THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
OF THE CARIBOO
Bachelor of Journalism
Program
JOUR411 - 3
Case Studies in Journalism (2,2,0)
Winter Semester, 2001
Instructor: Alan Bass
Phone/Voice Mail: 371-5924
Office: CT103
E-Mail: abass@cariboo.bc.ca
Office Hours: Monday
2-4 p.m
Wednesday 2-4 p.m.
Friday
3-4 p.m.
Course Description
In this course, students learn about journalism decision-making by studying reallife incidents involving journalists on the job. The case-study method allows
students to consider the complexity of the challenges facing journalists as they
deal on a daily basis with questions involving ethics, reporting and interviewing
techniques, sourcing, bias and objectivity, news cycles, societal and personal
assumptions and changing technology – all while operating under deadline in a
competitive and often stressful environment. Students will also read and discuss
critical assessments of journalism and analyze the performance of journalists
today.
Educational Objectives/Outcomes
This course takes a holistic approach to learning that is typical of the case study
method. Students will gain a greater appreciation of how different aspects of
journalism come together on the job. They will learn how journalists balance the
often competing pressures they face. Through debate and discussion, students
will widen their understanding of the choices journalists can make and the
consequences their decisions can have. Through their familiarity with real-life
incidents, they will enter the workforce able to contribute knowledgeably to
discourse involving strategic issues about news coverage and presentation. They
also will have examined and validated their own reasons for doing journalism.
Prerequisites
none
Texts/Materials
Required:
Issues in Journalism Casebook, various authors
The Elements of Journalism, by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
Note: Additional readings will be assigned
Student Evaluation
Introductory Essay
Reading summaries
Analytical class summaries
Mid-term test
Concluding Essay
Participation
10%
10%
20%
20%
30%
10%
Course Topics
Week 1, Jan. 4 – General Introduction
Week 2, Jan. 7, 11 – Introduction to Case Studies
Seminar:
What is the function of journalism?
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 1
Week 3, Jan. 14, 18 – Journalists Think About Journalism
Online Reading: “Who is a Journalist?”, An informal online discussion among
faculty of the Poynter Institute, http://www.poynter.org/centerpiece/091800.htm
Online Reading: Attack Dog, Watch Dog or Guide Dog...The Role of the Media in
Building Community, Jan Schaffer, Executive Director, Pew Center for Civic
Journalism
Seminar:
The notion of ‘truth’ in journalism
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 2
Week 4, Jan. 21, 25 – Non-journalists Think About Journalism
Handout: “Both Sides Come Out Fighting: The Argument Culture and the Press”
from The Argument Culture: Stopping America’s War of Words by Deborah
Tannen
Handout: “A Propaganda Model” from Manufacturing Consent: The Political
Economy of the Mass Media, by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
Seminar:
Who do journalists work for?
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 3
Week 5, Jan. 28, Feb. 1 – Case 1: Senator Joe McCarthy and the Media
Readings:
Thinking Clearly, “McCarthyism, 1950-1954”, John Hebers
Online Reading: “American Journalism and Russia’s Tragedy”, Stephen F.
Cohen, The Nation, Oct. 2, 2000 at
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20001002&s=cohen
Film: All the President’s Men
Week 6, Feb. 4, 8 – Case 2: Watergate and the Triumph of Investigative
Reporting
Readings:
Thinking Clearly, “The Reporting of Watergate”, James M. Perry
Seminar:
The concept of verification; Journalistic Independence
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 4 & 5
Week 7, Feb. 11, 15 – Reporters, Editors and Sources
Reading:
Thinking Clearly, “The Massacre in El Mozote”, Stanley Meisler
Online Reading: The Middle East: War Journalism and Peace Journalism by
Jake Lynch on MediaChannel
Seminar:
Mid-term test
************************Feb. 18 – 22, Winter Break*************************
Week 8, Feb. 25, Mar. 1: Confronting Racism Inside and Outside the
Newsroom
Reading:
Thinking Clearly, “New Orleans Times-Picayune Series on Racism”, Jack Nelson
Handout: “Out of Touch,” from Yesterday’s News: Why Canada’s Daily
Newspapers are Failing Us, John Miller
Seminar:
Investigative journalism
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 6
Week 9, March 4, 8: Who Decides The Public’s Right to Know?
Thinking Clearly, “Minnesota’s Basketball Cheating Scandal”, Geneva
Overholser
Thinking Clearly, Richard Jewell and The Olympic Bombing, Ronald J. Ostrow
Seminar:
Journalism as a public forum
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 7
Week 10, March 11, 15: Reporting Killing Live
Thinking Clearly, “Columbine School Shooting: Live Television,” Alicia C.
Shepard
Film: Covering Columbine, a film by Meg Moritz, School of Journalism, University
of Colorado
Week 11, March 18, 22: Technology and Journalism
Thinking Clearly, “Internet Journalism and the Star Investigation”, J.D. Lasica
Seminar:
Relevance and proportionality
Seminar Reading: Elements of Journalism, Ch. 8, 9
Week 12, March 25: Journalism and Conscience
Elements of Journalism, Ch. 10
Week 13, April 5: No class scheduled
Special Course Activities
Students will monitor and discuss the work of today’s journalists. Students will be
expected to subscribe to the e-mail listserv of the Canadian Association of
Journalists and will be expected to keep up with current news. Speakers may
also be invited to address the class.
Use of Technology
Students will use the Internet as a research tool.