The NordJour seminar series welcomes scholars to lectures and conversations focusing on journalism and journalism research. They are welcome to this inaugural launch of the hybrid NordJour seminar series which will address the timely theme “Journalism amid Climate Change.” We have invited two distinguished Nordic professors to share their research and reflections on this theme.
Presenter I: Andreas Ytterstad, professor (Oslo Metropolitan University)
Nature, climate change and the environment; it all - increasingly - looks like a feast for journalism who like conflicts. Conflicts over the general understanding of environmental ills, conflicts over what environmental problem to prioritize, and what “green transitions” requires of our societies. In this talk, Ytterstad will discuss the green transitions in the Nordic countries through the prism of conflict. What are the major green conflicts, and what role does journalism play? And how should climate journalists themselves handle green conflicts?
Presenter II: Annika Egen Sjölander, professor (Umeå University)
The EU announced The European Green Deal as a way to tackle the climate crisis at the end of 2019, only a short time before the covid-19 outbreak. The goal is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent and to do this “by and for the people”. The NetZeroCities-initiative represents about 100 European mission cities that aim to become climate-neutral already by 2030. In this talk I raise the question what this and similar so-called green initiatives means for (climate) journalism and research. Firstly, how are they covered by journalists and is this practice also researched? Secondly, what types of methods are employed in this work by journalists and researchers given that a business-as-usual approach can be highly problematic given the magnitude of the climate crisis. Finally, I highlight how the ‘green’ and ‘smart’ cities initiatives can pose a great opportunity for research collaborations and substantial comparative journalistic work of importance, not least for practitioners.
Respondent: Henrik Bødker, professor (Aarhus University)
The NordJour seminar series welcomes scholars to lectures and conversations focusing on journalism and journalism research. For each hybrid seminar the NordJour organizing committee will appoint a chair who invites scholars to present research and reflections around a theme, one of which will focus on the Nordics. The presentations will always be followed by a response by a senior scholar, and a constructive discussion to which all attendees are invited to participate. NordJour will seek to address timely topics and themes, providing a platform for sharing recently published research as well as research projects underway. The NordJour seminar series is organized in a collaboration between professors at four Nordic departments:
● Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)
● Department of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University
● Department of Language and Communication Studies, University of Jyväskylä
● Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Gothenburg.