Curriculum
The Magazine Writing program is composed of nine courses. All courses are four credits, for a total of 36 credits. A full-time load is three courses a semester for three semesters. Of the nine courses, four are required and five are electives, with options ranging from arts reporting to learning about the food world to writing for the Local East Village, the joint on-line project of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and The New York Times. Some summer courses are available.
After completing the first semester of the magazine program, students can take an internship for credit. Internships are not required, but most students take at least one internship (for up to four credits) or two internships (two credits each.) Magazine students may also take two relevant courses in other NYU departments.
Typical full-time course of study:
Semester 1 (Fall)
* Writing, Research & Reporting I (required)
* Ethics or Law Seminar (required)
* Journalism Reading Seminar (required)
Semester 2 (Spring)
* Writing, Research & Reporting II (required)
* Journalism Reporting or Writing elective course
* Internship or Journalism reading elective seminar
Semester 3 (Fall)
* Three electives, or two elective courses and an internship
REQUIRED COURSES
* Writing, Research and Reporting Workshops: 1 and II
Learning to report and write every type of magazine story, from breaking news to Q&A’s to personal essays to long features. Intensive reporting assignments and class analysis of published magazine stories, examining language and structure. Students immerse themselves in New York, writing about the courts, fashion, the arts, politics and the city’s diverse neighborhoods. In the second semester, students choose a specialized beat of personal interest (anything from music to immigration trends) and focus their reporting on that subject. Students learn to generate story ideas and write compelling pitch letters.
*The Law and Mass Communications
Subjects covered include press freedom, libel, invasion of privacy, obscenity, shield laws and protection of sources and broadcast regulations.
Or
*Press Ethics
Explores the never-ending ethical questions facing working journalists. The class analyzes specific cases, both real and hypothetical, to understand how to handle ethical dilemmas.
* The Journalistic Tradition: Storied New York
Generations of writers have been entranced by New York City and produced masterpieces in tribute. This class examines the city as a character, in journalism, memoir, fiction, poetry and film.
ELECTIVES
Note, the elective courses offered at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute vary by semester; and there are frequently new offerings. Check the course listings for full details.
* The Local East Village: Writing for the NYU/ New York Times website.
* Investigative Journalism: The techniques of digging to expose hidden stories.
* The Storytellers: Narrative, structure and voice in long-form journalism.
* The Culture Beat: Writing about the arts, from film to hip-hop to dance.
* The Editor’s Vision: How editors imprint their sensibility on a magazine.
* The Personal Essay: Analyzing and writing thoughtful and compelling essays.
* Profiles: Learning how to get behind the facade and write memorable profiles.
* How Books Are Built: Understanding the basics of the non-fiction narrative.
* Eating New York: Reading and reporting on chefs, farmers, food critics, food trends.
* The Journalism of Ideas: Critical thinking, editorials and reviews.
* Writing Social Justice: Examining the forces (religion, money) shaping politics.
* Radio: Learning the techniques of radio reporting.
* Minorities in the Media: The shifting portrayals of racial and ethnic groups.
* Subcultures: How journalists become part of the story.
* Journalism of Empathy: Seeing the world through your subject’s eyes.
* Plagues and Epidemics: Reporting on swine flu, AIDS and medical panics.
* Planning and Public Policy for New York: how city government works.
* The “R” Word: How religion permeates news stories, from Iraq to stem cell research.