Course Description
This course will expose students to how the news media cover the three branches of government as they act separately and in concert in dealing with crime and justice. Through the creation of a Washington & Lee “courts bureau” in Washington, students will get hands on experience by observing, reporting and writing about criminal cases and civil lawsuits in federal courts in the nation’s capital.
The centerpiece of the course is a five-day stay in Washington during the third week of the term when students will cover “real” cases in “real” time in the U.S. District Court, arguably one of the nation’s most important federal trial courts. Students will learn how the courts are structured and how they interact with the other two branches of government in the administration of justice.
During the week in Washington, students will meet with government officials and working journalists who will provide insight into the inner-workings of the country’s justice system.
The course will require students to read, absorb and analyze legal documents and issues—and write about them clearly and concisely. Students will immerse themselves in criminal and civil cases on the court’s docket, examining the key legal issues raised by each and their ramifications. In doing so, they will research areas of law, read court files and conduct preliminary interviews as needed. The students will showcase their work on a Web site created by the class.
Expectations
For many students this experience will be the first time they step inside a courtroom, encounter a defendant and witness the consequences of crime. Students will be expected to take cases seriously, treat all participants with respect and act professionally inside and outside of the courtroom.
Students will work together in covering cases based on their skill sets. Some students may write news stories, some may be assigned to blog about cases and others may put together broadcast packages.
During the first week of classes, students will learn about the structure of the courts, procedures and legal terminology. Students also will be expected to complete readings in preparation for class discussions on a range of topics, including the press’ role in a democracy, the conflict between the right to a fair trial and freedom of the press and the judicial selection process.
The first two weeks of the course will be devoted to researching the cases on the docket the week we will be in Washington. Students will read court filings, write “B” copy (background) and arrange interviews with key players in the cases.
During the fourth week of the term, students will write a 12-to-15-page paper that examines the legal, political and public policy issues raised by the cases they covered while we are in Washington. They also will make an in-class presentation on their papers.
The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications identifies several core values and competencies that should be the focus of a journalism education. Several will be addressed in this course, including the ability to:
- Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
- Think critically, creatively and independently;
- Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purpose you serve;
- Critically evaluate your own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
Assignments
Students will be required to:
- Complete all assigned readings in advance of class sessions;
- Write stories, blogs or produce broadcast packages about court cases;
- Write a 12- to 15-page paper, analyzing the legal, ethical, journalistic and public policy issues raised by the cases they covered in Washington;
- Make a 20-minute in-class presentation about the paper.