International Journalism
Code: 103085 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | OT | 3 |
| Journalism | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Agustin Morales Puga
- Email:
- agus.morales@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Students must be able to write and talk in their native tongues and must be able to work in English. They should also master the writing of different journalistic genres with professional spelling and a narrative and analytical vision.
Initiative and autonomy are required, as well as being up to date with current international affairs.
Interest in international relations, conflicts and global politics is valued, as well as a focus on cultural, and human rights issues, along with a willingness to implement innovative tools to journalistic practice.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The era of permanent foreign correspondents working for major media outlets has come to an end, but in this new age it is still possible to do international journalism independently, working for several media organizations and through long-term projects. The course in International Journalism offers both theoretical and practical knowledge and tools to practice the profession independently — as a freelancer, contributing to different media outlets, by participating in long-term projects, or by joining the international news section of media organizations.
Without nostalgia for the past, the course provides highly practical content, grounded in professional experience, for practicing journalism in today’s context. It also offers tools to understand and critically analyze cross-cutting and global issues, with particular emphasis on geographical and thematic areas beyond the West.
Objectives
- To understand the historical moment of journalism and become aware of the responsibilities and opportunities it entails (new forms of foreign correspondent work, trips and assignments, freelance journalism, etc.)
- To acquire knowledge of conflicts and the sociopolitical context of various regions and countries around the world.
- To develop a journalistic vision of the times we live in, especially since 9/11, and to identify the key issues and players in geopolitics.
- To implement new tools and narratives that contribute to an international journalism away from hegemonic thinking, especially in the fields of human rights and migration.
- To become familiar with and understand the agendas of countries, political blocs, armed groups, and all types of international and local players, especially when it comes to field reporting.
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.
- 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.
- Conceptualise the theories and techniques of specialised journalism.
- 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 developing narrative journalism specialised in international political information.
- 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 international information.
- 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
Syllabus
- The practice of international journalism. Foreign correspondents, freelance journalism, and new models — from the newsrooms and, especially, from the field. Opportunities and limitations. The role of photography and documentaries. Special assignments. Long-term projects. How to work as an independent journalist. How to pitch a story to media outlets. Scholarships, internships, resources, and funding opportunities for journalists specializing in international reporting.
- A world without refuge. Analysis of global population movements, particularly in relation to conflicts. Deconstruction of journalistic language around the concept of refuge. Border externalization strategies. Implementation of this knowledge to journalistic writing, data and human stories. Introduction to journalism focused on human rights.
- The world after 9/11. Global and journalistic implications of the so-called war on terror. From Al-Qaeda to the Islamic State: a historical overview. Afghanistan (and Pakistan), Iraq, Syria. Historical overview of the evolution of U.S. foreign policy. Implementation of this knowledge to current political analysis.
- Israel’s total war in the Middle East. Gaza, Syria, Iran. International humanitarian law, crimes against humanity, human rights violations. The role of journalism. Implementation of this knowledge to journalistic practice.
- War journalism and peace journalism. Hegemonic narratives and tools to build alternative discourses. Investigation, data analysis, content verification, and the production of journalistic pieces in the field of international reporting.
The order of the topics may vary depending on the final course planning. A detailed calendar with the content of each session will be presented on the first day of the course and published on the Campus Virtual.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lectures and guest presentations. | 15 | 0.6 | 4, 1, 13, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 16, 20, 21 |
| Seminars and practical activities. | 33 | 1.32 | 4, 1, 14, 13, 2, 6, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17, 15, 16, 11, 19, 20, 21 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutoring | 9 | 0.36 | 4, 1, 13, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 18, 16, 20, 21 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Search, selection and reading of bibliography and other resources. Personal study. Planning and individual work / teamwork. | 93 | 3.72 | 4, 1, 14, 13, 2, 3, 6, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 17, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 |
The teaching methodology of the course combines different sessions of oral explanations, presentations of theoretical content and professional experiences, case studies and debates, as well as participative seminars/workshops and practical work sessions in a computerised classroom.
The main principle is to establish and share a common knowledge base so that, during the course, students can deepen the aspects they prioritise and apply them to the topics that interest them most.
All the information necessary to follow the course will be provided by the teaching team in classes, tutorial meetings and/or via the Virtual Campus.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A) Practical assignments | 45% | 0 | 0 | 4, 1, 14, 13, 2, 6, 5, 7, 9, 10, 17, 15, 16, 11, 19, 20, 21 |
| B) Final Coursework | 35% | 0 | 0 | 4, 1, 14, 13, 2, 6, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 17, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 |
| C) Attendance and active participation in class | 20% | 0 | 0 | 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 18, 17, 15, 16, 20, 21 |
The subject has a continuous and summative evaluation system. The final mark for the course will be the sum of the scores obtained in the following evaluation activities:
A) Practical assignments: 45 points (45% of the final mark);
B) Final project: 35 points (35% of the final mark);
C) Attendance and active participation in class: 20 points (20% of the final mark).
