Course Descriptions

Graduate Courses
Undergraduate Courses

Graduate Courses

The following graduate-level courses are open to seniors and count for undergraduate credit toward the major:

J501 Public Affairs Reporting
J520 Seminar: Visual Communication
J551 Seminar: Reporting the Law
J552 Seminar: Reporting the Arts
J553 Education and Media
J554 Seminar: Science Writing
J556 Seminar: Urban Affairs Reporting

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Undergraduate Courses

C201 Topics in Journalism (3 cr.) Topical course dealing with changing subjects and material from semester to semester. May be repeated once for credit with a different topic. Will not count toward journalism major requirements.

C300 The Citizen and the News (3 cr.) A study of the institutions that produce news and information about public affairs for the citizen of American mass society and problems about the selection of what is communicated. Case studies. International comparisons. Will not count toward journalism major requirements.

C327 Writing for Mass Media (3 cr.) A survey for nonmajors stressing the principles of writing for mass media. Emphasis on development of story ideas, information gathering, organization, and effective presentation of material for various news media, print and electronic. Basic computer proficiency encouraged. Will not count toward journalism major requirements.

J110 Foundations of Journalism and Mass Communication (3 cr.) Survey of the institutions of journalism and mass communication, their philosophical foundations, history, processes, economic realities, and effects.

J200 Reporting, Writing, and Editing I (3 cr.) P: W131 or its equivalent and fundamental computer skills. P or C: SLIS L155 in Bloomington, J100 in Indianapolis. Working seminar stressing the creation of journalistic stories for diverse audiences. Students will learn to develop story ideas, gather information, combine visual and verbal messages, and to write and edit news.

J201 Reporting, Writing, and Editing II (3 cr.) P: J200. Working seminar focused on the strengthening of basic journalism skills, including in-depth reporting, editing, and multimedia presentations. Creativity, cooperation, and critical thinking are used to shape effective messages for diverse audiences.

J210 Visual Communication (3 cr.) Theories of visual communications including human perception, psychology of color, and principles of design. Application of those theories to photography, video, and graphic design in news communication.

J300 Communications Law (3 cr.) P: sophomore standing. History and philosophy of laws pertaining to free press and free speech. Censorship, libel, contempt, obscenity, right of privacy, copyright, government regulations, and business law affecting media operations. Stresses responsibilities and freedoms in a democratic communications system.

J315 Feature Writing (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Emphasis on developing story ideas, identifying sources, organizing materials, planning, and outlining the story. Techniques for capturing the reader's interest.

J320 Principles of Creative Advertising (3 cr.) Analysis of strategy employed in developing creative advertising, with emphasis on role of the copywriter. Research, media, legal aspects, ethical standards as they apply to copywriting functions. Place of the creative function within the advertising agency and the retail business.

J321 Integrated Marketing Communications (3 cr.) Students are introduced to the creative integration of advertising and public relations as a mass media campaign tool. Topics include the role of integrated communications in marketing and media, an examination of current practice, and the creative process of a campaign, including planning strategies and media characteristics.

J337 Media Economics (3 cr.) This course explores how economic forces influence production of media content, particularly at U.S. organizations. It examines basic economic concepts, such as market and competition, as they relate to commercial media organizations. Special attention is paid to the effect of advertising and market considerations on news decisionmaking.

J341 Newspaper Reporting (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Techniques of gathering, analyzing, and writing news and features for newspapers. Practice in interviewing, observation, and use of documentary references that include computer information retrieval and analysis skills.

J342 Magazine Reporting (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Techniques of gathering, analyzing, and writing material for specialized and general circulation magazines. Practice in interviewing, observation, and use of documentary references that include computer information retrieval and analysis skills.

J343 Broadcast News (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Techniques of gathering, analyzing, and writing news and features for broadcast. Practice in interviewing, observation, and use of documentary references that include computer information retrieval and analysis skills.

J344 Photojournalism Reporting (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. This is an introductory photo-journalism course focusing on the basics of light, camera operation, and the use of chemical and digital darkrooms. It includes instruction in spot news and feature photography as well as instruction in ethics, privacy, and law.

