JOUR 1053G - Media Writing

Description
Introduces students to the skills of observation, critical thinking, and concise writing required in all aspects of journalism and strategic media, as well as to the technology needed in upper-level courses. The course includes regular practice writing for various forms of media. This course is a prerequisite for some advanced journalism and media courses at four-year universities. The course includes a short-term study abroad experience.

Pre-Requisite
NONE

3 Credit Hour(s)

Contact Hours
45 lecture hours

3 Faculty Load Hour(s)

Semesters Offered
Fall, Spring

ACTS Equivalent
N/A

Grade Mode
A-F

Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:

Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communication professions, including online/print, broadcasting, advertising, and public relations.
Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness.
Apply current media tools and technologies at a basic level.
Demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society.
Effectively use interviewing and observation in reporting and gathering information.
Effectively use paraphrases and quotations in journalistic writing, attributing facts and sources accurately.
Evaluate what makes a story newsworthy and understand how those concepts apply to media decision-making.

General Education Outcomes Supported

Students develop higher order thinking skills.
Students can write clear, coherent, well-organized documents which are substantially free of errors.
Students will demonstrate technological fluency.
Students develop information literacy.

Standard Practices
Topics List

AP style, evaluation of news stories, reading and researching court and other official documents, attribution of sources, fact and bias checks, media literacy.

Learning Activities

Reading and writing
News and feature reporting
Interviewing
Peer review
Quizzes
Class discussion
Discussions
Guest speakers
Learning activities will help students gain the most from the opportunities provided by an immersive cross-cultural experience.

Assessments

Tests, news and feature stories and related drafts, discussion posts, responses to guest speakers and media, quizzes, in-class and out-of-class writing

Grading guidelines

Regularly updated Canvas gradebook
Rubrics and timely, substantive written feedback
Verbal feedback and review.
Revision options.