MEVIT2615 ¨C Framing the environment in media and communication studies

Course content

This course is part of the transdisciplinary 40-credit group Environmental Studies - Historical, Cultural and Societal Perspectives (40ENVIRONMENT)

Read more about the course group and see the other courses associated with it.

Climate change is the most serious issue facing us today. Film, media, politics, and corporations all have a powerful role in communicating the urgency of the ecological crisis.

In this course we will work together to gain an overview of the complex relationship between media and the environment with a focus on UN's sustainability goals regarding "responsible production and consumption" and "climate action".

We develop vital skills in environmental media literacy by engaging with media representations of ecological problems. We discuss how corporations communicate about their climate goals and pay attention to resistant publics, activist groups and indigenous communities whose voices on these issues have been historically marginalised.

We discuss how the media present the problem of, and potential solutions to, the climate crisis, while also exploring how media toxicity is part of the problem.? After all, media, smartphones and the internet appear to be "clean and green" but are industrial products, which can be toxic and have a substantial ecological footprint.

Learning outcome

After completing this course, you will

Knowledge

• have an understanding of sustainability issues in media and communication
• understand the history of media sustainability issues
• be familiar with literature, sources and methods for analysing media and sustainability

Skills

• be able to critically reflect on the contribution of media and communication to the climate crisis
• be able to apply academic knowledge to practical problems concerning media and the climate crisis
• be able to analyse strategies, data, and a variety of sources pertaining to media and climate change

General competence

• have acquired teamwork skills
• be able to plan and carry out academic assignments and complete them within the defined time frame
• be able to debate and exchange opinions and arguments with others and present ideas orally
• have relevant workplace skills through a project involving problem solving with industry professionals or producing an audio or audio-visual production

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

Teaching

Teaching sessions in three-hour blocks including lectures, workshops and seminars.

Compulsory activity:

This course has one mandatory activity. In order to qualify for the exam you will carry out the following individual assignment:

• A short written analysis of the environmental communications strategy of a corporation, organization, or institution.

The assignment is a prerequisite for being allowed to sit for the examination and will be assessed as approved/not approved. The mandatory individual assignment can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Read more about compulsory activities at the Faculty of Humanities

Examination

The final exam for this course will be a practical group assignment. Students will select one of two options:

• Podcast

• Case competition in partnership with a corporation

The group work will be followed by an individual oral exam in the form of a 15 min online interview where students will relate their group work to selected literature from the syllabus. ?

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you may submit your response in English.

Oral exams will be in English only.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.