2021 – Spring

Advanced Reporting: The City (Print/Online track)

Course Number: JOUR-UA 301, section 4

Day & Time: Thu | 9:30 AM – 1:10 PM

Location: 20 Cooper Square, 654

Prerequisites: The Beat JOUR-UA 201 (Print/Online sections)

This is the Capstone course and emphasizes the development of students’ research, reporting and writing skills, culminating in a publishable long-form narrative piece. The course builds on the skills acquired in Foundations and The Beat towards the mastery of query writing, research, interviewing, reporting and writing; and deep reading. In this section, students will produce several 750 -1,000-word articles and one 3,000-word capstone article.

Cities are living, thriving beings, in flux faster than they’ve ever been before. By the middle of the 21st century, an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in an urban area, making cities the frontlines of the biggest challenges facing our world. Throughout the semester, students will immerse themselves in the issues that city practitioners and dwellers confront on a daily basis, with possibilities including transportation; housing and community; the climate crisis; technology; the future of retail; public health; and open space. We will learn to perceive these issues through an urban lens, understanding how they affect our cityscape and why they ultimately matter. Wherever you’re reporting in from, your stories will hold resonance for cities everywhere. The battles may be local, but the implications are global.

We will spend the first few weeks reading and understanding the diverse challenges in urban thinking and planning that you may wish to work on. Each week, class time will be devoted to research, reporting and writing, guest speakers, workshops and discussion. Each student will, in addition to assigned readings, select a book that provides background on his or her topic of interest. For example, those interested in transportation may wish to read Street Fight by Janette Sadik-Khan, and consult reports issued by TransitCenter or even Uber. The mission is to come away with shorter and longer stories ready for print in city- or issues-focused outlets.

Notes: Required for students pursuing the print/online track in the journalism major. Counts as an elective for both journalism minors.