Eco-Journalism: New Quality In Media Education

Project facts

Project promoter:
Maria Curie-Sklodowska University
Project Number:
PL10-0094
Target groups
Students
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€90,298
Final project cost:
€83,891
From Norway Grants:
€ 67,952
The project is carried out in:
Lubelski

Description

To meet the expectations of the media branch, in October 2014 UMCS is going to launch a new department, Media Production(MP). The media shapes public awareness and influence behavior. Observing the situation on the media market, UMCS recognises the need to profile and enrich the studies with the environmental protection subject. Currently there is no media staff educated in the field of eco-journalism. The project is a response to this diagnosed problem. UMCS plans to prepare a new module of eco-journalism classes at the MP department. The module will include preparing classes schedules, scripts, workshops for teaching staff and classes on the created module. Results will include: documentaries made by students about environmental protection, eco-themed event, a portal, and magazines. The project will generate benefits by preparing UMCS teaching staff to teach classes in the field of eco-journalism and preparing students–the future media staff–to provide professional and reliable information about the environment.

Summary of project results

All activities undertaken within the project and its results are directly related to the subject of the environment and climate change. The workshop for teaching staff, the prepared schedules for new courses and associated classes taught, as well as prepared scripts, were designed to raise the students’, MP graduates’ and the Faculty of Political Science staff’s awareness on the environment and climate change and to enlarge the University’s knowledge base in this regard. Additionally, the created magazine and website has helped improve the students’ working techniques in for creating and providing information about the environment. Moreover, the project generated radio programmes and an event developed during the workshops focusing on the environment, while the organised conference and the published post-conference publication also included affairs related to ecology and cooperation of academics with the community involved in ecological activities (journalists, lawyers, activists) in this field. Educating media staff (press, radio, television, electronic media employees) and public sector staff responsible for working with the media in the field of professional provision of information about ecology and environmental protection had a positive impact on public awareness and knowledge, and consequently on eco-oriented behaviour of the society. Due to these classes and practical teaching tools for students with ecological profile, the project has contributed to raising the qualifications of the UMCS Media Production department graduates in the area of environmental and climate affairs.

Summary of bilateral results