Solutions Journalism Educator’s Academy July 12-13, 2018 at the Agora Journalism Center at the University of Oregon in the Historic White Stag Building in Portland, Oregon. In partnership with the Solutions Journalism Network, the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication is delighted to announce the inaugural Solutions Journalism Educator’s Academy. This academy is an initiative of The Catalyst Journalism Project at the University of Oregon. Solutions journalism is a rigorous and fact-driven approach to reporting credible responses to societal problems. The Academy is designed for university journalism faculty members interested in learning how to teach solutions journalism at the collegiate level. You will learn: ● How solutions journalism can engage students and audiences ● How to teach student to frame, source, interview for and structure solutions stories for print and multimedia ● How to develop class lectures, discussion, exercises and assignments for SoJo courses or SoJo modules within existing journalism courses The Academy will be led by University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication instructor Kathryn Thier. Faculty members Nicole Dahmen and Brent Walth will assist with the Academy. A representative of the Solutions Journalism Network team will also participate in the Academy. Kathryn Thier, a journalism instructor and former reporter, is a graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism. She has published peer-reviewed research on solutions journalism education and she is a nationally-recognized leader in teaching solutions journalism. She was recently named one of the top 20 innovative j-school educators by MediaShift. Nicole Dahmen, Ph.D., an associate professor, is a leading visual communication scholar with a focus on solutions journalism and multimedia reporting and teaching. She is becoming a leading scholar on the theory and practice of solutions journalism and other contextual reporting forms. Brent Walth, an assistant professor and Pulitzer-prize winning investigative reporter, has 34 years of experience writing, reporting, and editing. He is a self-described “solutions journalism convert,” who brings an investigative lens to the practice and teaching of solutions journalism. To apply, please submit a cover letter discussing your interest in solutions journalism and in the Educator’s Academy, a current curriculum vitae, a short letter of support for Academy attendance from your dean/director/department head; and the names with contact information for three academic references. Complete applications should be emailed to Dr. Nicole Dahmen at ndahmen@uoregon.edu by 5 p.m. PST on Friday, March 9, 2018. Selected participants will be notified by the end of March 2018.
FAQ How much do I need to know about solutions journalism ahead of time? General knowledge of the practice is preferred, but detailed knowledge is not required. To learn more about solutions journalism, visit the Learning Lab on the Solutions Journalism Network website: https://learninglab.solutionsjournalism.org. What expenses are covered by the Academy? A grant from the Solutions Journalism Network, with funding from the Enlight Foundation, supports the Academy. The Academy covers these expenses for participants: airfare or milage up to $650; hotel for July 11, 12, and 13; transportation to and from Portland International Airport (PDX) to the hotel; and meals on July 13 and 14. Any other expenses must be paid for by participants. Do I have to have a professional journalism background? No, but you do have to be a full-time faculty member of a recognized journalism program at the collegiate level. What else do I need? A good attitude and a desire to innovate and collaborate. When should I arrive and depart? Participants should plan to fly in and out of PDX, arriving on Wednesday, July 11 and departing on Saturday, July 14. Selected participants will be given contact information for UO travel agents to assist with and book flights. Where will I stay? Participants will stay at Hotel Modera, a boutique hotel in downtown Portland. The hotel is walking distance from the White Stag Building, as well as coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping. Visit the hotel website at https://www.hotelmodera.com. What will I eat? The Academy provides meals on July 13 and 14. Breakfast and lunch will be catered each day at the White Stag Building. Dinners will be at restaurants in the downtown area. Other questions? Visit the Catalyst website https://journalism.uoregon.edu/catalyst/index.php/academy/ or contact Dr. Nicole Dahmen at ndahmen@uoregon.edu or at 541-346-2588.