Topics in Journalism: Journalism, Nonfiction Writing, and the Search for Truth
WRCT 250F
Fall 2018 not offered
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| Certificates: Writing |
Journalism is a kind of nonfiction writing about the present, in the service of the public. Journalists seek to give an accurate depiction of the world around us--the hell of war, the horror of poverty and exploitation, the beauty of art and dance, the delight of travel. All too often, especially in today's world of wonks and publication at the speed of Twitter, journalism falls short of describing the world with accuracy--sometimes because of deliberate distortion, personal or political; sometimes because of a failure to do adequate research; and sometimes because it isn't always easy to give a fair description of the truth. Truth can be a slippery thing--there can be many competing versions. Who is to say which version is right? This course will examine examples of journalism and other nonfiction writing that do an exemplary job capturing the world and reporting the "news." It will also examine and dissect articles where writers have fallen short. We will discuss methods, tools, and strategies for trying to depict the world truthfully--interviews, investigative reporting, document searches, and pursuing conflicting voices and viewpoints. We will also explore personal memoirs and the tensions between being faithful to memory and being faithful to truth. In this course, we are likely to examine truth, fairness, and distortion when it comes to writing about economics and labor issues and abuses. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA WRCT |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Books or shorter pieces by George Orwell, William Finnegan, Katherine Boo, David Remnick, Gay Talese, Dani Shapiro, Nick Lemann, and others.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Several short written assignments and a longer project. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
To apply for a place in the course, write a brief statement of up to 250 words explaining why you are interested in the subject. Also submit a writing sample of 2-3 pages. Send this application to Professor Anne Greene at agreene@wesleyan.edu with subject line: WRCT 269 Journalism. Also submit a POI request in your portfolio.
Please submit the materials described in the instructions above. Send your application materials to agreene@wesleyan.edu no later than Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014.
If accepted, you will be admitted via your ePortfolio. |
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