As traditional news media give way to TikTok and Twitter and endlessly unfolding headlines and hashtags, the function of a free press remains an essential component of our democratic system. This class will give students an introduction to journalistic values and standards and an overview of the function of a free press in a democracy. They will explore questions of free speech, including a historical look at freedom of the press in the United States and the state of journalism around the world today. Students will analyze work from a wide variety of sources, including traditional outlets and digital platforms, while developing their own regular news consumption habits. Class discussions will focus on evaluating credibility, identifying bias, and exploring how stories are framed across different media. Students will learn to write journalistically while also creating content tailored for digital platforms like social media, blogs, and podcasts. They will leave the class with a portfolio of multimedia work, an understanding of the role journalism plays in society, and the tools to critically engage with today’s media landscape.

Students who wish to take this course for advanced credit will be required to regularly submit work for publication to school news outlets and to generate a semester-long capstone project that includes a substantive portfolio of polished pieces.