Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Course Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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JOU 243 - News Practicum IV

Credits: 2
Lecture Hours: 0
Lab Hours: 0
Practicum Hours: 6
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: General
This course offers practical experience in the upper-level management of news operations for a campus news organization. Students will work at the highest level of leadership at the paper (managing editor, advertising manager, editor-in-chief). Students will gain experience in managing all aspects of a college newsroom, including staff development and training, oversight of the editorial, advertising, circulation and business departments and producing advanced news packages.
Prerequisite: JOU 142 , JOU 143 , JOU 242  or instructor permission
Competencies
During this course, the student will be expected to:

  1. Provide upper-level management of a campus news operation.
    1. Define news.
    2. Identify and assign news stories relevant to the campus.
    3. Determine the best strategy to convey news stories.
    4. Assist with the steps in producing news stories.
    5. Assign and manage news stories written by the news staff.
  2. Evaluate all content published in the campus news operation.
    1. Analyze different methods of background research.
    2. Assist with identifying and interviewing sources.
    3. Write and edit leads.
    4. Write and edit direct, indirect and partial quotes.
    5. Follow inverted pyramid style and alternative story structures.
    6. Check facts.
    7. Take responsibility for the accuracy and objectivity of the newspaper.
    8. Maintain objectivity and fairness when writing a news story.
    9. Apply principles of media law.
  3. Edit news stories.
    1. Follow AP Style.
    2. Edit stories using AP Style.
    3. Demonstrate newspaper style.
  4. Use the digital tools of the newsroom.
    1. Take photographs with a DSLR camera.
    2. Manage the photography assignments of staff members.
    3. Supervise the layout of the news.
    4. Use InDesign to lay out news pages.
    5. Implement Photoshop to edit photos.
    6. Record audio and video during interviews.
    7. Upload news content to a website.
    8. Manage and supervise the promotion of content through social media.
    9. Use Microsoft Word.
  5. Be actively involved in all areas of campus newsroom operations.
    1. Manage and supervise staff meetings.
    2.  Understand and effectively delegate all the tasks that need to be completed for the news organization.
    3. Participate in additional hours as needed.
    4. Manage and supervise additional activities sponsored by the news organization (i.e. open house, retreat, recruiting, First Amendment Day, fundraising).
    5. Identify and assign additional tasks as needed (i.e. story and photo assignments).
  6. Lead the editorial/staff team to create a quality news operation.
    1. Offer constructive criticism to other staff members.
    2. Apply suggestions to improve the paper.
    3. Listen to and respect the viewpoints of others.
    4. Be flexible with work assignments, article length, layout changes, etc.
    5. Check messages and e-mail regularly.
    6. Guide and mentor other staff members.
    7. Fulfill all commitments to the DMACC community and the public.



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