With longstanding principles of objectivity, truth and fairness in news reporting up for debate in recent years, a homegrown Career and Technical Education course launching in Colorado Springs School District 11 for the fall semester will explore such topics under an overarching theme of “ethics in journalism.”

So while juniors and seniors receive real-world training in broadcast, podcast, video and print media creation and production, they’ll also be schooled on how to do it all by “upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity,” said course founder Chaim Goldman.

He’s also the executive producer and host of The Peak News, a “hyper-local news” radio show that’s on hiatus from the airwaves over the summer.

In May 2024, Goldman formed The Peak News Educational Foundation, and through that nonprofit organization as executive director, started a “citizen journalism” program for adults and teens.

“We had developed a curriculum for people to help us at The Peak News,” Goldman said.

The two-semester D-11 course evolved from that effort, after Superintendent Michael Gaal appeared as Goldman’s guest on The Peak News.

“As an educator deeply committed to fostering the development of responsible and skilled students, I recognize the crucial need for such a program in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape,” Gaal said in a letter he wrote in support. “Our students are entering a field where the integrity of their work and adherence to ethical standards are paramount.”

The D-11 Board of Education approved the course proposal on May 8 on a 6-1 vote.

Some members said they were concerned that Goldman had worked for a conversative, Christian radio station in town and wanted assurance that the course would remain non-partisan and impartial.

Goldman said the class, which he will lead as a certified instructor, will not be political, but rather will teach students foundational journalistic principles and techniques.

“Students are going to be able to report in the way they want,” he said. “The standards will be proper journalism and good storytelling. No one is pushing a narrative, but we’re working on restoring trust in the media, which today can feel disconnected.”

Lesson plans will embrace the Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists and include guest speakers who work in the field and integration of student internships in the community, Goldman said.

Classes will be held twice weekly at the Roy J. Wasson Academic Campus for students from any high school in the region and also homeschoolers, said Duane Roberson, D-11’s career and technical education and post-secondary options director. Busing will be provided as well.

Roberson expects the course to complement the entrepreneurial campus’ other “dual enrollment” tracks, which enable students to earn high school and college credits in culinary arts, automotive maintenance, graphic animation and arts, early childhood education, fiber optics installation, information technology and hydroponics.

“It’s a great example of D-11 shifting to become a community partner,” he said.

A roomy old closet is being transformed into a state-of-the-art studio for students to learn about broadcasting and podcasting and help produce The Peak News. During the second semester, students will initiate their own podcast for personal or professional reasons, Goldman said.

“This will be a tremendous opportunity for students to look into the world of journalism and learn the ethical way to do journalism,” said John Graham. He’s on the board of The Peak News Educational Foundation and formerly served as president of the District 49 Board of Education.

The program is intended as a pilot, and if it’s successful, the organization will expand it to other local school districts that have expressed interest, including D-49, he said.

Graham said he thinks the course will have wide appeal. “I’m a former Marine helicopter pilot, and it sounds cool to me.”

The technical training students receive will apply to numerous career paths, Goldman said, including reporter, broadcaster, social media influencer, podcast host, corporate communications, public relations, scriptwriter, blogger, branding, crisis management for bad press, ad buyer, investigator, grant writer and others.

“It’s really about mentoring young people and teaching them the skills everybody needs — research, critical thinking, ethical and effective communication,” Goldman said. “Students will realize their voice matters while learning career and life skills.”

A 19-year classroom journalism teacher, Roberson said he likes that the course will operate in an innovative space, where industry connects interactively in the classroom.

“The idea that students will have the agency of their own experiences excites me,” he said. “It will be powerful to have students well-trained in media production with good content.”

Shaun Rupert, an incoming senior in D-11, has enrolled in the class and during the summer has helped with designing the program, getting the website in order and learning how to run the production board that adjusts volumes and other technical aspects of broadcasting.

“They said, here’s how to do this, now go and do it. I learn best this way, kind of being thrown into something,” he said.

For more information or to enroll, go to www.ThePeak.news/D11-CTE.