Barbara Feinman Todd

Director of Journalism Program
Age: 54
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Education: B.A. University of California, Berkeley, Writing; M.A. Georgetown University, English
Time at Georgetown: 21 years
Courses: “Introduction to Journalism,” “Media Techniques,” “Journalism Capstone,” “Making It Up: Novels by Journalists,” “The Pearl Project”

What is the biggest challenge in teaching journalism to college students?
Two things: Helping them understand the difference between a story idea and a topic, and convincing them that procrastinating isn’t a good idea for journalism projects because they do their best work if they’ve got time to find good sources.

How has the growth of the journalism program in recent years affected what you’ve been able to do in classes?
Because we have a minor as opposed to what we used to have — a collection of offerings in the English department — I’m able to provide more structure to journalism education for students, and we have more resources, but we could always use more. The minor is attracting students who are more serious about journalism. It’s helping me to build a community of student journalists.

Do you think that your program is supported enough by the university?
Yes. [College Dean Chester Gillis] has been my biggest champion, and because of him it happened. Journalism is just one of a million programs he’s got to worry about funding. I have enough to make things work, but I’m always looking for more. I’m hoping we’ve got a couple Katie Courics in the offing in the next group. Don’t forget about us when you go off and become rich and famous journalists. I know that sounds like an oxymoron. .

What’s a memorable encounter you’ve had with a student?
I don’t have one particular thing. I’ve had so many students go on and do great things. I’m always really excited to see a byline in The Washington Post or to see a student on the air. That gives me a great thrill. I’m just really happy to hear about students going off and pursuing whatever it is they want to do when they get in touch with me. I know that sounds really lame, but it’s true. My students tend to stay connected with me because what I’m teaching ends up being directly related to their professional lives. It’s exciting for me, I’ve got one of my former students who became a first amendment lawyer, she’s teaching for me in the fall, so that kind of feels like full circle.

What’s something that you wish more students would take away from your courses?
Don’t believe everything you read. Just to check and recheck their own work and the credibility of other people’s work, and that empathy is an underrated but important quality to have as a journalist.

What would be your ideal course to teach?
I’m teaching it in the fall with Maureen Corrigan — it’s called “Washington Confidential.” It’s going to be the literature and journalism of Washington, D.C. With Maureen as a book critic for NPR and myself as a former ghostwriter, I think it’s going to be a kickass class.

Interviewed by Emma Hinchliffe