What is news?
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What is news?
This course is part of Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization
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There are 5 modules in this course
This course will guide you through the basic elements of professional journalism and the news values and ethics of covering real-world issues and events. The overview and examples of the types of news coverage helps introduce the different types of journalism, such as social media, multimedia, print, visual and broadcast, and how professional journalists effectively use each format.
You will learn about the School of Journalism, our award-winning faculty and the world-class atmosphere of Michigan State University. We are a special place, where amazing things happen every day.
What's included
4 videos1 discussion prompt
4 videos•Total 16 minutes
- This is the world of journalism•4 minutes
- The Michigan State School of Journalism•4 minutes
- Meet your School of Journalism faculty•6 minutes
- This is Michigan State University•1 minute
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Why credibility matters•10 minutes
In every module of this course, we will go deeper into journalistic values and ethics. In many ways, these values are what distinguish journalism from the many other kinds of content. You will learn how to move beyond creating content to creating journalism through understanding and using these values.
What's included
7 videos3 readings7 assignments2 discussion prompts
7 videos•Total 28 minutes
- The Power of Credibility•4 minutes
- The importance of accuracy•4 minutes
- Finding balance in a world that tilts•3 minutes
- Transparency and dealing with mistakes•6 minutes
- Is seeing believing?•6 minutes
- Sensationalism in journalism•2 minutes
- What is propaganda?•2 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
- Global journalistic ethics•10 minutes
- National Press Photographers Association guidelines•10 minutes
- Readings in plagiarism•10 minutes
7 assignments•Total 124 minutes
- Credibility, fairness...and you•10 minutes
- Earning and keeping trust•6 minutes
- Is seeing believing?•8 minutes
- Reflection on sensationalism•30 minutes
- Is it propaganda or journalism when ...•10 minutes
- Is it plagiarism?•30 minutes
- Trust and credibility quiz•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
- Why does credibility matter to you?•10 minutes
- Reflection on Transparency•10 minutes
You will learn how to reach your audience and community as a journalist, by exploring news reports, interest and importance, and values and ethics.
What's included
3 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt
3 videos•Total 20 minutes
- News Elements & Values•8 minutes
- First things first: your lead•5 minutes
- Point-of-view journalism•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Frameworks for POV journalism•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Elements of a good lead•30 minutes
- Connecting community and content•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- What news report ideas can you find?•10 minutes
Understanding the ways journalism happens is just as important as knowing how to do it. There are many different types of journalism, as our world is filled with so many things to communicate about: sports, cars, celebrities, movies, war, business, real estate, pets, art...if you can name it, you can do journalism about it.
What's included
6 videos1 reading5 assignments3 peer reviews1 discussion prompt
6 videos•Total 38 minutes
- Local news•4 minutes
- Features•6 minutes
- Sports•6 minutes
- National and international news•10 minutes
- Science and environmental news•2 minutes
- Opinion writing•10 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Advice from a journalism recruiter•10 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
- What is Sports Journalism?•30 minutes
- Pre-lecture question: Can opinions be news?•30 minutes
- Reflection on your path in journalism•30 minutes
- opinion writing•30 minutes
- News report ideas and development•30 minutes
3 peer reviews•Total 180 minutes
- Brainstorming local news ideas with peers•60 minutes
- Crafting an idea for a news report•60 minutes
- Graded ethics challenge•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Discussion: Does government control your media?•10 minutes
Journalists are working in new and exciting places such as social media. Technology has allowed the profession and journalists to do their jobs in innovative ways. You will learn about how technology impacts journalism, and best practices for blogs, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope, WeChat, Facebook and other realities of engaging in social media.
What's included
5 videos1 reading3 assignments1 peer review
5 videos•Total 31 minutes
- A 2-minute history of journalism•2 minutes
- Engaging online audiences•4 minutes
- Crowdsourcing in journalism•9 minutes
- Social Media Tools for Journalists•11 minutes
- Doing social media journalism•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- How social media makes issues go viral•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Why we should engage our audience?•30 minutes
- How to use engagement strategies•30 minutes
- Crowdsourcing your content•30 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
- Social media assigment•120 minutes
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Reviewed on Apr 26, 2020
Very good because it is taught about all the basics of journalists. Various case studies also train me to be able to think more with the mindset of a journalist. I highly recommend this class.
Reviewed on Jun 7, 2020
I really enjoyed learning all of the different parts dealing with Journalism. I thought that the videos and the light reading made for a great learning experience. Thanks, Denise Shannon.
Reviewed on Feb 14, 2021
very good course to start with journalism career and also there are terms and things I learned here and didn't learn yet in a mass of communication faculty
Frequently asked questions
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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