JOUR 2301 Journalism on Drugs
Note to Journalism minors: this coursesatisfies the requirement for an elective with a " critical" orientation. The biggest public health crisis during the war on drugs was over legal drugs opioids which have killed over a million Americans. Drug policies, driven by irrationality and fear, have ruined countless lives. Journalists, wittingly or not, were partisans in this war, and often (though not always) ahead of the curve in advocating for change with regards to drugs, and to vice more generally. In this class we take a close look at the practice and tradition of drug journalism at a watershed moment in American history. Readings will include works by Chris Kraus, Hunter S. Thompson, Susan Orlean, Lawrence Osborne, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Geoff Dyer, and others.
Course overview
- Department
- Journalism
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.71 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.79 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 4
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | John O'Connor | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 15 |
| Fall 2025 | John O'Connor | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 11 of 13 |
| Spring 2025 | John O'Connor | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 15 |
| Fall 2024 | John O'Connor | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 11 of 14 |