Reporting on Violence

Catalog description

What does the craft of reporting on or photographing situations of violence entail? Do the concerns and logistics shift for political violence versus gender-based violence versus interpersonal violence? In this course, students analyze journalistic texts and photos, and, in conversation with seasoned reporters and photojournalists, gain a much deeper understanding of the dangers, ethics, and virtues of this craft. Typically, the news-consuming public sees the written or visual results of such journalistic endeavor; but this seminar aims to do more, metaphorically bringing students into the newsroom, out on assignment, and behind the lens. Issues explored include: State violence, working with sources, gendered violence, conflict photography, censorship, and PTSD (regarding both journalists and sources), among others. Texts may include relevant books such as Oscar Martinez’s A History of Violence; students will also study bodies of photojournalistic coverage as well as documentary film germane to the course focus. Students write reaction papers and produce an extended analysis, whether written or visual in scope.