Leveraging Journalism Skills and COVID-19 Reporting in the Classroom

The Pulitzer Center invites educators to join an interactive webinar on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 1:00-3:00pm CDT to explore a range of educational resources and investigate methods for using journalism skills to increase student engagement, critical thinking skills, media literacy skills, joy, and empathy. In this session, educators will explore:

• The Journalist’s Toolbox, a series of instructional videos and accompanying lesson plans that connect students to professional journalists for advice on how to identify, research, and communicate underreported stories. As part of the series, students connect with staff from the editorial team at the Pulitzer Center to explore methods for finding underreported stories. They then explore descriptive writing strategies with Tristan McConnell, interview techniques with Natasha S. Alford, and photojournalism with Pablo Albarenga and Melissa Bunni Elian. The toolbox videos and lessons then guide students in practicing these skills in their own homes and neighborhoods.
• A selection of spring 2021 Pulitzer Center Teacher Fellow units designed and implemented by Chicago Public Schools teachers analyzing the intersection of justice, journalism, and civic action. We’ll review a number of units that connect Pulitzer-supported COVID-19 reporting as a lens to grapple with larger inequities in Chicago.

The session will be led by Pulitzer Center staff. After a Q&A about these resources, participants will have a chance to connect with one another to network and brainstorm challenges and opportunities they anticipate for next school year. Through guided exercises and open discussion, participants will also work together to identify opportunities for integrating resources shared during the session.

This webinar is part of a multi-day virtual conference for educators to bring award-winning journalists together to discuss the global and local inequalities that COVID-19 has amplified.

Featuring a combination of journalist-led presentations and interactive activities, the program will also introduce methods for integrating global news and journalism skills into diverse curricula to reinforce students’ critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. Participants will leave with the tools to incorporate new content into their classes, as well as connections to journalists working on pressing global issues. Illinois-based educators are eligible to receive CPDU credits for attendance.

Register for the Zoom webinar here.