- Docente: Marco Cattaneo
- Credits: 6
- SSD: M-STO/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Natural Sciences (cod. 8016)
Course contents
In a world where many political choices, at national but also at global level, are and will be more and more linked to scientific issues (from climate change to the impact of artificial intelligence, from energy strategies to environmental protection, to biotechnologies), the quality of information conveyed to the public and decision-makers will play an increasingly important role. The aim of this course is to provide students with an overview of scientific journalism and the relationship between information, science, society and politics. By the end of the course, students will have acquired a knowledge of the history of science journalism and an overview of its evolution up to the present day. They will have mastered the tools of science journalism and will be able to analyse articles and cases of scientific information, acquiring elements to discriminate credible news. Finally, they will have acquired the tools for writing an article, also in view of the readers to whom it is addressed.
- What is science journalism? Journalism and popularisation
- History of scientific journalism
- Science journalism: sources. From peer review to verification, open access and preprints
- Fake news, social media and mainstream media. Cognitive biases, polarization and tribes
- Television, science and debate
- Information and science, some Italian cases
- Journalism and risk communication in pandemics
- Case history: journalism and communication on climate change
- Information in risk management
- The role of science and scientific culture in society
- Exercises
Readings/Bibliography
Course slides and contents
Il giornalismo scientifico, Nico Pitrelli, Carocci Editore, 2021.
La scienza in tribunale, Luca Simonetti, Fandango Libri, 2018.
Teaching methods
Theoretical activities both face-to-face and distance learning, practical activities and face-to-face exercises.
Assessment methods
In order to assess the activities carried out, the student must produce a written paper on a topic developed during the course.
Office hours
See the website of Marco Cattaneo