Journalism, New Media & Community Management

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In today’s volatile world, the path of journalism as a career is revitalized, but also perverted by an overwhelming number of communication platforms and methods. This course travels from the history of investigative and entertainment journalism, to the new media of blogging, vlogging, and podcasts as a means of discourse and communication, to the power of today’s social media platforms as a communication device. Ethics and morality have always been central to journalism, and with today’s social media networks, it is even more important that students understand the power and influence of communication in this field.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is case-based and guides students through the origins of journalism and how it paralleled technology, from the printing press to the internet. Students will be exposed to a variety of technological platforms and will experiment with journalism, storytelling, and managing communities on social networks.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students will understand:

• The history of journalism as a field and a career.
• The evolution of journalism and storytelling with new media platforms.
• The ethical aspects of journalism.
• The power of social media and viral communications.
• The purpose of community management as a communications tool