Medill Explores (417-0-23)

Topic

Puerto Rico: Colonialism, Climate Change, Resistan

Instructors

Karin A Lydersen

Meeting Info

303 E. Wacker Dr. 1624-B: Mon 9:00AM - 11:50AM

Overview of class

This course will prepare students to report in a new location - Puerto Rico - on complicated, sensitive and newsworthy topics including disaster recovery, climate change impacts, politics, inequity, food security and public health. Students will explore history, politics, journalism and other context relating to Puerto Rico and Chicago's Puerto Rican diaspora, and learn how to identify and produce timely news or feature stories that build on and recognize this context. Students will find and build relationships with sources from afar and on the ground in Puerto Rico, and experience reporting with vulnerable people and on traumatic situations including the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona and other natural disasters, and contentious politics including the debate over Puerto Rico's political status. Students will work together as a team and also have the opportunity to learn how to arrange their own interviews and logistics during travel reporting. Students will produce one publication-worthy story, package or project as part of the course, as well as coursework including journal entries and a presentation.

Class Materials (Required)

No course materials required. (All readings will be provided online).

Class Attributes

Attendance at 1st class mandatory

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Only students in the MSJ program may enroll in these classes
Add Consent: Department Consent Required