Courses

• COM JO 357: History of U.S. Journalism
  Required of Journalism majors. This course surveys the evolution of the American news media, beginning with newspapers in 1704 and continuing through the telegraph, photography, radio, and television before taking up the Digital Revolution now sweeping through journalism. Students examine press freedom, censorship, changing definitions of news, and changes in the business model underlying journalism. Based on that history, we also examine the enduring values and principles of journalism in the U.S. and consider emerging business models. Recommended to be taken before JO525. 4 cr, either sem.
• COM JO 403: Magazine Journalism
  Students learn to research and write lengthy articles of national magazine quality. Students also learn editing skills. 4 cr. Either sem.
• COM JO 408: Magazine Workshop
  This capstone magazine writing course is designed to create a published magazine as a writing portfolio for students. This is a studio course, taught by two professors, that covers writing and design in a setting that captures the dynamics of professional practice. Working in groups, students assume professional positions and conceptualize, write, edit, design, and publish magazines. Magazines are designed and published using Adobe Creative applications. Design concepts and techniques, along with computer programs used in this course, are taught with step by step instructions. 4 cr, either sem.
• COM JO 410: Advanced Photography for Non-majors
  Students refine shooting skills for photos and video, learn the basics of sound recording and the interview, and refine editing workflow for producing visual documentaries. Students learn concepts, principles and standards of documentary work. 4 cr.
• COM JO 411: Professional Journalism Internship
  Valuable on-the-job practice of journalism skills. Provides student with portfolio of professional work. The student works 150 hours per semester or summer at the internship. Assistance in placement; instructor must approve project. Comprehensive paper, employer evaluation, and portfolio required at end of semester.
• COM JO 412: Professional Journalism Internship
  Student develops a professional portfolio while working in the field. Assistance in placement; instructor must approve project. Paper, employer evaluation, and portfolio required upon completion of internship. Hours: 120- 200 per semester or summer. Variable credits.
• COM JO 413: Broadcast Journalism Internship
  On-the-job observation and training at a news website, television, radio station or network. Employer and student evaluations required at end of semester.
• COM JO 431: Enterprise Reporting
  Students produce in-depth video reports similar to those seen on network TV news magazine programs, news websites or, local television series. Includes a review of job trends in the field and advice on producing a resume reel or website. 4 cr., Spring semester.
• COM JO 435: Online Radio Newsroom
  For students who like the teamwork and adrenaline of a real newsroom. Students produce a half-hour LIVE news show on the student radio station, WTBU, during each class. Students report, write, produce and engineer all the news sports and commentary on deadline. Students use social media to report stories and upload content to the Boston University News Service website. Student file stories frequently and programs from NPR, BBC, WBZ, and other radio news outlets will be critiqued. 4 cr. either sem.
• COM JO 451: Television Newsroom
  Students produce a weekly half-hour newscast, broadcast on cable TV and the Internet, with live coverage and video reports about local, national and international news as well as sports highlights and the weather forecast. Students rotate positions weekly, using a television studio and control booth, collaborating to broadcast a fresh, informative and accurate newscast while facing the daily deadlines of a working newsroom. 4 cr, Fall sem.
• COM JO 490: Directed Studies
  Students work with faculty on individual research, professional training, or special studies. Variable credits, either sem.
• COM JO 491: Directed Studies: Broadcast Journalism
  Students work with faculty on individual research, professional training, or special studies.
• COM JO 500: Media Criticism
  How well have the media covered recent U.S. wars? 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? What impact are changes in the business model having on editorial integrity? Does political satire such as the "Daily Show" elevate or debase the political process? This timely course takes a critical look at the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the news media, including current controversies. 4 cr. either sem.
• COM JO 501: Introduction to Business and Economic Reporting
  Comprehensive training in writing business and economics stories, using articles in The Wall Street Journal and other publications as examples. Emphasis on developing clear, simple language to describe complex issues. Articles may be published in teh Worcester Telegram and Gazette. No previous economics or business experience is required. 4cr. either sem
• COM JO 502: Journalism Special Topics
  Every year several courses have been created under this category to examine current journalism issues in seminar format. See the department for specifics.
• COM JO 503: Journalism Research
  Required of Journalism majors in the "Journalism" and "Magazine" specializations. A rigorous grounding in research and investigative methods from interviews and records searching to computer-assisted reporting and use of the Freedom of Information Act. 4 cr., either sem.
• COM JO 504: Arts Criticism
  This course explores the nature of arts and entertainment criticism, and helps students develop their critical writing skills. Topics include: structuring a review; critical biases; profiling celebrities from a critical perspective; cultural criticism (how to write about entertainment or the arts to make broader points about our culture) and, style - how to get it. Assignments include TV, film, music and theater reviews, screenings and a trip to a Boston theater. Guest speakers feature some of Boston's most prominent critics. 4 cr, either sem.
• COM JO 505: Race & Gender in the News Media
  To examine the nature of race and gender stereotypes and the forms they take, and the historic context in which they develop and change overtime. To look at the structures, practices and culture of the news (and entertainment) media that create or echo and reinforce race and gender stereotypes. Evaluate and analyze dominant political and ideological positions on race and gender in the U.S. and how they are presented by major media outlets.
• COM JO 506: Columns and Editorials
  This is a course in writing with a point of view. It includes instruction in writing op-eds and personal essays, along with other forms of expressive and polemical writing.
• COM JO 508: Multi-platform Story Editing
  Whether you go to work for a print, broadcast or digital only newsroom, or produce content for your own start-up or non-profit, knowing how to properly edit content for multiple platforms is critical. This course is designed to give you hands-on experience with editing for multiple platforms. Examples of typical assignments: Editing a text story for print and web; writing a headline and description for YouTube video, copy editing photo captions for a photo gallery; fact checking social media. Student's will put what they've learned to practical use by editing content that will run on bunewservice.com, the departments award-winning showcase news site for journalism students' work.

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