in the UK (1st ed.). Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.46692/9781447358930
de Burgh, H., & Lashmar, P. (2021). Investigative Journalism (Third edition). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429060281
Di Domenica, S. (2013). Periodistas que preguntan por qué: relatos y entrevistas sobre periodismo de investigación / Sebastián Di Domenica ; prólogo: Adriana Amado. Biblos.
García Arán, M., & Botella Corral, J. (2008). Malas noticias: medios de comunicación, política criminal y garantías penales en España. Tirant lo Blanch.
González -Cortés, M. E., López-García, J., & Gómez-Calderón, B. (2023). Rutinas profesionales del periodismo de investigación en España. I/C (Sevilla), 20(20), 233–251. https://doi.org/10.12795/IC.2023.I20.10
Knobel, B. (2018). The Watchdog Still Barks: How Accountability Reporting Evolved forthe Digital Age (1st ed.). Fordham University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9780823279364
Martí Gómez, J.(2016). El Oficio más hermoso del mundo: (una desordenada crónica personal) / José Martí Gómez ; epílogo: una conversación con Javier del Pino, Jordi Évole y Josep Ramoneda. Clave intelectual.
Martínez-Sanz, R., & Durántez-Stolle, P. (2019). El ejercicio del periodismo de investigación en España. La percepción de su estado actual. Revista latina de comunicación social, 74(74), 822–839. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2019-1359
McCracken, E. (2017). The Serial Podcast and Storytelling in the Digital Age (1st ed., Vol. 1). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315210704
Park, Michelle ; Konow-Lund, Maria ; Bebawi, Saba. (2024). Hybrid Investigative Journalism. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41939-3
Peña Acuña, B., & Batalla Navarro, P. (2017). Periodismo de investigación / Beatriz Peña Acuña y Pablo Batalla Navarro (coord.). ACCI.
Pickard, V. (2020). Democracy without Journalism?: Confronting the Misinformation Society (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190946753.001.0001
Pilger, J., & Solé, J. (2007). ¡Basta de mentiras! : el periodismo de investigación que está cambiando el mundo / edición de John Pilger ; traducción de Joan Solé. RBA.
Quesada, M., & Franco, A. (1997). Periodismo de investigación o el derecho a denunciar / Montserrat Quesada ; prólogo de Antonio Franco. CIMS.
Reig, R. (2000). Periodismo de investigación y pseudoperiodismo : realidades, deseos y falacias / Ramón Reig ; prólogo de Montserrat Quesada Pérez. Libertarias.
Rodríguez, P. (1994). Periodismo de investigación: técnicas y estrategias / Pepe Rodríguez. Paidós.
Romero Domínguez, L. R., & García-Orta, M. J. (2019). Cómo destapar otro Panama Papers : nuevos retos para el periodismo de investigación. Editorial UOC.
Schiffrin, A. (2014). Global muckraking : 100 years of investigative journalism from around the world / edited by Anya Schiffrin. The New Press.
Schiffrin, A. (2021). Media Capture: How Money, Digital Platforms, and Governments Control the News. Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/schi18882
Segado-Boj, F., Chaparro-Domínguez, M.-Á., & Ramírez-Daza, Ó.-I.. (2022). Periodismo de investigación: análisis bibliométrico, conceptual e intelectual (2000-2020). Transinformação, 34, e210080. https://doi.org/10.1590/2318-0889202234e210080
Software
There is no specific software for this subject.
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 11 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 12 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |