We are pleased to present a new story in our series on how Columbia Journalism School has been training students to become leading health care reporters. Around the globe, the work of health care journalists is vital for keeping the public aware of how the actions of hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, health insurers, health care professionals, government agencies, and policymakers can impact our lives and well-being. In this class spotlight, we look at
"Investigating the Failures of the Mental Health System," which is open to students in Columbia's
Master of Science Program, provides a grounding in
data journalism, and satisfies the investigative requirement for students in the Master of Science Program's
Stabile Investigative Specialization.
The class is taught by
Meg Kissinger, the Joan Konner Visiting Professor at Columbia Journalism School. Professor Kissinger is an investigative reporter for the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel who specializes in writing about mental illness. She has been honored with two George Polk awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel.
Professor Kissinger's class examines the failures of the U.S. mental health system, which is often poorly managed and makes services unavailable to those who need it most, and their consequences for all of us. During the course, Columbia students learn how to build an investigation of a mental health system by interviewing people with mental illness and hearing about their struggles and success. The class will travel to where people with mental illness live, talk to those who care for them, and question policymakers and advocates. The class also mines data, explores trends, and analyzes social policy and spending priorities. By the end of the class, its students produce stories about what is broken and consider what can be fixed. In the following video, Professor Kissinger discusses how she has designed the class to help students develop their
investigative and
data skills:
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here to begin an application to Columbia for the 2020-21 academic year.
As you consider the possibility of furthering your career as a journalist at Columbia, please explore our
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faculty members,
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career development services.
At Columbia, a top-tier journalism education can be within financial reach. Please visit our website to learn about our
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