News
Brandeis Journalism instructor Alison Bass recently received a Science in Society Journalism Award from the National Association of Science Writers. Her 2008 book, Side Effects: A Prosecuteor, a Whistleblower, and a Bestselling Antidepressant on Trial, investigates how and why the pharmaceutical company GlaxcoSmithKline misled physicians and consumers about Paxil, a popular anti-depressant. The Journalism program is pleased that Ms. Bass is teaching her course on Medical and Science Newswriting this very semester.
Examining media's place in the American experience
The Brandeis University Journalism Program examines the place of the media in the American-and more broadly speaking, the global-experience. The program offers students a unique, liberal-arts approach to the study of journalism. A diverse faculty of scholars and journalism professionals teach students about the role of the media in domestic and international affairs and train students in the skills necessary for the accomplished practice of journalism. In class and in professional environments, students wrestle with the challenges and responsibilities of communicating the essence of world events and issues in print and broadcast journalism.
The program is part of the university's larger effort to train students to be critical thinkers and forceful writers. It is not a nuts-and-bolts communication program; rather it features a strong liberal arts curriculum that grounds students in an academic subject area and gives them the tools to translate and transmit knowledge to a general audience.
In the core courses and electives, students study the history and organization of media institutions; examine the ethical responsibilities of media practitioners; analyze the relationships among the media and other American social, political and corporate institutions and learn the reporting, writing and editing skills needed by the print, broadcast and online media.