This podcast series is the result of a three-quarter long Honors Capstone Project done at Western Washington University.
By Ray Garcia, Advised by Jeremy Cushman
The idea behind this project is to foster a sense of collaboration between those who produce the news and those who consume it. Watching the reign of social media, I observed how people worldwide used these platforms to boost varying movements, to share photos/videos from the scene of breaking news, and to essentially communicate information with their cyber-friends and neighbors. As an advocate for the freedom of the press, I believe it’s important to support our established media outlets and the journalists who work to shed light on the truth. However, I also recognize the impressive impact that collaboration and networking have in the field. And so, this podcast series is for those who’d like to learn the basics of journalism, though it is important to note that this is NOT the same as professional training.
Expert Source: Maria McLeod, associate professor of journalism and has worked as a PR consultant, writer, and media specialist for over 25 years
Expert Source: John Harris, associate professor of journalism who teaches reporting and ethics — two required classes in the journalism program
Referenced Resources: Only 41% of Americans ‘trust’ the Mass Media, The SPJ Code of Ethics, Journalist’s Toolbox, and the Investigative Reporters & Editor’s site (IRE requires a membership fee, resources are worth admission)
Expert Source: Joan Connell, associate professor of journalism who teaches ethics, news writing and narrative journalism
Referenced Resources: Columbia University’s Four Principles of Interviews, Emotions and Accountability: The Art of Compelling Interviews (*IRE), and A Guide to Mastering the Investigative Interview
Expert Source: Brian Bowe, associate professor of journalism who specializes in researching media framing and representation of Muslims
Referenced Resources: 55% spent fewer than 15 seconds actively on a page, The Writing Cooperative’s Inverted Pyramid, and ThoughtCo’s 8 Tips for Writing Great Feature Stories
The sources used in the series are divided into two categories: Expert Sources and Vox Populi. The expert sources are professors who consented to speaking on record, but the Vox Populi are students who simply wanted anonymity.
