Journalism Courses

227-11100 Introduction to Journalism  LA

An introduction to the basic elements of journalism, emphasizing the development of reporting, interviewing and writing for print, broadcast and online formats, mastery of Associated Press style, and an introduction to such issues as objectivity, critical thinking, ethics, and libel concerns. 4 credits. (F-S)

227-11200 Journalism Research  LA

 Introduction to paper and computer database research, with an emphasis placed on locating and evaluating sources available to journalists, including public records. Students research a topic and develop interviewing techniques to produce a comprehensive, semester-long research project written in journalistic style. Prerequisites: 227-11100. 4 credits. (F-S)

227-21100 News Reporting and Writing I  NLA

 Explores the techniques used to research and report complex political, social, and economic issues for all media. Students learn how to investigate the most common areas covered by reporters, including education, legal affairs, and other governmental entities. Strategies are developed for individual reporting projects in print, broadcast, and digital media. Examples are critiqued to lead students toward an ethical and analytic approach to public affairs reporting. Prerequisites: 227-11200. 4 credits. (F-S)

227-21200 News Reporting and Writing II  NLA

 This course continues on the foundation of News Reporting and Writing I. It explores the techniques used to research and report complex political, social, and economic issues for all media. Students learn advanced strategies for how to investigate the most common areas covered by reporters, including education, zoning and development, crime, legal affairs, public forums and other governmental entities. Advanced writing techniques for various types of news articles, including tight deadline reporting and writing, are also taught. Strategies are developed for individual reporting projects in print, broadcast, and digital media. Published examples are critiqued to lead students toward an ethical and analytic approach to public affairs reporting. Prerequisites: 227-21100. 4 credits. (F-S)

227-21300 Ethical Issues in Mass Communication  LA

 An introduction to ethics and responsibility in mass communication; designed to develop responsible, professional attitudes and practices by applying a range of ethical analyses to problems in journalism, advertising, and entertainment programming; examines classic and contemporary cases involving a variety of ethical and, sometimes, legal questions. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. Open to nonmajors. 3 credits. (F-S)

227-25000 History of U.S. Mass Media  LA

Examines the development of the mass media in the United States, beginning with Western European antecedents and proceeding to the present era of complex new technologies. Focuses on the factors influencing the evolution of U.S. media history, emphasizing the development of the U.S. press philosophy, the interaction of industrialization and media, and the rise of mass culture. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; 221-12100 and/or background in U.S. history recommended. 3 credits. (F-S)

227-38300 News Editing  NLA

 Students critically discuss the role news editors have in deciding what is news and how it is presented. News judgment decisions across print, online, and broadcast formats are analyzed; students then produce projects where they apply their news judgments across media. Technologies used include digital editing for broadcast, newspaper layout and design software for print and design, and presentation software for online news. The occupational, legal, and ethical responsibilities and concerns of news editing are stressed in a historical and comparative media context. Prerequisites: 227-21200; junior standing. 4 credits. (F)

227-39101 through 227-39199
Practicum in Journalism: Selected Topics  NLA

The topics of this practicum will vary to allow students the opportunity to learn about a specialty area of journalism, such as sports journalism, international relations journalism, economics and business journalism, and medical journalism. Students will be required to read relevant specialty newspapers, magazines, and academic journals appropriate to the selected topic, report and write articles on the selected topic in online and print format, and write for broadcast. Prerequisites: Junior standing. 3 credits. (F-S)

227-48000 Digital Journalism Workshop  NLA

This course integrates the student's previous work into a series of professional-quality, online news productions. The class designs and maintains a weekly online newsmagazine covering a variety of issues of interest to the community. Working in teams, students research, write, and edit long-form stories and present them in the online magazine. The storytelling and presentation formats include text, graphics, and chat programming for audience participation. Prerequisites: 227-21200; 221-31200, 227-38300, or 227-29000; junior standing. 4 credits. (F)

227-48200 Print Journalism Workshop  NLA

This is the capstone course for journalism majors in the print journalism concentration. It allows students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to research and write a major journalistic project. Projects may take the form of investigative articles, a series of feature stories, or magazine articles or profiles. Critique and analysis of journalists' projects and reflections on their craft are major parts of this course. Prerequisites: 221-18000; 221-28200; 221-38200; two level-3 writing department courses. 3 credits. (S)

227-48600 Television Journalism Workshop  NLA

Students produce an in-depth final project of journalistic significance. Students research, write, edit, and produce long-form news stories in either a newsmagazine or documentary format for broadcast. Participants also critique and analyze examples of professionally produced documentary and long-form television journalism. Prerequisites: 227-21200; 221-31200, 227-38300, or 227-39000; junior standing. 4 credits. (F-S)

227-48800 Issues and the News  LA

 A capstone course for seniors majoring or minoring in journalism designed to give the students an opportunity for in-depth news examination and analysis from numerous sources. Ongoing critique of major news issues of the day. Students examine the variety of information sources available and incorporate various points of view from around the world. They present key summaries of issues they are monitoring, producing news stories and analytic pieces. Prerequisites: 227-21200; 221-21300, 221-31200, or 221-25000; senior standing. 3 credits. (F-S)