Explore histories, neighborhoods, business and cultural communities in Anchorage, using Alaska’s largest city as a laboratory to strengthen skills in community-based reporting. Though the class focuses on Anchorage, the methods can be applied anywhere.
LEARN THE CITY
Semester begins Aug. 26, 2024
Tuition reimbursement available
ABOUT THE CLASS
JPC A194 (CRN 75397) Learn the city (7 – 9 p.m. on Wednesdays)
The Alaska Press Club in partnership with the UAA Department of Journalism and Public Communications, is excited to offer and pay your tuition for this in-person course focusing on techniques for increasing self-awareness, expanding reporter networks and discovering people, culture and communities. Join Julia O’Malley and Michelle Theriault Boots as we learn to use demographics, history, economics, housing, business, neighborhoods, subcultures and food as lenses for story-telling, relationship-making and connecting with audiences. Importantly, this class is meant to hone reporting skills for work outside of institutional settings like meeting rooms, courtrooms or boardrooms. This class involves student/working journalist mentoring. Expect field-trips, in-class speakers and solo urban exploration that requires talking to strangers. All students will be expected to produce one story for broadcast or publication.
Julia O’Malley, a third-generation Alaskan, is a journalist, teacher, editor and cook who lives in Anchorage. Her work in newsrooms, classrooms and kitchens explores Alaska’s culture, politics, climate and food. She is presently part-time curator at Anchorage Museum, writing about and researching Alaskans’ relationship to salmon at a time of historic, climate-related volatility. She also teaches culinary arts at University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Michelle Theriault Boots is a longtime reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She focuses on in-depth stories about the intersection of public policy and Alaskans’ lives. Originally from the Seattle area, she married an Alaskan and moved north over a decade ago. She’s previously taught journalism as an adjunct at UAA, worked at newspapers in the Pacific Northwest and California and earned a master’s degree in narrative journalism from the University of Oregon.
STEP ONE
Apply for the tuition reimbursement
Alaska Press Club offers working journalism professionals with assistance with covering registration or tuition costs for professional development opportunities. This could include funds for college course tuition, conference registration, air travel, lodging, etc. Many thanks to the Atwood Foundation for supporting these efforts through the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism Fund. Request reimbursement!
STEP TWO
Register for the course
This community reporting cohort official course name for registration is Learn the City, JPC A194. The course request number is CRN CRN 75397. You may need to enroll as a non-degree seeking student before enrolling in classes. Call Admissions at 907-786-1480 for support. Other courses offered this coming semester include data visualization, media ethics and more.
More information on Journalism & Public Communications classes…
STEP THREE
Get reimbursed and join the cohort sessions!
You’ll receive an email confirming your request. Once approved, you’ll submit your receipt from UAA. Alaska Press Club will mail a reimbursement check. Sessions hosted by Prof. Julia O’Malley and Michelle Theriault Boots begin on Aug. 28. Press Club will follow up with opportunities for you to provide feedback on the experience.
QUESTIONS
Email Rosey at alaskapressclubinfo at gmail.com.
Alaska Press Club 