News Media Literacy

Catalog description

Well-informed citizens create, maintain, and protect the health of democratic societies. Mediated news, in myriad forms, constitute the sources of information about society that citizens most often consume. It is therefore vital that members of society have a keen understanding of how news media function and why, so that they can find, evaluate, and choose the information they consume wisely. News Media Literacy (JRN 02101) trains students to do just that. Upon completion, students will be able to identify and explain the historical context of western news media, analyze news texts and artifacts, critically evaluate evidence and claims presented in the media, find and organize information for research, and develop coherent, credible arguments about news coverage and the contemporary media landscape.