2008-2009 Academic Catalog

Course Descriptions Course Descriptions 236 Cedarville University 2008–09 JOUR-2500 – JOUR-4420 JOUR-3420 Editing and Design –Sp 3 hours This course will teach students the methods to edit news stories for publication. In this course, students will learn the role of the editor in the news process and the editorial skills to prepare news stories for publication. The class will also cover the development of appropriate headlines and methods of designing story layout in ways that are clear and appealing to a target audience. Students will be taught to bring both a detailed and holistic approach to the development of the news story for printed media. Current developments in the field of editing and design will be applied to contemporary news events to facilitate application of the principles of the class. Prerequisites: JOUR-3310 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting; JOUR-3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print. JOUR-3500 3 hours Public Relations Principles and Writing –Fa This course provides instruction in effective public relations communication both within organizations and to various media outlets. Students develop problem-solving approaches to PR challenges and apply appropriate written, visual, and spoken messages to audiences using different media of communication. Prerequisite: JOUR-2500 Introducation to Public Relations. JOUR-3550 3 hours Advanced Public Relations Writing –Sp Building on the basics of public relations principles and writing, this class provides the opportunity to focus on particular writing techniques employed in specialized public relations contexts. This includes writing for internal publics in the form of reports, proposals, backgrounders, and position papers. In addition, students will learn to write for external publics in print, broadcasting, and online media contexts, developing proficiency in presentational and speech communication, news, feature and advertising copy. Prerequisite: JOUR-3500 Public Relations Principles and Writing. JOUR-3600 Computer-Assisted Reporting –Sp 3 hours This course teaches students the basic skills needed to use a computer to collect and analyze data necessary to write news stories. Students will learn how to gather background information, mine databases, analyze public records, study political and demographic trends with information system mapping, and conduct interviews by e-mail. Prerequisites: JOUR-3310 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting; JOUR-3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print. JOUR-3900 Practicum in Journalism –Fa, Sp 1 hour Development of news stories for transmission to print, broadcasting and online media outlets within the University (Cedars, In the Loop, Resound Radio, Cedars Online) either individually or as a member of a team under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The practicum is organized in a news agency format with a rotating editorial board. Prerequisites: JOUR-3310 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting; JOUR- 3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print. JOUR-4350 2 hours Advanced Television News Production –Fa Focuses on the studio production of television news programs, anchoring, and meeting broadcast news deadlines. Provides advanced techniques in reporting and field production, including live news reports and investigative reporting. Prerequisite: JOUR- 3350 Television News Production. JOUR-4420 Feature-Writing –Sp 3 hours Students will learn a variety of different forms of hard and soft feature-writing styles. These will include personality profiles, trend stories, human interest stories, backgrounders, and in-depth stories. Exercises developing a narrative style of writing will be an important component of this class. Prerequisite: JOUR-3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print. JOUR-2500 Intro to Public Relations –Sp 3 hours This course acquaints students with the foundations of public relations as a profession. The class includes discussion of key individuals and events in its development. It provides an overview of the theoretical aspects of public relations practices and techniques. The media relationship of public relations practitioners to the mass media is examined. Codes of ethics for practitioners are also explored. Prerequisites: JOUR-2000 Intro to Reporting. JOUR-3100 Media Law –Sp 3 hours Examines the rights and responsibilities of journalists in American society. It explores and applies federal and state laws and regulations associated with the media. Topic areas will include the journalist and the first amendment, access to government information, libel, and privacy. Special attention will be given to legal issues related to new media. Prerequisite: junior or senior status. JOUR-3150 Media Ethics –Fa 2 hours This class examines the rights and responsibilities of the journalist in American society. It examines and applies federal and state laws and regulations associated with the media. Topic areas will include the journalist and the first amendment, access to government information, libel, and privacy. Special attention will be given to legal issues related to new media. Prerequisite: junior or senior status. JOUR-3250 Digital Studies and Media –Fa 3 hours This course focuses on the past, present, and future of digital media. It will examine the connections between new technology, traditional media content; economics; social, political, and individual influences; and communication theory. In addition, specific information and telecommunications technologies that play a significant role shaping the modern society will be examined. These include the Internet, broadband communication systems, cellular telephony, wireless networking, digital, cable, and satellite TV. JOUR-3310 3 hours Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting –Fa, Sp Building on basics of newswriting, this class provides the opportunity to focus on reporting and writing techniques unique for broadcast media. Includes advanced skills in the organization and presentation of news stories. It provides in-depth broadcasting techniques in reporting and interviewing, as well as the use of computer-assisted reporting. Prerequisite: JOUR-2000 Introduction to Reporting. JOUR-3320 3 hours Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print –Fa This class will provide students with the opportunity to develop in-depth newswriting skills for print media. Changing concepts of news will be discussed and appropriate writing methods for traditional and new media outlets will be presented. The student will apply reporting principles to a variety of news contexts including accidents, crime and the courts, sports, business, and local government. The techniques of computer-assisted journalism will also be presented and applied. The ethics of sound reporting will be an important instructional component of the class. The challenges of sound reporting after 9/11 will be discussed. Prerequisite: JOUR-2000 Intro to Reporting. JOUR-3350 Television News Production –Fa 3 hours This class provides the basis for broadcast journalism students to understand the components of studio production of television news programs. Instruction focuses on the process and elements needed to produce a televised newscast. Prerequisite: JOUR-3310 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting.