JOUR-JOURNALISM -- 2001-03 Catalog
Journalism Department

JOUR 201 Journalism History (4)

Survey of historical influences in the development of today's journalism. Contributions of women and minorities to American mass media. Rise of technology in the communication industry. 4 lectures.

JOUR 203 News Writing and Reporting (4)

Introduction to the techniques of reporting and writing news for the news media. Intensive laboratory and field practice in gathering and evaluating information. Writing basic news stories under close supervision. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: ENGL 134.

JOUR 205 Agricultural Communications (4)

Survey of the media of agricultural communication. Newspaper farm pages and sections, general and specialized agricultural magazines. Radio and TV farm broadcasts. Public and private agencies involved in agricultural communication. Role of California minorities in agriculture. Writing on agriculture-related issues. 3 lectures, 1 activity.

JOUR 218 Mass Media in Society (4)

Traditional mass media and the emerging technologies, their methods, functions and dysfunctions. Responsibilities of journalists. The current status of ethnic media in the U.S. Importance of media in society. 4 lectures.

JOUR 233 Copy Editing (4)

Introduction to the techniques of newspaper and magazine copy desk work. Rewriting, editing, and writing headlines for news and feature copy. Selecting, cropping, and writing cutlines for photographs and line art. Practical laboratory experience in editing. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 or equivalent.

JOUR 290 Multicultural Journalism (4) USCP

Role of American journalism (both print and broadcast media) in the social, political, and economic integration into American society of racial and ethnic minorities and women. Emerging minority groups from developing countries and their media. 4 lectures.

JOUR 302 Mass Media Law (4)

Legal basis for freedom of expression. Court decisions resolving conflicts between First Amendment and right to fair trial, privacy, reputation. Source confidentiality, freedom of information, contempt, copyright. Federal and state laws and regulations affecting mass media reporters, editors, publishers, news directors. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203.

JOUR 304 Reporting Contemporary Issues (4)

Experience leading to advanced skills in reporting and writing stories about contemporary issues, government and courts. Field and laboratory assignments focusing on beat reporting, coverage of speeches and meetings, investigative techniques and interpretive reporting. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 233.

JOUR 312 Introduction to Public Relations (4)

Growth and development of public relations as a practice in business and industry, government, volunteer agencies and other public institutions. Communications and activities utilized to gain public interest and support. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

JOUR 320 Telecommunications and Broadcasting (4)

Introduction to telecommunications, broadcast and electronic media. Examination of the structure of media organizations, the technologies involved and programming content. Analysis and understanding of that content in terms of perceived target audiences. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ENGL 134 and SCOM 101 or SCOM 102.

JOUR 331 Contemporary Advertising (4)

Principles of advertising, copy, layout, and production for print and broadcast media. Economic, political, and social function of advertising in a free market society. Advertising ethics. Social responsibility of advertising in a multicultural environment. Emerging advertising technologies. Advertising on the Internet. 4 lectures.

JOUR 333 Broadcast News (4)

Beginning broadcast news writing, reporting and editing emphasis on radio. Gathering and producing audio and video materials for news and public affairs programming. Newsroom and studio equipment operation and procedures. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 233.

JOUR 335 Television News and Production (4)

Advanced broadcast news writing, reporting, editing and producing television news and public affairs programming. Electronic news gathering techniques. Television studio and control room equipment and procedures. Discussion and evaluation of electronic news organizations and policies. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 333.

JOUR 342 Public Relations Media and Methods (4)

Application of public relations techniques with emphasis on writing for media and working with media editors. Preparing news releases, newsletters and other communications. Analysis of the use of broadcast media. Utilization of case studies. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 312 or consent of instructor.

JOUR 346 Broadcast Announcing and Production (4)

Broadcast skills including writing, announcing, editing, and production. Editing and production of news wraps, promos, public service announcements, commercials and interviews. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: JOUR 333.

JOUR 351 Advanced Radio Reporting: KCPR (2)

Broadcast lab for students holding news positions on radio station KCPR, or other similar supervised experience as determined by the department. Total credit limited to 4 units. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR majors–JOUR 304 and JOUR 333. Non-majors–consent of instructor.

JOUR 352 Advanced Newspaper Reporting: Mustang Daily (2)

Reporting lab for students holding editorial positions on Mustang Daily. Total credit limited to 4 units. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 233 and JOUR 304.

JOUR 353 Advanced Television Reporting: CPTV (2)

Television lab for students involved in news and production on Cal Poly's campus station, CPTV. Total credit limited to 4 units. 1 lecture, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 333; non-majors: consent of instructor.

JOUR 385 Mass Media Criticism (4) (Also listed as SCOM 385)

Examines mass media (especially broadcasting) from a rhetorical/critical perspective. Aims to expand students' understanding of media issues, media's role as critic, and the role of criticism. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: SCOM 101 or SCOM 102, and junior standing.

JOUR 390 Visual Communication for the Mass Media (4)

Theory and application of visual communication in today’s print, broadcast and public relations media. Extensive experience in visual and text manipulation for effective information communication. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 233 and JOUR 304.

JOUR 400 Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (1–2)

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

JOUR 401 International Communication (4)

Global communications facilities and operations; world transmission of information; survey of world wire services and international print and electronic media. Analysis of press operations under varying government ideologies, including third world countries. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

JOUR 402 Journalism Ethics (4)

Current issues revolving around the social responsibility of the mass media. Role of the public, government, and media in considerations of media accountability. Professional behavior in media organizations. 4 seminars. Prerequisite: Junior standing, JOUR 218.

JOUR 407 Feature Writing (4)

Practice in researching, interviewing, writing and marketing nonfiction articles for print media, and analysis of similar work in current distribution. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 or consent of instructor.

JOUR 410 Computer Assisted Reporting (4)

Exploration of the uses of computers for newsgathering and reporting. Focus on information gathering from mass media, governmental and corporate data bases and contextual manipulation using personal computers and mainframe computers. Commercial online and Internet tools (such as the World Wide Web) and database tools used for day-to-day and project oriented reporting. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: 200-level Statistics course, JOUR 351/352/353 and JOUR 390.

JOUR 412 Applied Public Relations (4)

Production of public relations materials for actual clients, internal and external. Needs of clients, including departmental and college units. Creation of print, broadcast and web products that serve actual public relations needs. 3 lectures and 1 activity. Prerequisite: JOUR 342 and JOUR 390.

JOUR 413 Public Relations Campaigns (4)

Methods employed in dissemination of public information by organizations, institutions and governments. Interaction of media and PR practitioners, case histories, formation and measurement of public opinion. Public opinion survey projects. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203, JOUR 342 or consent of instructor.

JOUR 444 Media Internship (3)

Application of techniques on daily basis with media under supervision of department faculty. Prerequisite: Junior standing in Journalism and consent of instructor.

JOUR 460 Senior Project (3)

Selection and completion of a project under faculty supervision. Projects typical of problems which graduates must solve in their fields of employment. Project results are presented in a formal report. Minimum 90 hours total time.

JOUR 470 Selected Advanced Topics (2–4)

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 2–4 lectures. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.