Academic Catalog

JRNL 60: EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENT NEWS MEDIA

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2023
Units: 2
Hours: 6 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Description

Practical experience in planning, assigning, editing, and placing print, video, and/or web content as members of the college newspaper, magazine, or media staff.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Apply journalistic skills in assigning, editing, and placing content for a student media product, such as a newspaper, magazine, or website
  2. Apply leadership skills to assigning stories and other content and overseeing reporters, photographers, and other content contributors
  3. Manage content from creation to publication in print or online

Course Content

  1. Apply journalistic skills in assigning, editing, and placing content for a student media product, such as a newspaper, magazine, or website
    1. Plan and assign stories to peers (content producers and/or fellow editors)
    2. Complete editing assignments by stated deadlines
  2. Apply leadership skills to assigning stories and other content and overseeing reporters, photographers, and other content contributors
    1. Research and create assignments appropriate for student media
    2. Interact with reporters, photographers, and other content providers about content, revisions, and deadlines
    3. Critique and self-critique editing issues in newspapers, magazines, news websites, and/or news broadcasts
  3. Manage content from creation to publication in print or online
    1. Apply conventions of journalistic and AP Style
    2. Follow ethical and legal guidelines in editing content for student news media
  4. Apply software and web skills in placing and posting content

Lab Content

Production of a regular news or feature non-fiction product with a journalism emphasis by and for students and distributed to a campus or community audience. Must include weekly newsgathering activities, regardless of publication frequency.

  1. Finding and assigning stories, photos, and graphics for sections, such as news, features, sports, and opinions
  2. Copy editing and proofreading
  3. Managing a student newspaper or news website
  4. Responding to reader email, letters, and online comments
  5. Demonstrating proper formats to reporters and photographers
  6. Demonstrating software and web tools to peers
  7. Applying standards, including multiple named sources, adequate lead, spelling, grammar, AP Style
  8. Reformatting and placing photos for print or online presentation
  9. Choosing and using graphic elements
  10. Using page design software
  11. Understanding and applying copyright law
  12. Understanding ethics and media law as they apply to news websites and social media
  13. Using journalistic standards for cropping and editing photos
  14. Exploring careers in news media
  15. Understanding news staff organization
  16. Exploring entrepreneurial opportunities in news media
  17. Understanding media law as it applies to broadcast and video journalism
  18. Applying canons of journalism

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. A classroom/laboratory equipped as a newsroom: computers with word processing, graphic, and page layout software; internet access; cameras; telephones; fax machine; portable recorders; references; basic supplies.
2. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Completion of one assignment per week, which may include creating assignments, editing, and placing content for one or more sections of the student newspaper, website, or magazine; compliance with deadlines
Demonstration of leadership among peers (reporters, photographers, and other content providers) with clear communication on deadlines and revisions
Reading about and reacting to issues concerning newsroom leadership and editing using critical thinking skills
Compilation of a digital or print portfolio of completed work, including a log of activities with descriptions of learning experiences and time spent on assignments

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Laboratory experience which involves students in formal exercises of news gathering and reporting activities

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Foreman, Gene, et al.. The Ethical Journalist, 3rd ed.. 2022.

Staff eds.. Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. 2012.

Harrower, Tim. Inside Reporting, 3rd ed.. 2013.

Staff eds.. The Script Handbook. Latest edition.

Bowles, Dorothy. Creative Editing, 6th ed.. 2010.

Although many of these texts are older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, they remain seminal texts in this area of study and are considered foundational texts.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References:

Kanigel, Rachele. The Student Newspaper Survival Guide, 2nd ed. 2012.
Yopp, Jan Johnson, et al. Reaching Audiences: A Guide to Media Writing, 5th ed. 2010.
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Recent edition.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. One assignment per week, which may include creating assignments, editing, and placing content for one or more sections of the student newspaper, website, or magazine; comply with deadlines
  2. Read about and react to issues concerning newsroom leadership and editing using critical thinking skills
  3. Compile a digital or print portfolio of completed work, including a log of activities with descriptions of learning experiences and time spent on assignments

Discipline(s)

Communication Studies or English or Journalism