The Individual and the News in the Information Age
JRN 2500 FWA-HYBRID
W 4:10pm to 5:25pm — Other session online
Room: VC 7-160
Prof. Vera Haller
Office: VC 7-253
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Mondays: 10:30am-noon; Wednesdays: 12:30pm-2pm; and by appointment
IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS IS A HYBRID COURSE. WE WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE REST OF COURSE TIME WILL BE DEVOTED TO WEEKLY ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS.
The goal of JRN 2500 is to help you think critically about the news, the media that present it and its role in society.
The prerequisites are:
You must be interested in the news and follow it.
You must be curious and willing to ask questions.
Basic rules and procedures:
Attendance will be taken. As per Baruch policy, I will drop students who miss more than four classes without medical reason. Be punctual; lateness counts as a half-absence. If emergencies arise, please notify me by email.
During class time, let us know what you think (a significant part of your final grade is based on class participation, and this does not mean just showing up).
Using class time for web browsing and texting is not permitted.
Cellphones must be turned off or set to vibrate-only. If you must take a call, step outside the classroom.
Plagiarism and fabrication will not be tolerated. Engaging in either is grounds for failure, and violations will be reported to the college authorities. If you have any confusion as to what constitutes plagiarism, please ask.
Class Blog:
Much of your work and class discussion will be happening on the class blog. Here is the link: https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/jrn2500hybrid/ You must make sure during the first week of the semester that you have been added as a user to this blog. All weekly assignments will be clearly marked on the blog. You will be required to contribute weekly to the online discussion
Required Reading/Viewing:
BOOK: “Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich
(You can find it on Amazon or most bookstores. I’m also fine with e-books on tablets if you prefer, but you HAVE to bring book to class in whatever form on the days it is being discussed.)
DOCUMENTARY: “Citizenfour”
(Movie is available at the Baruch Library media resources desk. You can also see it on HBO, or stream it from a number of sources for a fee.)
NEW YORK TIMES: All students must have access to The New York Times website. Baruch students can access it for free for a year by signing up for an Academic Pass. Here is the link for information:
http://guides.newman.baruch.cuny.edu/newyorktimes
WEEKLY READINGS: These are links to articles, podcasts or videos that are required reading/viewing for the online portion of this course. All links can be found on the class blog under the heading at the top: “WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS.”
WORK EXPECTATIONS:
BLOG POSTS: A big part of your weekly work will be to answer a question/questions about the readings on our blog. Commenting on each others’ posts is also encouraged. We will devote a small amount of time each Wednesday to discussing the posts.
MIDTERM: The midterm will include some short answer questions and an essay that will test your understanding of the concepts covered in class and the assigned readings. I will provide more information about the midterm closer to the date.
NEWS QUIZZES: Over the course of the semester, I will give two to three unannounced news quizzes that will test your knowledge of current events.
GROUP PROJECT: Near the end of the semester, I will assign group projects that explore the news and media landscapes of other countries. Groups will be required to do a brief presentation to the class and each student will write his or her own paper on the subject. More details will be provided closer to the date.
FINAL: The final will cover the entirety of the subject matter presented during the semester. The format will be similar to the midterm: short answers and one or two essays. We will have a full review on the last day of class.
GRADING:
Class participation/quizzes 10 percent of grade
Online assignments 40 percent
Group Project 15 percent
Midterm 15 percent
Final exam 20 percent
Schedule of Classes and Readings:
The following is an outline of the lectures you can expect each Wednesday.
Week 1:
Intro to class – discuss news outlets.
Week 2:
First Amendment/principles of journalism
Week 3:
National Security and right to privacy (Pentagon Papers, Wikileaks, Snowden)
Week 4:
No class, Yom Kippur
Week 5:
A changing landscape – from pre-Internet to now (changing business models, 24-hour news cycle)
Week 6:
Inside the newsroom.
Week 7:
Sourcing (discuss “Nickel and Dimed”); receive take-home midterm
Week 8:
Investigative reporting (muckrakers, Watergate, etc.)
Week 9:
Political reporting
Week 10:
Foreign Reporting
Week 11:
Plagiarism and fabrication/photo manipulation
Week 12:
Race, gender and sexuality – how to be sensitive (Assign international news group project)
Week 13:
Social media and the future of news
Week 14:
Student presentations on international news research
Week 15:
Review for final (International news papers are due)
Week 16:
Monday, Dec. 14: I will be available in my office for individual conferences.