J351 Newspaper Editing (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Workshop in fundamentals of editing newspapers, including both individual and team projects. Emphasis on news judgment, fairness, accuracy, editorial balance, and language usage. Practice in writing news summaries, editing copy, writing headlines, laying out pages, and using computer editing technology.

J352 Magazine Editing (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Workshop in fundamentals of editing specialized and general interest publications. Individual and team functions are stressed. Attention is given to editorial voice and judgment, fairness, accuracy, and language usage. Practice in writing headlines and titles, layout, design, and use of computer editing technology.

J353 Advanced Broadcast News (3 cr.) P: J200, J343. Continuing workshop in reporting, writing, and editing for broadcast. Individual and team functions are stressed. Emphasis on news judgment, fairness, accuracy, editorial balance, and language usage. Practice in editing copy, audio and video tape.

J354 Photojournalism Editing (3 cr.) P: J344, or permission of the instructor. Workshop on the role and function of the print media picture editor. Theory and practice of picture editing skills including assigning, selecting, cropping, writing captions and blurbs, producing informational graphics, designing photo pages, editing by computer, and managing.

J375 Race, Gender, and the Media (3 cr.) Survey and analysis of how news and entertainment media represent issues of race and gender. History of women and people of color as media professionals and media consumers. Discussion of contemporary problems and potential solutions.

J385 Television News (3 cr.) P: J343 and J353, or consent of instructor. Preparation and presentation of news for television. Practice in writing, reporting, filming, and editing news for TV. TV writing problems; use of photographs, film, and videotape; problems of sound in TV news; ethical problems of the TV film reporter and editor.

J390 Corporate Publication (3 cr.) A comprehensive survey of corporate publications from newsletters to corporate magazines, tabloids and annual reports with an emphasis on layout and design. Includes refreshing writing skills with review on interviewing and editing.

J401 Depth Reporting and Editing (3 cr.) P: one 300-level reporting course and one 300-level editing course. Study and practice in using techniques of social science and traditional methods of investigative reporting. Class will plan, write, and edit news stories in depth.

J403 Laboratory/Field Experience (0-3 cr.) C: J453. Laboratory or field experiences for prospective journalism teachers at the middle school or high school level. May be repeated. Graded S or F only.

J407 Newsgathering and the Law (3 cr.) P: J300. Students study the law relating to the content of news media and the processes by which that content is created. Discussion includes the legal issues triggered by story framing, selection of sources, interviewing, photography, and access to information. The course involves reading and research using primary legal materials.

J409 Media Management (3 cr.) Research seminar that examines techniques and processes used in managing media organizations. Through discussions, case analysis, and group projects, the course explores organizational missions and social responsibilities, market analysis techniques, personnel management issues, and budgeting.

J410 The Media as Social Institutions (3 cr.) P: J300, senior standing. Examination of the functions and impact of the mass media in society with primary focus on the United States. Discussion of the values of media organizations and the professional and ethical values of journalists. Critical analysis of the relationship of the media and society and the effect of political, economic, and cultural factors on the operation of the media.

J413 Magazine Article Writing (3 cr.) P: J342. In-depth explanation of the nonfiction magazine article field. Examination of trends and problems in nonfiction writing for both general and specialized magazines. Criticism of student articles written for publication. Seminar sessions with editors and freelance writers.

J414 International Newsgathering Systems (3 cr.) Structure and function of international communication systems and barrier to flow of information among nations. Emphasis on gathering and disseminating information around the world. Study of the major newspapers of the world, international news agencies, and international broadcasting and satellite networks.

J415 Literary Journalism (3 cr.) A study of literary forms and techniques used in journalism. Topics to be considered include formal considerations such as voice and structure, reporting methods, and ethical issues. Students will supplement reading with writing experimental pieces of their own.

J420 Advertising as Communication (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210, and J320 or J321. Lectures and practice in copywriting, graphics, layout, and production. Incorporates psychological, social, legal, and marketing aspects of creativity for mass media.

J423 Public Opinion (3 cr.) Behavioral study of nature, operation, molding, and influence of public opinion, with practice in its measurement and evaluation. Discussion of major political, social, economic, and cultural problems.

