Course Description
This course focuses on the social welfare beat, which is coverage of the segment of American society that typically must rely on the government and/or private charities for basic survival. Covering this beat is often challenging because of privacy considerations and fear of social stigma that can make authorities reluctant to allow interviews or access to the places where the poor live. Students focus on intractable social dilemmas such as welfare reform, homelessness, child abuse and neglect, drug dependency and/or mental illness. Students plan and orchestrate projects on issues that they wish to learn more about or delve into the charitable agencies that seek to bring more contributions and attention to disenfranchised groups.