Popular Science Journalism as an Element of Educational Programs

10.17721/2522-1272.2023.82.8 (DOI)

UDC [070+001.92]:378.14

Roksolana Kravchenko, Postgraduate Student, Educational and Scientific Institute of Journalism, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
0000-0001-9063-4282  (ORCID)

ABSTRACT

The popular science journalism is an almost unfilled niche in the Ukrainian media space. At the same time, it is a very important element of public life. This type of content helps a comsumer not only to develop oneself comprehensively, but also raises the image of the country on the world stage as a technologically advanced one that engages its citizens in education and science development. And in wartime, it is also a way to distract from the war news and to normalize the psychological state. For the further development of popular science journalism, it is higher education institutions that should train highly qualified personnel to fill this niche in the Ukrainian media space. The objective of this study is to characterize the state of the curriculum “Popular Science Journalism” in the Ukrainian higher education institutions. The method used in the study was content analysis of educational and professional programs. All 39 higher education institutions that have a specialty 061 “Journalism” were surveyed. Results: out of 39 higher education institutions, the curriculum ―Popular Science Journalism‖ or a related subject is available in 9 institutions, while 26 higher education institutions do not have it. It was not possible to find out information about 4 more institutions. Among the institutions that have such a curriculum, 7 ones offer it as an elective subject, and only 2 ones offer it as a compulsory subject. One institution has such elective subjects at both the Bachelor‘s and Master‘s degrees. Conclusion. The Ukrainian higher education institutions lack the curriculum ―Popular Science Journalism‖ or a related subject, and therefore the students actually do not have the ability to realize whether they would like to develop this niche.

KEYWORDS: popular science journalism; educational program; war; students; image.