Class Scientific Journalism

The Science Journalism Curricular Unit aims to prepare students for the journalistic coverage of science and technology. Science, understood as a source of knowledge and understanding of the world with strong implications for economic development and the well-being of societies, is an important element in promoting the quality of decisions in public and individual life. The discipline of science journalism seeks to provide theoretical and practical tools for future journalists or communication technicians to deal with science and technology in the various contexts in which they operate, namely in the production of journalistic texts that are simultaneously appealing, informative and enlightening.

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1. CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS - Dissemination and communication of science. The role of science journalism (SJ). - The scientific process (the scientific method, the structure of a scientific article, peer review, strategies for interrogating scientific literature). 2. JOURNALISM-SCIENCE INTERACTION - Scientific/journalistic ethics. - Journalist-scientist interaction - Scientific uncertainty and controversy 3. SCIENCE JOURNALISM - Newsworthiness criteria - Journalistic/scientific fact - SC sources: press offices; scientists, digital sources and large volumes of quantitative data Scientific/journalistic language - The role of the journalist/scientist - Representation of science in the media 4. CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEWS - From event to news: Collection and processing of information - Contextualisation of scientific information - Scientific fields of journalistic interest: viruses and epidemics, nanotechnology and medicine, genetic editing, artificial intelligence and cybercrime    

  One of the methodologies applied in the classroom context is Project-Based Learning, in which students engage in active learning through a project they develop under the guidance of the teacher. Students will integrate one of the activities developed within an academic research project and will collaborate with the teacher to produce an academic event, as well as to develop the entire process of communication and journalistic coverage of the project.

Coutinho, Ana Godinho, Sofia Jorge Araújo e Mónica Bettencourt-Dias (2004), "Comunicar Ciência em Portugal: Uma avaliação das perspectivas para o estabelecimento de formas de diálogo entre cientistas e o público", Comunicação e Sociedade, 6. Garcia, Ricardo, Maria João Valente Rosa e Luisa Barbosa (2016), Que número é este? - Um guia sobre estatísticas para jornalistas, Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos. GRANADO, António, José Vítor Malheiros (2015), Cultura científica em Portugal:Ferramentas para perceber o mundo e aprender a mudá-lo, Lisboa, Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos. Meditsch, Eduardo (1989), Método científico e método jornalístico, Intercom 60 - Revista Brasileira de Comunicação, São Paulo, ano XII, 60, 55-61. Vegar, José (2024), O controlo contemporâneo e futuro da informação, dados, grandes volumes de dados e tecnologia, Lisboa, Almedina.