Course details

Name: ENWR - 250

Title: SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOGS AND JOURNALISM

Section: 01

Semester: Fall - 2010

Credits: 3

Description:
With the inability – or unwillingness – of newspapers to cover most local governments, residents are finding it harder to learn what is going on. This is especially true in New Jersey with its 566 municipalities, most of them small, 611 school districts and innumerable autonomous agencies. Even in the media’s halcyon days, the state suffered because it was overshadowed by media coverage from New York at the north and Philadelphia at the south. But then at least, the state had strong, vigilant newspapers whose owners and editors felt a responsibility to cover local government. With that gone, there’s a void. Unless they go for themselves, residents are usually at a loss to learn what really happened at last night’s council meeting. Rumors flourish; corrupt officials are even freer to cross the lawful line.

One of the few hopes is the rise of the citizen blogger. Some of these bloggers are journalists or ex journalists, but some have little if any journalism background. This course for bloggers and would-be bloggers will outline the basic elements of journalism and how government operates. It will cover, among other things, the difference between reporting and writing opinion, the difference between news and publicity, the importance of writing a story rather than simply recounting what various people are saying, how to distinguish reliable sources from those who are doing nothing but using the blogger (reporter) for their own ends, how to write lively copy, the importance of focusing on the local council, planning and zoning boards, and the importance of making the length of the story correspond to its significance and interest.

Schedule: Tuesday,Thursday From 1:00 pm To 2:15 pm

Graduation requirements:

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Teaching Faculty: Benediktsson T (benediktssont)

Is course canceled: No