Honors course promotes civic literacy among students

• Anna Khoury
• November 7, 2024
• Teaching and Learning
• Audio-based Story

Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper columnist Daniel Ruth had been teaching in the University of South Florida's Judy Genshaft Honors College for several years when he made an unexpected discovery:

"In 2005, I made a reference to Dick Cheney, and not one student knew who Dick Cheney was," said Ruth. "He was, at the time, the sitting vice president of the United States and one of the most powerful VPs we've ever had."

Motivated by his students' surprising lack of civic awareness, Ruth developed a course that engages students in local and national news, offering structured opportunities for roundtable discussions on politics, elections, and global events.

Each week, students take a current events quiz based on a variety of news sources, including the Tampa Bay Times, The New York Times, WUSF, NPR, Fox News, and CNN. This exercise encourages students to cultivate the habit of staying informed and to incorporate news consumption a part of their daily routines.

THE NEED FOR CIVIC LITERACY

Through these quizzes, Ruth emphasizes the importance for civic literacy, context, and a working knowledge of recent history, especially as misinformation grows around both national and local elections. He encourages students to critically evaluate statements made during debates and to understand the complexities of campaign financing.

"Both presidential campaigns will spend over $1 billion this year to get elected," Ruth said. "Money has a very deleterious effect on our politics because you need to know where it comes from. And we don't always know that."

For students like Anna Gustafson and Grady Vickers, the course has been transformative, inspiring them to advocate for civic literacy among their peers. "You get extreme opinions on both sides, and you have to balance them for yourself," Gustafson said. "Find out what you believe; you don't need to just listen to your parents or one side of the media you like."

Vickers echoed this sentiment, stating, "I'm of the opinion now that even if you think that you're a well-informed citizen, there's always more that you can know."

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

Ruth's extensive background in journalism and talk radio has shaped his perspective on the changing news landscape. "News organizations today aren't getting into the meat of how the government works," he said. "Social media has cut into the newspaper's ability to reach out to people." Through his course, he hopes to counter this trend by encouraging students to critically engage with news outlets and stay updated on current events.

Reflecting on his transition from journalism to teaching, Ruth appreciates the intellectual curiosity of Honors students. "This generation cares about this country's future," he said. "It's a shame that a lot of people outside the campus confines don't get to see the vitality that is evident within the Judy Genshaft Honors College."

As students prepare for life outside the university, courses like Civic Literacy and Current Events equip them with essential tools to navigate changing political landscapes. With rapidly increasing news cycles, these skills are crucial for discerning fact from fiction and making informed voting decisions.

Ruth's course ensures that students are not only informed voters but also engaged participants in democracy.

"It's my first time being eligible to vote and the power to vote is so important in our democracy," said Vickers. "You need to stay on top of every aspect of this election to make an informed decision."