About this course: You will learn about the career paths that are available in journalism, and what opportunities the skill sets of a journalist can offer in other fields. You will explore areas such as being an international correspondent, self-publishing in journalism, as well as how to freelance in the field. You will be empowered to develop your own path in journalism, from being an active and informed consumer, to being a journalist. The worlds of business, communications, politics, education and marketing all utilize elements of journalism. This course also examines how to keep the trust of audiences through ethical, and responsible, journalistic practices. Sometimes, journalists need to be aware of their own safety. We will intelligently discuss how journalists around the world handle pressure, threats and other dangers while doing their jobs. Journalism - and journalists - are agents of change. Are you ready to become one too?

Created by: Michigan State University

Taught by: Joanne Gerstner, Sports Journalist in Residence
Michigan State University School of Journalism
Taught by: Jeremy Steele, Specialist
Michigan State University School of Journalism
Taught by: David Poulson, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Eric Freedman, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Joe Grimm, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Lucinda D. Davenport, Director & Professor
School of Journalism

Basic Info	Course 4 of 5 in the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization
Level	Beginner
Commitment	5 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week
Language	English
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Welcome to the Michigan State School of Journalism

You will learn about journalism profession, the Michigan State University School of Journalism, our world-class faculty and the world-class atmosphere of Michigan State University. We are proud to have Pulitzer-prize winning journalists, distinguished authors and broadcasters, and award-winning scholarly faculty all part of our Michigan State Journalism family. We are a special place, where amazing things happen every day.

4 videos

Video: This is the world of journalism
Video: The Michigan State School of Journalism
Video: Meet your School of Journalism faculty
Video: #SpartansWill

WEEK 2

Earning and Keeping Trust

High ethical standards are essential to developing and maintain trust in the press, in news organizations and in individual journalists in all forms of media: print, broadcast, multimedia and social media. You will learn how to understand a journalist's ethical obligations, and then carry out your professional duties in a trustworthy way, even in the face of pressure in all mediums. You will be empowered to make strong decisions as a journalist to serve your audiences, as well as your outlet.

4 videos, 1 reading, 2 practice quizzes

Video: Journalists and ethics
Reading: Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics
Discussion Prompt: Find a Journalism Code of Ethics
Video: Undercover reporting and deception
Practice Quiz: Undercover reporting and deception
Video: Fairness and balance
Practice Quiz: Understanding fairness and balance
Video: Plagiarism & fabrication
Discussion Prompt: Earning and keeping trust: what do you think?

Graded: Discovering plagiarism

Graded: Earning and keeping trust

WEEK 3

Tough Calls

Journalists must make difficult decisions - tough calls - that require careful analysis and deep thought. You will learn how journalists must balance competing interests in a sensitive way that still gives primary attention to the needs of your audience, not to your personal self-interest or the self-interest of your news consumers. You will be empowered with the tools and information to assess these challenges of the profession, and then make the correct decisions for safety/welfare and journalistic credibility.

4 videos, 4 practice quizzes

Video: Conflict of interest tension
Practice Quiz: Understanding conflict of interest
Video: Disaster situations
Practice Quiz: Violence, disaster and tragedy
Video: Tensions between journalists and news sources
Practice Quiz: Relationships with news sources
Video: Journalists and privacy rights
Practice Quiz: Understanding privacy

Graded: Handling gift situations

Graded: On the scene of a disaster

Graded: Unhappy news sources

Graded: Public interest vs. individual interests

WEEK 4

International Journalism

Journalism today is unrestrained by national political borders in most of the world. The Internet and social media make it possible to follow events around the globe and to obtain news and information from multiple sources at the same time. However, the press and individual journalists can operate differently in some ways from country to country, depending on national laws, political systems, cultural values and economic resources of news organizations. You will learn how to understand national press systems, constraints on press freedom, broad techniques for covering international news from within your own country and the important work of international correspondents.You will be empowered to consider how you could serve your audience by doing journalism from an international perspective.

4 videos, 2 practice quizzes

Video: Intro to International Journalism
Practice Quiz: Understanding national press systems
Video: Journalist safety & press rights defenders
Practice Quiz: Understanding journalists' safety
Video: The life of international correspondents
Video: Covering world news from home

Graded: Elements of news diversity

Graded: Confronting threats

Graded: Understanding how international correspondents work

Graded: Planning your news report

Graded: Reporting about world news from home

WEEK 5

The Future of Journalism...and You

How will people get their news and information in the future, and what will your role be in providing that news and information. Now it is your turn to think about your place. You will learn about journalism careers, freelance journalism and predictions for the future of the news industry. You will be empowered to understand, and then conceptualize, how your life and skills fit into journalism's many careers and forms. We hope you will be inspired to find your place - and voice - in journalism.

4 videos, 2 practice quizzes

Video: Our changing journalism world
Practice Quiz: The economics of journalism
Peer Review: Preparing for change
Video: Publishing...on your terms
Discussion Prompt: Be the publisher!
Video: Freelancing in journalism
Practice Quiz: Understanding successful freelancing
Video: Journalism, the future and you

Graded: Developing YOUR journalism business model

Graded: Business aspects of freelancing

Graded: Putting it all together

FAQs

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

What will I get if I pay for this course?

What is the refund policy?

Is financial aid available?

How It Works

Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from Your Peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

Creators

Michigan State University

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Pricing

	Purchase Course	Audit
Access to course materials	Available	Available
Access to graded materials	Available	Not available
Receive a final grade	Available	Not available
Earn a shareable Course Certificate	Available	Not available

Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 of 61 ratings

Quite insightful and a wonderful approach plus prowess with every video. Best of all at the end you end up with options on how to advance.

5 stars for the 4th course in the specialization. In this course I learned about fairness & balance, freelancing, international journalism, disaster situations, conflict of interest, covering world news, press rights and safety, ethics, plagiarism, and more.

As each of the courses has been, the lectures were succinct, with key term and information slides well placed. Engaging and thought provoking. As it should be, this 4th course was the most challenging. I earned my certificate!

I immediately enrolled in the capstone.

I highly recommend this course

My journey continue, this is my fourth step. Learning a lot with the professors I'm honoured to work.

On ne devrait pas exercer le metier de journalisme sans suivre ce cours a l'avance. It is a great guide to lead the journalist.

Journalism, the future, and you!

Journalism, the future, and you!

Journalism, the future, and you!