(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

JOUR 13a Multimedia Storytelling Lab

Yields half-course credit. Formerly offered as EL 13a.

Students at both beginning and intermediate levels of experience pursue projects in photography, podcasting, and video to develop their skills as multimedia journalists. This lab course provides instruction on best practices with equipment and software as well as a forum for workshop and critique. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 15a Documentary Journalism: Reporting and Storytelling for Broadcast
[ ss wi ]

Studies a wide range of documentary journalism, examining the genre with a critical eye. We'll assess scripts and visuals for their journalistic value, underscoring the power of rigorous reporting methods and compelling storytelling choices. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 45a Sports Journalism and Innovation
[ ss wi ]

Innovative journalists have found new, impactful ways to cover sports. In this course, students will practice the skills needed to craft meaningful stories across platforms, examine the role of the sportswriter in modern culture, and discuss how the sports media industry has evolved to include new niches and business models. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 89a Contemporary Media: Internship and Analysis

Brings together students who have held a summer internship in journalism or are interning concurrently with the course. The instructor will work with students one-on-one and in group settings to sharpen the skills they developed as interns and advance to a higher level of producing professional journalism. This course is required for an internship to count toward the journalism minor. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 92b Contemporary Media Internship

Prerequisite: JOUR 15a or 138b. Enrollment by Program Director permission only.

A directed reading designed for students who are unable to complete JOUR 89a in the fall. Permission must be obtained from the program director a full semester in advance. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 98a Independent Study

Usually offered every year.

JOUR 98b Independent Study

Yields half-course credit. Usually offered every year.

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

AMST/JOUR 109b Reinventing Journalism on the Local Level
[ dl ss wi ]

Technology has transformed journalism into a genuinely multimedia enterprise. This fast-paced, experiential course examines innovation at work, from digital storytelling to data visualization, at both start-up and legacy media outlets. Students will then put what they learn into action: reporting and producing multimedia news stories and participating in weekly workshops to sharpen their work so it can be published in a respected, professional local-news outlet. Usually offered every year.

AMST/JOUR 113a Long-form Journalism: Storytelling for Magazines and Podcasts
[ dl oc ss ]

What makes for a great story? This course will examine the hallmarks of successful narrative nonfiction, in both written and audio form. Students will analyze award-winning magazine stories as well as reporting-based podcasts that have injected new energy and financial success into the journalism world. They will learn story structure and techniques to capture and hold the audience's attention. And they will learn by doing, producing their own podcasts and written pieces. his course fulfills the Reporting requirement of the Journalism minor. Usually offered every year.

AMST/JOUR 137b Journalism in Modern America
[ ss ]

May not be taken for credit by students who took AMST 137b in prior years.

Examines what journalists have done, how their enterprise has in fact conformed with their ideals, and what some of the consequences have been for the republic historically. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 101a The Fundamentals of Journalism
[ ss wi ]

Provides students with a grounding in the fundamentals of news reporting and writing, linking theory to practice. Equips them with the foundational skills to address the demands of today’s rapidly changing media world. Counts toward Writing requirement for Journalism minor. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 104a Political Packaging in America
[ ss ]

Examines the history of political marketing, image making in presidential campaigns, the relationship between news and ads, and the growth of public-policy advertising by special-interest groups to influence legislation. Usually offered every fourth year.

JOUR 107b Media and Public Policy
[ ss wi ]

Examines the intersection of the media and politics, the ways in which each influences the other, and the consequences of that intersection for a democracy. Through analytic texts, handouts, and contemporaneous newspaper and magazine articles, explores the relationship between policy decisions and public discourse. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 110b Ethics in Journalism
[ deis-us ss wi ]

Should reporters ever misrepresent themselves? Is it ever acceptable to break the law in pursuit of a story? What kind of news footage is too graphic to share? By wrestling with difficult decisions in journalism, this course is designed to strengthen students’ critical thinking and news judgment. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 111b Advanced Multimedia Storytelling Workshop
[ dl ]

Prerequisite: AMST/JOUR 109B, AMST/JOUR 113A, JOUR 13a, JOUR 15a, or JOUR 130b, or permission of the instructor.

