J301F Fundamental Issues in Journalism

Spring 2017
T-TH 3:30 to 5 pm BMC 2.106
Instructor: Kris Wilson, Ph.D. BMC 3.306 (512) 471-4975
Email: Kris.wilson@austin.utexas.edu
Office hours: T-TH 12:30-2 pm and by appointment.
Faculty Bio: http://journalism.utexas.edu/faculty/kris-wilson

Teaching Assistants:
Shuning Lu shuninglu@utexas.edu. Office Hours: T-TH 12-3; T-TH 5-5:30
Martin Reidl martin.riedl@utexas.edu; Office Hours: T 9-1; TH 10-1.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Journalism plays a crucial role in our society: so crucial it is enshrined in the First
Amendment to our Constitution. As designed, good journalism should provide vital information
for the public to maintain and strengthen our form of democracy. This class will focus on WHY
journalism matters in our modern society and HOW it functions. It’s not enough for journalists to
report and write accurately the things that people in authority tell them. The truth is often
something else entirely. And the truth is what real journalists search for relentlessly. In this
course we’ll wrestle with not only truth, but also bias, objectivity, attribution and transparency--
all key elements of responsible reporting.
What we call journalism and the people we refer to as journalists very often don’t live up
to the high-minded ideals. Like the society journalism functions in, it is often flawed and often
fails to meet the demands of the times. 24/7 journalism presents many challenges. With the rise
of the digital media revolution and the collapse of old media business models, journalism itself is
going through tumult. Yet the need has never been greater for reliable, accurate and fair-minded
reporting that sorts through the secrets, lies and myths that people in power seek to perpetuate
and provides us with accurate information to make important decisions about our lives.
This course is designed to (1) survey the various forms of contemporary journalism and
how journalism functions in society, with an eye toward helping students make career choices,
and (2) critique those same forms, with an eye toward helping students become better journalists
and more engaged citizens. This course serves as a gateway and prerequisite for enrolling in the
advanced courses offered in the School of Journalism. But this course is not just for people
planning to major in journalism. It’s for anyone who is curious or concerned about the state of
the news media and for anyone who wants to become a more critical consumer of news.
In practical terms you will develop media literacy to learn to:
*Assess the unique mission of the press in a democratic society and place it in its historical and
ideological context. We will revisit times in history where Journalism made a difference.
*Identify the obstacles---political, financial and institutional, that impede that mission.
*Distinguish between legitimate news reports and other kinds of information, such as
propaganda, opinion, “fake news” and the vast flow of infotainment.
*Gauge the reliability and credibility of news reports.
*Understand how journalists do their job, how news decisions and ethical choices are made, and
the need to fairly represent race, gender, sexual orientation, and religious issues in reporting.
*Assess the impact of digital technology in transforming the news industry and news gathering.
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COURSE STRUCTURE:
We will meet twice a week for 75 minutes. Please arrive on time and do not leave early--
both are disruptive to the learning process. Our time together will be used wisely. A variety of
guest speakers will join us to share their valuable perspectives on the profession. Because their
schedules are highly variable, they may reschedule on short notice. Since this course is about
becoming more critical consumers of media we will review a lot of reporting to complement our
readings and discussions and most classes will feature “news of the day.” The readings are to be
completed before class in order to facilitate increased participation in class discussions. Pop
quizzes will occur regularly to encourage attendance and attention to assignments and news
events. In this course we will engage in critique, which is not a negative enterprise and is not
synonymous with complaining, whining, or mean-spiritedness. To critique an idea, a practice, or
an institution is to examine it to determine its nature so that we can understand its possibilities
and limitations. Critique can result in criticism, but also can reveal the strength of an argument.
Critique is a thoughtful enterprise, the goal of which is to deepen our understanding of an issue
or problem. One goal in critiquing news coverage is to identify ways to strengthen the reporting.
My goal is NOT to tell you what to think, but rather to encourage you to think on your
own, independently. Critical thinking demands this. While the large class size presents
challenges and opportunities to accomplish this, the class will be lead as a guided conversation.
We will strive for dialogue about our topics, rather than just a one-way flow of information from
the lectern. This, of course, requires your full participation. We will run our class discussions
like a press conference where you will identify yourself and your major when speaking. You
must attend class and be prepared by completing reading and other assignments by deadline.
Adhering to deadlines is one of the first skills any good journalist must master. Attendance will
not be taken, however pop quizzes will occur regularly to monitor your participation and keeping
up with assignments.

