2009-2010 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Course Descriptions Course Descriptions 242 Cedarville University 2009–10 JOUR-3420 – JOUR-4820 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-4500 Public Relation Campaigns –Sp 2 hours Uses case studies to examine the role of public relations in organizational communication campaigns. Incorporates a problem- solving approach that enables students to apply various public relations techniques to real-world situations. Prerequisite: JOUR- 3550 Advanced Public Relations Writing. JOUR-4550 Practicum in Public Relations –Fa, Sp 1 hour Development of public relations campaigns and products, such as brochures, videos, news releases, press kits, and feature stories either individually or as a member of a team under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Prerequisite: JOUR-3550 Advanced Public Relations Writing. JOUR-4600 Magazine Writing –Fa 3 hours This course covers the techniques of writing in-depth articles for mass circulation and specialized magazines. Students will learn the process of writing and submitting feature articles as well as analysis of markets for freelance magazine articles. Students will prepare and submit professional quality manuscripts for publication. Prerequisite: JOUR-3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print. JOUR-4610 Photojournalism –Sp 3 hours This class focuses on the techniques and aesthetics of reporting the news as a photojournalist. It emphasizes recognition, development and creation of news photographs and the skills of the photo editor. As part of this class, students will gain experience in shooting, developing, printing, and editing the images for a variety of news media. The class will emphasize how public relations and journalism professionals can use photographs for publication in traditional media, websites, company brochures, and digital slide-show presentations. Prerequisites: COM-3220 Visual Communication; JOUR-3420 Editing and Design. JOUR-4620 Investigative Reporting –Fa 3 hours This class provides students with the tools and techniques to conduct contemporary in-depth reporting. The content is aimed at developing professional excellence in serving the public interest by acting as a watchdog on government, business, education, health, environment, safety, and other institutions. Students will develop strategies for gathering and analyzing information, and developing background and through the written assignments gain competence in the different narration techniques used in in-depth newswriting and reporting. Prerequisites: JOUR-3310 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting; JOUR-3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print. JOUR-4810 Special Topics in Journalism –Sp 3 hours Available to advanced students who desire in-depth study of special areas of journalism. Topics of current interest in the field of journalism will be offered to cover in-depth areas of specialization. Topics may include photojournalism, sports journalism, international news, news and religion, news media management, magazine, editing, opinion writing, and business and financial reporting. Prequisities: JOUR-3310 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Broadcasting; JOUR-3320 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting for Print; or permission of instructor. (odd years) JOUR-4820 Special Topics in Public Relations –Sp 3 hours Available to advanced students who desire intense study of special areas of public relations. Topics of current interest in the field of public relations will be offered to cover in-depth areas of specialization. Topics may include crisis communication, agency management, event planning, and international public relations. Prerequisites: JOUR-3550 Advanced Public Relations Writing; or permission of instructor. (even years)