JRNL 61: REPORTING FOR STUDENT NEWS MEDIA
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
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Communicate with one or more editors to obtain assignments
- Produce and contribute appropriate journalistic assignments to the student media
Course Content
- Communicate with one or more editors to obtain assignments
- Select assignments from assignment list or discussion with editor(s)
- Suggest assignments to editor(s)
- Produce and contribute appropriate journalistic assignments to the student media
- Report and write for the student newspaper, magazine, or related website, following ethical and journalistic guidelines
- Turn in assignments in appropriate format and within stated deadline
Lab Content
Production of a regular news or feature product with a journalism emphasis by and for students and distributed to a campus or community audience. Some suggested possible lab activities leading toward publication might be (options):
- Finding stories
- Reporting and writing news, feature, opinion, and sports stories
- Using video equipment, editing video
- Using a digital camera and photo editing software
- Electronically filing stories, photos, and other visual media
- Proofreading, copyediting, and improving stories
- Applying standards, including multiple named sources, adequate lead, spelling, grammar, AP Style
- Using design software
- Interviewing for news media
- Role of student media on campus
- Finding college, expert, and real person sources using standard methods, websites, and social media
- Online and multimedia presentation of stories
- Utilizing journalism resources, such as textbooks, guides, and websites, to improve skills
- Understanding and applying ethical standards for news reporting and photojournalism
- Understanding and applying ethical standards for news reporting
- Understanding news staff organization
- Understanding media law as it applies to journalism
- Using software and web programs to present stories
- Exploring careers in news media
- Exploring entrepreneurial opportunities in news media
- Using critique and self-critique to improve the product
- Understanding the business side of student media, such as advertising, promotions, printing, and distribution
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
2. When taught online, ongoing access to computer with email and access to relevant Learning Management Systems.
Method(s) of Evaluation
Assignments evaluated based on adherence to reporting guidelines and deadline timeliness
Comprehension tests and a final exam requiring students to identify and demonstrate concepts that have been introduced and studied throughout the course
Evaluation of log report for completeness
Method(s) of Instruction
Laboratory experiences which involve students in formal exercises of news gathering and reporting
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Foreman, Gene, et al.. The Ethical Journalist, 3rd ed.. 2022.
Staff eds.. The Script Handbook. Latest edition.
Harrower, Tim. Inside Reporting, 3rd ed.. 2013.
Kanigel, Rachele. The Student Newspaper Survival Guide, 2nd ed.. 2011.
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.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Identify, propose, and complete one approved assignment per week; submit by deadline
- Read about and react to journalistic concepts and issues regarding writing and reporting using critical thinking
- Keep a log of activities, learning experiences, and time spent on assignments