Writing in the University: Debates about the Politics and Technologies of Journalism

Lately, journalism has been in the news: every day we see or hear a new story about problems with journalism and the news media¿from charges of biased coverage to fake news circulating on Facebook. Yet, push alerts from news apps and social media also shape our daily conversations. In this class, we will investigate the news industry, examining the challenges faced by journalists today and emerging new forms of digital journalism. We will focus on the political, economic and technological forces that have shaped the writing and rhetoric of journalists. Students might explore debates such as fake news, bias and objectivity; partisanship and polarization; or polling and political coverage. We start by writing an analytical essay about multimedia reporting, move into writing about research regarding a topic of your choice, and close by sharing research in oral presentations. At each step, we work together as a group, doing workshops, engaging in discussion, and collaborating in peer review. Our research projects will provide the opportunity to engage with recent scholarship and stake out your own positions on the future of journalism.