In their highest form, podcasts can envelop us in narratives that rival the richness of character and incident in the best documentary films. This course connects these two media and invites students to produce multiple episodes of narrative non-fiction in audio (and optionally visual) storytelling modes, developing a central theme or concept of their own devising and exploring advanced sound recording and mixing techniques. Usually offered every spring.

JOUR 112b Social Journalism: The Art of Engaging Audiences
[ dl ss wi ]

Students will learn how to use social media storytelling to develop their own voices, sharpen their reporting skills, and reach new communities and platforms. They will also learn the art of tracking and building audiences through engagement tools and will critique the work of professionals and colleagues. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 114b Arts Journalism, Pop Culture, and Digital Innovation
[ ss wi ]

How do journalists cover the arts in a world of ever-expanding online options, and where artists are increasingly telling their own stories through social media? This course explores the evolution of arts and entertainment coverage, from its earliest days to its current digital incarnation. Students will develop skills using new tools and innovative approaches to deliver meaningful pop culture coverage and cultural criticism. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 115b Storytelling with Data
[ qr ss ]

Teaches students how to use data to reveal the invisible narratives around us. We will explore how journalists, designers, and scientists have leveraged this powerful tool, and it will give students the tools of data visualization to leverage data for themselves. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 116a Oral Histories in Journalism: Changemakers in Profile
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Previous experience with journalistic audio storytelling or one of the following courses is recommended: JOUR 130b, JOUR 114b, JOUR 113a, JOUR 111b, JOUR 15a, JOUR 13a, or JOUR 12b.

The oral storytelling tradition has been with us since the beginning of time, but it is enjoying a popular resurgence now, prompted in part by the popularity of storytelling platforms such as podcasts, and the ability to share audio online. The oldest form of historical documentation is now taking advantage of current digital technologies.

However, producing lasting, rigorous oral histories requires the journalist to do much more than simply place a microphone in front of a subject and press “record.” It takes a deep knowledge of journalistic interviewing techniques and research methods as well as sophisticated approaches to production and editing to yield rich, lasting audio narratives.

With a thematic focus on changemakers, this course will equip students to produce high-quality, documentary-style oral histories. Students will examine the lives of important activists and other changemakers who are fighting for democracy, equity, and human and civil rights. The students will research and interview their subjects, as well as key people in their lives, in preparation for producing audio documentaries that capture the truth and meaning of their lives. Students will produce nuanced audio profiles that will then be assembled to form a multi-part series. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 120a The Culture of Journalism
[ ss ]

Examines the social, cultural, political and economic influences on the practice of journalism. In particular, the course will explore the generational debates around identity, advocacy, and digital disruption that newsrooms around the country are grappling with today, providing the background and concepts for a critical analysis of the contemporary American press. Counts toward History/Culture requirement for Journalism minor. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 121a Late Night News
[ ss ]

In a fractured, rapidly changing media landscape in which many people get their news delivered by comedians, and in which many former reporters and fact-checkers now occupy seats in late-night writers’ rooms, where is the line between journalism and news? This course will trace the evolution of late-night comedy. Long dominated by Johnny Carson’s broad, non-ideological monologue jokes, late-night television began a dramatic change in 1999, when Jon Stewart took over The Daily Show. He reshaped that broadcast into a highly political show that ridiculed its subjects with an editorial edge backed by journalistic research. Before long, studies found that more young people were getting their news about current events from Stewart’s show than from mainstream media outlets. In 2014, former Daily Show correspondent John Oliver took things a step further: Every week he and his Last Week Tonight writers delve into a single, complex subject, pulling it apart and pointing out its absurdity through meticulous research and reportage. In this class, students will investigate the implications of journalism that is mediated through a laugh-seeking sensibility – in both left- and right-leaning contexts. And with live TV viewing an increasingly obsolete notion, we’ll also explore political satire that is produced for short-form, social media distribution, melding the worlds of digital and late night. Usually offered every fourth year.

