2024 - Summer

Covering the Arts: NYC Backstage (Session 2)

Course Number: SS2: JOUR-UA 204.064

Day & Time: Tue/Thu 2:00-5:00 pm

Location: 20 Cooper Sq.

Instructor: Michelle Smawley

Syllabus: Download

Albert Class Number: 2519

In this class you’ll cover the New York City summer arts scene.  NYC hosts more than 300 cultural events, from the Mostly Mozart Festival to Central Park’s SummerStage to Shakespeare in the Park.  Through partnerships with New York City’s top performing spaces, including the world-renowned Public Theater, you’ll have front row access as a working journalist to major cultural institutions.

Your beat is NYC theater, the visual arts and the music scene, and your interview subjects will range from the performers on center stage to the artists behind the scenes, all essential to bringing productions alive.

Beyond immersing yourself into the cultural life of NYC, you’ll  learn to perfect the art of the interview and hone your reporting skills.  We’ll examine the most important components of the interview: human psychology, preparation, relationship building, how to gain access and the treatment of sensitive subject matter.

You will practice real-world journalism in the field and will have the opportunity to create print, audio, or video stories to build your portfolio.  Students should come prepared with the  requisite technical skills.