Faculty

I teach a course in public affairs reporting for graduates and undergraduates. The course is required for students in the news-editorial and broadcast sequences of the Bachelor of Arts in journalism program in the School. Students learn to report on traditional public institutions such as city, county and state government, courts, politics and education; the course usually includes a large class project, generally campus-based, which is published in The Lantern. By the end of the class, students not only have the "how to" skills of public affairs reporting, but also the ability to analyze public institutions and their policies and decisions. I also teach a graduate seminar in literature and journalism. Students read non-fiction books and articles in which writers use literary devices. Occasionally, a fiction piece, which was heavily influenced by journalist styled work, (such as Grapes of Wrath or The Jungle) is included in the readings. Discussion focuses on the relationships, and inevitable conflicts, in such writing. It covers the gamut of literary theory, journalism ethics, writing and reporting techniques, and often includes a debate over the similarities and differences between literary journalism and creative nonfiction. A research paper is a major requirement for the course. Several students have had their seminar papers published.