The Engaged Journalist: Connecting Communities and Newsrooms Across Divides

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course delves into the evolving practice of engaged journalism in the U.S., equipping students with skills to close gaps between journalists and the communities they serve. Students will examine standout examples of engaged journalism in the U.S., highlighting how leading newsrooms build trust, prioritize community input, and make journalism relevant to diverse audiences. Students will explore engagement as more than audience metrics — focusing instead on inclusive reporting, collaborative storytelling, and trust-building. Through case studies from some of the nation’s best storytellers and investigative journalists, students will learn techniques for involving community voices in creation, from story selection to distribution, enhancing journalism’s accessibility and relevance. As a classroom, we will discuss the ethical challenges journalists face when interviewing people who have experienced trauma or harm. Students will analyze case studies, identifying best practices and key strategies that deepen audience connections. We will apply these practices through assignments, learning to design and implement engagement-focused reporting through community listening exercises and collaborative story creation. This hands-on approach allows students to create audience-centered journalism that bridges gaps between newsrooms and the public and explores what it means to do journalism as a public service. By semester’s end, students will leave with actionable strategies for fostering sustainable, community-centered journalism and ways to integrate these practices into their budding careers.