Teaching

J202, Mass Media Practices: This course is designed to lay a foundation for students and give them the beginnings of a toolkit of conceptual and practical skills in mass communication. Key focuses:

  • research, writing, editing and presentation for news and strategic communication in print, audio and online
  • informative and persuasive communication in contexts that cut across the traditional barriers of print journalism, broadcast news, advertising and public relations
  • cross-platform writing and production skills
  • critical thinking abilities
  • ethics and professional practices

(teach each semester)

J411, Multimedia Messages: This course is designed to help students conceive messages in multiple formats and build design and production techniques to relay those messages through the mass media. We study and apply approaches in both informative and persuasive arenas,
depending on a student's interests and career goals. Rather than focusing solely on the technical skills needed to
produce communications, we also concentrate on theories of communication and information processing. Students produce messages in text, audio, video and motion, covering both print and online output. (teach each spring)

J417, Magazines: This course takes an integrated, in-depth approach to magazine management, writing, editing and design. It covers the magazine industry from both the editorial and business ends, bringing together journalism and strategic communication students. Participants in the course understand all facets of the industry while also applying extra focus and effort in their particular areas of interest. The course produces a print and online version of its own magazine, Curb. (teach each fall)

J401, In-Depth Reporting: This course is designed to build advanced reporting and writing skills necessary to cover the everyday business of government, industry and society. The course helps students discover the “story behind the story” and move beyond such everyday coverage. Students look beyond events to unearth the richer veins of information the audience needs and present information in text, images, audio, video and online. (teaching spring 2010)

J335, Intermediate Reporting: This course helps students develop basic skills in reporting and writing for multiple media, including print, broadcast and online. We cover news involving public affairs with additional emphasis on discovering untold stories. We critically examine media content and practices as well as our own work. (last taught 2001)

J676, Media Without Borders-Law, Ethics and Digital Media: This advanced survey course examines the effects of digital media on society and individuals through emphasis on law and ethics. Built as a collaborative enterprise between students and instructors, the course simultaneously covers topics and the technologies that can be used to learn about those topics. We employ a variety of collaborate and social media to find and share information on our focuses:

  • content
  • intellectual property
  • manipulation
  • security and privacy
  • identity
  • separation
  • economics
  • responsibility