EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
NMD3901 Digital Investigative Journalism Fall 2 2 3 10
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi TİRŞE ERBAYSAL FİLİBELİ
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi AYBERK CAN ERTUNA
Prof. Dr. HASAN KEMAL SUHER
Recommended Optional Program Components: None.
Course Objectives: The journalism industry is always changing. With the new world of the internet comes a new form of journalism: convergence. Media convergence is defined as a form of cross-media cooperation, usually involving broadcast, print, photography and internet sites. This new form of journalism requires the journalist to be skilled in more than one discipline. For example, a convergence journalist could write an article for a newspaper and produce a broadcast package on the same story all in one day. Convergence journalism also adds more elements and details to a story through the use of more than one outlet to tell the story. This course is aimed to focus on the latest developments in journalism practice with underlining the cross-media applications and to give students basic skills to cover stories in a convergent way.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who succeeded in this course;
- will have a view on future of journalism and the place of convergence journalism in this future,
- will be able to analyze convergent and multimedia coverage in a more critical way in both technical and ethical manners,
- will be able to use cross-media in the same coverage,
- will be able to enrich their coverage with blending visual and textual material to tell news stories in a more effective way,
- will be able to use computer and basic editing and publishing software for journalism practice,
- will learn about the mobile technologies in video and podcast production,
- will be equipped with technical and theoretical qualifications to work for news websites as well as televisions, radio stations and other conventional news media,
- will pick the right medium for different kinds of stories,
- learn about basic verification techniques.

Course Content

Students who will be already taken the introductory courses on different sections of journalism will be introduced and re-introduced about the importance of convergence in media as well as technical details about; news writing, photojournalism, fundamentals of multimedia journalism, broadcasting, editing, computer assisted journalism and information graphics. Blogging and podcasting will also be issues during the semester. Students will be obliged to cover convergent real news stories in order to be able to apply what they’ve received from the course.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Overview of the course, the syllabus and the textbooks
2) Basics of convergent journalism and web 2.0
3) Content management systems
4) Introduction to Wordpress
5) Themes
6) Dashboard
7) Plug-ins
8) Midterm
9) Content creating and managing
10) User management
11) Web analytics
12) Presentation of projects
13) Presentation of projects
14) Review of the semester

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Jeffrey S. Wilkinson, August E. Grant and Douglas Fisher. Principles of Convergent Journalism. UK, Oxford University Press, 2008.

Stephen Quinn , Vincent Filak. Convergent Journalism An Introduction: Writing and Producing Across Media. New York, Focal Press, 2005.

NatGeo Guide to Photography:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/ngdotcom/rights-exempt/NatGeo_GuideToPhotography.pdf

KALOW, Nancy (2011). Visual Storytelling. Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
P. 6-15
https://documentarystudies.duke.edu/books/visual-storytelling-digital-video-documentary

JENKINS, Henry (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, New York: New York University Press.
P.1-24 (Introduction: “Worship at the Altar of Convergence”: A New Paradigm for Understanding Media Change)

FILAK, Vincent F. (2015). Convergent Journalism an Introduction: Writing and Producing Across Media. New York: Focal Press.
P.63-74 (Structure and Storytelling)

Reuters Handbook: A Reporter’s Guide to TV News Production: P.25-31 (Reporting and Writing Basics)

Reuters Video News Handbook: Pictures/Editing/Audio
References: Jeffrey S. Wilkinson, August E. Grant and Douglas Fisher. Principles of Convergent Journalism. UK, Oxford University Press, 2008.

Stephen Quinn , Vincent Filak. Convergent Journalism An Introduction: Writing and Producing Across Media. New York, Focal Press, 2005.

NatGeo Guide to Photography:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/content/dam/ngdotcom/rights-exempt/NatGeo_GuideToPhotography.pdf

KALOW, Nancy (2011). Visual Storytelling. Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
P. 6-15
https://documentarystudies.duke.edu/books/visual-storytelling-digital-video-documentary

JENKINS, Henry (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, New York: New York University Press.
P.1-24 (Introduction: “Worship at the Altar of Convergence”: A New Paradigm for Understanding Media Change)

FILAK, Vincent F. (2015). Convergent Journalism an Introduction: Writing and Producing Across Media. New York: Focal Press.
P.63-74 (Structure and Storytelling)

Reuters Handbook: A Reporter’s Guide to TV News Production: P.25-31 (Reporting and Writing Basics)

Reuters Video News Handbook: Pictures/Editing/Audio

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 13 % 10
Midterms 1 % 40
Final 1 % 50
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 50
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 14 2 28
Application 14 2 28
Study Hours Out of Class 14 14 196
Midterms 1 4 4
Final 1 4 4
Total Workload 260

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To be able to examine, interpret data and assess ideas with the scientific methods in the area of EU studies. 2
2) To be able to inform authorities and institutions in the area of EU studies, to be able to transfer ideas and proposals supported by quantitative and qualitative data about the problems. 2
3) To be introduced to and to get involved in other disciplines that EU studies are strongly related with (political science, international relations, law, economics, sociology, etc.) and to be able to conduct multi-disciplinary research and analysis on European politics. 3
4) To be able to evaluate current news on European Union and Turkey-EU relations and identify, analyze current issues relating to the EU’s politics and policies. 2
5) To be able to use English in written and oral communication in general and in the field of EU studies in particular. 1
6) To have ethical, social and scientific values throughout the processes of collecting, interpreting, disseminating and implementing data related to EU studies. 1
7) To be able to assess the historical development, functioning of the institutions and decision-making system and common policies of the European Union throughout its economic and political integration in a supranational framework. 2
8) To be able to evaluate the current legal, financial and institutional changes that the EU is going through. 2
9) To explain the dynamics of enlargement processes of the EU by identifying the main actors and institutions involved and compare previous enlargement processes and accession process of Turkey. 2
10) To be able to analyze the influence of the EU on political, social and economic system of Turkey. 2
11) To acquire insight in EU project culture and to build up project preparation skills in line with EU format and develop the ability to work in groups and cooperate with peers. 2
12) To be able to recognize theories and concepts used by the discipline of international relations and relate them to the historical development of the EU as a unique post-War political project. 3