J219 MINI: Guarding against disinformation (5 Weeks)

Class sessions will be the middle five weeks of the semester, DATES: Wednesdays Feb 15, Feb 22, Mar 1, Mar 8, and Mar 15.

This is a five-week mini course that will cover topics related to guarding against disinformation. It’s designed to teach students how to build resiliency in their reporting, protect their sources, and protect themselves from adversaries — from trolls to state actors that aim to undermine their reporting.

Students will read about the history and current state of disinformation and myth-making, and should be prepared to participate in class discussions about the readings. Guest speakers will include a mix of top journalists working within the United States — and internationally. Each will offer critical guidance on navigating disinformation in different environments.

For a core assignment, students will produce a written analysis of a beat or subject area, deconstructing how disinformation shifts narratives; the role of the media in promoting disinformation and misinformation; and how journalists on the beat approach the inherent challenges. We will reserve time at the end of the course for students to share the practical solutions they have gathered with the class.