Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom: Civic Journalism and the Freedom of Information Act

This case study in civic journalism focuses on an advanced reporting project in which undergraduate student journalists examined compliance with their state's Freedom of Information Act. A combination of traditional journalism instruction and civic education appeared to produce favorable learning outcomes. The student journalists reported changes in their attitudes toward the press and the FOI law. They also predicted that their attitude change will carry over to other courses and to their careers in journalism. The study explores how a combined pedagogical approach can produce complex learning outcomes to the benefit of student journalists .