Trustworthy Journalism: Writing and Reporting in the Disinformation Age

In this timely course, we take on a crucial question: how can journalists counter public distrust of the media to have real impact? Through a sequence of writing assignments, reporting exercises, and analyses of past ethical failures in the press, students gain practical skills in reliable storytelling. We cover the building blocks of transparency—handling bias, interviewing and quoting, interpreting research, curating digital sources, and engaging readers. Assignments for each block focus on improving the credibility of cultural commentary, profiles, and research roundups. This course is helpful to aspiring and working journalists, nonfiction writers in all genres, and any professional who wants to deepen their understanding of good journalism and why it matters.