J298 Identity and Journalism

This course offers a critical examination of how journalists construct, cover, and convey ideas about identity, with particular emphasis on race, ethnicity, gender, and other socially-defined categories. Students will explore the historical and structural factors that shape news coverage, analyze the ethical challenges inherent in reporting on marginalized communities, and consider how newsroom practices can either reinforce or challenge inequities. Through scholarly readings, case studies, and practical reporting assignments, the course emphasizes identity as a fundamental interpretive framework for all journalistic work. Students will develop the analytical and professional tools necessary to report with fairness, context, and a deeper awareness of their own positionality.