Journalism 390G - Reporting/Gender & Sexuality

This concepts and critical thinking course examines the relationship between journalism, gender and sexuality in newsrooms, news coverage and news audiences, with attention to both historical developments and modern issues. Students will analyze how news and popular media construct, depict and reinforce gender and sexuality, particularly in relation to race, class and privilege, with the help of historical artifacts, news coverage, nonfiction books, popular media clips, first-person experts and feminist, queer, political and communication theories. In doing so, we will dive into modern and recurring issues of masculinity, femininity, patriarchy, misogyny and other dimensions of identity and power with a focus on the potential for transformation in media interpretations and depictions of these critical issues. Together, we will interpret and question predominant cultural understandings of gender and sexuality and think creatively about how journalism might be applied to challenge conventional understandings of what it means to be female or male, straight or queer.

Open to Senior, Junior and Sophomore Journalism majors only.