This course involves students in the creation of writing, photography and video/multimedia reports and promotional content for a local non-profit organization working with the homeless and those struggling with poverty in communities adjacent to the CSUN campus. Depending on the students’ own areas of expertise (broadcast, print, photography, public relations) each student will create content either for dissemination through the mass media, for use by the organizations for promotional and/or educational purposes or will work with the organization and its clients on a variety of activities.
The course will involve weekly meetings with the entire class during which there will be lectures and presentations on advocacy journalism work, with particular focus on the ethical considerations of working with marginalized populations. As the semester progresses, each student will come up with a proposal for their contribution to the community organization and will be expected to make at least one weekly visit to the site, presenting their progress to the class during class meetings and one-on-one meetings with the instructor during designated office hours.