Faculty Syllabus

There are no prerequisties set for this course at present time. 

The readings for this course will be an assortment of online articles. 

This course will go over critical issues in journalism including: 

1. Misinformation and disinformation 
2. Decline of trust in media
3. Economic pressures and financial sustainability 
4. Influence of social media and algorithms 
5. Political polarization and media bias
6. Press freedom and censorship 
7. Journalism in democracy
8. Ethical dilemmas in reporting 
9. Impact of AI and automation 
10. Decline of local journalism 
11. Privacy and data ethics 
12. Citizen journalism and changing role of journalists 

Course Syllabus: COMM 2302

Critical Issues in Journalism

Tentative Syllabus

Spring 2026

Instructor: David Kano                                             Belief is meaningless without action.

CRN: 50263

Online (ONL) Class: This class is an asynchronous class.

Office Hours In Person: Mondays 12 pm – 1:30 pm and by appointment

Office Hours Online: Mondays 1:30 pm – 3 pm, Tuesdays 1 pm – 2 pm and by appointment

Location: Rio Grande Campus 3252

E-mail: david.kano@austincc.edu

Phone: (512) 223-3390

Communication: Email is the best way to reach me and I usually respond within 24 hours during the week. If you email me on a Friday, response may come following Monday. Also, please be sure to send a professional email which includes a greeting, proper body, and closing.

Response: Although you should receive a response from me within the time parameters given – sometimes emails get buried, go to spam, or simply aren’t sent. My schedule fills up quickly as well – so unless there are days that go by (outside of the weekend) without a response, then you can follow-up to ensure I received your message.

Course Description

This course explores the most pressing and complex issues facing the field of journalism today. Through a combination of lectures, readings, case studies, and discussions, students will critically examine the ethical, political, social, and technological challenges that impact journalistic practices and media consumption in the 21st century. Topics include the erosion of trust in media, the influence of social media on news dissemination, the role of journalism in democracy, challenges to press freedom, media bias and objectivity, journalistic integrity in the digital age, and the economic pressures shaping news organizations.

Course Learning Outcomes

• • Analyze and evaluate the ethical and practical challenges confronting modern journalism.
  • Understand the impact of technological advancements and social media on news reporting and consumption.
  • Develop a critical perspective on the role of journalism in shaping public opinion, policy, and democracy.
  • Investigate the relationship between journalistic practices and issues such as censorship, freedom of the press, and media consolidation.
  • Produce well-researched written analyses of critical issues in journalism.

Student Learning Outcomes

• • Critically assess the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists in various contexts, including issues of accuracy, bias, objectivity, and fairness.
  • Examine how digital media, social media, and emerging technologies have transformed journalism practices, including reporting, storytelling, and audience engagement.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of journalism’s function in supporting democratic processes, public accountability, and an informed citizenry.
  • Analyze global and local threats to press freedom, including censorship, legal restrictions, and governmental pressures, and consider their implications for democracy and human rights.
  • Explore the factors that influence media bias, the concept of journalistic objectivity, and the consequences of partisan or ideologically-driven reporting on public trust in the media.
  • Examine how journalists address issues of activism, marginalized communities, and assess the ethical challenges that arise when covering sensitive or controversial topics.

Required Materials

1. Class handouts.
2. Computer, Internet, and a camera/smart phone.

Grading | Evaluation | Assignments

1. About You Video = 5%
   • The first week of class you will need to upload a short video talking about yourself (talking points will be provided (and it will also serve as attendance for the class).

1. Media Bias Tracker = 30%
   • Select a current event or news story covered by two contrasting media outlets and follow the story over the course of two weeks. Pull at least four articles from each outlet (eight minimum total) and analyze the information. Put together a graphic of your findings to present in a video multimedia piece.

3. Social Media Breakdown = 30%

• • Choose one breaking news story and analyze how it is presented from at least four social media platforms and two traditional news outlets (print, television, radio). Present the information in a video multimedia project.

