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University of Pennsylvania

English for Journalism

University of Pennsylvania via Coursera

Overview

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Welcome to English for Journalism, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs.

To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate."

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in developing the skills needed for a career in modern journalism. In this course, you will explore print and digital media through authentic readings and video lectures, while expanding your vocabulary and increasing your ability to read, research, and develop local and global news stories. Unit 1 will provide an introduction to the history and principles of journalism. In unit 2, you will learn how to research, pitch, and interview. The next unit in the course will focus on the language needed to write newspaper and magazine articles, while unit 4 will cover the basics of broadcasting the news. In the final unit of the course, you will analyze the growth, impact, and challenges of digital news, while completing a reflection assignment that allows you to think about and discuss the recent changes to the field of journalism.

Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license.

Supplemental reading materials were provided by Newsela, which publishes daily news articles at a level that's just right for each English language learner.

Syllabus

  • Unit 1: Introduction and Principles of Journalism
    • In this unit, you will first learn about how the course works. Then we will explore the history of journalism, as well as important principles, or ideas, that make good journalism possible.
  • Unit 2: How to Research, Pitch, and Interview
    • This unit will show you how journalists choose their topics and stories. You will also learn how journalists research their stories and interview their sources.
  • Unit 3: Words in Print
    • This unit will help you to write briefly and with emphasis, create a lead that makes the audience want to read more, and effectively edit and proofread article drafts. At the end of the unit, you will create a lead and write an article based on that lead.
  • Unit 4: Broadcasting the News
    • In this unit, we will focus on speaking skills for delivering the news. At the end of the unit, you will write a script for a news report.
  • Unit 5: Journalism in the Digital Age
    • The final unit of this course discusses how journalism is changing fast because of digital technologies. At the end of the unit, you will describe data about the news and complete a reflection assignment that allows you to think about and discuss the recent changes to the field of journalism.

Taught by

John Cotton

Reviews

3.8 rating, based on 15 Class Central reviews

4.8 rating at Coursera based on 2682 ratings

Start your review of English for Journalism

  • Hi everyone

    That's a generous action mainly for who love to learn English.

    Thank you all.

    Yours sincerely.

    Paulo de Tarso Porrelli

    São Paulo, Brazil
  • It was a good introductory course on journalism for the beginner. I recommend it to you if you want to understand media and think about journalist profession.
  • Maitri Mukesh Sharma
    Even though I had no knowledge of journalism before I took this course, I find the subject to be very interesting after I took this course. The videos were very well explained, the quizzes really seemed to test my ability and knowledge, and the clarity was just too good. 100% recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Zelalem Shiferaw
    it is interesting and the video is nice easy to understand. the teachers make the lesson more clear and they taught in a attractive mood
  • Xatamjonova Mohlaroy
    I like this course.And I hope this course help me to imrove my skills.............................

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  • Ahmed Hussien
    A very good course to start with journalism and understand the basics of the field, and it also have useful English words and grammar.
  • Manish Kumar
    It is very essential for learning English language. It gives knowledge about the people in the society and events.A journal search about the event.
  • Profile image for Nuried Hurtado
    Nuried Hurtado
    I believe that this course might be helpful for people that are trying to discover new interest or want to be a journalist because it give you introductory information that got you into it and create an idea of how it would be to be a journalist. good course. I really like it.
  • Rana
    I am sure that I will achieve the goal I crave and quickly learn many things. Language like the sea is deep and wide and does not stop at a certain level.
  • Not sure how useful this course is for someone for whom English is their first language. Time was taken to explain terms that any highschooler already knows.
  • Anonymous
    I found this course a bit elementary for myself, but it would be great for someone just starting off with English as a language as it is more slow paced.
  • Anonymous
    I have greater interest in journalism.hope at the end of this study,I will understand the professional ethics of journalism.However, I remain humbly and focus on this unique course, there by being obedience.this institution should make students marketable around the world based on the type of document given to participants
  • Kristel Castellon Parra

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