ZURb1423 Climate change journalism

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Žaneta Gregorová (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Radovan Plášek (seminar tutor)
doc. Mgr. Lenka Waschková Císařová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Lenka Waschková Císařová, Ph.D.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Boris Rafailov, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Media Studies and Journalism – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 20. 2. 10:00–15:00 P24a, Thu 27. 2. 10:00–15:00 Rádio 544, Thu 13. 3. 10:00–15:00 Rádio 544, Thu 27. 3. 10:00–15:00 Rádio 544
Prerequisites (in Czech)
ZURb1106 News writing &&( ZURb1107 Feature writing ||NOW( ZURb1107 Feature writing )|| ENSb1281 Environmental Journalism )
Předmět je určen pro začínající novináře a novinářky, kteří již absolvovali kurz ZURb1106 Zpravodajství a ZURb1107 Publicistika nebo ENSb1281 Environmentální publicistika.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 7/15, only registered: 0/15, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 35 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to help male and female students to better prepare for their future journalistic practice in the context of advancing climate change, which has become a relevant topic for the Czech media in recent years. Graduates will gain insight into the issue of climate change and learn which institutions are working with it in the Czech Republic, where to look for current and relevant topics and contacts. They will also get to know how domestic newsrooms approach the topic of climate change and what the work of climate journalists and others who write about climate and related topics looks like in practice. Throughout the semester, students will work on their own texts, which they will be able to consult with the editor and selected Czech media (in 2025 it will be Seznam Zprávy), who will finally edit them and offer them for publication in their editorial offices, if they reach the required quality. The course is intended for beginning journalists who have already completed the course ZURb1106 News and ZURb1107 Journalism or ENSb1281 Environmental Journalism. The subject is organized in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Prague, whose long-term goal is to raise awareness of the impacts and solutions of climate change.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will obtain information about climate change, thanks to which they will better understand the specifics of journalism oriented in this way. And thanks to editorial supervision, they will learn how to think about the processing of this topic and will be able to create a journalistic text focused on this topic.
Syllabus
  • 1. 20. 2. 10:00 – 12:00 Familiarization with the content of the course and with each other, Introduction to climate change journalism, details of the field trip 13:00 – 15:00 Meeting with Seznam Zpráv reporter 2. 27. 2. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Relevant and current topics in the field of climate change with a focus on Just Transformation 13:00 – 15:00 Critical analysis with Petr Ivanič, first glimpses of the topics 3. field excursion: 7.3. early morning departure from Brno, return in the afternoon 9.3. 4. 13. 3. 10:00 – 12:30 Workshop on creating a pitch with Stanka Lupová 13:00 – 15:00 Meeting with Seznam Zpráv reporter, afternoon with editor, clarification of topic and genres 5. 27. 3. 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Practice of climate journalism in the Czech media (Český Rozhlas, Jan Kaliba), afternoon per view (collective debate on almost finished texts – peer review principle, (three days before the seminar, i.e. no later than March 24, we will assign someone else's text to the selected colleague; the reader will verify a evaluate whether the text is comprehensible, whether it lacks important background); discussion of the most fundamental problems in the processing of the text.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/oxford-climate-journalism-network
  • https://ipi.media/climate-journalism-new-ipi-study-identifies-challenges-and-opportunities/
  • https://publications.iadb.org/en/2022-guide-climate-change-journalists
Teaching methods
Lecture, sharing of ideas and discussion, peer to peer review, writing text.
