Crisis Journalism Curriculum
Journalism in America can be traced back to the early colonial period, with the first newspaper, Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick, published in 1690. However, it wasn't until the 18th century that journalism began to take a more recognizable form with the establishment of newspapers such as the New England Courant in 1721.
Benjamin Franklin was an early pioneer of journalism. He played a significant role in the development of American journalism through his publication called "The Pennsylvania Gazette." It covered a wide range of topics, including news, politics, literature, and entertainment, and played a crucial role in shaping public opinion in the American colonies.
Our Mission
The curriculum for our "Crisis Journalism" class aims at empowering ordinary citizens to report effectively - especially in times of crisis. Journalism generally involves covering a diverse range of topics of interest to the public including news, politics, literature, sports, arts, and entertainment.
Crisis journalism represents a distinct genre within the field of journalism, characterized by three fundamental elements: 1) Reporting on Critical Events; 2) Uncovering Injustice and Corruption; 3) Providing Timely and Accurate Information.
Our "Crisis Journalism" class not only equips individuals with essential reporting skills but also instills a deep understanding of the unique responsibilities and challenges inherent in crisis reporting. By delving into the core elements of crisis journalism, participants will not only learn how to navigate critical events but also how to uphold ethical standards while uncovering injustices and providing vital information to the public. Through this comprehensive curriculum, we aim to empower ordinary citizens to become informed, proactive contributors to their communities, ensuring that journalism continues to serve as a pillar of democracy and accountability, especially in times of crisis.
Sliding Scale
If you cannot afford the $30 for the class, please contact us for a discount to lower the price of the class. Suggestion: Take the class with a friend or two or three and split the cost. It will make the class more engaging for you and it will help increase your retention of the material as you discuss it together.
The introduction section of the class is being offered for free below. Here's a comprehensive list of topics this class will cover:
Introduction to Crisis Journalism: (Free! Copied below)
Defining crisis journalism and its significance in today's world.
Understanding the role of citizen journalists in crisis reporting.
Ethical Considerations:
Ethical guidelines and principles for crisis reporting.
Balancing the need for accurate reporting with sensitivity to victims and survivors.
Safety Protocols:
Personal safety measures for citizen journalists in crisis situations.
Digital security practices to protect oneself and sources.
Crisis Communication:
Techniques for effective communication during crises.
Utilizing social media and digital platforms for real-time reporting.
Information Verification and Fact-Checking:
Strategies for verifying information and sources in chaotic environments.
Identifying misinformation and disinformation during crises.
Legal Framework:
Understanding legal implications and rights related to crisis reporting.
Freedom of the press and citizen journalism laws.
Interviewing Skills:
Conducting interviews with witnesses, survivors, and experts.
Sensitivity training for interviewing traumatized individuals.
Data Gathering and Analysis:
Techniques for gathering data and evidence during crises.
Analyzing data to provide context and insights into the crisis situation.
Crisis Reporting Formats:
Writing news articles, emails, blogs, and social media updates during crises.
Producing multimedia content such as photos, videos, and podcasts.
Creating email lists, texting phone numbers and other forms communication.
Community Engagement and Empowerment:
Engaging with affected communities to understand their needs and perspectives.
Empowering community members to tell their own stories and amplify their voices.
Trauma Awareness and Self-Care:
Recognizing the psychological impact of crisis reporting.
Self-care strategies for journalists to manage stress and trauma.
Collaboration and Networking:
Building networks with other journalists, organizations, and agencies involved in crisis reporting.
Collaborating with mainstream media outlets and professional journalists for wider impact.
Case Studies and Practical Exercises:
Analyzing case studies of successful and challenging crisis reporting scenarios.
Simulated exercises to practice crisis reporting skills in a controlled environment.
Test:
23 Multiple Choice Questions
13 Essay Questions
By covering these topics, the "Crisis Journalism" class can equip ordinary citizens with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively contribute to crisis reporting and journalism in their communities and beyond.
Introduction to Crisis Journalism:
Defining crisis journalism and its significance in today's world.
Understanding the role of citizen journalists in crisis reporting.
Journalism can be a form of peaceful protest.
Defining crisis journalism and its significance in today's world
Crisis journalism represents a distinct genre within the field of journalism, characterized by three fundamental elements:
1) Reporting on Critical Events: Crisis journalism is a specialized form of journalism focused on reporting, analyzing, and disseminating information during times of crisis or emergency situations. It involves providing timely, accurate, and comprehensive coverage of events such as natural disasters, humanitarian crises, political upheavals, conflicts, public health emergencies, and other critical incidents or threats that impact individuals, communities, or even society as a whole.
