Course Title:
J-348 Religion Reporting & Writing (3
hours credit)Schedule:
Winter Semester 2004, Tuesdays and Thursdays,
3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Location: Neff 27, School of Journalism
Edmund B. Lambeth
Instructor: Professor
Emeritus Edmund B. LambethSyllabus Part
1:Course
Overview Syllabus Part 2:Schedule
and Readings
Whatever else it did,
September 11, 2001 brought religion to the
front pages of newspapers and magazines
and to the top side of radio and TV news
programs. It began to reverse an American
journalistic tradition of neglecting stories
of religion and of the spiritual journeys
of both individuals and groups. In short,
9/11 brought the world of religion and values
more sharply into focus as a major element
of American culture and as a new area of
challenge to American journalism.
This newly approved,
non-fiction writing course gives J-School
students — and others outside the school
with appropriate writing skills and interest
— the opportunity to try their hand
at an emerging and important venue of non-fiction
writing. The goal is not necessarily to
recruit seminar members into religion journalism
but to equip them to communicate well on
a subject of growing importance. For journalism
students, the prerequisite is Reporting
J-306 or the equivalent in experience. Students
outside journalism with comparable preparation
may enroll with the permission of the instructor.
J-348 will be taught
as a small seminar in reporting and writing.
Participants may produce articles on such
topics as religion and public life; profiles
of men and women active in their faith communities;
reportage on emerging cross-cultural issues
related to religion; narratives of the spiritual
journeys of individuals and groups; background
articles on faith and values in the news;
and timely features on ethical issues within
congregations, denominations, or public
arenas. Special attention also will be paid
to the increasing religious and associated
cultural diversity in North America.
Subjects covered in
seminar sessions will include how to originate
story ideas, useful web sites on religion
and religion journalism; developing sensitivity
to the religious and cultural language of
different traditions; and generating news
and background sources. Students also will
be given access to the work of distinguished
religion journalists whose articles and
broadcasts have won awards by the Religion
Newswriters Association and the American
Academy of Religion. Seminar participants
will be encouraged to interview these nationally
recognized writers and share their insights
with student colleagues and MU faculty members.
An emphasis will be placed on one-to-one
dialogue with a teacher-editor. Where appropriate,
there also will be a working relationship
with MU’s Center for Religion, the Professions,
and the Public.
For more information
about the course, contact Professor Emeritus
Ed Lambeth at (573) 445-3595 or lambethe@missouri.edu.
A blog about faith, values and spirituality in the media, from CORP faculty, staff and friends.
ReligiousLife@MU A blog about religious life at the University of
Missouri-Columbia.
Curious about how religion affects your profession? Click on your discipline for some ideas.
