CORE151 How to report on science and research in the media

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jaroslav Čuřík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jaroslav Čuřík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jaroslav Čuřík, 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 12:00–13:40 AVC
Prerequisites
!TYP_STUDIA(ND) && !PROGRAM(B-MSZU) && ! ZURb1102 Media and communic. studies
The course is intended for all students of bachelor's programs at Masaryk University, with the exception of students of the Media Studies and Journalism program. Bachelor's journalism students must choose from other, non-major university-wide courses.

The practically oriented course will deal with the communication of science and research in the media, focusing on online and printed journalistic media, the differences between the journalistic concept and the public relations concept, i.e. the popularization concept.

Unlike similar courses that are narrowly specialized in their field or courses for higher levels of study (master's, doctoral), this course is focused on a basic, broader understanding of topic selection and the ways in which journalistic media inform about science and research, with subsequent possible use by course graduates to apply their own or other selected scientific and research topics for publication.

The aim of the course is to familiarize non-specialist students with the basic principles and practical functioning of so-called scientific journalism, and to explain to them the rules and principles of editorial offices and professional journalists in this field.

Graduates of the course will understand the above principles, the subject will make the basics of scientific journalism accessible to them and will enable them to use this understanding and the acquired knowledge in their studies and work to communicate science and research in a form accessible to the public (to selected target groups).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 12/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
Abstract
Acquisition of skills and competencies for life. The course will focus on selected topics in the field of science journalism. The aim is to carefully select and prepare specific topics that:

1) Will present contemporary science journalism, especially in the Czech and Slovak context of online and printed journalistic media.

2) Will critically reflect on the changes in science journalism and its connection with public relations.

3) Will clearly enable non-disciplinary students to orient themselves in the practical functioning of science journalism.

The non-disciplinary benefit of the course is highlighted by the importance of science and research for today's society and the importance of informing about science and research topics for practically all target groups.

Understanding the principles of scientific journalism can also be seen as part of media literacy, academic, civic and cultural competences.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will be familiar with contemporary scientific journalism, know the characteristics of the basic journalistic genres used in this field of journalism, and have an overview of the use of these genres in contemporary media.

Students in the course will also acquire and master the knowledge and practical skills necessary to create basic journalistic materials used in scientific journalism.

