Course Description - Extreme Alaska



Journalism in Perspective JRN 421Fall Term 2016Location: Bunnell Building 106Meeting time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.?MWFInstructor: Snedden Chair Adam TannerOffice hours: Monday 2-4 p.m. and by appointmentAdam_tanner@harvard.edutel. 907-474-6326Course DescriptionIn this class we will analyze controversial and complicated issues in contemporary journalism, with a strong focus on ethical issues encountered by the media both past and present. In readings and lively seminar discussion, we will reflect on some of the finest examples in reporting as well as pitfalls to avoid, all towards the goal of reinforcing essential journalistic standards for the changing media future. We will read articles from traditional and new media, review case studies, watch video clips and movies and hear from guest lecturers from the media, the military, public relations and politics. Because we are midway through an especially unusual and unpredictable presidential campaign, we will also devote considerable attention to how the media is covering the current elections. Non-journalists interested in improving their media literacy are also invited to take the class. Overall, the seminar hopes to capture some of the spirit of former CBS News President Fred Friendly who said: “Our job is not to make up anyone’s mind, but to open minds – to make the agony of decision-making so intense that you can escape only by thinking.” ExpectationsInteraction is essential to the work of a journalist, and students are expected to prepare thoroughly. Complete required readings and viewings ahead of class and come ready to engage in thoughtful and respectful discussion. The professor will occasionally resort to “cold calling,” in which he will randomly ask a student to give an overview of the day’s essential reading or case study to kick off discussion.Students will be expected to embrace the professional work standards of an entry-level journalist. To do well in the class and get the most out of it, you will do all the readings, participate in class discussions, give an oral presentation and complete various writing assignments.GoalsDevelop a compass to navigate difficult ethical issues in journalism; study techniques in investigative reporting; assess media coverage critically with an eye to improving your own reporting.AttendanceAttendance will be taken at the beginning of each class, so come on time. If you cannot attend for any reason, contact the professor as soon as possible before the class. If students miss more than two classes without the professor’s permission, they will lose three percentage points from their final grade for each missed class. Permitted reasons (which should be documented) include illness, family emergency, legal or military obligation or religious holiday. Points deducted through unexcused absences may be re-earned through extra-credit assignments, such as writing a news story on a local event.Media Monitoring of Presidential CoverageEach student is expected to monitor one media outlet’s coverage of the 2016 election campaign regularly to consider daily coverage, slant and perspective. Such monitoring will enable each student to contribute to ongoing discussions and to a class blog of campaign coverage. Students should get approval for their choice by the end of the first week of class from the professor and could include national media such as the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN; online outlets such as , or ; TV or cable stations; Alaska media; or a satirical show focusing on politics such as The Daily Show.Class BlogWe will interact outside the classroom via a course blog that looks at media coverage of the 2016 election and its aftermath. You are expected to enter at least a short item every week (100 to 200 words) for the blog highlighting coverage on the outlet you are following. Summarize coverage you think is worthy of attention, post links to articles or video for fellow students, and analyze or evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of such reporting, perhaps contrasting it with mainstream reporting such as in the New York Times.Grading and Evaluation● Class participation, 15 percent, and in-class presentation, 10 percent. This includes evidence of familiarity with the readings, ability to engage in a constructive dialogue with others in the class, and updates on the media outlet you are monitoring, including an oral presentation on your analysis of how your monitored media outlet has covered the election.● Written Assignments, 30 percent. Over the course of the semester you will do several in-class and out of class reporting exercises, including writing an original story related to the 2016 election in Alaska and the ongoing class blog.● Mid-Term Exam (15 percent).