Total: 100 points (equivalent to a final mark of 10).
To pass the subject, it is necessary to:
a) Carry out and submit all assignments (A and B). In case of absence due to justified force majeure reasons, the documentation must be submitted to the teachers; otherwise, the activities will be considered Not Completed.
b) Obtain a minimum total score of 50 points (equivalent to a mark of 5) across all completed assignments.
c) In any group activity, the teachers may implement control measures to verify the level of participation and involvement of each member in the collective work. Therefore, marks may vary among members of the same group.
Reevaluation
In order for any student to be eligible for reevaluation, they must have completed ⅔ of the assignments.
Second enrollment
In the case of second enrollment, students may take a single comprehensive exam covering the entire syllabus of the course. The mark of the subject will correspond to the mark obtained on this exam.
Plagiarism
Any student committing irregularities (copying, plagiarism, identity fraud, etc.) thatmay significantly alter the mark of an assignment will get a 0 for that assessment. If more than one irregularity occurs, the final mark for the subject will be 0.
Bibliography
International Journalism
Aldekoa, Xavier. Indestructibles. Península, 2019
Aldekoa, Xavier. Océano África. Península, 2014.
Álvarez, Carlos Manuel: Los intrusos. Anagrama, 2022.
Applebaum, Anne: Hambruna roja. Debate, 2021.
Baró, Mónica: “La sangre nunca fue amarilla”. En Periodismo de Barrio.https://periodismodebarrio.org/2019/02/la-sangre-nunca-fue-amarilla/
Brum, Eliane: La Amazonía: Viaje al centro del mundo. Salamandra, 2024.
Caparrós, Martín: El Hambre. Anagrama, 2015.
Caparrós, Martín. Larga distancia. Malpaso, 2017.
Fallaci, Oriana: Entrevista con la historia.
Guerriero, Leila; Izagirre, Ander: En el fondo la forma. Barcelona: 5W, 2022.
Guerriero, Leila: La llamada. Anagrama, 2024.
Hameida, Ebbaba: Flores de papel. Península, 2025.
Kapuscinski, Ryszard: Toda su obra.
Ki Zerbo, Joseph: Historia del África Negra. Bellaterra Edicions, 2011.
Lecumberri, Beatriz. La revolución sentimental. Viaje periodístico por
la Venezuela de Chávez. Ediciones Puntocero (ebook). 2016.
Marginedas, Marc: Rusia contra el mundo. Península, 2025.
Meredith, Martin: África. Una historia de 50 años de independencia. Fundación Intermón Oxfam, 2011.
Politkovskaya, Anna: La Rusia de Putin. Debate, 2005.
Poniatowksa, Elena: Tinísima.
Ressa, Maria: Cómo luchar contra un dictador. Península, 2023.
Roy, Arundhati: My Seditious Heart. Haymarket, 2019.
Simón, Patricia: Miedo. Viaje por un mundo que se resiste a ser gobernado por el odio. Debate, 2022.
Torres, Maruja; G. Prieto, Mónica: Contarlo para no olvidar. Barcelona: 5W, 2017.
Wa Thiongo, Ngugi: Desplazar el centro. Rayo Verde, 2025.
Zárate, Joseph: “Un niño manchado de petróleo”. En Revista 5W. https://www.revista5w.com/temas/planeta/un-nino-manchado-de-petroleo-7611
A World Without Refuge
Bah, Ibrahim: Tres días en la arena. La imprenta, 2021.
Boochani, Behrouz: Sin más amigos que las montañas. Rayo Verde, 2020.
Hayden, Sally: Cuando lo intenté por cuarta vez, nos abogamos. Capitán Swing, 2024.
Martínez, Óscar: Los migrantes que no importan. Pepitas, 2018.
Morales, Agus: La hipocresía solidaria. Folch&Folch, 2025.
Morales, Agus. No somos refugiados. Círculo de Tiza. 2024.
Paone, Mariangela. Rezwana. Un expediente europeo. Libros del K.O., 2023.
<pstyle="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr">Parra, Mónica: Migrar y resistir. Descontrol, 2021.
Truax, Eileen: Dreamers, la lucha de una generación por su sueño americano. Edit Océano de México, 2013.
Truax, Eileen: El muro que ya existe. Harpercollins, 2020.
Umar, Ousman: Viaje al país de los blancos. Plaza&Janés, 2019.
The World After 9/11
Ayestaran, Mikel; Lobo, Ramón: Guerras de ayer y de hoy. Barcelona: 5W, 2016.
Ayestaran, Mikel: Las cenizas del califato. Península, 2018.
