FNMS 298 - Journalism 2.0

This course will examine the fundamental shifts in the way news has been produced, circulated and received at the twilight of the Big News era. Unlike ENG 285 Journalism, which is primarily an introduction to news writing, this course is designed as an in-depth examination of the power and pitfalls of citizen journalism—news writing by non-professional journalists using digital platforms and following individually-determined standards of objectivity. We will track its material conditions of possibility, its democratic potential for facilitating civic engagement as well as its complicity in the spread of fake news. The course will provide you with an understanding of the origins and impact of citizen journalism and ultimately ask you to seek solutions to the problem of fake news by examining the conditions, challenges and supports that promote responsible citizen journalism.

Credits 1