Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

Short Courses of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

Colombian Journalists Take Online Course in Spanish: Covering Armed ConflictsColombian Journalists Take Online Course in Spanish: Covering Armed Conflicts

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, in partnership with Consejo de Redacción (The Newsroom Council), is offering an online course in Spanish for Colombian journalists, "Covering Armed Conflicts," starting July 1, 2008.The six-week course will be taught by Colombian journalist Álvaro Sierra and concludes Aug. 8.

The course will explore the role that the media play, and are capable of playing, in their coverage of armed conflicts. It examines the international context but also focuses on intensive discussion of the Colombian case. Students will have access for the first time to digital versions of reports dealing with journalistic coverage of the Colombian conflict.

The class will seek to provide answers to the following questions:

• What techniques are used to report on armed conflict?
• What ethical dilemmas do reporters face when covering these conditions?
• What investigative journalistic techniques are applicable in covering conflict?
• Should journalists attempt to save lives and contribute to the peace? Or is their mission simply to inform?
• What are the best ways to inform the public in an armed conflict situation?
• What is the relationship between journalists and the military?
• What is the history of coverage of armed conflicts in other parts of the world?

The online course will have a face-to-face component in Cali, Colombia, where the students will gather to personally meet with the instructor, Álvaro Sierra. The online segment of the course will include video presentations (about 25 minutes each week), lecture materials (both required, and recommended), weekly homework assignments, and participation in discussion forums with the instructor and classmates. Students will work and meet the course deadlines according to their own schedule. This is the second time that the Knight Center is offering this course.

During the course, each student will be assisted with developing an investigation about armed conflict. The proposal must be presented at the time of registration, and selection will be made based on viability of the proposed project. At the end of the course, the instructor will evaluate the viability of the investigation. Students who show strong performance in the course will attend the seminar in Cali and will receive additional assistance with their investigation. The date for that event will be set at the beginning of the course.

Álvaro Sierra is a renowned journalist and instructor, and editor of the editorial page of El Tiempo newspaper. He was a correspondent in Russia (1990-1997) and China (1998-2000) and has been based in Colombia since 2000. He has extensive experience covering armed conflicts as a local reporter and a foreign correspondent.

The Newsroom Council is an organization of Colombian journalists dedicated to promoting investigative journalism. It began in September 2006 and has 43 members in 15 cities and 88 members of its online discussion list.

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas was created by Professor Rosental Calmon Alves at the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism in August 2002 thanks to a generous donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Added Sep 05, 14:03, 2008