JRNL 235
3 credits
Introduction to Journalism in Canada
Prerequisite(s): MACS 130 recommended
Through print and electronic media, journalists inform us about issues and events from around the world. But what factors determine their choice of stories to cover and the perspectives that they bring to their stories? This course takes a critical look at the role of the journalist in Canadian society.
Note: This course is offered as MACS 235 and JRNL 235. Students may take only one of these for credit.
JRNL 300
3 credits
Introduction to the Practice of Journalism
Prerequisite(s): One of CMNS 125, CMNS 155, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105
This course covers the fundamentals of news writing and reporting as demanded by newsrooms across all forms of media. The course is writing intensive and requires outside journalistic investigation including interviewing and basic fact gathering. A wide variety of forms will be explored, from image selection, headline, lead, and caption writing to articles based on the coverage of news events. Students will also practice writing feature stories as well as assessing local reactions to national events and issues.
Note: This course is offered as CMNS 300 and JRNL 300. Students may take only one of these for credit.
JRNL 301
4 credits
Advanced Practice of Journalism
Corequisite(s): CMNS 300/JRNL 300 or 45 university-level credits including one of CMNS 125,
CMNS 155, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105.
The course applies journalism skills to other media formats including radio, television, and the internet. This course provides a practical introduction to the technologies and techniques of digital media communication, including video, still image, sound capture and manipulation, internet-based publishing and research, digitizing, editing, and archiving. In the workshop/labs, students will have the opportunity to explore writing across various news genres, writing for the web, developing on-air voice delivery as “news anchor” and “remote reporter”, selecting interview clips, designing graphics and transitions, and presenting final products.
This course is offered as CMNS 301 and JRNL 301. Students may take only one of these for credit.
JRNL 365
3 credits
Documentary Video Storytelling
Prerequisite(s): 15 credits of university-level arts courses. It is also recommended that students have FILM 110 or FILM 120 and one of the following: VA 160, VA 165/ENGL 165, VA 170, or VA 272. Alternatively, students should have some other experience of working with film or video production.
This course offers students knowledge of key concepts and practical skills in documentary storytelling for digital video. Students will develop a short documentary video (of approximately ten minutes in length) from the proposal/treatment stage through pre-production, production, and post-production. Students will be introduced to the work of Canadian filmmakers, who have long been considered leaders in the documentary genre.
Note: This course is offered as VA 365, FILM 365, and JRNL 365. Students may take only one of these for credit.
JRNL 369
4 credits
Media Law and Ethics
Prerequisite(s): 45 university-level credits, including three credits of CMNS, JRNL or MACS
This course provides an introduction to legal and ethical issues as they apply to the media. Knowledge of morality and the law can assist media professionals in their day-to-day activities. Indeed, ethical values like fairness, respect, and truthfulness can guide them in their decision-making. Moreover, familiarity with the law as it applies to copyright, defamation, and other areas can help them assess the limits of what they can do.
Note: This course is offered as MACS 369 and JRNL 369. Students may only take one of these for credit.
JRNL 373
4 credits
Rhetoric: Literary Journalism
Prerequisite(s): Two 200-level English courses (ENGL 215 recommended), or any two of the following: 200-level English course (ENGL 215 recommended), CMNS 251, JRNL/CMNS 300.
This advanced writing-intensive course introduces the genre of literary journalism that arises from interdisciplinary, first person reportage methods since the 1960s. Student projects based on models by distinguished practitioners will be critiqued in workshop format by classmates and the instructor. Its engaged, longer-form narrative approach provides an ideal learning bridge to book, journal, script, and online media applications.
Note: This course is also offered as ENGL 373. Students may take only one of these for credit.
