Admission requirements
None.
Description
This introductory course seeks to give students a critical understanding of the core principles of journalism. Students explore what news is and how news values are developing through time. They also gain insights in the specifics of reporting, news writing, and interviewing. They learn to critically reflect on these specifics in light of current debates about what journalism is and should be in a digital and global age. Students develop journalistic skills by going outside the building and reporting, finding news and writing news stories, while critically self-reflecting on the journalistic principles that guide their practice.
Course Objectives
After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
demonstrate understanding of what journalism entails in today’s digital world and how to access and assess sources
show insight in how journalism has changed over the past few decades
grasp key issues among scholars and practitioners about journalism ethics
report and write news stories and features – by reporting, making choices in covering news, and learning to clearly structure facts
evaluate strengths and weaknesses of different types of media (audio, video, print)
critically self-reflect on journalism theory, ethics, and practice
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2025-2026 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
Most of the classes will be in the form of lectures, with time for discussion. There will be in-class interviewing and writing exercises. There will also be talks by alumni or others currently working in journalism. One film viewing and several readings will be assigned.
Assessment Method
There will be regular writing assignments in the form of news stories which will require students to leave the LUC bubble and do real reporting in the Hague. Two of the news stories will be relatively short (300 to 400 words), while the third will be longer (500 to 600 words). The essay will be a more self-reflective piece about journalism in today's world.
Assignments:
News story 1: 10%, Week 1/2
News story 2: 20%, Week 2/3
News story 3: 35%, Week 5/6
Essay: 35% Week 7
Reading list
- The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
Other works are to be announced. Students will be expected to read a wide selection of hard news reporting from legacy news media for the duration of the course. Social media feeds do not qualify for this, only traditional media (newspapers, television, radio) and news sites run by legacy news organizations such as BBC, New York Times, and the like are considered sufficient.
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Robert Chesal, R.E.Chesal@luc.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
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