In January 2017, an online journalism course taught by Dan Rather, the longtime CBS Evening News anchor, was drawing attention on Udemy. Titled “Dan Rather on Journalism & Finding the Truth in the News,” it was aimed at both aspiring journalists and general news consumers.
What the course offered
Udemy’s description said the course taught foundations of great writing, the essentials of telling a good story, and how to stay calm and captivating on camera. It was pitched to anyone interested in the power of the news or in contributing to serious journalism.
The listing said Rather drew on a career of more than 60 years in the news industry, including more than 20 years as CBS Nightly News anchor. It said he used stories from the field to show how the making of news had changed over time. The listing’s subtitle promised practical advice for journalists and avid news consumers.
Udemy’s page listed a set of learning goals. They included analyzing the news one consumes, producing concise writing, telling a compelling story, and presenting with confidence in front of a crowd or a camera. It also listed an understanding of the role of press freedom. It said no prior experience was required, only a pencil, paper and a computer or mobile device. It recommended a device for recording yourself speaking.
Promotion and later status
In June 2017, Entrepreneur published a Udemy-sponsored item promoting the course. It listed topics such as the politicization, trivialization and corporatization of news, interviewing techniques, and a hands-on assignment to write a broadcast piece about a news story from the student’s own life.
The course remains listed on Udemy. The listing shows it is about four hours long, with 34 lectures, and carries a 4.7 rating from 1,762 reviews.
Udemy has also featured the course on its own instructor resources, describing it as drawing on Rather’s personal experience reporting on major events of the late 20th century.