Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens

The University of Melbourne via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/journalism-skills

Introduction

### Course Review: Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens In an age where information is at our fingertips, the line between citizen and journalist has blurred. The Coursera course **"Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens"** is a timely offering that equips aspiring journalists and the general public with foundational skills in journalism, facilitating the journey from passive consumption to active creation of news narratives. #### Course Overview "Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens" is designed for anyone interested in exploring the realm of journalism in the context of new media. This course stands out because it addresses the core question: while almost anyone can publish today, does this activity constitute journalism? Over six weeks, the course helps participants navigate this landscape, emphasizing the ethics, skills, and responsibilities that come with journalism. #### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **What is a Journalist, and What is News?** The course kicks off with an exploration of what defines journalism and the role of journalists in society. It dives into the historical context, illustrating how technology has democratized the ability to publish. Through the introduction of Newstown, a fictional town created as a case study, learners engage with real-world scenarios that resonate with current media landscapes. 2. **Attribution, Verification and the Structure of News Writing** Week two emphasizes the significance of accuracy in journalism, teaching vital skills like attributing information and verifying facts. The structure of news writing is dissected, equipping participants with the tools needed for responsible reporting. The focus on Newstown continues, reinforcing the importance of context in journalism. 3. **Finding Things Out: Places, Paper and People** This week expands on the techniques journalists use to uncover stories. It introduces strategies for research, detailing the importance of locations, documents, and human sources as integral parts of the storytelling process. 4. **More on Interviews** The fourth week dedicates itself to the art of interviewing, a crucial component of any journalist’s toolkit. Through examples featuring key Newstown figures, learners observe effective and ineffective interviewing techniques. 5. **Contacts and Confidential Sources; Applying the Skills and Organising Your Material** As the course progresses, it tackles intricate topics like handling off-the-record sources and maintaining relationships with contacts. By synthesizing information gathered from the course thus far, participants learn to organize material and craft compelling, ethical news reports. 6. **Media Law and Impartiality; Wrapping Up the Course** In the final week, the course culminates in a discussion on media law, focusing on defamation and contempt, while also addressing the necessity of impartiality in journalism. This section equips learners with a nuanced understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks surrounding the profession, preparing them to navigate the complexities of journalism in practice. #### Why You Should Consider This Course - **Accessible to All:** Whether you’re a budding journalist or a concerned citizen, this course breaks down the barriers to understanding journalism, making it approachable for everyone. - **Practical Learning Through Newstown:** The immersive case study of Newstown not only contextualizes the lessons but also offers a practical platform for applying course concepts through interactive exercises. - **Skills for the Modern Media Landscape:** As misinformation proliferates, the skills taught in this course promote critical thinking and responsible reporting, invaluable traits for today’s information consumers and producers. - **Ethics and Law:** The emphasis on media law and journalistic ethics solidifies a responsible foundation for anyone looking to make an impact in the world of news. - **Flexible Learning:** Offered through Coursera, the course is conveniently available for those with varying schedules. ### Final Recommendation "Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens" is not just a course; it’s an invitation to participate in the media narrative of our times. As we navigate an ever-evolving landscape of information—where anyone can become a publisher—this course provides essential tools, insights, and ethical guidance. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their understanding of journalism and become an informed participant in public discourse. Whether you're looking to become a journalist or simply aim to engage more critically with the news, this course is an invaluable resource.

Syllabus

What is a Journalist, and What is News?

This week we will discuss what journalism is, what journalists do, and how this has been affected over time by technology. We'll think about the exciting changes of our own time – the first in human history when the means of publication are in everyone's hands. We will then talk about the principles of news writing, and the nature of news. Finally, we will introduce Newstown, a fictitious place in Victoria, Australia. We also attend a news conference held in the Newstown Council Chambers. We will be using Newstown as the basis of our skills based exercises in this MOOC, so please take the time to become familiar with the town and its issues by following the link to Newstown in the course resources.

Attribution, Verification and the Structure of News Writing

This week we discuss some more core skills of journalism, particularly the very important concepts of attribution of information, and verification. We explore the structure of news writing in some more detail. Finally, make sure you take a close look at the Newstown site, and keep looking at it from now on as the course develops. Some new information has been posted that you will need to use in this week's first assessable news writing exercise.

Finding Things Out: Places, Paper and People

This week we discuss some more core skills of journalism, particularly the very important concepts of attribution of information, and verification. We explore the structure of news writing in some more detail. Finally, make sure you take a close look at the Newstown site, and keep looking at it from now on as the course develops. Some new information has been posted that you will need to use in this week's first assessable news writing exercise.

More on Interviews

This week we delve further into the art of interviewing, and watch and discuss some good and bad examples involving the key characters in Newstown.

Contacts and Confidential Sources; Applying the Skills and Organising Your Material

This week we explore the complications of dealing with off the record sources and long term contacts. We watch an encounter with a Newstown 'Deep Throat' and discuss how to handle the encounter and the information offered. Remember to check out the Newstown website for more information becoming available. We begin to pull all the threads of the Newstown story together, and apply the skills we have learned in the earlier modules of this course. We talk about how to read and analyse the public documents on the Newstown site, how to organise material, what questions to ask based on this material, and how to pull it all together into a story for The Alternative. We also provide you with an exemplar news report to give you some guidance for the final news writing assessment and how it might be done.

Media Law and Impartiality; Wrapping Up the Course

This week we concentrate on two aspects of media law – defamation and contempt, and we consider the meaning of journalistic impartiality. We wrap up the course by revisiting the key principles of journalism and what we have learned. We also have a few things to say about the public nature of journalism, and how bruising that can be.