Journalism Curriculum Design

Historically, journalists function as the “watchdogs of society,” upholding the principles of a free democracy. Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein’s and Bob Woodward’s reporting on Watergate is an example and a fundamental unit in journalism 101 and investigative reporting classes. With the many types of reporting in our digital age, reporters' roles in media ethics are debated now. I designed an interactive journalism curriculum to help today's media students decide their role as journalists in a free society. 

In my course, I use a digital assessment tool to help students identify what they believe journalism is, and their results dictate the direction of their coursework. I pre-designed the two learning pathways to guide students' learning journey about journalism's history and applications. My curriculum uses select textbooks, interactive digital tools, and students' existing skills, experiences, and personal interests for an immersive, active learning environment. Ultimately, students will become media professionals from the ground up as they discover valid reasons for learning digital media skills based on their values and goals.