Sample Syllabus: Journalism 3750 Environmental Journalism & Communication
INSTRUCTOR: Don Corrigan
TEXT: Selected Readings will be provided by the instructor.
A booklist of Supplemental Reading is included with this syllabus
PREREQUISITE: JOUR 1030, sophomore standing, SCIN 1520, or permission of instructor. Even if you have none of the first three prerequisites but are interested in this course, please contact the instructor at corrigan@timesnewspapers.com or corrigdh@webster.edu.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: As a nation and a world, we confront critical environmental decisions. Although these issues are complex, individuals and policy makers must make choices. How those choices are understood will have a major impact on public opinion and the political process. The objective of the course is to equip future communicators with knowledge of a wide variety of environmental issues, and a specialized knowledge of a select few.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will explore how journalists, advocacy group spokespersons and corporate public relations officials deal with environmental controversy. The course will examine important environmental issues and the environmental movement, with a close look at both the local and the national environmental scene. Students will have a choice of examining and analyzing four select issues during the semester. Students will have a choice of writing journalistic articles or public affairs position papers on each issue. Since this is a course for communicators, students will have the option to write in the different formats of journalism or public relations.
There is not necessarily a “correct” position to be taken in these articles or public affairs papers, but all of the writing must be well-researched, documented and/or attributed. Papers will be five pages in length at a minimum, typed and double-spaced. Photocopies of articles used for research should be included with the papers, and students should maintain a scrapbook of such research as well. There will also be two exams during the semester. Check syllabus outline for exam and paper due dates.
GRADING SYSTEM:
Position Papers, Articles: 60%
Exams: 30%
Class Participation: 10%
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular attendance is a prerequisite for satisfactory completion of the course. Material in the exams will come from guest speaker visits. If your attendance is not satisfactory, you can expect your final grade to fall by at least the 10 percent allocated for class participation.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Week 1: Jan. 16
1. Introduction: Syllabus Explanation
2. Environmental Issues: Local And National
3. Environmental Topics (Paper) Selection
Week 2: Jan. 23
1. Key Players In The Environmental Movement
2. Environmental Journalism Overview
3. Article Examples, Environmental Terminology
Week 3: Jan. 30
1. Pesticides: Rachel Carson & Silent Spring
2. Pesticides: Alar Controversy
3. Pesticides: Alar, et. al.
Week 4: Feb. 6
1. Toxic Waste: Health Risks
2. Toxic Waste: Times Beach & Dioxin
3. Toxic Waste: The Dioxin Controversy
Week 5: Feb. 13
1. Incinerator Issue; #1 Paper Due
2. Incinerator Issues: Dioxin
3. Incinerator Issues: Medical Wastes
Week 6: Feb. 20
1. Safe Water: Weldon Springs Case
2. Safe Water: Weldon Springs Case
3. Safe Water: Weldon Springs Case
Week 7: Feb. 27
1. Clean Water: Natural Stream Issues
2. Clean Water: Natural Stream Issues
3. Clean Water: Natural Stream Issues
Week 8: March 6
1. Drinking Water: Pollution Problems
2. Drinking Water: Pollution Problems
3. Midterm Exam; #2 Paper Due
Week 9: March 13
Spring Break
Week 10: March 20
1. Environmental Backlash
2. Clean Air: Stuffy Air
3. Clean Air: Dirty Air
Week 11: March 27
1. Power Issues: EMFs
2. Power Issues: EMF Local Controversy
3. Power Issues: EMF National Battle
Week 12: April 3
1. Power Issues: Acid Rain
2. Power Issues: Ozone Holes
3. Power Issues: Global Warming
Week 13: April 10
1. Nuclear Energy: Plant Safety
2. Nuclear Energy: TMI Event
3. Nuclear Energy: TMI Aftermath; #3 Paper Due
Week 14: April 17
1. Nuclear Waste: Creation
2. Nuclear Waste: Treatment
3. Nuclear Waste: Disposal
Week 15: April 24
1. Nuclear Transport: Fuel Rods