Registry
Module Specifications
Archived Version 2023 - 2024
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Description This module focuses on how data and IT tools can assist and support journalists in digital storytelling. The module aims to give students a solid basic understanding of the tools available and possibilities of data journalism. Besides learning about the basics of this increasingly vital discipline, students will learn how data is used in the media industry today, where to locate data, how to clean and analyze it critically, and how to optimise the presentation of information for maximum readability and interactivity. The module also gives students a thorough grounding in the use of common tools including spreadsheets and presentation. The module focuses particularly on using visualisation to effectively communicate data sets. Students will apply these principles and tools in telling journalistic stories. The module will be delivered as a series of lectures and seminars which will cover file management, spreadsheets, document and presentation preparation and visualisation tools Introduction and Context Ubiquity of computers, information and systems. Data vs Information Where to Find Data and the Stories Open data, FoI, Publically funded datasets. Social networks. How to interview the data Sorting, Cleaning, Analytics, Pivot Tables, Basic Statistics. How to Bring the Data to Life Principles. Design. Animation. Interaction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning Outcomes 1. Explain how data is used in journalism 2. Understand where to source data for journalistic stories 3. Learn how to clean and utilise appropriate data, including FoI, open government and public datasets 4. Report and write complex, multi-source data driven journalism 5. Solve analytical problem and learn how to view data critically (incl. spreadsheets) 6. Apply the basic principles in effectively communicating data visually. 7. Utilize online tools to both collect and visualize data sets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
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Indicative Content and
Learning Activities Introduction and ContextUbiquity of computers, information and systemsData vs InformationWhere to Find Data and the StoriesOpen dataFoIPublically funded datasetsSocial networksData Sorting, Cleaning, Analytics, Pivot Tables, Basic StatisticsHow to Bring the Data to Life PrinciplesDesign, Animation, Interaction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List
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Other Resources None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Programme or List of Programmes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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