J298 – Present at the Apocalypse: Thinking and Writing About Our Damaged Politics
The apocalyptic has become the commonplace in writing on American politics. That we face the fall of democracy, that the United States’ “unique experiment” may be coming to an end — these have become the daily tropes of our political commentary. This course will attempt to grasp this striking moment of political crisis, in which…
Read MoreJ298 – Telling Life Stories
J298: Telling Life Stories: Biography and Social Justice Spring 2021 Marilyn Chase In these days of reckoning, one of the most compelling genres we as journalists can pursue is biography, writing the life story of someone who helped change the world. We’ll deconstruct the art of biography, researching and writing about a life. In this…
Read MoreJ298 – Writing the Nonfiction Book
This is a 4-unit class for students who want to work on a nonfiction book. It is not a class for someone who vaguely thinks it would be nice to write a book someday. It is for the writer who has an original subject, a narrative strategy for making it appeal to the general reader,…
Read MoreJ298 – Intro. to Narrative Writing
J298: Introduction to Reported Narrative Writing One of the most valuable skills in journalism is the ability to transform hard-earned reporting into a clear, compelling narrative. At its best, nonfiction storytelling engages and moves readers while conveying information and ideas. It can be equally essential to a 900-word New York Times piece and a 5,000-word…
Read MoreJ298 – Race & Journalism
Race is an element in most stories, whether you’re covering #blacklivesmatter protests, presidential elections or city council meetings. You can’t accurately report on anything, let alone race, without understanding this country’s history and how white supremacy permeates everything. (“When we use the term white supremacy it doesn’t just evoke white people, it evokes a political…
Read MoreJ298 Advanced Narrative Writing
News is news: “US, Canada Go To War; Naval Battles in Great Lakes” or “J-School Lecturer Nabbed in Bank Heist.” A reader will read to the end of such a story no matter how badly it’s written. But how do you attract the attention of a busy, distracted reader to a story that doesn’t contain…
Read MoreU.S. deaths near 100,000, an incalculable loss
Read the backstory of this historic front page
Read MoreMarilyn Chase
Story by Casey Smith and Katey Rusch makes front page of The New York Times
We could not be prouder.
Read MoreJ242 Renegades, Underdogs, Madmen: The magazine profile
Profiles are a remarkably versatile form: an open door for exploring a vast range of subjects, from the secret guilt of a paid climate change denier, to the bizarre afterlife of Carrot Top, to the unique super-taster abilities of a chef with Asperger’s. They’re also marketable – editors love them – and unusually fun. So…
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