JRN 276 Digital Tools for New Media

Digital technology is radically transforming the practice of journalism, recasting everything from newsgathering to end-user preferences. This class will give students an opportunity to try out currently used digital journalism tools and explore practical and ethical issues related to their use. Students will get hands-on experience documenting events and daily life using a variety of digital media ? photography, video, audio and text. The focus of the class is on reporting for the World Wide Web, social networks as sources of news and opinion, and how to use online storytelling tools effectively. The class assumes some familiarity with blogging, digital photography, audiovisual recording and the software platforms of social networks. Students are strongly advised to have their own computers and cameras (mobile phones are OK), and 360-degree cameras such as the Ricoh Theta are recommended but not required.