WRCT250N, Writing Reality: Journalism in the Age of Trump.
1:20-4 on Fridays in Downey 208.
This semester, David Daley, former editor-in-chief of Salon, will be teaching “Writing Reality: Journalism in the Age of Trump.” Daley is the author of Ratf**ked, a national best-seller on the strategy, technology and politics behind Republican redistricting successes during the 2010 elections.
Students from all classes and majors are encouraged to apply. Send an email of one paragraph explaining 1) what interests you about this course, and 2) what your academic and extracurricular interests are. Writing Certificate candidates will receive preference for some places. Send your email to Prof. Anne Greene, Writing Certificate Coordinator, agreene@wesleyan.edu. Use subject line: WRCT 250N. See more about the class below.
Application deadline: Tuesday, Jan.23, at 9 PM. Admitted students will receive an email by Wed, Jan 24.
If you are not admitted, you are welcome to attend the first class and stay in touch with Profs. Daley and Greene. Enrollment numbers may shift during the first week of classes.
WRCT250N: Writing Reality: Journalism in the Age of Trump
Description: How should the news media cover Donald Trump? How did the Internet, the 24-hour news cycle, and rising polarization help change the nature of journalism itself, but also lead to an era of “Fake News” accusations in which Americans exposed to different sources of information come away with completely different sets of facts? This class will explore our new digital and highly partisan media landscape, grounded in a close study of current events. We will study the impact and consequences of today’s media — both how to consume it, and how to write for it.
The following books will be assigned:
Boys on the Bus (Crouse)
Amusing Ourselves to Death (Postman)
The Image (Boorstin)
The People’s Platform (Taylor)
Trouble With Reality (Gladstone)
Weaponized Lies (Levitin)
Examinations and Assignments: Students will offer weekly examples of how themes from this class appear in contemporaneous news stories. Students will also write several short papers, including some analysis in the voice of various news outlets from across the political spectrum, and a final paper assessing coverage of a single story or topic across various partisan outlets.
Questions? Contact Prof. Anne Greene agreene@wesleyan.edu
