LT993-7-SP-CO:
Open Source Journalism
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
20
13 July 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA P50012 International Journalism
This module starts with traditional investigative research methods--analysing documents, using archives, accessing public records, using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The latter half of the module will focus entirely on cutting-edge, digital open source journalism where students will learn to collect, analyse and document publicly available online information for use in law, advocacy, or journalism.
They will learn to authenticate audio-visual data, geolocate photos and videos, and mine social media for useful information. Students will also learn advanced fact-checking methods. Guest sessions will be conducted by open-source journalism pioneers from Bellingcat and fact-checking experts from Snopes.
The aim of this module is:
• To bring the study of investigative journalism into the 21st century and give students the digital research tools that will give them an edge in a rapidly-changing field.
By the end of the module, students will be expected to be able to:
1. Encounter and become familiar with a wide range of data-sources for investigating individuals, institutions and events using public records, electronic databases, digital archives, and FOIA.
2. Develop analytical skills to critically examine different forms of data and assess their authenticity, significance, and reliability.
3. Learn to analyse digital records, collect social media data, and use advanced open source investigative techniques to authenticate, verify and archive evidence.
The course will be organized along the following lines.
1. Introduction to Investigative Journalism
2. Researching Stories, Developing Sources
3. FOIA, Public Records, and Open Source Data
4. The discipline of Verification
5. Discovery with Social Media
6. Working with Space: Geolocation
7. Working with Time: Establishing Chronology
8. Data Analysis and Visualisation
9. Constructing a Case and Pitching the Story
10. Importance of Storytelling
The module will be delivered as a weekly two-hour workshop with drop-in sessions to provide students extra support.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Presentation (10 minutes) |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Investigative Feature (2,250 words) |
|
70% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Idrees Ahmad, email: m.i.ahmad@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Idrees Ahmad
LiFTS General Office, email liftstt@essex.ac.uk
Tel. 01206 872626
Yes
Yes
Yes
Prof William Scott Lucas
University College Dublin
Professor, Clinton Institute
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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