2) Uncovering Injustice and Corruption: Crisis journalism entails investigating and exposing instances of injustice, corruption, or abuses of power that may occur during times of crisis. This includes holding governments, politicians, business leaders, corporations, and other institutions accountable for their actions or their failures to act. However, this type of journalism can be dangerous, often it results in retaliation, death threats, and various forms of abuse. Journalists around the world have faced imprisonment, physical assaults, and even death for exposing corruption. That even happens in the United States. Therefore, this field demands courage and resilience - it is not for the faint of heart. Individuals with family responsibilities may face heightened risks, as adversaries may target their loved ones. So, consequently, those without dependents, such as single individuals with no children or adults who are orphaned - their parents have died, may be better positioned to pursue investigative journalism and contribute to societal improvement. Numerous single individuals and those who have lost both parents may experience discomfort regarding their circumstances due to feeling disconnected from traditional or commonplace lifestyles - especially around the holidays. However, it's important to recognize that these individuals are uniquely positioned to pursue critical investigative reporting that many others may hesitate to undertake.
3) Providing Timely and Accurate Information: Crisis journalism focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and reliable information to the public amidst chaotic and rapidly evolving situations. This includes disseminating updates, alerts, and resources to help individuals make informed decisions and take necessary actions to protect themselves and their communities.
In conclusion, our "Crisis Journalism" class not only equips individuals with essential reporting skills but also instills a deep understanding of the unique responsibilities and challenges inherent in working as a journalist but especially working as a journalist in crisis reporting. By delving into the core elements of crisis journalism, participants in this class will not only learn how to navigate critical events but also how to uphold ethical standards while uncovering injustices and providing vital information to the public. Through this comprehensive class, we aim to empower ordinary citizens to become informed, proactive contributors to their communities, ensuring that journalism continues to serve as a pillar of democracy and accountability, especially in times of crisis.
The significance of crisis journalism in today's world cannot be overstated. In an era marked by rapid globalization, technological advancements, and interconnectedness, the need for reliable and trustworthy information during times of crisis has never been greater. Crisis journalism serves several vital purposes:
Informing the Public: Crisis journalism plays a crucial role in keeping the public informed about unfolding events, risks, and responses during emergencies or challenging times. By providing timely updates and actionable information, journalists help individuals make informed decisions to protect themselves and their communities.
Holding Power Accountable: During a time of crisis, governments, institutions, businesses, and individuals in positions of authority may face heightened scrutiny. Crisis journalism serves as a check on power by investigating and exposing instances of misconduct, corruption, or negligence that may exacerbate or prolong the crisis.
Providing Context and Analysis: Beyond reporting the facts, crisis journalism offers analysis, context, and insights into the underlying causes, implications, and responses to the crisis. Getting to the root of the problem is essential for the public to benefit from journalism. This takes the disposition of an investigator – asking tough, thoughtful questions and not accepting evasive answers from leaders seeking to escape accountability or cover their involvement in corruption and abuse of power. By putting events and trends in context, journalists help the public understand the broader implications and potential long-term consequences of a crisis.
Facilitating Response and Recovery: Crisis journalism plays a critical role in facilitating effective response and recovery efforts during emergencies. By highlighting needs, resources, and best practices, journalists contribute to mobilizing support, fostering collaboration, and promoting resilience in affected communities.
Fostering Accountability and Transparency: Through investigative reporting and accountability journalism, crisis journalism holds individuals, organizations, and governments accountable for their actions or failures to act during emergencies. By shining a light on wrongdoing and injustices, journalists help promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in crisis response and governance.
In summary, crisis journalism serves as a vital part of democracy, public safety, and accountability by providing timely, accurate, and critical information during a time of crisis. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the importance of crisis journalism in informing, empowering, and safeguarding communities cannot be emphasized enough. Like the air we breathe sustains human life, so does journalism sustain democracy – it’s that important and that simple.
Understanding the role of citizen journalists in crisis reporting.
A citizen journalist is an individual who engages in reporting, documenting, or disseminating news and information without formal training or affiliation with traditional media outlets. Instead of being professional journalists employed by news organizations, citizen journalists are everyday people who use various tools and platforms, such as emails, social media, blogs, or community forums, to share news, images, videos, and commentary on events and issues of public interest.
Some citizens may choose to take on the role of a citizen journalist for several reasons:
Filling Information Gaps: In situations where traditional media coverage is limited, biased, or inaccessible, citizen journalists step in to provide alternative perspectives, firsthand accounts, and grassroots reporting on events and issues that may otherwise go unreported. Citizen journalists serve as crucial sources of information, filling gaps in coverage and providing updates on developments as they occur.
