Media World Affairs

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Juris Doctor, Undergraduate

This course examines the relationship between the media and the conduct of international relations, beginning with Julius Caesar's self-serving account of the Gallic Wars and continuing through the media coverage of the Bush administration's case for pre-emptive war on Iraq, the global financial crisis and environmental issues. It also traces the evolution of the American news media from two developments in the 15th and 16th Centuries: the invention of moveable type and the translation of the Bible into English and German. The course includes a number of weekly writing assignments, and it places a heavy emphasis on the distillation and organization of large amounts of material into clear, concise prose, the kind that's valued not only in journalism, but also in industry, government and NGOs. In addition, there is a final paper of 2,000-2,500 words on a topic to be chosen by the student and approved by the professor.