JOUR 130b Science Journalism: Covering Crises from the Pandemic to Climate
[ dl ss wi ]

What is the best way to communicate real science in the age of fake news? What role should science journalists play in the face of today’s biggest crises, from the pandemic to climate change? This course explores the hallmarks of sound science and medical writing and how to confront the public-health consequences of misinformation. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 132b Covering the World: International Reporting and Global Affairs
[ ss ]

Explores the evolution of reporting on international affairs and other cultures for an American audience, and how the work of overseas correspondents shapes foreign policy and public opinion. It will examine the challenges facing journalists working in foreign countries and the ethical, cultural, technological, and political factors that influence the U.S. media's coverage of global affairs. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 139b Reporting on Diverse Communities in Journalism
[ deis-us ss ]

Examines who has been left out of the news discourse; how that has shaped public understanding of race, immigration, gender, and sexual orientation in the United States; and how to produce coverage that is more representative and better reflects reality. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 145a Opinion Writing
[ ss wi ]

An exploration of opinion and first-person writing in all of its journalistic forms. In an era of hot takes unsupported by facts, this course focuses on commentary with a journalistic, factually sound backbone. Students will learn to hone their voice and practice the art of persuasion, developing well-constructed arguments built on deep research. They will also write autobiographical pieces that are held to the same rigorous truth-telling standards that apply when reporting on someone else. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR 152a Truth, Fact and Research in Journalism
[ ss ]

Investigates the concept of journalistic truth through immersion into research, fact-checking, and the art of the interview. Working with transcripts, footage, and other sources, students learn how to find the story, leveraging the power of new media and converting information into knowledge. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR Core Courses

AMST/JOUR 109b Reinventing Journalism on the Local Level
[ dl ss wi ]

Technology has transformed journalism into a genuinely multimedia enterprise. This fast-paced, experiential course examines innovation at work, from digital storytelling to data visualization, at both start-up and legacy media outlets. Students will then put what they learn into action: reporting and producing multimedia news stories and participating in weekly workshops to sharpen their work so it can be published in a respected, professional local-news outlet. Usually offered every year.

AMST/JOUR 113a Long-form Journalism: Storytelling for Magazines and Podcasts
[ dl oc ss ]

What makes for a great story? This course will examine the hallmarks of successful narrative nonfiction, in both written and audio form. Students will analyze award-winning magazine stories as well as reporting-based podcasts that have injected new energy and financial success into the journalism world. They will learn story structure and techniques to capture and hold the audience's attention. And they will learn by doing, producing their own podcasts and written pieces. his course fulfills the Reporting requirement of the Journalism minor. Usually offered every year.

AMST/JOUR 137b Journalism in Modern America
[ ss ]

May not be taken for credit by students who took AMST 137b in prior years.

Examines what journalists have done, how their enterprise has in fact conformed with their ideals, and what some of the consequences have been for the republic historically. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 15a Documentary Journalism: Reporting and Storytelling for Broadcast
[ ss wi ]

Studies a wide range of documentary journalism, examining the genre with a critical eye. We'll assess scripts and visuals for their journalistic value, underscoring the power of rigorous reporting methods and compelling storytelling choices. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 101a The Fundamentals of Journalism
[ ss wi ]

Provides students with a grounding in the fundamentals of news reporting and writing, linking theory to practice. Equips them with the foundational skills to address the demands of today’s rapidly changing media world. Counts toward Writing requirement for Journalism minor. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 120a The Culture of Journalism
[ ss ]

Examines the social, cultural, political and economic influences on the practice of journalism. In particular, the course will explore the generational debates around identity, advocacy, and digital disruption that newsrooms around the country are grappling with today, providing the background and concepts for a critical analysis of the contemporary American press. Counts toward History/Culture requirement for Journalism minor. Usually offered every second year.

JOUR Ethics Courses

JOUR 110b Ethics in Journalism
[ deis-us ss wi ]

Should reporters ever misrepresent themselves? Is it ever acceptable to break the law in pursuit of a story? What kind of news footage is too graphic to share? By wrestling with difficult decisions in journalism, this course is designed to strengthen students’ critical thinking and news judgment. Usually offered every year.

