2015 - Fall

Current Topics in SHERP

Course Number: JOUR-GA 1017.001

Day & Time: Wednesday, 10:00am-4:30pm

Location: 652

Instructor: Dan Fagin

Current Topics in Science, Health and Environmental Journalism

Current Topics in Science, Health and Environmental Journalism introduces students to the world of science journalism by looking at scientific topics that are at the cutting-edge of current research and also have profound implications for the way we live. In other words, they are the raw material for great journalism. As students immerse themselves in some challenging areas of current science, they will read the work of highly accomplished researchers and journalists, and will also hear from them directly in class. The goal throughout is be to understand and adopt the processes that the best science journalists use when they cover controversial science. You will learn how journalists interact with scientists, conduct research, organize information and write stories. Just as importantly, students also sharpen their analytical skills by writing almost every week for the SHERP webzine, Scienceline. Covering an assigned beat, students follow the peer-reviewed journals and other sources to stay on top of the news as it happens.