4. Video Podcast = 25%

• • Work with a partner, interviewee, or yourself and produce a video podcast. Choose a topic that deals with a critical issue in journalism and research potential talking points or questions to analyze. (8-15 minutes)

5. Reflection Video = 10%

• • Think about the class concepts, activities and work done in class. What are some things you already knew coming into the class and some elements about mass communication which you learned. (5-7 minutes)

Assignment Policies

1. Late Work
   1. All course assignments must be submitted on the deadlines stated in the syllabus, course calendar or by the instructor.
   2. Work submitted after the deadline (late) will not be graded and result in a zero. If you are having technical issues submitting/uploading an assignment, then you need to email me with the work attached before the due date/time to receive credit.
   3. Instructor reserves the right to offer or decline an extension at their discretion, which may be based on your participation in the course at that time for partial credit.

1. Writing
   1. Bibliographies should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman and adhere to APA Style Guide format.

Course Policies

1. Attendance
   1. You may be dropped after missing two weeks worth of classes, or non-submission of work for two consecutive weeks in online courses. Also, it may be your responsibility to drop the class or risk receiving a failing grade.

1. Academic Integrity
   1. Plagiarism, cheating or any other form of academic dishonesty will result an automatic fail on the assignment and may be reported to the Department Chair and/or Dean of LAHC. Please refer to ACC’s Academic Integrity Process. For ACC’s College Policies you can reference that here.

1. Artificial Intelligence

a) What it is: This policy encourages you to use AI for parts of the creative process (like brainstorming) but requires that the final product be your original work.

b) Why we use it: This approach teaches you to leverage AI for efficiency while ensuring that your unique voice, critical analysis, and original reporting remain at the center of the work. It separates idea generation from content creation.

• What this means for you:
• You may use AI for tasks like:
• Brainstorming story ideas or headlines.
• Exploring different angles for a report.
• Generating outlines for a script or article.
• Getting ideas for how to visualize a set of data.
• You may not use AI to generate the final, submitted content (e.s., the text of the article, the final video edit, or the code for the visualization).

Citation is required: You must include a brief "AI Process Note" with your submission explaining what tool you used and how you used it (e.g., "I used ChatGPT to brainstorm five potential headlines for this story.")

ACC Additional Support

1. Student Accessibility Services

Students needing instructional or classroom accommodation can reach out to Student Accessibility Services for more information.

2. Social Support Resources

               Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance may contact Social Support Resources.

Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to Critical Issues in Journalism

• Overview of the course
• Introduction to journalism ethics, role in democracy, and the changing media landscape
• The historical evolution of journalism and its functions

Week 2: Ethics in Journalism

• Core ethical principles in journalism including: accuracy, fairness, impartiality
• Case studies: Role of ethics in reporting controversial stories (WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden)
• Ethical decision-making in the digital age

Week 3: Press Freedom and Censorship

• Global perspectives on press freedom
• Case studies: Treatment of journalists in authoritarian regimes (Saudi Arabia, Russia)
• Legal protections and challenges for journalists in the U.S. (First Amendment)

Week 4: Journalism and Democracy

• Role of the press in safeguarding
• Case studies: Watch dog, lap dog, guard dog
• The decline of local journalism and its impact on democracy

Week 5: Media Bias and Objectivity

• Theories of media bias (partisan bias, corporate bias, framing)
• Coverage of political events in different media outlets
• How to identify and counteract bias in media

Week 6: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Fake News

• Defining and differentiating between misinformation and disinformation
• Rise of “fake news” and its impact on society
• Social media platforms & mis/disinformation (COVID)

Week 7: Journalism in the Digital Age

• The shift from traditional media to digital platforms
• Social media & transforming journalism
• Case studies: Social media & breaking news

Week 8: The Economics of Journalism

• Financial pressures on news organizations (advertising, subscriptions, paywalls)
• Rise of freelance and independent journalism
• Decline of newspapers & influx of online journalism

Week 9: Investigative News Pitch

• Reporting in times of conflict, natural disaster, and political unrest

Week 10: Video Podcast

Week 11: Final Reflection

Week 12: Future Goals

• Recap of semester
• Future goals

Course Calendar