JOUR Internship Courses

JOUR 89a Contemporary Media: Internship and Analysis

Brings together students who have held a summer internship in journalism or are interning concurrently with the course. The instructor will work with students one-on-one and in group settings to sharpen the skills they developed as interns and advance to a higher level of producing professional journalism. This course is required for an internship to count toward the journalism minor. Usually offered every year.

JOUR 98a Independent Study

Usually offered every year.

JOUR 98b Independent Study

Yields half-course credit. Usually offered every year.

JOUR Electives

AMST 66b American Scholars: Public Intellectuals in American Life
[ ss ]

May not be taken for credit by students who took AMST 166b in prior years.

Examines the role and influence of public intellectuals in American society. Students explore the ideas put forth by some of the most influential public intellectuals in American life, and they are challenged to consider how and why those ideas have been rendered relevant to a mass audience. Students are also challenged to consider the impact the modern university has had on public intellectualism; the role the broadcast and Internet media are playing in the making of public intellectuals; and whether and how pundits are different from public intellectuals. Usually offered every second year.

AMST 103b Advertising and the Media
[ ss ]

Combines a historical and contemporary analysis of advertising's role in developing and sustaining consumer culture in America with a practical analysis of the relationship between advertising and the news media in the United States. Usually offered every second year.

AMST 131b News on Screen
[ ss ]

An interdisciplinary course exploring how journalistic practice is mediated by moving image--cinematic, televisual, and digital. The historical survey will span material from the late-nineteenth-century "actualities" of Thomas Edison and the Lumiere Brothers to the viral environment of the World Wide Web, a rich tradition that includes newsreels, expeditionary films, screen magazines, combat reports, government information films, news broadcasts, live telecasts, television documentaries, amateur video, and the myriad blogs, vlogs, and webcasts of the digital age. Usually offered every second year.

AMST 135a Photography and American Culture
[ ss ]

Looks at how photography has (and has not) shaped understanding of certain key themes and issues in American history and culture-and how American history and culture have (and have not) done the same to photography. Usually offered every second year.

AMST/JOUR 109b Reinventing Journalism on the Local Level
[ dl ss wi ]

Technology has transformed journalism into a genuinely multimedia enterprise. This fast-paced, experiential course examines innovation at work, from digital storytelling to data visualization, at both start-up and legacy media outlets. Students will then put what they learn into action: reporting and producing multimedia news stories and participating in weekly workshops to sharpen their work so it can be published in a respected, professional local-news outlet. Usually offered every year.

AMST/LGLS 140b Investigating Justice
[ ss ]

Examines methods used by journalists and other investigators in addressing injustices within criminal and civil legal systems. Problems include wrongful convictions, civil rights, privacy protection, and ethical conflicts. Research methods and reporting techniques enhance skills in interviewing, writing, and oral presentation. Usually offered every second year.

ANTH 26a Communication and Media
[ dl ss ]

A wide-ranging exploration of the human communicative capacity, starting with verbal and visual communicative modalities and culminating in the study of communication through mass and social media. Usually offered every second year.

ENG 62a Documentary: Techniques and Controversies
[ hum ]

An introduction to documentary, covering major works of nonfiction prose and film. Focuses on the variety of documentary techniques in both media and controversies surrounding efforts to represent the real. Usually offered every third year.

ENG 129a Creative Nonfiction Workshop
[ hum wi ]

Offered exclusively on a credit/no credit basis. Enrollment is by instructor permission after the submission of a manuscript sample. Please refer to the schedule of classes for submission information. May be repeated for credit.

Students will learn how to use a wide range of literary techniques to produce factual narratives drawn from their own perspectives and lives. Creative assignments and discussions will include the personal essay, the memoir essay and literary journalism. Usually offered every second year.

ENG 169a Eco-Writing Workshop
[ hum wi ]

Offered exclusively on a credit/no credit basis. Enrollment is by instructor permission after the submission of a manuscript sample. Please refer to the schedule of classes for submission information.

A creative writing workshop focused on writing essays and poems that engage with environmental and eco-justice concerns. Readings, writing assignments, and class discussions will be augmented by field trips. Usually offered every second year.