Major in News/Editorial Journalism


Specific objectives are to:

  1. Prepare students for professional careers in journalism.

  2. Instill in students a high degree of professionalism, which consists principally of practical competence and ethical understanding.

  3. Enhance students' understanding of the role of the press in a democratic society.

 

For students entering the university or declaring the major in fall 2009 and thereafter


ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Prospective majors may take no more than 18 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the following requirements before they can be admitted:

1) Completion of 48 hours of course work applicable to the baccalaureate degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5.

2) Required courses include COMM 145 or COMM 161 (preferably COMM 161), HIST 119 or 120, the university math requirement, and at least a 'C' in ENG 100.

3) Completion of the following courses with at least a 'C': JOUR 201, 202, 232

CURRICULUM: The major in news/editorial journalism (reference number 716) requires 42 semester hours and leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Each student must have a concentration of study (minor or second major) outside journalism/mass communication/communication studies. Generally, students may select any other minor as long as the major advisor approves it; 80 hours are taken outside the major area of journalism and mass communication with no fewer than 65 semester hours of traditional liberal arts and natural sciences (LAS).

A grade of 'D' in any JOUR/BCOM course will not be accepted toward the major and may not be used as a prerequisite. Refer to the University catalog for additional information.

 REQUIRED COURSES (prerequisite courses in parenthesis)

JOUR 131 Introduction to Digital Photography

JOUR 201 Media and Society

JOUR 202 Introduction to Media Writing

JOUR 232 Electronic Technologies for Journalism

JOUR 261 Introduction to Multimedia (JOUR 131 or 231)

BCOM 264 Digital Video Production

BCOM 265 Basic Broadcast News (BCOM 185 or BCOM 201 or JOUR 201)

JOUR 301 Press Law & Ethics (JOUR 201, 202 and junior standing or permission of instructor)

JOUR 302 Intermediate Reporting (JOUR 201, 202)

JOUR 323 News Editing (JOUR 202)

JOUR 325 Feature Writing (JOUR 302, 323, or permission of instructor)

JOUR 348 Introduction to Interactive Advertising (JOUR 341 or permission)

JOUR 426 Advanced Reporting (JOUR 325) (capstone)

Restricted Electives 3 hours, upper division course, select from list below

JOUR 336 Picture Editing (JOUR 131, 232 news/ed majors or permission)

JOUR 341 Principles of Advertising (JOUR 201, 202)

JOUR 343 Print Design (JOUR 201,202,232 or successful completion of final exam in J232)

JOUR 355 Fundamentals of Public Relations (JOUR 201,202)

JOUR 421 American Press History

JOUR 422 Current Issues in Mass Communication (18 hours in the major)

JOUR 481 Problems in Mass Communication

JOUR 491 Internship/Practicum (18 hours in the major & permission of sequence head)

JOUR 495 Collaborative Journalism (JOUR 325 news/ed majors)

BCOM 368 News Videography & Editing (JOUR 261 for news/ed majors)

Required Courses Outside the Major   

ECON 203 Macroeconomics (General Education Category C)

PS 110 American National Government (General Education Category C)

PS 210 State and Local Government or effective fall 2010 PS 304 State Government

HIST 349 The United States Since 1945 General Elective

One of the following two courses

GEOG 110 World Regional Geography (General Education Category E)

GEOG 360 Geography of North America (General Elective or Category C)

Curriculum for fall 2009 catalog year

 4 Year plan

 

Major in News/Editorial Journalism 

For students entering the University prior to fall

2009

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Prospective majors may take no more than 18 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the following requirements before admission.

1) Completion of 48 hours of course work applicable to the baccalaureate degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5.

2) Required courses include COMM 145 or COMM 161 (preferably COMM 161), HIST 119 or 120, the university math requirement, and ENG 100 with at least a 'C'.

3) Completion of the following courses with at least a 'C' : JOUR 201, 202, 232.

CURRICULUM:

REQUIRED COURSES (prerequisites are in parentheses)

JOUR 201 Media & Society
JOUR 202 Introduction to Newswriting, Reporting
JOUR 231 Basic Photography or effective Jan '09 JOUR 131 Digital Photo
JOUR 232 Electronic Technologies for Journalism
JOUR 301 Press Law and Ethics (JOUR 201, 202)

JOUR 321Public Affairs or effective Jan '09 JOUR 302 Intermediate
JOUR 323 News Editing (JOUR 202)
JOUR 325 Feature Writing (JOUR 201,202, 321,323 or consent)
JOUR 426 Advanced Reporting (capstone course) (JOUR 325)

One of the following two courses
JOUR 343 Print Design (JOUR 201, 202, 232)
JOUR 336 Picture Editing (spring) (JOUR 231, 323)

One of the following two courses
JOUR 421 American Press History (fall only)
JOUR 422 Current Issues in Mass Communication (18 hours in the major)

Plus six hours of electives
selected from courses offered in the School of Journalism & Broadcasting

Requirements outside major:
ECON 203 Macroeconomics
HIST 241 United States Since 1865

PS 110 American National Government
PS 210 State and Local Government or effective fall 2010 PS 304 State Government

One of the following two courses
GEOG 110 World Regional Geography

GEOG 360 Geography of North America

Prior to fall 2009 Catalog year

4 Year Plan


The News/Editorial Journalism program is located in the Mass Media & Technology Hall. Phone (270) 745-4144; Fax (270) 745-5835

 

 

Upcoming Events

Page 1 of 2  > >>

Western Integrated Media team travels to India
Category: SJB

While the world’s press leader discussed the future of journalism at their annual summit in India, 17 WKU students and instructors demonstrated it – and the professionals were wowed. The Western Integrated Media team traveled halfway around the world to cover the 2009 World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum with podcasts, vidcasts, audio-enhanced photo slideshows, interactive video, geotagged images, full-length magazine articles, a highly interactive website and a host of other media. “The team from WKU played a substantial and central role to our communications efforts, providing the bulk of multimedia content for a variety of conference blogs and websites and bringing information from the events to the industry at large,” said Larry Kilman, WAN-IFRA Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs. “The students and their professors were competent, professional, enthusiastic and self-motivated – it showed in the quality of their work.” They had a lot of fun, too.

A short video can be viewed by clicking here.

More...
16th Annual Western Film Festival
Category: SJB 16th Annual Western Film Festival
April 26 - 29, 2010
Featuring the best in student and independent filmmaking.  Now accepting
entries!  Please visit our website for more information:
www.westernfilmfest.com More...
SJB Online Survey
Category: SJB

Attention SJ&B Alumni

We need your help! Would you take a few minutes to complete a brief online survey regarding your experiences as a major in the School of Journalism & Broadcasting? Your information will help us support our efforts in career development and identify ways in which we can improve the programs in the School. Thanks!

 

Click here to access the survey.

More...

Page 1 of 2  > >>