Empowering Communities: Citizen journalists empower their communities by amplifying voices, sharing stories, and mobilizing support around local concerns, injustices, or crises. Their reporting fosters community engagement, solidarity, and advocacy for social change.
Promoting Transparency and Accountability: By monitoring and documenting government actions, public services, and institutional practices, citizen journalists hold authorities accountable for their decisions and actions. Their independent reporting contributes to greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in governance.
Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Citizen journalists amplify the voices and provide a platform for marginalized groups, individuals, and communities whose voices may be underrepresented or marginalized in mainstream media coverage. By sharing their stories and experiences, citizen journalists contribute to a more inclusive and diverse public discourse narrative of the crisis.
Civic Engagement and Participation: Engaging in citizen journalism enables individuals to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, information, and assembly. By participating in news gathering, reporting, and commentary, citizens contribute to a vibrant and participatory democracy where informed public discourse is valued.
Addressing Media Bias and Misinformation: In an era marked by concerns about media bias and misinformation, citizen journalists provide alternative sources of news and information that may offer different perspectives, fact-checking, and critical analysis of mainstream narratives.
Personal Empowerment and Fulfillment: For some individuals, engaging in citizen journalism is a form of personal empowerment and fulfillment, allowing them to share their passions, interests, and expertise with a broader audience and make a positive impact on their communities and society.
Overall, the role of citizen journalists is essential in promoting a diverse, inclusive, and participatory media landscape where multiple voices and perspectives are valued and heard. By contributing their unique insights, experiences, and perspectives to the public discourse, citizen journalists enrich our understanding of the world and empower communities to advocate for positive change.
The role of citizen journalists in crisis reporting is significant and multifaceted. Citizen journalists play a crucial role in providing firsthand accounts, eyewitness testimonies, real-time updates during emergencies and can even play a role as a form of peaceful, nonviolent protests. Here are some key aspects of their role:
Immediate Coverage: Citizen journalists are often present at the scene of a crisis as it unfolds, enabling them to capture and share images, videos, and firsthand accounts in real time. Their immediacy allows for rapid dissemination of information, complementing and sometimes even outpacing traditional media coverage.
Local Perspectives: Citizen journalists provide unique insights and perspectives from the ground, offering a localized view of the crisis that may not be accessible to professional journalists. Their intimate knowledge of the community, culture, and context can enrich reporting and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Monitoring and Accountability: Citizen journalists act as watchdogs, monitoring government responses, relief efforts, and humanitarian interventions during crises. Their independent reporting can help hold authorities accountable for their actions or failures to act, fostering transparency and accountability.
Community Engagement: Citizen journalists foster community engagement and solidarity by sharing information, resources, and support networks among affected individuals and communities. Their grassroots efforts can mobilize collective action and mutual aid in response to crises.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations: Despite their invaluable contributions, citizen journalists face challenges such as safety risks, verification issues, and ethical dilemmas. They may lack the training, resources, and protections afforded to professional journalists, making it essential to prioritize safety and ethical conduct in their reporting.
Journalism as a Form of Peaceful Protest
Being an independent journalist or citizen journalist can serve as a powerful form of peaceful protest in line with the principles championed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King believed in the transformative power of nonviolent resistance to effect change in society. He once stated, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." By engaging in journalism that exposes injustice, discrimination, and systemic inequalities, independent journalists and citizen journalists can contribute to the pursuit of justice and peace.
Dr. King emphasized the importance of shining a light on injustice and bringing it to the attention of the public. He famously said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Independent journalists and citizen journalists have the opportunity to document and report on instances of injustice, whether they occur in their local communities or on a broader scale. Through their reporting, they can amplify the voices of marginalized individuals and communities who may otherwise be overlooked or ignored.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize Lecture from Oslo, given on Dec. 11, 1964:
“Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. In a real sense, nonviolence seeks to redeem the spiritual and moral lag that I spoke of earlier as the chief dilemma of modern man. It seeks to secure moral ends through moral means. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed, it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. I believe in this method because I think it is the only way to reestablish a broken community. It is a method which seeks to implement the just law…”
“We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end is a community at peace with itself. We will try to persuade with our words. But if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts. We will always be willing to talk and seek fair compromise. But we are ready to suffer when necessary and even risk our lives in order to become witnesses to truth as we see it. This approach to the problem is not at all without successful precedent. It was used in a magnificent way by Mohandas K Gandhi to challenge the might of the British Empire and free his people from the political domination and economic exploitation inflicted upon them for centuries.”
