About this course: Journalists develop information through interviews and sources. The most successful journalists quickly master these important skill sets. The production of journalism relies on several elements: newsgathering, interviewing sources, researching and trying to find as much information as possible. The course will also teach you how to where to find information, interviewing skills and how to process information from various sources for publication.
Created by: Michigan State University
Taught by: Joanne Gerstner, Sports Journalist in Residence
Michigan State University School of JournalismTaught by: Jeremy Steele, Specialist
Michigan State University School of JournalismTaught by: David Poulson, Instructor
School of JournalismTaught by: Eric Freedman, Instructor
School of JournalismTaught by: Joe Grimm, Instructor
School of JournalismTaught by: Lucinda D. Davenport, Director & Professor
School of Journalism
| Basic Info | Course 2 of 5 in the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Earning and keeping trust
How - and where - journalists obtain information can determine if their news reports will be deemed credible and trustworthy by their audience. Finding the best sources for information and quotes is a process conducted by every professional journalist. You will learn the best ways to find information and sources for your reporting.
4 videos, 3 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: What are sources?
- Discussion Prompt: Documents and news
- Video: Why should journalists use sources?
- Practice Quiz: Why use sources?
- Discussion Prompt: Finding expert sources
- Video: Obstacles to reporting
- Practice Quiz: Reporting obstacles
- Video: Why sources should trust us?
- Discussion Prompt: Why should anyone ever trust a journalist?
Graded: Identifying and reviewing reporting obstacles
Graded: Working with sources
WEEK 2
Types of sources
Successful journalists understand the need to bring in different types of information and voices to create a strong and accurate news report. You will learn how journalists carefully consider sourcing, and how to effectively and ethically interact with sources.
4 videos, 4 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Sources and diversity
- Video: Rules for dealing with sources
- Discussion Prompt: Using anonymous sources
- Practice Quiz: Rules for dealing with sources
- Video: Protecting sources
- Practice Quiz: Protecting sources
- Discussion Prompt: Protecting sources...and you
- Video: News Literacy
- Practice Quiz: News literacy and the public
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion about news literacy
Graded: Seeking diversity
Graded: Sourcing areas for journalists
WEEK 3
Interviewing
The interview is one of the most powerful tools of journalistic newsgathering. You will learn how journalists use interviews, the different forms it can take, how you can best prepare for it, and how to be sensitive to those who have been through trauma. A good interview can make a news report. And a bad interview can sink it.
4 videos, 1 reading, 4 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Interview prep
- Video: How to conduct effective interviews
- Practice Quiz: Conducting the interview
- Reading: Interviewing scientists and others
- Video: How to conduct person-on-the-street interviews
- Practice Quiz: Person-on-the-street interviews
- Video: Working with trauma survivors
- Practice Quiz: Survivors of trauma
- Peer Review: Victims or survivors?
Graded: Developing questions
Graded: Interviewing strangers on the street.
Graded: The interview
WEEK 4
Tools for finding sourcing
Technology and moving beyond typical sources is letting journalists reach more sources than ever before. You will learn how to use crowdsourcing, social media, press conferences and online resources as valuable tools to enhance your reporting.
4 videos, 4 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Crowd sourcing
- Video: How journalists use social media
- Practice Quiz: Social media and finding sources
- Video: Using documents
- Practice Quiz: Using documents
- Peer Review: Assessing documents
- Video: How to navigate press conferences
- Practice Quiz: Press Conferences
Graded: Tools for Finding Sources
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
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Creators
Michigan State University
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.
One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | |
|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
A highly informative, applicable& easy to follow course by absolutely knowledgeable professors. The thorough, well-organized& engaging course content reflects the the professionalism & the extensive knowledge of the professors in this field. Really looking forward to enrolling in other courses by the same professors & Michigan State University . Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to learn from you.
So far so good. The only thing that I see that can be improved are the assignment prompts. In both courses that I have taken, the initial prompt in the instructions is usually different than the prompt in the submissions.
Overall the course is great, but there was one thing could be improved.
The questions asked after each week were too easy, to not say dumb. I think it could have more difficulty so learners will have to study more and dedicate more time for the course.
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Really helpful. Especially for advice on interviewing people.