About this course: 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. 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?
Created by: Michigan State University
Taught by: Joanne Gerstner, Sports Journalist in Residence
Michigan State University School of Journalism
Taught by: Jeremy Steele, Specialist
Michigan State University School of Journalism
Taught by: David Poulson, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Eric Freedman, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Joe Grimm, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Lucinda D. Davenport, Director & Professor
School of Journalism
| Basic Info | Course 4 of 5 in the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization |
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
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.
4 videos
- Video: The Michigan State School of Journalism
- Video: Meet your School of Journalism faculty
- Video: #SpartansWill
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.
4 videos, 1 reading, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
- Discussion Prompt: Find a Journalism Code of Ethics
- Video: Undercover reporting and deception
- Practice Quiz: Undercover reporting and deception
- Video: Fairness and balance
- Practice Quiz: Understanding fairness and balance
- Video: Plagiarism & fabrication
- Discussion Prompt: Earning and keeping trust: what do you think?
Graded: Discovering plagiarism
Graded: Earning and keeping trust
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.
4 videos, 4 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Understanding conflict of interest
- Video: Disaster situations
- Practice Quiz: Violence, disaster and tragedy
- Video: Tensions between journalists and news sources
- Practice Quiz: Relationships with news sources
- Video: Journalists and privacy rights
- Practice Quiz: Understanding privacy
Graded: Handling gift situations
Graded: On the scene of a disaster
Graded: Unhappy news sources
Graded: Public interest vs. individual interests
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.
4 videos, 2 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: Understanding national press systems
- Video: Journalist safety & press rights defenders
- Practice Quiz: Understanding journalists' safety
- Video: The life of international correspondents
- Video: Covering world news from home
Graded: Elements of news diversity
Graded: Confronting threats
Graded: Understanding how international correspondents work
Graded: Planning your news report
Graded: Reporting about world news from home
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.
4 videos, 2 practice quizzes
- Practice Quiz: The economics of journalism
- Peer Review: Preparing for change
- Video: Publishing...on your terms
- Discussion Prompt: Be the publisher!
- Video: Freelancing in journalism
- Practice Quiz: Understanding successful freelancing
- Video: Journalism, the future and you
Graded: Developing YOUR journalism business model
Graded: Business aspects of freelancing
Graded: Putting it all together
FAQs
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Coursework
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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 |
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