Graduates of the course are able to use the acquired knowledge and skills in independent work.
Key topics
  • Since the course is intended for non-specialist students, the explanation will be based on illustrative examples and practice-oriented simplifications (not distortions). Discussion based on students' practical experiences with consuming scientific and research topics in the media will be welcomed.
  • The course will address the following topics:
  • 1) How to write about science and research (content, target groups, channels)? Rules and principles of scientific journalism.
  • 2) Is the promotion/popularization of science the same as science journalism? The difference between the public relations approach and the journalistic approach to scientific and research topics, or is a press release not a journalistic article.
  • 3) Where do science journalists get their topics, according to what criteria, and how do they select them.
  • 4) How do science journalists work with sources of information (i.e. scientists and researchers)?
  • 5) How can you become a good source of information for science journalists? Offer stories and commentary.
  • 6) How to adapt topics to target groups: it is necessary to simplify, not distort.
  • 7) Insight into the real work of science journalists (1st guest from practice).
  • 8) Insight into the real work of science journalists (2nd guest from practice).
  • 9) How to write a journalistic text on a scientific or research topic: specific rules.
  • 10) How to write a journalistic text on a scientific or research topic: specific forms of texts, genres.
  • Each semester, experienced science journalists who work mainly in online or printed media (typically, for example, Seznam Zprávy, iDnes.cz, etc.) will be invited to the course as guests. Guests will present their work in a simple form in a moderated discussion, which will serve to illustrate specific aspects of scientific journalism in specific editorial offices and from a more general perspective.
  • Feedback beyond the subject survey will be obtained during the semester, for example, through anonymous online quizzes, the aim of which will be to confront students' expectations with the actual teaching of the course and to obtain an assessment of the clarity, accessibility and usefulness of the lectures.
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • BLUM, Deborah, Joshua HATCH a Nicholas JACKSON. KSJ Science Editing Handbook. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT, 2022, 302 stran. Dostupné online: https://ksjhandbook.org
  • ČUŘÍK, Jaroslav. Informační žurnalistika : Redakce – reportéři – žánry (News Journalism : Newsrooms – Reporters – Genres). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2025, 304 pp. Edice Promedia, sv. 2. ISBN 978-80-280-0774-4. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5817/CZ.MUNI.M280-0775-2025. Recenze na knihu, URL, Ukázka z knihy info
  • ČUŘÍK, Jaroslav. Zpravodajské žánry v tištěných a online médiích. 1. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, Fakulta sociálních studií, 2014, 156 stran. ISBN 9788021075894. URL info
  • HUBÁLKOVÁ, Pavla; Martin RYCHLÍK; Aleš VLK and Otakar FOJT. Science communication : úvod do komunikace vědy. Praha: Matfyzpress, 2023, 277 stran. ISBN 9788073784966. info
  • KASARDA, Martin. Praktická príručka písania pre profesionálov. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Eurokódex, 2012, 208 s. ISBN 9788089447688. info
    recommended literature
  • ČUŘÍK, Jaroslav and Rudolf BURGR. Nové trendy v médiích. Vyd. 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 239 s. ISBN 9788021058392. URL info
  • FORTENBERRY, Ryan C. Complete science communication : a guide to connecting with scientists, journalists and the public. Croydon: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2019, xiv, 191. ISBN 9781788011105. info
  • ŠESTÁK, Zdeněk. Jak psát a přednášet o vědě. Illustrated by Hana Kymrová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1999, 204 s. ISBN 8020007555. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Theoretical preparation. Lectures. Practical journalistic tasks. Simulated teaching under the co-leadership of mentors from practice. Creation of a media product.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The assigned tasks are continuously evaluated, quizzes are used.

The evaluation of all work will then take place at the end of the semester in the form of a colloquium.

The condition for successful completion of the course will be:
1) Creation of a journalistic text on a specific selected scientific or research topic according to the specified assignment.
2) Critical reflection of the processed text and the procedures leading to its processing in the form of a colloquium.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
ATTENTION: According to Masaryk University Instruction No. 1/2024 CORE SUBJECTS (https://is.muni.cz/auth/do/mu/Uredni_deska/Predpisy_MU/Masarykova_univerzita/Pokyny_MU/PO01-24/Pokyn_MU_c.1_2024_-_CORE_predmety__ucinny_od_1.9.2024_.pdf), there is only a limited possibility of granting exceptions in CORE subjects (only a person selected by the faculty, not the subject guarantor, has the right to grant exceptions). Exceptions can therefore be granted to a limited extent, but only after satisfying the demand from students who are required to complete the common university core (these students have priority in CORE subjects), especially provided that there is free capacity in the subject.

During the course, all important additional information and documents related to the course (its beginning, course and end) will be published in the study materials in the IS.

Fraudulent fulfillment of study obligations: Teaching at the FSS MU assumes that students are familiar with the study regulations and that they do not commit fraudulent fulfillment of study obligations, especially copying in exams and plagiarism, i.e. passing off other people's ideas as one's own and adopting other authors' ideas without indicating authorship. Plagiarism is one of the most serious ethical offenses in the academic environment, it denies the mission of the university and the meaning of study. From a legal point of view, plagiarism is the theft of someone else's intellectual property. Fraudulent fulfillment of study obligations cannot be tolerated at the FSS under any circumstances. Every case of fraudulent behavior will be punished with the strictest sanction, namely unconditional expulsion from studies. We recommend that students become as thoroughly familiar with the problem of plagiarism and ways to avoid it as possible.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2026/CORE151