Patrick R. Johnson, Ph.D., MJE

Description:

Principles of Journalism

Course Description

An introduction to the field of journalism, its standards, values, and practices, as well as key moments in the development of journalism in the United States.

Course Focus: News Literate Journalism

This course is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of journalism, emphasizing mainstream and alternative press forms. Students will delve into the foundational principles, organizational structures, ethical standards, and societal roles of journalism. This course is an essential foundation for aspiring journalists. This course is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary for navigating the dynamic landscape of contemporary journalism. This course is built on a comprehensive ecosystem approach to news literacy encompassing Context, Creation, Content, Circulation, and Consumption. Additionally, we will explore the News Literate Journalism (NLJ) model, which integrates metacognition into journalistic practice to foster a more sustainable and equitable media environment.

This course will introduce you to the five domains of news literacy, providing a structured framework to understand and measure news literacy comprehensively:

1. Context: Explore the social, legal, and economic environments in which news is produced. Understand the regulatory frameworks, market forces, and societal expectations that shape journalistic practices.
2. Creation: Delve into the processes of conceiving, reporting, and creating news. Learn about the principles of ethical journalism, the importance of source credibility, and the role of investigative reporting in uncovering the truth.
3. Content: Examine the qualitative characteristics that distinguish news from other media content. Develop skills to assess newsworthiness, verify facts, and present information clearly and accurately.
4. Circulation: Understand the distribution and spread of news among potential audiences. Study the impact of digital platforms, social media, and algorithms on news dissemination and public discourse.
5. Consumption: Focus on the personal factors influencing news exposure, attention, and evaluation. Analyze how audiences consume news, the role of media literacy in discerning credible information, and the psychological effects of media consumption.

Building on the ecosystem approach, this course will integrate the principles of News Literate Journalism, which emphasizes metacognition and sustainable journalism practices and brings these news literacy domains into direct conversation with journalism practice and institutional boundaries. This means helping students understand the conceptual boundaries of journalism, the ethical standards, and the diverse roles journalists play in society. We will also think about behaviors, practices, and skills by learning the specific behaviors and practices that constitute high-quality journalism, such as assessing credibility, staying current, building relationships, and understanding audiences. Lastly, we also will explore the core values that underpin journalistic practice, including service, engagement, and transparency. To be a better journalist, we must understand how these values help establish professional boundaries and enhance journalistic integrity.

Throughout the course, the principles of News Literate Journalism are introduced and integrated to enhance students’ understanding and practice of journalism. The NLJ model encourages journalists to be metacognitive about their processes, emphasizing the importance of education, self-awareness, and critical thinking in producing and evaluating journalism. By adopting this model, students learn to:

1. Assess Credibility: Develop skills to evaluate sources, verify facts, and ensure the accuracy of their reporting.
2. Stay Current: Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the news and the journalism industry, adapting to new technologies and practices.
3. Build Relationships: Foster connections with audiences and communities, promoting trust and engagement.
4. Understand Audiences: Research the needs and preferences of different audience segments, tailoring their reporting to meet these needs.

Students also frame their learning based on three core values:

1. Service: an emotionally driven value that underscores journalism’s moral obligation to uplift communities by disseminating knowledge and acknowledging diversity.
2. Engagement: focuses on the audience’s role in shaping journalistic practice. This value implies a dialogical relationship between journalists and their audiences, encouraging critical thinking, feedback, and adaptation.
3. Transparency: an accountability measure that prompts journalists to share their processes openly, revealing their strengths and weaknesses. It also challenges traditional journalistic values like objectivity by acknowledging biases and subjectivities. Being transparent entails being aware of jargon and revising language to meet community learning needs.

Throughout the semester, students will do this by exploring a specific form of alternative press (e.g., the black press, suffrage/women’s press, LGBTQ+ press, indigenous press, Hispanic press, immigrant press, Christian press, Jewish press, children’s press, punk/alt subcultures press, progressive press, conservative press, environmental press, labor press, student press, disability press, community press, underground/counterculture press, zine culture press, or ethnic minority press). By focusing on these diverse forms of alternative press, students will gain a broader perspective on journalism’s role in society and its impact on various communities. Each form of alternative press has its unique historical background, motivations, challenges, and contributions to the broader field of journalism. Students will understand how journalism can serve different communities, advocate for underrepresented voices, and challenge mainstream narratives by studying these various presses. This exploration will help students appreciate the diversity within journalism and recognize the importance of alternative presses in fostering a more inclusive media landscape.

Field:

Communication, Journalism, Media Studies

Duration:

One semester

Downloadable curriculum and assessments are available through consulting services.