J460 Community Journalism was the most influential course of my
college career. I saw what goes into making a newscast happen. I put a piece
together for air, and heard it come across the airwaves. I felt like a reporter
for the first time. But more importantly, I got out of the IU bubble and into
the community.
-Eleanor Beck, WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN
J460
Community Journalism
2012 Fall Semester,
Tuesday-Thursday, 11:15a-12:30p
Prof. Mike Conway
Some say journalism’s funding
model is broken and can no longer support the effort needed to cover the news.
This class will take a hard look at today’s journalism environment and explore
alternatives to the corporate media model.
In addition to studying and
investigating different models of journalism, students will be getting
first-hand experience in what has been called “grassroots,” “community” and
“citizen” journalism by working at WFHB Community Radio in Bloomington.
Students will be investigating and reporting on important community issues as
part of the WFHB news staff. Community Journalism is a recognized IU
service-learning class.
WFHB has a volunteer news and
public affairs staff; reporting and producing several hours of local news
programming each week. Even with a non-paid news department, WFHB has won more Society
of Professional Journalists awards than almost any radio station in the
state over the past few years.
J460 Community Journalism
will provide hands-on experience, using the latest digital technology in
news-gathering and presentation. WFHB presents a daily, half-hour local
newscast as well as five separate hour-long public affairs programs, including
programs targeting African-Americans, GLBT, and Hispanic communities.
WFHB is a leader in news podcasting, with its programs regularly being
downloaded around the world.
For more information, contact
the instructor, Mike Conway, at mtconway@indiana.edu.
Note: This course counts as an elective outside the College of Arts and Sciences for CMCL majors.
