Classes & Workshops

Be a part of journalism that makes a difference. Learn more about the Second Draft Project course and how you can enroll.

Are you ready to challenge the way history is told? The Second Draft Project (J499) is a one-of-a-kind course at USC that empowers students to re-report, re-examine, and reframe historical narratives through deep research and investigative storytelling. Dive into archival materials, uncover overlooked voices, and help correct the record on stories that shaped our world. Be part of journalism that makes a difference. Sign up to be notified when Fall registration opens!

Students enrolled in the Second Draft Project learn how to critically reevaluate and re-report stories that originally contained racial bias. The program emphasizes journalistic accountability, historical context, and inclusive storytelling to correct past inaccuracies or misrepresentations.

  1. Identifying Bias in Previous Reporting

    • Analyzing language, framing, and sourcing in past stories to pinpoint racial bias.
    • Understanding how systemic racism and implicit bias have shaped historical narratives.
  2. Engaging with Affected Communities

    • Conducting new interviews with communities impacted by the original reporting.
    • Prioritizing perspectives that were ignored, misrepresented, or marginalized.
  3. Reconstructing the Story with Accuracy and Fairness

    • Using investigative techniques to uncover missing or suppressed facts.
    • Employing ethical storytelling practices to present a more nuanced, truthful narrative.

Your class podcast for the Second Draft Project will be a deep-dive, investigative storytelling series that revisits and re-reports stories that featured racial bias. It will be a blend of narrative journalism, expert analysis, and firsthand accounts that seeks to correct past misrepresentations.

By participating in the project, you will not only develop stronger investigative and ethical journalism skills but also contribute to historical correction and media accountability. It’s about rewriting history with integrity—not by changing facts, but by ensuring the truth was told correctly in the first place.

The Second Draft Project podcast is available on major streaming platforms to ensure wide accessibility. Listeners can tune in on:

🎙 Spotify – Stream full episodes, follow the show, and get notified of new releases.
🍏 Apple Podcasts – Available for iPhone and Mac users, with options to rate and review.
📻 Google Podcasts – Ideal for Android users and Google Home integration.
🎧 Amazon Music & Audible – Listen on Alexa-enabled devices and Audible’s podcast section.

Additionally, we’ll promote episodes through social media clips, newsletters, and campus events to engage a broader audience. If we secure partnerships with journalism outlets, we might also get featured on their platforms!

GRX Immersive Labs taught photogrammetry lessons in our Second Draft Project class, allowing students to create 3D scans of relevant objects and settings to enhance their podcast. In this workshop, students scanned items connected to Nipsey Hussle’s legacy, the focus of our Fall 2024 class. Video by Alton Glass.