HIST 3909A: History in the News
Fall 2024
Instructor: Professor Laura Madokoro
Introduction: What is the relationship between history and the news? When and how do we see history in the news? How might historians impact the news? This dynamic course explores the connections between history and the news with a view to the past, present, and future. Students will explore the history of journalism and ideas about freedom of the press. They will also explore historical sources to see what university, local, and national newspapers had to say about the world in which people lived. Building on observations about the past, the class will also explore contemporary events and consider how a historical perspective can nuance, amplify, or challenge the stories we see in the news. This class will be of interest to anyone interested in contemporary events and understanding how historical knowledge and methods can better inform the present.
Class Format: The class meets twice a week (1.5 hour blocks each) with the time split between lectures, discussions, and working with primary sources.
Assessment: As this class emphasizes engaged historical practice, assessment will be based on a self-assessment grade for participation, an analysis of history in the news, an op-ed and research that will contribute to contemporary journalistic practices.
Text: The readings for this course will be provided online through Brightspace and will range from histories of journalism and freedom of the press to historical context for contemporary events.
Aims and Goals: The goal of this course is to undertake historical research and analysis with a view to enhancing contemporary news coverage. Through a series of building blocks and workshops students will produce historical context to complement existing media accounts. To this end, students are encouraged to select research topics (war, migration, economy, sports, culture) of interest to them to build a research portfolio that will contribute to the goals and objectives of working journalists.
Questions? Please e-mail me at laura.madokoro@carleton.ca