J425 Supervision of School Publications (3 cr.) P: 12 credit hours of journalism. Lectures and discussion on designing, producing, and financing school newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks. Management of school news bureau.

J428 Public Relations Management (3 cr.) P: J321. Theories and principles relevant to public relations practices in agency, corporate, and nonprofit organizations, including development of goals and objectives, client relationships, budgets, and research methods.

J429 Public Relations Campaigns (3 cr.) P: J321. Development and execution of a public relations campaign for a nonprofit organization. Public relations theory and in-depth case study analysis.

J431 Public Relations for Nonprofits (3 cr.) P: J321. This seminar focuses on how a nonprofit organization creates images, and how it shapes its programs and goals to gain public support. Assignments and readings are designed to foster a practical understanding of promotional techniques and campaigns using journalistic and other media.

J438 Problems in Advertising (3 cr.) P: J320 or J321. Seminar on current developments and problems concerning advertising as an economic and social force. Stresses independent investigation on topics such as politics and advertising, and advertising and public taste.

J444 Advanced Photojournalism (3 cr.) P: J344. Advanced techniques of reporting and interpreting news with photography. Practice in news, sports, features, photographic essays, color photography, electronic imaging, and studio illustration.

J450 History of Journalism (3 cr.) American social-intellectual history integrated with the story of news media development, emphasizing the historical relationship of the mass media to American social, economic, and cultural patterns and developments. Origin, growth, shortcomings, and achievements of media. Impact of society on the media and vice versa.

J453 Methods of Teaching Journalism (3 cr.) C: J403. P: EDUC W200, EDUC P255, EDUC M300, EDUC H340, EDUC M314. Examination of the methods, techniques, content, and materials applicable to the teaching of journalism at the middle school or high school level. Experience provided to assess ongoing programs in schools and to study materials appropriate for these programs.

J455 News Analysis and Opinion Writing (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. Techniques for understanding, analyzing, and reporting on complex events and issues. Development and refinement of skills and techniques for writing news analysis, editorials, and opinion articles.

J460 Topics Colloquium (1-3 cr.) P: junior or senior standing. Topical seminar dealing with changing subjects and material from semester to semester. May be repeated once for credit with a different topic.

J462 History of 20th Century Photography (3 cr.) Surveys twentieth-century photography as a medium of art and communication. Considers portraiture, landscape, still life, the nude, conceptual photography, the social documentary tradition, the magazine picture story, fashion, advertising, and war photography. Examines the impact of post modern theories on photographic practice and the understanding of photography.

J463 Computerized Publication Design I (3 cr.) P: J200, J201, J210. This publishing design course incorporates typesetting, electronic photo editing, graphics, and page design. Students are instructed in design theory, computer publishing skills, and creative problem solving.

J465 Computerized Publication Design II (3 cr.) P: J463. This advanced publishing design course builds on Computerized Publication Design I and incorporates advanced work in color, type design, computer illustration, creative problem solving, and an introduction to print production.

J470 Broadcast Media Analysis (3 cr.) Seminar on problems of communicating news through aural and visual channels. Application of communications theory to broadcast news and public affairs presentations. Study of effects of format, verbal content, nonverbal content, and presenter on communications process.

J492 Media Internship (S/F grading) (1 cr.) P: prior approval of faculty member; journalism majors only. Supervised professional experience in communications media. Does not contribute to 30 credit hours of required course work in journalism major, but will count toward 39 credit hours maximum allowed in journalism and telecommunications. May be repeated, but a student may take no more than 3 credit hours total of internship credit for the B.A.J. degree, either through journalism or any other academic unit.

J496 Foreign Study in Journalism (3-8 cr.) P: consent of the School of Journalism dean. Planning of research project during year preceding summer abroad. Time spent in research abroad must amount to at least one week for each credit hour granted. Research paper must be presented by end of semester following foreign study.

J499 Honors Research in Journalism (1-3 cr.) Opportunity for independent reading, research, and experimentation on relevant issues in mass communications. Work with faculty member on individual basis.

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