What are the differences between journalism and literature? How have the concepts of truth,
objectivity, and “fake news” changed over time? What can we learn about being journalists by reading literary works? This course combines practical training in journalism with investigation of its past, present, and future. Students will acquire hands-on skills in reporting, writing, interviewing, profiling, and more, while reading influential examples of journalism from the eighteenth century to today, and considering examples of fictional journalists. We will encounter changing concepts of news and fact as we move from the origins of journalism through the rise of objectivity to the midcentury “New Journalism” and today’s multimedia landscape. Along the way, we will learn not only how to do journalism but also why we do it in this way and whether there are other alternatives.

*This course will satisfy one of the major-prep requirements*

*This course will satisfy one of the courses needed for the Literature and Culture of Information (LCI) Specialization*