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Home > Degree Programs > Teaching & Courses > 2009-2010 Course Listing > Writing and Reporting on Politics and Policy: Understanding the Relationship Between the Press and Public Officials
DPI-651: Writing and Reporting on Politics and Policy: Understanding the Relationship Between the Press and Public Officials
Faculty: Daniel Okrent
Schedule
| Day | Time | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Day | 9/2 | ||
| Meet Day | M/W | 10:10 AM - 11:30 AM | T401 |
| Review |
Description
The intersection of policymakers and the press is one that government officials and political figures alternately wish to avoid or to exploit. This course brings future policymakers to the journalistic side of the exchange so they might better understand the techniques, standards, and goals of the journalists who will cover them in their future roles as advocates, administrators or elected officials. At the same, it provides an opportunity to learn how to write with greater impact and clarity. Working with the instructor, who will function as editor, students will be assigned a specific beat or issue involving political organizations and public officials in greater Boston. The goal of the reportorial work is an enhanced perspective on the role of the press (as well as a better understanding of the subject being covered); the goal of the required written exercises – several newspaper articles and one substantial magazine piece – is, simply put, better prose.