Assessment methods
Discharge conditions: 1. Participation in the course (attendance + active participation in discussions) 2. Active preparation for classes in the form of partial tasks for the final text and active communication with the editors 3. Submitting the final text and incorporating editorial comments In order for participation in the course to make sense, regular attendance is necessary, as it will not be possible to replace the presentation and consultation with external guests in another form! Estimated semester load: writing a final text of approx. 5,000 characters, which corresponds to approx. 2.7 standard pages, on a topic closely related to climate change, its manifestations, impacts and solutions in the Czech Republic (the emphasis will be placed on the topic of Just Transformation, to which a field excursion will take place), especially in the regions; the text will be based on consultations with the editors, reflecting their comments on the selection of the topic and practical processing, it will be based on classic journalistic genres, the selection of which can be modified during the work on the text. Absences will be monitored; without an excuse, it is not possible to miss the seminars, it is not possible to make up a replacement, and thus the student would miss out on an essential part of the course. They are calculated after the end of registration, i.e. from the third week. If the reasons for the absence are medical, you must apologize in advance or on the day of the course. Instructions for the final thesis: At the introductory meeting, we will discuss course completion conditions, major milestones and names of climate journalism and perform a critical analysis to guide you, the student body, to choose an ideal topic that you will enjoy working on. At the end of the first day, we will try to put the topics in the context of ongoing climate change so that everyone leaves with an idea of ​​the topic they will be addressing. At the second meeting, you will get to know the topic of Just Transformation, so that thanks to the theoretical anchoring of the process, you will be able to concretize the selected topic. Together we will develop a pitch (draft, proposal for the media) for the News List. The next week will be followed by an excursion through the Moravian-Silesian region, which is going through a transformation process when coal mining and associated heavy industry are terminated. In addition to regional representation, you will meet actors and actresses who are trying to lead their region to a fairer and more sustainable future. The exact list will be presented at the introductory meeting in February, so that students can choose topics to work on ahead of time. You will then meet with the editor and finally confirm the topics, including the genre and possible sources. We will end the day with a lecture about the reality of the work of a climate reporter from a selected Czech media. At the last meeting, you will read each other's texts and receive feedback on the developed topics from your fellow students and teachers. You will then meet another climate journalist. An essential condition is that the article must not be based exclusively on computer work. An essential part of its preparation is the active collection of data in the physical space and the inclusion of relevant actors in the text. After the excursion, it is recommended to inquire by phone or e-mail. The article must be deepened on the basis of scientific findings (or be directly based on them). Of course, suitable photo material of higher quality (not photos only from the phone), or infographics, which the editors can help with. You will then meet with the editor and finally confirm the topics, including the genre and possible sources. We will end the day with a lecture about the reality of the work of a climate reporter from a selected Czech media. At the last meeting, you will read each other's texts and receive feedback on the developed topics from your fellow students and teachers. You will then meet another climate journalist. An essential condition is that the article must not be based exclusively on computer work. An essential part of its preparation is the active collection of data in the physical space and the inclusion of relevant actors in the text. After the excursion, it is recommended to inquire by phone or e-mail. The article must be deepened on the basis of scientific findings (or be directly based on them). Of course, suitable photo material of higher quality (not photos only from the phone), or infographics, which the editors can help with. You will then meet with the editor and finally confirm the topics, including the genre and possible sources. We will end the day with a lecture about the reality of the work of a climate reporter from a selected Czech media. At the last meeting, you will read each other's texts and receive feedback on the developed topics from your fellow students and teachers. You will then meet another climate journalist. An essential condition is that the article must not be based exclusively on computer work. An essential part of its preparation is the active collection of data in the physical space and the inclusion of relevant actors in the text. After the excursion, it is recommended to inquire by phone or e-mail. The article must be deepened on the basis of scientific findings (or be directly based on them). Of course, suitable photo material of higher quality (not photos only from the phone), or infographics, which the editors can help with. You will then meet with the editor and finally confirm the topics, including the genre and possible sources. We will end the day with a lecture about the reality of the work of a climate reporter from a selected Czech media. At the last meeting, you will read each other's texts and receive feedback on the developed topics from your fellow students and teachers. You will then meet another climate journalist. An essential condition is that the article must not be based exclusively on computer work. An essential part of its preparation is the active collection of data in the physical space and the inclusion of relevant actors in the text. After the excursion, it is recommended to inquire by phone or e-mail. The article must be deepened on the basis of scientific findings (or be directly based on them). Of course, suitable photo material of higher quality (not photos only from the phone), or infographics, which the editors can help with. You will then meet with the editor and finally confirm the topics, including the genre and possible sources. We will end the day with a lecture about the reality of the work of a climate reporter from a selected Czech media. At the last meeting, you will read each other's texts and receive feedback on the developed topics from your fellow students and teachers. You will then meet another climate journalist. An essential condition is that the article must not be based exclusively on computer work. An essential part of its preparation is the active collection of data in the physical space and the inclusion of relevant actors in the text. After the excursion, it is recommended to inquire by phone or e-mail. The article must be deepened on the basis of scientific findings (or be directly based on them). Of course, suitable photo material of higher quality (not photos only from the phone), or infographics, which the editors can help with. You will then meet with the editor and finally confirm the topics, including the genre and possible sources. We will end the day with a lecture about the reality of the work of a climate reporter from a selected Czech media. At the last meeting, you will read each other's texts and receive feedback on the developed topics from your fellow students and teachers. You will then meet another climate journalist. An essential condition is that the article must not be based exclusively on computer work. An essential part of its preparation is the active collection of data in the physical space and the inclusion of relevant actors in the text. After the excursion, it is recommended to inquire by phone or e-mail. The article must be deepened on the basis of scientific findings (or be directly based on them). Of course, suitable photo material of higher quality (not photos only from the phone), or infographics, which the editors can help with.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Spring 2024.
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