Harriman

   Institute

INTERNATIONAL REPORTING: COVERING RUSSIA  AND THE WORLD

International Reporting is a broad discussion of international news reporting and editing for new media, radio, television and newspapers. Topics include ethics, writing, ferreting out information, engaging the reader and viewer, reporting from dangerous areas, covering the military and reporting on unfamiliar cultures. There is also an emphasis on working well with editors, and on the most common reporting and safety mistakes reporters make.

The course draws on up-to-the-minute material involving current news stories.

The course consists of 10 two-hour sessions, each with readings. Classes normally are held on consecutive Wednesday evenings, but occasional rescheduling may be necessary because of the instructor’s professional commitments. Some sessions may include guest speakers and multimedia. One session may take place at the multimedia headquarters of The Associated Press in New York.

Some classes begin with a discussion of news media coverage of a current international story. Students will be given the topic in advance and should bring examples and opinions to class.

Readings and multimedia clips will be assigned for all sessions. By Sunday night in advance of each class, students should send a 300-word e-mail to the instructor with comments on one or more of the readings or multimedia listed for that session. The e-mails may also include suggestions for class discussion, based on the readings or current news developments.

There will be two written assignments. The instructor's evaluation of student performance will put substantial emphasis on participation in class discussion as well as the assignments. Strong opinions (backed up) are very welcome in class.

Attendance is expected at all class sessions. If special circumstances affect your class attendance or delay the submission of assignments, you must advise the instructor by e-mail at tjk17@columbia.edu, with an explanation of the reason. (You can mention it verbally, too, but e-mail is the official and required notification.) Your explanation may be reviewed by the Dean's Office.

Mr. Kent is a deputy managing editor of The Associated Press. He is responsible for the Supervisory Desk that provides minute-to-minute coordination of AP's news report on all its platforms: text, photos, graphics, broadcast and the Internet. He has served as the international editor of the AP; deputy news editor and news editor of AP's World Services Division; correspondent and bureau chief in Moscow; chief of AP operations in Tehran during the Iranian Revolution; correspondent for NATO and the European Union in Brussels; and correspondent in Sydney, Australia. He has served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes in international reporting, and has been a board member of the Overseas Press Club of New York. He was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, holds a degree in Russian and East European Studies from Yale University and speaks Russian, French and Spanish. He has taught international reporting at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism since 1996. Since 2001, he has taught a course on news coverage of Russia at Columbia's Harriman Institute.