The ethics unit examines case studies and controversies in areas such as truth telling, social justice, privacy, economic pressures, and technology influences. Professional examples are drawn from literary journalism and environmental journalism. Students' news gathering, analysis, and writing skills are developed through field assignments, guest speaker events, and writing projects. Students focus on advancing their interviewing, reporting, and writing skills in a magazine production setting. Along with analyzing and employing devices from professional writing models, class members produce a magazine-length piece to be collected in an anthology for students' professional portfolios.
Discussion includes strategies for engaging freelance writing markets.