● Final Exam (30 percent): The final exam will be a series of factual and essay questions on material from throughout the semester. The closed-book exam will take place in class without access to outside materials.DeadlinesJournalists have to meet deadlines, the students in this class have to hand in work and projects by the assigned day and time, typically the start of class on the day the assignment is due. Those who hand in work late will be marked downward a grade for each day late, so that an “A” quality paper becomes a “B” when submitted a day late.Electronic DevicesYou may use a laptop or tablet in class to take notes, write in-class assignments and take exams. These devices should not be used for any non-class related work, which means no personal social media, email, shopping, Tinder etc. Cell phones should be turned off prior to class; their use in class is not allowed. Those who do not follow these guidelines will be marked absent for the day, and absences will contribute to a lower grade. These may appear to be strong measures – and intentionally so. A good journalist needs to focus on the work at hand.Professional Conduct and PlagiarismPlease review these UAF guidelines on plagiarism and Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Students who plagiarize or cheat in a journalism class giving considerable focus to ethical issues will fail the course.Tentative Class Schedule and ReadingsBecause we are closely following current events around the 2016 election, the syllabus will change over time so please regularly monitor for changes online.Week of August 29Aug 29 Introduction to Course, first case studyBefore class, read:● The Sony Hack and the Yellow Press by Aaron Sorkin in the New York Times.---Aug 31 – Journalistic ProfilesBefore class read: ● 10 elements common to good journalism---Sept 2 –. Ethics and StandardsBefore class, read: ● New York Times Ethical Journalism: A Handbook of Values and Practices for the News and Editorial Departments pp. 10-13, 19-22, 33- 37● SPJ Code of EthicsVoluntary additional reading:● Swag taints tech coverage, raises ethics questions● Are we journalists first?Week of Sept 5 (No Class Monday Sept 5) Fairness and Journalism EthicsSept 7 – Discussion of ethics and reporting in Absence of MaliceBefore class, watch movie: Absence of Malice. For discussion, consider what film critic Roger Ebert wrote of the journalist Sally Fields portrays: “She is a disgrace to her profession.” Do you agree? Detail why or why not?----Sept 9 – Ethics and Accuracy Before class, read: ● In NPR Ethics Handbook sections on “Accuracy” “Fairness” ● American Press Institute Journalism Essentials read all subsections under “Principals of the Craft,” “Theories of Journalism and the Public,” “Bias and Objectivity” and “Verification and Accuracy------Week of Sept 12 – Politics intro and finding sourcesSept 12 – Covering elections and politicians Before class read: ● “Trump Is Testing the Norms of Objectivity in Journalism”● “In Revoking Press Credentials, Trump Casts Himself as Punisher in Chief.”● “A veteran California reporter on why she’s excited to join Politico”Voluntary additional reading:● Pre-Primary News Coverage of the 2016 Presidential Race: Trump’s Rise, Sanders’ Emergence, Clinton’s StruggleGuest speaker (via Skype) from San Francisco: veteran political reporter Carla Marinucci, Politico California Playbook----------Sept 14: Finding People and Documents Before class, read: ● “Writer Evan Ratliff Tried to Vanish: Here’s What Happened,” Evan Ratliff, Wired.● “I Challenged Hackers to Investigate Me and What They Found Out Is Chilling,” by Adam Penenberg, Pando.------------Sept 16 – Data Brokers/Ethnic DataThe firms that have hundreds and even thousands of details about you and how they use this information. How can these files help inform reporting?Before class read: ● “Data brokers: A Call for Transparency and Accountability,” FTC Report, executive summary i-ix.Voluntary additional reading: ● “The Net’s Master Data-miner,” Vanity Fair● Adam Tanner, What Stays in Vegas, chapters 5, 6 7●“Data brokers: A Call for Transparency and Accountability,” full FTC Report.-------------Week of Sept 19 – Interviews, Elections (continued)Sept. 19 – Interviews and preparationBefore class, read: ● Some Useful Interview Techniques● Bob Schieffer: The Meta-Interview● Eight Simple Rules for Doing Accurate JournalismVoluntary additional reading: ● A Journalist With Rare Access to Obama Had to Play by Quote RuleDue by Start of Class: Rewrite on Profile story from August 31, 500 words.----- Sept 21 -- Political reporting Before class read: ● Boys on the Bus, chapter 1. ● The 2016 Presidential Campaign – a News Event That’s Hard to Miss● Esther Scott, “The Story After the Story: The Los Angeles Times’ Coverage of Arnold Schwarzenegger,” 2005. ----Sept 23 – Celebrity and PoliticsIn class: Guest Speaker (via Skype): former LA Times political reporter Joe Matthews, author “The People’s Machine: Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Rise of Blockbuster Democracy.” -----Week of Sept 26 – Privacy and Sex ScandalsSept 26 – Political Sex ScandalsBefore class read: ● How Gary Hart’s Downfall Forever Changed American Politics, NY Times● News or Rumor? Politico and the Edwards Affair (Columbia Case Study)● Dick Morris: Secrets Of The Clintons’ Sham Marriage, National Enquirer----Sept 28 – Innuendo and OutingBefore class read:● For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk, New York Times● What That McCain Article Didn’t Say, New York Times● Gawker's Outing Of Condé Nast's CFO Is Gay-Shaming, Not Journalism, Huffington Post--Sept 30 -- Privacy and invasion of privacy Before class, read: Public Death, Private Life: Army Major