Journalism and Society Covering Power

Catalog description

Journalism is often called the fourth estate, which describes the media?s role as a watchdog of power, both public and private. The goal of this course is to help students understand how the government works and how to report effectively on the powerful industries, agencies, institutions and individuals that shape our lives. Students will learn the mechanics behind producing fresh stories about politics, the economy, race, education, criminal justice, housing and other pressing issues. They will examine the most important industries and employers -- including the media itself -- the role of small businesses and entrepreneurs, and the impact of economic development and gentrification. Students will explore and learn how to analyze data to uncover insights, trends and narratives buried in the numbers.