LT993-7-SP-CO:
Open Source Journalism

The details
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)

Key module for

MA P50012 International Journalism

Module description

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.

Module aims

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.

Module learning outcomes

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.

Module information

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

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered as a weekly two-hour workshop with drop-in sessions to provide students extra support.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Presentation (10 minutes)  21/03/2025  30% 
Coursework   Investigative Feature (2,250 words)  21/03/2025  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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
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

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes

External examiner

Prof William Scott Lucas
University College Dublin
Professor, Clinton Institute
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information

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