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?
This course is part of the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization
Journalism, the future, and you!
Offered By
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
1Welcome 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 (Total 16 min)
4 videos
The Michigan State School of Journalism4m
Meet your School of Journalism faculty6m
#SpartansWill1m
Week
2Earning 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 (Total 22 min), 1 reading, 4 quizzes
4 videos
Undercover reporting and deception4m
Fairness and balance5m
Plagiarism & fabrication6m
1 reading
Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics10m
3 practice exercises
Undercover reporting and deception6m
Understanding fairness and balance6m
Earning and keeping trust6m
Week
3Tough 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 (Total 23 min), 8 quizzes
4 videos
Disaster situations6m
Tensions between journalists and news sources6m
Journalists and privacy rights5m
4 practice exercises
Understanding conflict of interest6m
Violence, disaster and tragedy6m
Relationships with news sources6m
Understanding privacy6m
Week
4International 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 (Total 36 min), 7 quizzes
4 videos
Journalist safety & press rights defenders6m
The life of international correspondents12m
Covering world news from home6m
3 practice exercises
Understanding national press systems4m
Understanding journalists' safety6m
Reporting about world news from home4m
4.7
35 Reviews25%
started a new career after completing these courses
29%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
By SR•Jun 30th 2018
Fantastic Class! I have a BA in Journalism and I felt the Coursera/MSU SoJ Classes were indeed tougher and give a much better example of 'real world' than you will find in most class rooms.
By VS•Dec 7th 2016
Genuine course, which makes budding journalists aware about the dangers involved, dedication required, & precautions to be taken, as well as importance of business aspect in journalism.
Instructors
Joanne Gerstner
Sports Journalist in ResidenceMichigan State University School of Journalism
Jeremy Steele
SpecialistMichigan State University School of Journalism
David Poulson
InstructorSchool of Journalism
Eric Freedman
InstructorSchool of Journalism
Joe Grimm
InstructorSchool of Journalism
Lucinda D. Davenport
Director & ProfessorSchool of Journalism
About 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.
About the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization
This Specialization will develop and enhance your understanding of the global field of journalism. You'll learn best practices and ethical standards for newsgathering processes and compiling a news report through hands-on projects, peer-to-peer feedback, and issue exploration. You will also study journalism's impact on societal issues and trends, plus explore career opportunities in newspapers, magazine, social media, Internet multimedia, television, radio, corporate and community journalism. The final Capstone project will guide you through the journalistic portfolio process, where you will conceptualize, report and complete a professional-quality news report.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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