You will learn about the career paths that are available in journalism, and what opportunities the skill sets of a journalist can offer in other fields. You will explore areas such as being an international correspondent, self-publishing in journalism, as well as how to freelance in the field. You will be empowered to develop your own path in journalism, from being an active and informed consumer, to being a journalist.
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The worlds of business, communications, politics, education and marketing all utilize elements of journalism. This course also examines how to keep the trust of audiences through ethical, and responsible, journalistic practices. Sometimes, journalists need to be aware of their own safety. We will intelligently discuss how journalists around the world handle pressure, threats and other dangers while doing their jobs.
Journalism - and journalists - are agents of change. Are you ready to become one too?
Course 4 of 5 in the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization.
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to the Michigan State School of Journalism
You will learn about journalism profession, the Michigan State University School of Journalism, our world-class faculty and the world-class atmosphere of Michigan State University. We are proud to have Pulitzer-prize winning journalists, distinguished authors and broadcasters, and award-winning scholarly faculty all part of our Michigan State Journalism family. We are a special place, where amazing things happen every day.
WEEK 2
Earning and Keeping Trust
High ethical standards are essential to developing and maintain trust in the press, in news organizations and in individual journalists in all forms of media: print, broadcast, multimedia and social media. You will learn how to understand a journalist's ethical obligations, and then carry out your professional duties in a trustworthy way, even in the face of pressure in all mediums. You will be empowered to make strong decisions as a journalist to serve your audiences, as well as your outlet.
WEEK 3
Tough Calls
Journalists must make difficult decisions - tough calls - that require careful analysis and deep thought. You will learn how journalists must balance competing interests in a sensitive way that still gives primary attention to the needs of your audience, not to your personal self-interest or the self-interest of your news consumers. You will be empowered with the tools and information to assess these challenges of the profession, and then make the correct decisions for safety/welfare and journalistic credibility.
WEEK 4
International Journalism
Journalism today is unrestrained by national political borders in most of the world. The Internet and social media make it possible to follow events around the globe and to obtain news and information from multiple sources at the same time. However, the press and individual journalists can operate differently in some ways from country to country, depending on national laws, political systems, cultural values and economic resources of news organizations. You will learn how to understand national press systems, constraints on press freedom, broad techniques for covering international news from within your own country and the important work of international correspondents.You will be empowered to consider how you could serve your audience by doing journalism from an international perspective.
WEEK 5
The Future of Journalism...and You
How will people get their news and information in the future, and what will your role be in providing that news and information. Now it is your turn to think about your place. You will learn about journalism careers, freelance journalism and predictions for the future of the news industry. You will be empowered to understand, and then conceptualize, how your life and skills fit into journalism's many careers and forms. We hope you will be inspired to find your place - and voice - in journalism.