Espinosa, Javier; G. Prieto, Mónica:
La semilla del odio. Debate, 2017.
Siria, el país de las almas rotas. Debate, 2016.
Rashid, Ahmed: Descent into Chaos.
Rashid, Ahmed: The Taliban.
Satrapi, Marjane: Mujer Vida Libertad. Reservoir Books, 2023.
Weiss, Michael; Hassan, Hassan: ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror.
Woodward, Bob: Obama’s Wars.
Wright, Lawrence: The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11.
The Total War of Israel in the Middle East and International Humanitarian Law
Arendt, Hannah: Eichmann en Jerusalén.
Ayestaran, Mikel: Historias de Gaza. Península, 2025.
Ayestaran, Mikel: Oriente Medio, Oriente roto. Península
Feixas Torras, Txell. Dones valentes: lluites femenines i feministes a l'Orient Mitjà. Ara Llibres, 2020.
García Gascón, Eugenio. La cárcel identitaria: dietario de Jerusalén. Libros del K.O., 2013.
Khalidi, Rashid: Palestina.Cien años de colonialismo y resistencia. Capitán Swing, 2023.
Mas, Cristina: Palestina des de dins. Ara Llibres, 2025.
Pappé, Ilan: Breve historia del conflicto entre Israel y Palestina. Capitán Swing, 2025.
Sacco, Joe: Palestina. Planeta Cómic, 2015.
Sands, Philippe: Calle Este-Oeste. Anagrama, 2017.
War Journalism and Peace Journalism
Aleksiévich, Svetlana: La guerra no tiene rostro de mujer. Debate, 2015.
Arce, Alberto: Novato en nota roja: corresponsal en Tegucigalpa. Libros del K.O., 2015.
Espinosa, Ángeles: El reino del desierto. Aguilar, 2006
Feixas, Txell: Aliadas. Capitan Swing, 2025.
Garcia-Planas, Plàcid (2007). La Revancha del reportero: tras las huellas de siete grandes corresponsales de guerra. Diëresis.
Heft, Annett (2021). “Transnational Journalism Networks ‘From Below’. Cross-Border Journalistic Collaboration in Individualized Newswork”. Journalism Studies, 22 (4), 454-474. https://doi-org.are.uab.cat/10.1080/1461670X.2021.1882876
Leguineche, Manuel & Sánchez, Gervasio (eds.) (2001). Los ojos de la guerra. Plaza & Janés.
Lobo, Ramon. El autoestopista de Grozni y otras historias de fútbol y guerra. Libros del K.O. 2012
Paso, Ana del: Reporteras españolas, testigos de guerra. Debate, 2022.
Plokhy, Serhii: La guerra ruso-ucraniana. Península, 2023.
Sancha, Natalia (coord.): Balas para todas. Seis mujeres periodistas en Oriente Medio y el Magreb. Larrad, 2021.
Veiga, Francisco: Ucrania 22. Alianza Editorial, 2025.
Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
Bauluz, Javier: Morir matando
Este libro recoge sus trabajos en conflictos, migraciones y derechos humanos.
Fontcuberta, Joan: La cámara de Pandora.
Reflexiona sobre la manipulación, el poder y la verdad en la era digital, con énfasis en la fotografía documental.
Frank, Robert: Los americanos. Ed. La Fábrica.
Edición en español del icónico The Americans, con prólogo de Jack Kerouac.
Franklin, Stuart: The Documentary Impulse
Por el expresidente de Magnum Photos, explora el impulso humano de documentar el mundo a través de la imagen.
García Rodero, Cristina: Contacto.
Una de las fotógrafas documentales más importantes de España. Este libro muestra su acercamiento a lo mágico y lo religioso en lo popular.
Kobre, Kenneth: Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach.
Manual ampliamente usado en escuelas de periodismo. Cubre técnicas, ética, historia y nuevas tecnologías.
Light, Ken: Witness in Our Time: Working Lives of Documentary Photographers.
Entrevistas profundas con destacados fotoperiodistas sobre su trabajo, ética y experiencias.
Sánchez, Gervasio: Fotografías.
Reportero de guerra español. Ha documentado conflictos en Bosnia, Ruanda, Irak y más. Tiene varios libros: Vidas Minadas, Desaparecidos, etc.
Sontag, Susan: On Photography.
Un ensayo filosófico y crítico sobre el poder, la ética y el papel social de la fotografía.
Surinyach, Anna; Tomasi, Juan Carlos: El compromiso de la fotografía. 5W, 2021.
VV.AA.: La maleta mexicana.
Sobre la recuperación de negativos perdidos de la Guerra Civil Española por Robert Capa, Gerda Taro y David Seymour.
Software
Office (or equivalents) and basic audio or video editing tools (free choice). For possible virtual activities, Microsoft Teams or Zoom will be used.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 11 | Catalan/Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 12 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |