He took over for Professor Goldman this spring, and no shade to him, but those were some big shoes to fill. If I hadn't had her for the first couple weeks of class, I think I would've loved him. I did like him, though, and I enjoyed the class. Whereas Professor Goldman liked to bounce from person to person, asking for an opinion and then asking for the opposite opinion in an unrelenting but strangely exciting way, Professor Newton was more laid-back. Each lecture, we'd discuss the topic at hand in terms of hypotheticals (i.e. What if it had been your sister who was kidnapped? What if this scandal had happened to the president instead of Hulk Hogan? What if we had 4 hands and 100 fingers? Just kidding on that last one). These hypotheticals were fun to discuss, but when it came time for the exams, it would be more helpful to know only the facts and the implications of those facts rather than opinions about hypotheticals. Of course, all of this is based on him not being the original teacher for the class. I'm sure hypotheticals do help a lot for his own exams. Overall, it was a fun time. Just be thorough in your answers for the exams, and take copious notes. He offered the exams online through Canvas, so that helped!

i took comm 187 (journalistic ethics)

jim is the kind of professor you'd want to get to know over a beer. you can tell he's a cool guy in the way he talks, presents himself, and knows his shit. his lectures were interesting, engaging, and entertaining since the topics are universally relatable and contemporary as well. his anecdotes on covering the oj simpson trial and the la riots make his professorship all the more credible. who better to learn the journalism industry from than the editor at large of the la times?

take him. his midterm and final are straightforward. no gimmicks. just a few questions you choose to answer in short essay format. kinda like the law classes you take in the comm department. relevant, useful, not too difficult, but you need a good sense of analysis.