Courses
Journalism
Check back on December 15th for Summer 2010 courses.
College of Communication
Basic Photography
COM JO 305
Covers camera operation and inkjet printing. There are 19 assignments due throughout the course that help the new photo student to learn about qualities of light, how to freeze action, use depth of field, use a hot-shoe flash in different situations, to shoot at night, to use filters, to photograph a famous person and a self portrait. In the final assignment, students will shoot a photo essay. Covers the basics of Adobe Photoshop; digital hygiene, how to create a filing system, how to color correct and convert images to black and white, non-destructive editing, sharpening, color correction and resolution. Students must provide a digital SLR camera that exposes and focuses manually. They must also provide a hot-shoe flash and inkjet photo quality printing paper. 4 cr.
Newswriting and Reporting I
COM JO 307
Prereq: CAS WR 150 and COM CO 201. Fundamentals of news gathering, newswriting and editing, and the evaluation of news stories. Daily writing practice under deadline conditions. Students must meet COM typing requirement. Meets with COM JO 721. 4 cr.
Newswriting and Reporting II
COM JO 308
Prereq: COM JO 307. This advanced course incorporates field reporting and writing under pressure of deadline. Meets with COM JO 722. 4 cr.
Media Criticism
COM JO 500
How well have the media covered the war in Iraq? Do the media have political biases? What effect has Fox News had on the mainstream media? In the face of growing competition from the Internet, what is the future of traditional journalism? Do news-oriented personalities such as Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert elevate or debase the political process? This timely course takes a critical look at the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the media, including current media controversies. 4 cr.
Culinary Journalism
COM JO 502
Designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to specialize in coverage of culinary arts, food supply, restaurant criticism, and the food and beverage industry. The journalism of food is a growth area in print, broadcast and on-line media. About 150 magazines make food a principal part of their editorial content. This course cffers students an opportunity to gain and practice reporting and writing skills in the context of this timely and engaging field. In addition to writing workshops, the course offers readings and lectures in the culture, geography, and history of food. 4 cr.
Travel Writing: The Journalism of People and Place
COM JO 502
Travel writing has a rich and lively tradition in journalism. It has been the source of some of the best nonfiction writing in recent decades. Among the widely divergent practitioners are Jon Krakauer, Bill Bryson, Robert Kaplan, Susan Orlean, Annie Dillard, and Tim Cahill. In the more distant past, the genre has cultivated many great writers: Graham Greene, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, and Mark Twain. This course is designed for writers (undergraduate and graduate students, amateurs, and professionals) who travel, want to improve their writing skills and develop a fuller appreciation of the places they visit. The goal is to produce work of professional quality for newspapers, magazines, or possibly book-length works. It requires in-class and out-of-class writing assignments. The course mixes brief lectures with a seminar environment in which students read and discuss the work they produce for class. 4 cr.
The Journalism of Place: Landscape Writing and Drawing
COM JO 502
It has long been acknowledged that there is a correspondence between writing and drawing. In both endeavors, the writer and the artist attempt to see their subjects—in this case, the landscape—with fresh eyes and to communicate their personal visions to readers and viewers. This course is designed for people who are interested in conveying a vivid sense of place in their writing or drawing by understanding the skills involved in observation and the application of writing and drawing skills. The course develops a workshop atmosphere and makes use of local landscapes as well as authors with strong New England connections including Henry James, Henry David Thoreau, and Jane Austen and iconic New England painters such as Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth, and John Singer Sargent. Students can elect to emphasize writing or drawing in the class, but in all cases students will be asked to attempt exercises in both fields. The course is team taught by writer Lou Ureneck and artist Narda Boughton. Prior drawing experience not required. 4 cr.
Journalism Principles and Techniques
COM JO 721
Fundamentals of news gathering, newswriting and editing, and the evaluation of news stories. Daily writing practice under deadline conditions. Students must meet COM typing requirement. Meets with COM JO 307. There is additional coursework and classroom time necessary for COM JO 721. 4 cr.
Advanced Journalism Seminar
COM JO 722
Prereq: JO 721. This advanced course incorporates field reporting and writing under pressure of deadline. Meets with COM JO 308. There is additional coursework and classroom time necessary for COM JO 722. 4 cr.
