Module: Journalism & Society

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Journalism & Society
Module Code	JRR1005 (ITS: CM156)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Journalism and Society introduces students to the roles and responsibilities of journalism in democratic societies. The module examines how and why journalists uphold democratic ideals by providing citizens with fact-based information about current affairs. It discusses how journalists act as society's watchdogs to hold the powerful to account. It explores how journalists analyse and interpret current events in order to help citizens make sense of social problems. As the module explores these topics, it defines and analyses core concepts in journalism, such as the public interest, news values, public opinion, accuracy, accountability, objectivity, fairness, balance, verification, and truth. Students learn in this module by listening to lectures, reading assigned texts, doing workshop exercises, and writing essays. The five-credit module is a foundational course in the BA in Journalism and will provide fundamental ideas that underpin the other modules over the three years of the degree.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the various roles and functions of journalism in liberal democracies.
2. Define core concepts in journalism, such as the public interest, accountability, objectivity, and truth.
3. Recognise that journalism practice is embedded in political, social, historical, financial, and cultural contexts.
4. Analyse critically readings that explore journalism from various academic and practice-based perspectives.
5. Evaluate how different journalists and news organisations perform their professional roles.
6. Produce essays that critically examine fundamental ideas in journalism and its influence on society.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	20	Attendance at weekly two-hour lectures in which there is also a workshop component.
Assignment Completion	40	Researching, drafting, and writing two essays that together comprise 2,700 words.
Independent Study	65	Reading assigned class readings, answering key questions on those readings, and reading outside the syllabus.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10857	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Jane Suiter	Module Teacher	Declan Fahy

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	1,200-word essay, including references, on an assigned topic related to journalism and society.	40%	Week 7
Essay	1,500-word essay, including references, on one of an assigned list of topics related to journalism and society.	60%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Week 1
What are the roles of journalism in society?

Week 2
Why is journalism essential to democracy?

Week 3
What is the public interest?

Week 4
What is truth for journalists?

Week 5
What is news?

Week 6
What is objectivity? What is verification?

Week 7
What are sources, and why are they so important?

Week 8
How has journalism influenced -- or failed to influence -- society?

Week 9
Is journalism a business like any other?

Week 10
How can journalists operate in an environment of misinformation and disinformation?

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Kovach, B. and Rosenstiel, T.: 2014, The elements of journalism: What newspeople should know and the public should expect., Three Rivers Press, New York,
Randall, D.: 2011, The universal journalist, Pluto Press, London,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None