Two recent articles can add some substance to the importance of journalism.
One, a guest blog in Education Week by Meira Levinson, an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is a call for schools doing more to promote civil dialogue through teaching more meaningful civics.
Journalism in its varied scholastic forms can – and does – just that.
“There needs to be space in the curriculum for students to be taught explicitly how to listen and respond to ideas with which they disagree,” writes Levinson, “look for common ground in apparently opposing positions, distinguish fact from opinion, evaluate a variety of sources of evidence, present their own opinions in ways that are respectful and promote mutual dialogue, and take effective and appropriate civic action.”
Levinson’s article could be the basis for arguments to continue or enhance journalism education in high schools.
The second article, a brief article from The Poynter Institute, presents an excellent source for guidelines to develop a newsroom checklist for social media before posting information.
Tho Poynter article links to Zombie Journalism, ideas from Mandy Jenkins, blogger and social media producer for TBD, a Washington, DC, local news start-up. At Zombie Journalism, Jenkins offers valuable ideas for checking a reporter’s social media accuracy and accountability.
Some points students should consider when tweeting:
  • Are any Twitter handles included? Do they go to the right accounts?

  • Does this tweet have/need attribution for reported facts?

  • Does this tweet need a hat tip for another Twitter account/news outlet who first alerted you to the info?





    • Two stories, both focusing on future and importance of journalism, and well worth your sharing with students.