Introduction: Andrea Hickerson, Journalism

I teach a variety of traditional journalism courses including Law & Ethics of the Press and the History of Journalism, but I also teach project-based courses like the "Digital Journalism Incubator" and Interviewing.

At this point in my career I'm looking for more creative and engaging in-class activities. I'm particularly concerned that students don't push themselves enough in interpersonal interactions with peers and sources for journalism stories.  I have an idea to partner with an improv group for an activity about "difficult interviewees" for my interviewing class, but I'm not sure how to structure it. Furthermore, I'm keen to try game-based learning in my History and Law courses. The former is particularly challenging for students, and I'm sure there is a way to make case law fun...I just haven't figured it out yet. 

I'm also interested in critical game theory.  Integrating games and journalism - or the idea of doing so - is a hot topic. However, I'm hard pressed to think of an organization that has done it well. I'm interested in exploring how good and thoughtful uses of games can be integrated into the journalism process without seeming forced or tacked on to a more traditional form of storytelling.