journalism
projects • values • experience • the muckraker
Journalism is my passion; I want to inform, and hold accountable.
This page is dedicated to my journalistic projects, values, and experience.
projects
I’ve got some journalism-related projects on the go; here they are.
the muckraker
what
The Muckraker is a zine meant to be thought-provoking, artistic, eye-opening, and action-inspiring. Each issue covers a different subject; anything that seems to be an underestimated world issue, event, etc. What’s a zine?
short films
what
Thoughtful, sometimes satirical, usually free of dialogue short films that convey messages about world issues.
articles
what
I write informative articles on issues that I wish to spread awareness of, or things that are particularly unique, interesting, or thought-provoking. They are found here on my website, and cover anything from EMF radiation to fast fashion. They are completely free to read, with no subscriptions, and no pay walls; as of now, it’s just a hobby, and I earn through donations.
my take on journalism
I do journalism a bit differently than our current mainstream media does.
transparency
I publish all article sources publicly. Each article has a source post. Each citation in the article links directly to the source(s) for that citation in the source post.
If you find incorrect information, missing sources, broken citations, etc., please reach out! I monitor all communication channels listed here.
I also (as of Oct ’24) publish all interview transcripts publicly, in order to maintain transparency in the area of quotes being taken out of context.
income
I have two sources of income for my journalism: donations, and ads on my site. I aim to move to only donations, sponsorships, and government grants.
donations
I receive donations through Patreon. Donors have no influence over my projects. Donate here.
ads
Ads have no influence over my projects, and I use a service that prevents them from being misleading.
audience
Instead of writing for my peers, I write for the average person.
If I were to write an article about AI, people who know nothing about AI would be able to read and digest it, absorbing the takeaways just as well as an AI expert.
purpose
The purpose of my journalism isn’t to sway someone to a new opinion, generate clicks, build readership, or influence the public opinion.
• I do journalism to inform people, allowing them to make conscious decisions.
• I do journalism to hold people, governments, corporations, etc., accountable.
• I do journalism to keep people connected to the rest of the world and each other
action
News can leave you depressed, helpless, and/or hopeless.
Especially when it doesn’t provide hope, a course of action, or solutions.
When I report on world issues, I often don’t simply give information.
I inform people about what’s happening, why it matters, and what we can do about it. Here’s an example.
format and bias
When I write articles, they’re short and concise; easy to read and digest. They’re based on facts, aren’t designed to convey a hidden message, and quotes aren’t taken out of context to show just one side of a story.
Instead of writing that a company is corrupt, I simply write the facts: why and how that company is corrupt.
Headlines are also a major part of bias. My headlines aren’t twisted to maximize engagement and provoke strong emotions.
this will change
This section of this page is a rough draft of my thoughts, thrown at a wall to see what sticks. These views, methods, and plans haven’t been tested against criticism, and will evolve as I gain more experience and practical knowledge.
To discuss topics such as these, join my Discord community!
hold me accountable
I do my best, but no human is perfect. Some things will inevitably slip past my filter, or be altered by it. I depend on the life experience and unique perspectives of others like you to hold me accountable to these values.
If you notice something that you think strays from my values (or other values that are important to you), contact me!
courses i’ve taken
I’ve been taking online courses in order to expand my knowledge on journalism, as well as journalism-related subjects, such as ethics. Here they are!
listed in chronological order
The Complete Guide to Journalism
(Paid)
by Tony Bosworth on Udemy
“All you need to know to become a freelance journalist or staffer and get paid for what you write.”
my thoughts
This course wasn’t quite what I was looking for. It talked about using photos in articles, the average pay per word for an article, and other rather specific aspects of a life as a journalistic writer.
Global Muckraking
(Audited) (DNF)
by ColumbiaX on edX
“Global Muckraking (GM1x) uses examples of investigative and crusading journalism from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe to help you understand how raising public awareness can foster political and social change.”
my thoughts
Incredibly well-done. I learned a lot from this course, and enjoyed it thoroughly. However, it wasn’t about the life of an investigative journalist, as much as it was a history of investigative journalism.
Media ethics & governance
(Free)
by BerkeleyX on Coursera
“This course explores some of the basic theories, models and concepts in the field of media ethics. We will introduce influential ethical theories and perspectives, explore changing societal demands and expectations of media creation and media use, and we will elaborate on existing ethical norms for media professionals.”
my thoughts
Definitely glad I took this course. It taught me a lot about basic ethical theories, dilemmas, and processes. It also talked a little about journalism and the media, and its role in ethics, which I appreciated, and learned much from.
Investigative Journalism
(Paid)
by Bob Woodward on Masterclass
“In 24 lessons, learn how to uncover the truth from the greatest journalist of our time.”
my thoughts
Some parts of this course applied less to modern-day journalism, but it was still worthwhile. Bob Woodward is an amazing investigative journalist, and has many, many stories to tell. This one also covered many practical aspects of the job, like interviews, sources, writing, etc.
resources
I’ve stumbled upon many organizations, articles, etc, that have journalistic value to me, so I’m sharing them here! …and it’s a good way to keep them organized for myself.
resources
the muck rack
“In 2011, the Muck Rack software platform was born, offering journalist profiles and a media database that gained a reputation for being the most accurate in the industry.”
society of professional journalists
“The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States.”
journalism code of ethics
The Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics.
guide to canadian press style
An excellent free and interactive guide to writing in CP Style by Centennial College. I highly recommend it.
guide to associated press style
Tips on writing in the AP style; a resource of a course I took by BerkeleyX on edX.org.
core principles of journalism
The Pew Research Center’s core principles of journalism.
proton (services)
Proton is a secure email, calendar, VPN, password manager, and cloud storage service. Their services are free for journalists!
courses
global muckraking
edx course – free
media ethics & governance
coursera course – free – recommended
become a journalist
coursera specialization – free
english for journalism
coursera course – free
recommended for those who are new to English