Students will engage with media, journalism and technology industry case studies examining contemporary and historical ethical questions around race, gender, sexuality, class and similar dynamics.

Students will research and present strategies used by journalists, documentarians, policy makers and technologists to reckon with societal debates around these topics, against a backdrop of increasing calls for transparency. Students will explore how media creators balance responsibilities to audiences, industry norms, accountability to communities and moral concerns. The range of works studied will include long-form written reportage, photography essays, documentary shorts and feature films, podcasts and innovative technology tools and platforms.

Parallel to examining media case studies each week, students will have direct, hands-on experiences in shaping a documentary web exhibition through a collaborative class project.