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Journalism 50
Navigating the News
Fall 2025

JOUR 050, Sec. 1; 3 credit units
Monday & Wednesday, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
DBH133

About This Course: Course Description JOUR50 At-A-Glance About Instructor For More Information

Current Course Materials: Course Syllabus: PDF Syllabus Supplement     Textbook -- Navigating the News  First Half of Semester → Onion Twitter example | Link  Some Initial Concepts (PDF)   What is News? (PDF)  What is News II (PDF)  The (almost) complete history of 'fake news' (BBC)  Police: Fake news story led gunman to popular DC pizzeria (AP)  Dissecting the #PizzaGate Conspiracy Theories (NY Times)  The very real consequences of fake news stories and why your brain can’t ignore them (PBS)  How To Spot Fake News (IFLA)  Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low (Gallup)  Job of the Journalist (PDF)  Example: White, and in the minority  (Washington Post) Photo Ethics Example: * Front Page * Photo Comparison  Different Kinds of News Stories  News Ethics (PDF)  10 Commandments of News  Conflicting reports of Giffords’ death were understandable, but not excusable (Poynter) Snopes | Politifact  Millions Misused (Spartan Daily)  Penn State sex scandal investigation  Interactive Media Bias Chart (Ad Fontes Media) Audio interviews from book sources  Local News Most Trusted in Keeping Americans Informed About Their Communities (Knight Foundation)  Americans Trust Local News. That Belief Is Being Exploited. (NY Times) Silicon Valley congressional candidate tied to fake newspaper (San Jose Spotlight) The San Francisco Inquirer looks like local news. Here’s why politicians are furious with the site (SF Gate) San Jose "Little Saigon" Controversy: * San Jose Mercury News  * San Francisco Chronicle  * Los Angeles Times   * New York Times  San Diego Fire Example (KFMB CBS8)  Current National Story: US says a deal has been reached on TikTok (AP) Current International Story:  Ukrainian drones strike one of Russia’s top oil refineries (AP) Journalists and Credibility (PDF)  Elements of Newsworthiness (PDF)  QEII Coverage: Positive | Critical | Bizarre  In-Class Exercise for 9-17  Community (PDF)  Chapter 3 Interview Clips  Elizabeth Holmes Case: * Background  * Hulu series  * Later Story  Broderick Examples: * "Dirty John"  * Till Murder Do Us Part (LA Times) 19-year-old charged with murder of Oakland security guard (KTVU)  Murder victim Kathy Anderson was former town arborist (Palo Alto Daily Post) Hill Examples: * Questions surround honor student's death in Detroit (USA Today) * Family, friends mourn Grosse Pointe Farms teen (Detroit Free Press) * College student shot, killed talking in car in Detroit (Detroit News) * In Detroit, a tale of two homicides (Detroit Free Press) Scandalous Stories (PDF) Elizabeth Holmes updates  Types of News Audiences (PDF)  Education Reporting (PDF)  For Monday 9/29: * Trump signs executive order to begin dismantling Department of Education  (CBS News) * Judge blocks Trump’s executive order to dismantle Education Department (NPR) * Schools, colleges have 2 weeks to ban DEI (NPR) * Judge Halts White House Effort to Defund Schools With D.E.I. Programs (NY Times) * The Ongoing Debate Over School Choice   * School boards get death threats amid rage over race, gender, mask policies (Reuters) * What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? (Education Week) * University of Missouri Fires Melissa Click, Who Tried to Block Journalist at Protest (NY Times) * Local indigenous tribe condemns SJSU anthropology professor (Spartan Daily) Trolling and News (PDF)  Spartan Daily 2020 Election Issue  Identity Article Search  Give the audience what they want or what they need? There’s an even better question. (Medium)  Journalism and Institutions (PDF)  In-Class Assignment for 10/6  Business and Economics (PDF)  Government and Politics (PDF)  Midterm Study Guide  Midterm Grading Scale  Second Half of Semester → Audiences and Diversions (PDF)  Funny Pages (Spokesman-Review) Even before the Internet, we forged virtual relationships — through advice columns  (Washington Post) A time before Wordle: The New York Times hated crossword puzzles before it embraced them (BigThink) NY Times Games Page  Sports and Entertainment (PDF)  Environmental Journalism (PDF)  America's Sewage System and the Price of Optimism (Time, 1969)  Maverick: Chronicles of a Death Foretold (Spartan Daily)  Inside the town that’s been on fire since 1962 (All That's Interesting)  Science Journalism (PDF)  Science Journalism II (PDF)  Correlation Does Not Imply Causation (Statology) Spurious Correlations  Investigative Journalism (PDF, updated)   Las Vegas case:  * Investigations * Aftermath  * Esquire story  * Final verdict  First Woodward/Bernstein Watergate story  Investigative Journalism II (PDF, updated)  Penn State sex scandal investigation   * Anniversary follow-up (Poynter)  L.A. Times FDA investigation  S.F. Chronicle: Homeless in Oakland  Spartan Daily: Millions Misused  Tampa Bay Times: Poisoned  Spokane Mayor Scandal  Why Americans get news from influencers (Pew Center)  Investigative Journalism III (PDF)  For 11-10 Class Exercise: 1: SJSU faculty left unheard: Professors claim grievance process is unjust  2: Documents suggest investigation failed to follow up on prior claims  3: Out of nine faculty members who alleged broken policies, seven were women of color 4: Local Indigenous tribe condemns SJSU anthropology professor  5: Outside investigators scope out SJSU IT  6: Investigation uncovered: Former SJSU baseball coach violated Title IX  International News Coverage in U.S. I  City Photo 1 | City Photo 2  International News Coverage II  Audio interviews from book sources  International News Coverage III For 11-24 Class Exercise: 1: News from Western Europe:  Germany’s Christmas markets open  2: News from Eastern Europe:  Poland charges third Ukrainian with helping Russia in railway sabotage  3: News from the Middle East:  Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to close aid effort  4: News from Latin America:  Airlines cancel flights to Venezuela  5: News from Asia:  Takeoff of China’s flying taxis hits turbulence  6: News from Africa: Armed bandits kidnap more than 300 students from Catholic school in Nigeria  International News Coverage IV (Assignment) Applying News Assessment Skills (PDF)  News Assessment Skills II (PDF)  Final Exam Study Guide   These materials will be updated throughout the semester.

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Course Description

Introduction to different forms of news media we consume to become informed and engaged citizens, and how media shape our world. Development of skills to critically evaluate the credibility of news sources, distinguish between real and fake news, and examine contemporary news events and news media coverage in cultural, historical, environmental, and spatial contexts. This class is for students who aspire to be informed citizens and want to understand how media shape the world around them. Students will learn how different kinds of media work to make them better and smarter news consumers.

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For More Information

Please contact Prof. Craig, either by phone at 924-3287, or by e-mail at profcraig@profcraig.com.