Journalism vs. Public Relations

Fall & Spring | 3 credits | Elective
Majors: Communication, Journalism, and Media Studies

What kind of relationship do public relations professionals and journalists really have? This course is like no other on PR and journalism. It will take you off the pages of any textbook you’ve ever read and examine where the two sides of the industry crash. Taught by a public relations specialist, this course gets you up-close and personal with the inner workings of PR departments and newsrooms. How does each side interact with one another? Where do good and bad relationships come into play? How does each side use one another to inform the public?

The course culminates with an elaborate role-playing game in which you as a journalist or PR professional pitch your side of the story as it develops in a simulated news crisis scenario. Dive head first into this course and become an expert on the necessary skills to be successful in both fields.

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Field Studies

Danish PR Firm
Students will go over case studies and discuss the business side of press work with industry professionals. Previous visits have been to Geelmuyden.Kiese, one of the largest companies in Scandinavia specializing in strategic communications consulting.
Politiken
This study tour will provide the unique opportunity for students to meet the journalists and editors that collaborate daily to publish Denmark's second-most read newspaper. Linking it to public relations, the visit will feature a discussion of journalism's relationship with the PR world and how news people ensure the integrity and independence in their coverage.

Instructors

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The experience of performing the day-to-day duties of people in this profession during the simulation game was both challenging and relevant. Armed with only the tools we had learned about in class and the collaboration of peers, I appreciated the exposure we were given to how demanding and fast-paced this industry is.

Olivia Shilan Denison University, Fall 2010
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