Course Description
A central conflict in journalism: sustaining credible practice in a time of wrenching change. Understanding change offers the chance to resolve this conflict in favor of credible practice. Focus on media trust and credibility, as well as trust in institutions, and their sources and consequences from theoretical and practical perspectives.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Evaluation of graduate students differs significantly from that
of undergraduate students. Not only will graduate students be
assigned more readings and additional projects, they will also
be graded with higher expectations than undergraduate students.
Specifically, graduate students will be assigned an additional
research or applied project depending upon the discretion of the
instructor. Research projects may involve secondary research
reviews and synthesis, whereas primary research studies will
involve collection and analysis of data. Applied projects will
consist of an original professional-level project delivered as a
written report and/or oral presentation.
Athena Title
Cred News Media Public Trust
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in JOUR 5420E or JOUR 7420E
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this class, students should gain a theoretical and practical understanding of news media trust and credibility in relation to their audiences. They should be able to identify major concepts related to media trust globally and discuss their applications in a contemporary setting.
Topical Outline
Credibility and the news business model. The business model under pressure: Demographic, economic, and technological change. Journalism under pressure: Conflicts over identity, purpose, and method. Credible practice: Evolving standards. Five cases illustrating decisions that affect credibility. Five exercises examining practices that affect credibility.
Syllabus