A1 Journal article (refereed)
A Pilot Study on Developing Newsgames in Collaboration between Journalism and Computer Science Students (2019)

Siitonen, M., Uotila, P., Uskali, T., Varsaluoma, J., & Välisalo, T. (2019). A Pilot Study on Developing Newsgames in Collaboration between Journalism and Computer Science Students. Nordicom Review, 40(2), 143-155. https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2019-0038

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Siitonen, Marko; Uotila, Panu; Uskali, Turo; Varsaluoma, Jukka; Välisalo, Tanja

Journal or series: Nordicom Review

ISSN: 1403-1108

eISSN: 2001-5119

Publication year: 2019

Volume: 40

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 143-155

Publisher: Nordic Information Centre for Media and Communication Research

Publication country: Sweden

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2019-0038

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67039

Abstract

Producing digital and interactive journalistic products offers unique and important new learning opportunities for journalism education. This study analysed the experiences of two pilot courses on so-called ‘newsgames’ in a Finnish university in 2015 and 2017. The data consisted of the newsgames and other materials produced by the students, student feedback concerning the course and observations of teachers throughout the project. Our analysis demonstrates how producing newsgames in the context of higher education may foster project-based learning experiences, something that has been relatively rare in traditional journalism education. Collaboration with media companies also offered valuable feedback for the students throughout the course and provided them with an opportunity to practice selling their expertise. The study highlights how interdisciplinary and project-based cooperation may benefit journalism education.

Keywords: journalism studies; digital games; serious games; game design; project learning; multidisciplinary research

Free keywords: journalism education; journalism practice; newsgames; project-based learning; multidisciplinary

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019

JUFO rating: 1