Listen to the full speech of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize Lecture from Oslo, given on Dec. 11, 1964 (full audio) at this link:
Moreover, Dr. King believed in the power of collective action to bring about social change. He stated, "The time is always right to do what is right." Independent journalists and citizen journalists can galvanize public opinion and mobilize communities to demand accountability from those in power. By providing accurate and timely information, they can empower individuals to take action and advocate for meaningful reforms.
Furthermore, Dr. King emphasized the importance of nonviolent direct action as a means of confronting injustice. He famously wrote, "Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him." Independent journalists and citizen journalists can embody this spirit of nonviolence by adhering to ethical principles in their reporting and interactions. They can strive to foster dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation, even in the face of adversity.
Additionally, Dr. King recognized the significance of the media in shaping public opinion and discourse. He once said, "The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power." Independent journalists and citizen journalists have a responsibility to wield their influence ethically and responsibly. They can challenge dominant narratives, question authority, and hold those in power accountable for their actions.
Being an independent journalist, crisis journalist or citizen journalist can be a form of peaceful protest aligned with the principles espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By shining a light on injustice, amplifying marginalized voices, mobilizing communities, embodying nonviolent principles, and wielding their influence responsibly, independent journalists and citizen journalists can contribute to the pursuit of justice, equality, and peace in society.
In summary, citizen journalists play a vital role in crisis reporting by providing immediate, localized, diverse perspectives on unfolding events and providing an outlet for peaceful protests. Their contributions complement traditional media coverage, enhance community engagement, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of crises and their impacts. However, it is essential to recognize and address the challenges and ethical considerations associated with citizen journalism and crisis journalism to ensure the integrity and reliability of reporting facts to the public.
Introduction Homework Assignments:
All homework and testing are self-directed and corrected by you or a loved one/friend/person of your choosing. Suggestion: Take the class with a friend or two or three, split the cost and get help with correcting your homework and testing.
Case Study Analysis: Students will choose a recent crisis or emergency situation and analyze how it was reported by both traditional media outlets and citizen journalists. They will assess the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and discuss the role of citizen journalism in shaping public perception and understanding of the crisis.
Interview Project: Students will conduct interviews with local community members, emergency responders, or organizations involved in crisis response and recovery efforts. They will document their interviews through written transcripts, audio recordings, or video footage and reflect on the insights gained from these conversations.
Crisis Reporting Simulation: Students will participate in a simulated crisis reporting scenario where they will assume the role of citizen journalists tasked with covering a fictional emergency situation. They will be required to gather information, verify sources, and publish updates in real-time, simulating the challenges and pressures of reporting during a crisis.
Essay Question:
Write a 300-word essay explaining how crisis journalism and citizen journalism can be a form of nonviolent, peaceful protest.
Multiple Choice Test Questions:
What are the fundamental elements of crisis journalism?
a) Reporting on trivial events
b) Uncovering joy and happiness
c) Reporting on critical events, uncovering injustice and corruption, providing timely and accurate information
d) None of the above
Why is citizen journalism significant in crisis reporting?
a) It provides biased perspectives
b) It amplifies voices and fills information gaps
c) It promotes misinformation
d) It supports government censorship
What role does citizen journalism play in monitoring government actions during a crisis?
a) It ignores government actions
b) It holds authorities accountable
c) It supports government actions
d) It promotes government secrecy
What is the primary objective of crisis journalism?
a) To entertain the audience
b) To provide inaccurate information
c) To inform and empower the public
d) To create panic and confusion
What ethical considerations do citizen journalists face in crisis reporting?
a) Safety risks and verification issues
b) Lack of resources and training
c) Ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest
d) All of the above
e) None of the above
What is the significance of crisis journalism in today's world?
a) It has no importance
b) It promotes government propaganda
c) It informs, empowers, and safeguards communities – of the people, by the people, for the people.
d) It spreads misinformation
What is the role of citizen journalists in promoting transparency and accountability?
a) They avoid accountability
b) They hold authorities accountable
c) They support government secrecy
d) They promote corruption
How can citizen journalists empower communities?
a) By spreading misinformation
b) By silencing marginalized voices
c) By fostering community engagement and solidarity
d) By promoting government censorship
What distinguishes citizen journalists from traditional journalists?
a) They lack professionalism and years of training
b) They work for mainstream media outlets
c) They are everyday people who report on events that matter to the public
d) They have exclusive access to information
(Answers: c, b, b, c, a, c, b, c, c)