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Religion Reporting

Course Description

The intersection of faith, culture, and politics through news and feature articles and audio and visual storytelling. Students will examine media coverage of faith and spirituality. With quick-turn and longer deadlines, students will write and produce fair and accurate stories with original local reporting about the world’s major religions and various belief systems.

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, but they will also be graded with higher expectations than undergraduate students. Specifically, graduate students will be assigned additional research or applied projects depending upon the discretion of the instructor. Research projects may involve secondary research reviews and synthesis, whereas primary research studies will involve the 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

JOUR Religion Reporting

Undergraduate Prerequisite

JOUR 3090 and JOUR 3190 and permission of department

Graduate Prerequisite

Permission of department

Semester Course Offered

Offered every year.

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will learn about the subjects, areas, and beats that journalists cover when reporting on various faiths.
  • Students will assess, through critical conversations with peers and the professor, how well the U.S. media covers faith and religion.
  • Students will demonstrate appropriate interviewing techniques with faith leaders, religion researchers, and active members of religious groups at UGA and in the Athens area.
  • Students will navigate the complexities of writing about religion across platforms.
  • Students will author high-quality faith reporting that avoids bias, aligns to journalistic standards and style, and uses modes of media required in today’s media world.

Topical Outline

  • Fundamentals of religion reporting and the world’s major faiths
  • Ethics in religion reporting
  • Covering spirituality and interfaith efforts
  • The intersection of faith and culture, politics, health, racial justice, sports, and tragedy

Syllabus

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