JOUR-JOURNALISM – 2005-07 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  Writing for the Media (4)

Introduction to the techniques of reporting and writing news from various media perspectives including print, online, broadcast and public relations. Intensive laboratory and field practices in gathering and evaluating information. Writing basic news stories under close supervision. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

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 219  Mass Media in a Multicultural Society (4)

Challenges and triumphs of the mass media in a multicultural society. Survey of print, electronic and online media and how they serve and reflect the communication needs and aspirations of citizens in a multi-ethnic democracy. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203.

JOUR 233  Copy Editing (4)

Introduction to the techniques of newspaper, magazine, and on-line copy desk work. Rewriting and editing copy and headlines for news, feature stories, and on-line material. Headline, caption, and display copy writing. Ethical issues in copy editing. Selecting, cropping, and writing captions. Art/photography selection, sizing, and cropping. Basic editing functions of Photoshop and Quark. Practical laboratory experience in editing. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 or equivalent.

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  Public Affairs Reporting (4)

Experience leading to advanced skills in reporting and writing stories about contemporary issues, government and courts. Field and laboratory assignments in beat reporting, public meeting coverage, writing style, investigative techniques and online journalism research. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 233 or JOUR 342.

JOUR 312  Introduction to Public Relations (3)

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. 3 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 and reporting for radio and television. Emphasis on developing news judgment and producing radio newscasts. Introduction to television studio equipment and procedures. Lab experience includes writing and reporting live on-air for KCPR. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203.

JOUR 342  Advanced Public Relations Writing (4)

Specialized course combining theory and practice in advanced public relations writing:. Persuasive copy for diverse internal and internal audiences. Emphasis on gathering information, preparing news releases, newsletters, talking points, position papers, speeches, and other communications vehicles. Analysis of various media case studies. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 233 and JOUR 312.

JOUR 346  Broadcast Announcing and Production (4)

Develop on-air skills in the performance of voice-overs, stand-ups, hosting and the production of televised public service announcements. Emphasis on the effective use of audio and non-linear video editing techniques as well as broadcast writing. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 333.

JOUR 348  Electronic News Gathering (4)

Instruction on electronic news gathering (ENG) that includes advanced news writing, field reporting and editing for broadcast. Emphasis on developing research techniques, interviewing skills, responsible and effective non-linear video editing, compelling use of natural sound and professional on-air delivery. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 333.

JOUR 351  Advanced Radio Reporting: KCPR (3)

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 6 units. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 333 and JOUR 346 or JOUR 348. Non-majors: consent of instructor.

JOUR 352  Advanced Newspaper Reporting: Mustang Daily (3)

Reporting lab for students holding editorial positions on Mustang Daily. Total credit limited to 6 units. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203, JOUR 233 and JOUR 304.

JOUR 353  Advanced Television News Production: CPTV (3)

Senior-level course synthesizing the diverse skills and experiences developed through the broadcast journalism curriculum to produce a weekly 60-minute newscast; emphasis on producing. Total credit limited to 6 units. 2 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 333 and JOUR 346 or JOUR 348. Non-majors: consent of instructor.

JOUR 385  Mass Media Criticism (4)

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 203 and JOUR 304.

JOUR 400  Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (1–2  1–4)

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, 8 units, with a maximum of 2  4 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Change effective Fall 2006.

JOUR 401  Global 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: JOUR 203.

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 203.

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  Applied Multimedia 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: JOUR 203.

JOUR 413  Public Relations Campaigns (3)

Methods employed in dissemination by organizations, institutions and governments. Interaction of media and PR practitioners, strategies for integrating appropriate media to facilitate effective dissemination, case histories, formation and measurement of public opinion. Public opinion survey projects. 3 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203 and JOUR 312 and JOUR 342 or consent of instructor.

JOUR 415  Advanced Public Relations Practice (4)

Application of public relations tools and techniques required to create, manage, and implement a comprehensive, professional public relations campaign. Includes research, planning, writing goals and objectives; establishing themes, strategies, and plan evaluations. Public relations crisis management. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: JOUR 203, JOUR 312, JOUR 342 and JOUR 413.

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.