Using Aesop’s Fables to Teach Political Theory and Newsgathering Practice to Journalism Students

Abstract

While the industry versus academic debate surrounding the training and education of journalists is now largely resolved in a consensus of a hybrid pedagogical model, there remains concern that even this compromise ignores journalistic ‘empowerment’. This article seeks to answer this concern with a model to empower beginning journalists by teaching students political concepts of power and authority through a novel classroom application of Aesop’s Fables. Taking the rich pedagogy literature on storytelling as its commencement, this article anatomizes how the universally familiar and popular Aesop’s Fables—with their clear cultural and political mores—not only offer easy and accessible insight into the political theory but also practical lessons that can prepare beginning journalists cognitively and intuitively as they begin newsgathering and newswriting processes. Ultimately, a study of Aesop’s Fables can produce not only more able beginning journalists but also well-rounded and engaged citizens.