AK2026 Risk, Media and Controversies 7.5 credits

• Educational level

  Second cycle

• Academic level (A-D)

  D

• Subject area

• Grade scale

  A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• Course homepage

• Course page on KTH Social

Learning outcomes

After completed course, the student will be able to

- identify and describe the dominating theories of risk perception, risk communication, and risk assessment, and be able to describe the role of mass media in risk contexts,

- give examples of different ways of performing risk assessments and their consequences to society,

- apply a variety of strategies for risk management and make refelctions on their strengths and weaknesses,

- analyze and deconstruct a number of cases using theories taught in the course,

- predict and make assumptions on future developments in order to foresee risk developments in the student's own field as well as in society at large.

Course main content

This course is aimed at giving the student insights into the production and communication of risks through mass media. Many case studies will be used, encouraging discussion and reflection through which the student will be able to foresee and better understand risk developments in the student's own field as well as in society at large. 

Disposition

Lectures, seminars, and individual assignments.

Eligibility

120 ECTS (university credits) and documented proficiency in English corresponding to English B from Swedish gymnasium.

Literature

Preliminary list:

• Beck, U (1992) Risk society: towards a new modernity, Sage Publications.
• Flynn, Slovic, Kunreuther (2001) Risk, Media and Stigma: Understanding public challenges to modern science and technology, Earthscan.
• Oreskes, N and Conway, E (2010) Merchants of doubt: how a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco smoke to global warming, Bloomsbury Publishing.

Required equipment

None.

Examination

• PRO1 - Case Presentation, Written and Oral, 5.0 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• SEM1 - Seminars, 2.5 credits, grade scale: P, F

The examination consists of one written report (8-10 pages), an oral presentation and sufficient attendance and active participation at lectures and seminars.

Requirements for final grade

Attendance, active participation, oral presentation, and written report.

Offered by

ABE/Philosophy

Contact

Misse Wester, misse.wester@abe.kth.se, 08-790 9567

Examiner

Sven Ove Hansson <soh@kth.se>

Version

Course plan valid from: Spring 11.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 09.