COURSE EVALUATION:
Exams
There will be three scheduled exams, each worth 40 points toward your final grade. The
exams and quizzes will be taken on Canvas and class lectures and discussion will be
administered using Tophat, a software program for electronic devices that you will need to
download to your preferred device (smart phone, tablet, laptop). Just as journalism is evolving
with a more digital focus, journalism education is changing not only what we teach, but also
how. This is the second time any class in the School of Journalism is using Tophat, so there may
be glitches as we include this new technology into our teaching and learning. Each of the exams
will be multiple-choice, true/false, fill in the blank and short essay. The exams will cover
material for a single segment of the course. There is no final exam.
Quizzes
There will be 12 unscheduled quizzes throughout the semester, and your 10 best scores
will count toward your final grade. Each quiz will consist of questions that draw on the material
from assigned readings, previous classes and current news events. The quizzes will be
administered using Canvas during class. If you aren’t present when the quiz is administered, or if
you arrive late or leave early, you will miss that quiz and earn a “0.”
While attendance will not be taken, it will be difficult to earn a good grade in this course
without regular attendance and keeping up with assignments. Because journalism revolves
around current events, you must keep with the news. Current events quizzes and reviewing news
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stories will occur to encourage this habit. Make it a point to watch/read/listen to as much news
as possible from a wide range of sources. While it is not known as the course begins what events
will make “news” during the semester, it is safe to say that we will regularly look at news
coverage as part of our journey together and that the 2016 election will play a prominent role.
As part of our 15-week journey we will also revisit historical events where Journalism played a
pivotal role (American Revolution, Abolition, Women’s Suffrage, the Civil Rights movement,
Watergate, 9/11 and others) and we will draw parallels to current times. You will be assigned at
TA at the beginning of the semester based alphabetically on your last name. They will be your
first course of action should you have any questions or concerns. Your TA will hold regular
office hours to meet with you and you are strongly encouraged to do that.

3 Exams (30 points each) =120

Quizzes/Assignments = 30
Total =150

Grading Scale:
A = 94 to 100%
A- 90 to 93%
B+ 87 to 89%
B = 84 to 86%
B- 80 to 83%
C+ 77 to 79%
C = 74 to 76%
C- 70 to 73%
D+ 67 to 69%
D = 64 to 66%
D- 60 to 63%

You should be reading/viewing news on a daily basis. A digital subscription to The New York
Times is required for this class. The Times offers deep discounts to students. To order the digital
version, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/subscriptions/edu/lp3HLK4.html?campaignId=39K4J
and be ready with your UT email address and a credit card. If you need help, call customer care
at (800) 698-4637 or send an e-mail to mailto:edu@nytimes.com. You should also regularly
check other reliable news sources such as The Austin American Statesman or your hometown
newspaper, as well as credible broadcast and online news sites.
You will also need to buy Blur: How to Know What’s True in the Age of Information
Overload by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel (Bloomsbury, 2010; paperback version 2011).
You can get it at the Co-op or online or on www.amazon.com
Other readings from The Elements of Journalism and Mightier than the Sword: How the
News Media Have Shaped American History will be made available on Canvas, as well as other
on line resources as course materials. Canvas will serve as our online meetinghouse where you
can go to see assignments and check your grades and where I’ll be emailing you announcements
and reading assignments. You will take your exams and quizzes on Canvas too, therefore it’s
essential that you are registered there with the correct UTEID and a functioning email address.
Finally, and free of charge, read the Daily Texan. It’s a great window on news events and
issues at this university. You can pick up a paper copy on your way to class or read it online.
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An Important Note about Computers and Cellphones

This course will utilize electronic devices for lectures and to enhance student participation in
the classroom and so students may use computers or cellphones during lecture, but ONLY for
class purposes. Do not use our limited time together to surf the Internet. As with driving there
should be no texting during class. While this practice may not be as destructive as texting and
driving it can still be distracting to those around you. Please be considerate and judicious in your
use of technology during class and use it only for our shared purposes and reserve your personal
web use for before and after class. You should have received an invitation to join this class on
Tophat using the join code 431493. If not, you can sign up at https://tophat.com/ Tophat is the
software we will be using for all class participation exercises.
Religious Holy Days
The Texas Education Code specifies that an institution of higher education shall excuse a
student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the
observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose absence is
excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take
an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable
time after the absence. A student who misses classes or other required activities, including
examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in
advance of the absence as possible, so arrangements can be made to complete an assignment
within a reasonable time after the absence.
http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/catalogs/gi03-04/ch4/ch4g.html#attendance
Students with Disabilities
Please notify me of any modification/adaptation you may require to accommodate a disability-
related need. You will be requested to provide documentation to the Dean of Student's Office in
order that the most appropriate accommodations can be determined. Specialized services are
available on campus through Services for Students with Disabilities.
http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/
Scholastic Dishonesty
The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized
collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly
in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false
or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other
assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without
the prior permission of the instructor. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these
guidelines and must adhere to them. Scholastic dishonesty damages both the student's learning
experience and readiness for the future demands of a work-career. Students who violate
University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University.
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php.

UT Honor Code
The core values of the University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom,
leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected
to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, fairness, and respect toward peers and
community.