By Lisa Diethelm
Five professors from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication will discuss investigative journalism, misinformation in the media and other topics during Arizona State University’s Innovation Week and Innovation Quarter.
The event will allow students, faculty, teachers, parents, ASU alumni and non-ASU students to attend virtual sessions with a variety of faculty members and experts from different colleges within the university. Innovation Week lasts from Dec. 7-11 while Innovation Quarter will last until Jan. 8, 2021.
The participating Cronkite professors are:
Sarah Cohen, Knight Chair in Data Journalism
Isaac Easley, instructor in video journalism and innovation
Kristy Roschke, managing director of the News Co/Lab
Peter Byck, professor of practice
Leonard Downie Jr., Weil Family Professor of Journalism
“This is beneficial for all kinds of students across a variety of disciplines,” Roschke said of her media literacy class. “And everyone at all stages of their schooling can benefit from this because no matter what you are studying, we all need to understand digital media and the information out there better.”
The week and month-long events provide a wonderful opportunity for students, faculty and people to stay connected during winter break and to use the free sessions to feed their curiosity, Cohen said.
“People are looking for something new and different to do. This is a really nice way to have a very low-stakes, intellectual or personal growth activity that doesn’t have grades or homework,” she said.
Downie said that staying in tune with the events and opportunities offered by the Cronkite School and all of the colleges at ASU allows people to keep learning together about the growing world around us.
“COVID-19 has been so distracting, and the coursework has been so different from normal. It’s good for the minds of the students and the faculty to not fall fallow during the interim period,” he said. “Also, I think it is good for people to still stay engaged in the important issues of the day as well as a lot of the other things at the university that people can be learning about.”
Below is a list with information on the Cronkite School sessions:
Peter Byck’s Sustainability Storytelling Documentary Course Premieres
What: Attendees can watch two films focused on COVID-19 – “The Visitors,” which demonstrates how COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of wildlife and parks to human well-being, and “Inextricable: Listening to the Anthropocene,” which provides a perspective on COVID-19 as a wake-up call to our inextricable connection to the Earth.
When: Dec. 11, at 10 to 11 a.m.
Presented by: Peter Byck
Mediactive: How to participate in our digital world
What: This session will introduce attendees to the Cronkite News Co/Lab’s free, self-paced, and online course “Mediactive: How to participate in our digital world,” which teaches media literacy and how to navigate misinformation throughout different media outlets. The Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold will also be a guest speaker for the first session on Dec. 15. The following sessions will allow students to enroll and walk through the online course.
When: Dec. 15-18, all at 3 to 4 p.m.
Presented by: Kristy Roschke, Dan Gillmor, Celeste Sepessy and Quinlyn Shaughnessy
Citizen Investigations
What: This session will cover how regular citizens can investigate issues in their communities and become more active in their areas. In addition to empowering citizens, the session will also discuss how local news organizations can better communities.
When: Dec. 14 and 16, both at 9 to 11 a.m.
Presented by: Sarah Cohen
Investigative Reporting With Len Downie Jr.
What: During the session, attendees will learn about the role investigative journalism plays in our democracy, from past years to present day. With his experience as the executive editor of The Washington Post, and with his new book, “All About the Story: News, Power, Politics, and The Washington Post,” Downie will provide an experienced account of what investigative journalism can accomplish.
When: Dec. 21, at 5 p.m.
Presented by: Leonard Downie Jr.
Mobile Video 101
This session was held on Dec. 8 and taught participants how to use their phone’s video capabilities to create compelling stories with mobile cinematography and audio that captivate audiences. The session also covered editing techniques for mobile devices.
Presented by: Issac Easley