Alan Rogers and the Washington PostIn class: Practice, non graded quiz/in class writing--------Week of Oct 3 – More politics coverageOct 3 – More detailed discussion of media outlets students are monitoring--Oct 5 – Washington Politics.Guest speaker via Skype from Washington DC Zach Wolf, managing editor CNN Digital Politics---Oct 7 – In class writing exercise--------Week of Oct 10 Investigative reporting and Anonymous Sources Oct 10 - WatergateBefore class, read: ● Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, All the President’s Men, chapter 1Before class watch film: All the Presidents Men--=Oct 12 – Watergate (cont.)Before class read: ● Watergate Case Study ● Welcome to the Sausage Factory, NY Magazine● Celebrity magazines' odd anonymous outlook, LA TimesVoluntary additional reading: ● NPR Ethics Guidelines section: Transparency--Oct 14 MID TERM-EXAM-----Week of Oct 17 – Plagiarism and DeceptionOct 17 – Plagiarism and FraudBefore class read: ● “Correcting the Record; Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception,” by New York Times staff.● “Ex-USA Today Reporter Faked Major Stories,” by Blake Morrison, USA Today.Supplementary reading: ● “New York Times Statement About 1932 Pulitzer Prize Awarded to Walter Duranty”●“Jimmy’s World,” by Janet Cooke, Washington Post, Sep. 28, 1980:---Oct 19 – Deception and lyingBefore class read: ● PR Ethics Guideline section on “Honesty”● The Landmark Food Lion CaseVoluntary additional reading: ● Who’s the “Predator”?---Oct 21 – Finish discussion on deception, lying, other topics-------Week of Oct 24 – TV, newspapers and online mediaOct 24 – TV news ----Oct 26 – Fake News----Oct 28 – Upstarts challenging traditional mediaRead: ● Vox Takes Melding of Journalism and Technology to a New Level● Millennials and Political News● A rule for online news: Errors are inevitable; lack of transparency is not● News Use Across Social Media Platforms 2016Hand in: 500 word student story related to current political campaign, such as coverage of political rally or particular issue.------Week of Oct 31 – Sex Crimes Oct 31 – Sex CrimesBefore class watch film: SpotlightNov 2 – Sex Crimes (cont)Before class read:● Columbia case study “Reporting an Explosive Truth: the Boston Globe and Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church.”● “Out of the Spotlight: Does the?Phoenix Deserve Credit for the?Globe’s Scoop?” Boston MagazineGuest speaker: Kristen Lombardi, senior reporter, the Center for Public Integrity, who helped expose the clergy sexual scandal and has won awards investigating campus rape stories.Nov 4 – TBDIn class: In class Quiz with a few essay-style questions------Week of Nov 7 Presidential Elections FocusNov 7 – Overview ahead of election day--Nov 9 – election aftermath discussion--Nov 11 – Oral reports on monitored news outlets, ten minutes each, with Powerpoint. ----------Week of Nov 14 – Oral reportsNov 14 - Oral reports on monitored news outlets, ten minutes each, with Powerpoint (continued)Nov 16 - TBDNov 18 - TBD----------Week of Nov 21 (no class Nov 25 Thanksgiving) – Crowdsourcing and other Internet era issues Nov 21 Crowdsourcing Before class read ● “Crowdsourcing”: Promise or Hazard? Part A: Debate at the Fort Myers, FL, News‐Press● “Crowdsourcing” at the Fort Myers, FL, News‐Press Part B: “Help Us Investigate”Nov 23 - TBD----------Week of Nov 28 – National Security IssuesNov 28: The Selling of the Iraq War: How Iraqi exiles built support in the U.S, media and the Bush Administration to oust Saddam Hussein. Before class read: ● Judith Miller, “An Iraqi Defector Tells of Work on at Least 20 Hidden Weapons Sites,” New York Times, December 20, 2001● Editors’ Note, “The Times and Iraq,” New York Times, May 26, 2004:Guest speaker (via Skype from London): Zaab Sethna, former spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress, a founding partner at Northern Gulf Partners.----Nov 30: Reporting Abu Ghraib and its aftermathBefore class, read: ● Original New Yorker article on Abu Ghraib ● Errol Morris interview on Abu Ghraib coverageVoluntary additional reading: ● Adam Tanner Reuters interview with Lynndie England ----Dec 2 – Lessons in U.S. military-media relations.Guest speaker (via Skype): Brian Tribus, former director of public affairs, U.S. Forces Afghanistan and communications director for the Commanding General in Iraq, current VP, Learning & Program Development at TribusAllen, Inc.-----Week of Dec 5 – The Business of JournalismDec 5 State of Journalism TodayBefore class read: ● “State of the News Media 2016” overview at that link.● Columbia Journalism Review NY Times Paywall case studyVoluntary additional reading: ● "State of the News Media 2016" via "Complete Report PDF" link---Dec 7 – Possible guest talkBefore class read:● Clayton M. Christensen, David Skok, James Allworth, “Breaking News,” Nieman Reports, Fall 2012. In class: Practice, non-graded Quiz---Dec 9 -- Public Hysteria and Demagogy: McCarthy, Wartime Patriotism and TrumpWatch film: ● Good Night and Good LuckBefore class, read: ● Jessica Lynch case studyVoluntary additional reading:● The Political Lie, From Cicero to Joe McCarthy----------------------------Monday, Dec. 12– FINAL EXAM 3:15-5:15 p.m. ................
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