Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 General Catalog 
    
2023-2024 General Catalog
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COM 142 - Mass Media Writing


Last Date of Approval: Spring 2021

3 Credits
Total Lecture Hours: 45
Total Lab Hours: 0
Total Clinical Hours: 0
Total Work-Based Experience Hours: 0

Course Description:
This course introduces students to writing in a professional environment and to the forms of writing for the mass media. These forms include news stories for print and broadcast, advertising copy for print and broadcast, and other types of writing for public relations. This course helps students build confidence in their communication skills while also enabling them to think critically, consider the viewpoints of others, and effectively express themselves, all of which will benefit them in the classroom, in life, and in the workforce.

Prerequisites/Corequisites: None

Mode(s) of Instruction: traditional/face-to-face

Credit for Prior Learning: There are no Credit for Prior Learning opportunities for this course.

Course Fees: None

Common Course Assessment(s): None

Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:
 

  1. Demonstrate understanding of journalism.
  2. Write effective and coherent news stories.
  3. Apply critical thinking skills appropriate to mass media writing and interviewing.
  4. Improve interviewing skills.
  5. Implement reporting strategies to contribute to The Collegian student newspaper.

Course Objectives:

  1. Follow the rules of good grammar, punctuation, spelling and Associated Press style.
  2. Effectively use different types of leads to create an accurate, inviting introduction to a news story.
  3. Conduct research on a news figure or news topic for inclusion in a news story.
  4. Distinguish between news and public relations style.
  5. Evaluate a news event for the most timely, newsworthy information.
  6. Use effective interviewing techniques.
  7. Effectively use quotes, attribution and transitions and avoid editorializing.
  8. Consider the audience in writing a news story.
  9. Cover an actual news event professionally.
  10. Write an accurate and fair news story from a variety of news events in publishable form.
  11. Write an effective, informative news release that adheres to journalistic style.
  12. Write a concise broadcast story that adheres to accepted broadcast style.
  13. Understand the similarities, differences between online and traditional journalism and the effects the emergence of online journalism has had on traditional fields; identify the elements of a good online news article or news release.
  14. Understand the basic professional uses of social media in the field of mass communication.



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