Duration
60h Th, 5d FT Tr. Pr.
Number of credits
| Master in journalism, professional focus in investigation multimedia | 10 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course offers a systematic introduction to the logics of in-depth investigation, drawing on a wide range of advanced information-gathering techniques. It begins by retracing the history of investigative journalism and deconstructing its mythologized representations. Students will be expected to identify and compare the main definitions of the genre, in order to highlight its specific features and boundaries. Particular attention will be devoted to the critical reading of published investigations, with the aim of analyzing the sources mobilized, the methodologies applied, potential biases, and the effects produced. Finally, the course provides a practical initiation to contemporary investigative tools: use of freedom of information legislation (FoIA), consultation of company registers and open databases, exploration of OSINT methods, and the rigorous verification and cross-checking of sources. To enrich the training, certain topics will be explored through meetings with professionals.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
- Be able to formulate an investigative hypothesis, design a work plan, collect and verify information, and present the results in a journalistic format (article, podcast, multimedia presentation).
- Develop a reflective stance on the ethical and legal issues of investigative work (source protection, professional secrecy, legal risks).
- Cultivate a professional attitude grounded in rigor, curiosity, perseverance, and the ability to manage uncertainty-qualities inherent to all investigative journalism.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- Active curiosity about current events.
- Frequent reader of newspapers and frequent consumer of audiovisual and digital media.
- A high level of skill in major journalistic techniques and genres, such as is taught in the course Techniques du journalisme (3rd Bachelor).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- Written exercises and oral presentations (both individual and group) are scheduled during the practical sessions and are intended to prepare students for the final assessment.
- A week of journalistic immersion (the Studiobus).
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Number of hours in class and time period: 60 hours during the first and second terms.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
- Transparencies shown in class are available online. - Highly recommended readings: Yves Agnès, Manuel de journalisme, Paris, La Découverte, Coll. « Guides Grands Repères », 2016; Mark Hunter, Le journalisme d'investigation, Paris, Coll. « Que sais-je ? », Presses universitaires de France, 1997.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
- Written exercises
- Oral examination
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Lecturer:
David LELOUP
Département Médias, Culture et Communication
Grand Poste Média Campus
Rue de la Régence 61
4000 Liège
04 366 29 57
david.leloup@uliege.be
Research assistant:
Boris KRYWICKI
04 366 38 60
boris.krywicki@uliege.be
Secretariat:
Evelyne LIBENS
04 366 32 79
elibens@uliege.be