Allbritton Journalism Institute

THE ALLBRITTON JOURNALISM INSTITUTE TEACHES ASPIRING REPORTERS TO BECOME GREAT JOURNALISTS.

THE ALLBRITTON JOURNALISM INSTITUTE (THE INSTITUTE) OFFERS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EQUIP STUDENTS FROM A DIVERSE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS FOR CAREERS AS CREDIBLE, NON-PARTISAN REPORTERS. THE CURRICULUM PROVIDES OUR STUDENTS BOTH A RIGOROUS EDUCATION IN CORE JOURNALISTIC SKILLS AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE COVERING GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS. STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED FULL-TIME FOR THE DURATION OF THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, TAKING REGULARLY SCHEDULED COURSES TAUGHT BY THE INSTITUTE'S FACULTY AS WELL AS GUEST LECTURERS. FORMAL INSTRUCTION IS CONDUCTED IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS, INCLUDING LECTURES, SEMINARS AND DISCUSSION GROUPS. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE PRACTICAL, REAL-WORLD TRAINING BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL EDITORS AND REPORTERS TO PRODUCE (SEE SCHEDULE O) A NEW DIGITAL PUBLICATION COVERING GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL POLITICS. THROUGH THIS MIX OF CLASSROOM AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, STUDENTS DEVELOP CORE COMPETENCIES IN FIVE DOMAINS: (1) TRUST & CREDIBILITY - COURSES WITHIN THIS DOMAIN WILL COVER FAIRNESS, INDEPENDENCE, BIAS, PRIVACY, STANDARDS AND ACCURACY, ATTRIBUTION, AND BOTH THE LEGAL AND MORAL OBLIGATIONS OF JOURNALISTS, INCLUDING THE OBLIGATION TO LIMIT HARM.(2) NEWS JUDGMENT - COURSES WITHIN THIS DOMAIN TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO DEFINE NEWS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PARTICULAR AUDIENCE THAT NEEDS IT, HOW TO IDENTIFY A STORY WORTH PURSUING, HOW TO IDENTIFY THE FACTS AND PERSPECTIVES THAT MUST BE OBTAINED AND INCLUDED IN A STORY, AND HOW TO APPROACH SENSITIVE SUBJECTS AND DIFFICULT PUBLISHING DECISIONS.(3) NEWSGATHERING - COURSES WITHIN THIS DOMAIN COVER SOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND SOURCE BUILDING, STORY PLANNING, INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES AND ORGANIZATIONAL TACTICS, AND THE USE OF GOVERNMENT RECORDS, FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS AND DISCLOSURES, DATA, POLLING AND ONLINE SOURCES IN REPORTING.(4) WRITING - COURSES WITHIN THIS DOMAIN TRAIN STUDENTS TO FRAME THEIR JOURNALISM IN WAYS THAT SERVE THE INTENDED AUDIENCE, TO IDENTIFY THE STORY FORM THAT BEST FITS THEIR REPORTING AND THEIR AUDIENCE, AND TO WRITE OR OTHERWISE PRESENT THEIR REPORTING WITH PRECISION, CLARITY AND FAIRNESS.(5) REACHING YOUR AUDIENCE - COURSES IN THIS DOMAIN TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO ENSURE THAT THEIR REPORTING REACHES AND RESONATES WITH THE INTENDED AUDIENCE. COURSEWORK COVERS SOCIAL MEDIA, NEWSLETTERS, AUDIO, VIDEO AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES. THE INSTITUTE'S COURSES ARE TAUGHT BY APPROXIMATELY 12 PAID FACULTY MEMBERS AND GUEST LECTURERS WHO CAN OFFER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES OR AREAS OF EXPERTISE. FACULTY MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED FROM A POOL OF EXPERIENCED EDITORS, REPORTERS AND OTHERS WITH A TRACK RECORD OF PRODUCING AND PRESENTING HIGH-QUALITY, FACT-BASED AND FAIR JOURNALISM - AND WITH A PASSION FOR TEACHING A NEW GENERATION OF JOURNALISTS.