The foundation of ethics in journalism relies on truthfulness, integrity, and accountability in storytelling. In class, students will discuss the history of mass media, one that is rooted in upholding racial, political, and socio-economic inequality in America. In that continuum, students will examine the current crises and reckonings in commercialized news media that include objectivity, spin, local news, single narratives, and inequity. Students will analyze reporting practices, the higher functions for news media, and journalism as a public good. Students will identify best practices for news storytelling and make ethical decisions on deadline. Students will read works by revolutionary voices, learn about social movement media, and create media visions for paths forward.

Starting with the publication of its very first colonial newspaper, U.S. journalism has actively promoted -- and even organized and led -- identity-based discrimination and violence in our country. This reading-intensive course outlines this history, and situates contemporary U.S. journalism within this historical context. Through text and multimedia materials, guest visits, group discussions, and in-class presentations, this course also grounds students in the fundamental ethical principles of the journalistic discipline, examines capitalist and technological influences on news organizations and news practitioners, studies media law and the relationships between policy makers and media makers, interrogates concepts such as "objectivity" and "truth", and makes room for readings and discourse that challenge some of the industry's most venerated norms. Students will examine the role that journalism plays as a check on power in a democratic system, looking at times when the profession has succeeded or failed in that goal, with the understanding that from its beginnings, U.S. journalism has not so much opposed power as a concept as it has attempted to hold power to account. Students will also critically consider the relationship between journalists and the communities they report for/on. Readings and discussions will focus on a wide range of crucial episodes in media history, including but certainly not limited to the Zenger trial, the expansion of the telegraph, the publication of The Black Panther, the rise of the internet, the demise of Gawker.com, and news coverage of the U.S.-funded genocide in Palestine. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to the work of thought-provoking writers, reporters, photographers, editors, data journalists, historians, and media critics such as Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Joan Didion, Alexandra Bell, Gabe Schneider, Juan González, Ryan Christopher Jones, Hamilton Nolan, Neha Dixit, and Neil Postman. Close attention will be paid to alternative press, work by journalists from marginalized communities, media literacy, gender and class issues, and a range of practices that are currently being challenged within contemporary beat categories, such as food writing, travel writing, and foreign reporting.

The foundation of ethics in journalism relies on truthfulness, integrity, and accountability in storytelling. In class, students will discuss the history of mass media, one that is rooted in upholding racial, political, and socio-economic inequality in America. In that continuum, students will examine the current crises and reckonings in commercialized news media that include objectivity, spin, local news, single narratives, and inequity. Students will analyze reporting practices, the higher functions for news media, and journalism as a public good. Students will identify best practices for news storytelling and make ethical decisions on deadline. Students will read works by revolutionary voices, learn about social movement media, and create media visions for paths forward that imagine journalism as a public good.