Reporting and Writing the News

Students in this course will conceive, report, write, edit, lay out, and produce a publication for distribution among the J-term community. In the process, students will learn how to evaluate “newsworthiness,” research story ideas, conduct interviews, and write fair, accurate, and engaging articles on deadline. Our classroom will simulate the fast-paced environment of a newsroom, with students assuming a variety of jobs and editorial beats. We will discuss the legal and ethical issues facing today’s journalists, as well as the impact of digital and social media on the news business. Readings will include The Elements of Journalism and Blur by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, in addition to an assortment of exemplary articles. This course counts as Creative Writing elective credit.