OADD 2360 - Communicating the Environmental Crisis: Challenges and New Media

Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution - the environmental crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Yet, communicating these complex and interconnected issues remains difficult, particularly in a media landscape shaped by misinformation and fragmented public attention. This course explores the evolution of environmental communication, from the silences of traditional media to the influence of lobbyists or activists, and cultural representations in shaping public perceptions. It also examines the transformative role of new media, from streaming platforms to social media, in reshaping narratives and modes of engagement. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing diverse media productions and understanding new formats and storytelling techniques that effectively raise awareness.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will critically analyze the role of media and emerging mediums in shaping public attitudes and behaviors toward the environmental crisis, considering the unique challenges these topics present.
2. Students will learn about why climate change and biodiversity loss have historically been difficult to communicate, focusing on how journalistic modes of operating along with a strong fossil fuel lobby perpetuated a « climate silence » in mass media.
3. Students will explore different ethical and philosophical perspectives, in relation to environmental justice, sustainability, and global contexts, and analyze how cultural narratives can shape environmental perceptions and often exclude marginalized stories.
4. - Students will analyze new and emerging media, such as social platforms, streaming services,podcasts, virtual or augmented reality, eco-fiction, with the goal of better understanding the opportunities and risks they represent, as well as their potential for innovative storytelling on environmental issues.

Professional Skills:
- Media analysis and critical thinking: students will learn to dissect traditional and new media productions, identifying biases, gaps, and evaluate its impact on public perceptions.
- Storytelling techniques and narrative construction: students will develop skills in creating compelling narratives tailored for diverse audiences, formats and distribution contexts.

Flora TROUILLOUD

Séminaire

English

- Attendance: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 54 hours a semester
- Other (Final Project Development): 48 hours a semester

None

Spring 2024-2025

1- Expose (30% - Individual) – each student will be asked to do a ten-minute presentation on one of the week's topics
2- Class participation (20% - Individual) – students will be asked to actively participate in class discussions.
2a- General participation (10% - Individual) – students are expected to contribute to discussions based on the assigned reading materials
2b- Short media analysis (10% - Individual) – students will be asked to present a brief analysis of a recent media production addressing climate or environmental issues. This can include a documentary, article, podcast episode, or communication campaign.
3- Final Project (50% - Collective) - students will develop a creative climate or environmental communication project of their choosing, selecting both their topic and their medium of communication

Feedback will be provided throughout the course via in-class discussions after oral presentations. Midway through the course, students will receive feedback on their final project to guide their progress.