Module: Science & Health in the Media

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Science & Health in the Media
Module Code	MCO1014 (ITS: CM534)
Faculty	Communications	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module examines representations of science in the media and evolving relations between science and media from theoretical, organisational, professional and cultural perspectives

Learning Outcomes

1. identify the main factors shaping media representations of science
2. critically assess scientists' claims about the inadequacy of media coverage of science
3. describe the development of theoretical perspectives on science in the media
4. analyse critically different treatments of scientific information in the media
5. describe the main routines of media professional specialising in science coverage

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Seminars	11	No Description
Assignment Completion	75	No Description
Independent Study	150	No Description
Total Workload: 258

Section Breakdown
CRN	20580	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Declan Fahy	Module Teacher	Padraig Murphy, Saumava Mitra

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Project	Selection of scientific information items for media treatment	20%	Week 5
Essay	Analysis of common claims about media science	30%	Week 11
Essay	Review of current media coverage	50%	Sem 2 End

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

What science makes news?

Changing conceptions of science and media

Sources for reporting science

Science on radio and television

Types of science stories

Analysing science in the media

Reporting controversial science

Reporting science policy

In-depth science journalism

Science news online

Indicative Reading List

Books:

J. Gregory and S. Miller: 1998, Science in public - communication, culture and credibility, selected chapters, Plenum,
R. Holliman et al (eds): 2009, Investigating science communication in the digital age, A. Hansen: Science, communication and media, Oxford University Press,
R. Holliman et al (eds): 2009, Practising science communication in the digital age, selected chapters, Oxford University Press,
D. Nelkin: 1995, Selling science - how the press covers science and technology, Freeman, New York,
M. Bauer and M. Bucchi: 2006, Journalism, science and society - science communication between news and public relations, selected chapters, Routledge,
M. Bucchi and B. Trench: 2008, Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology, selected chapters, Routledge,
S. Friedman et al (eds): 1999, Communicating uncertainty - media coverage of new and controversial science, selected chapters, Lawrence Erlbaum,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None