University of West Florida

JOU 2100   Newspaper Reporting

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

Principles and procedures in gathering, reporting and writing news and feature articles. (Gordon Rule Course: Wrtg). Credit may not be received in both JOU 2100 and JOU 3100.

JOU 3300   Feature Writing

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

Researching and writing feature articles for newspapers, trade journals and general circulation magazines. Includes manuscript preparation and querying of editors for publication. Credit may not be earned in both JOU 3330 and JOU 3300.

JOU 3314   Environmental Reporting

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

Focuses on techniques required to research, report and write environmental new stories for newspapers. Students cover an environmental beat during the semester to gain experience with writing about a wide range of issues relating to environmental journalism. The course also examines issues such as reporting ethics, the role of environmental reporters in the community, the history of environmental journalism and utilization of both government databases and the Internet to gain regulatory information for environmental stories. The course explores environmental stories involving public health, public land management, restoration of endangered species, and eco-activism. Permission is required.

JOU 3342   Media Convergence

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU2100

Teaches students to report stories simultaneously appearing in print, broadcast and online. Multimedia reporting melds digital technology platforms with traditional reporting skills, ethics and standards.

JOU 3700   Issues in Journalism

3 sh (may be repeated for up to 90.0 sh of credit)

Introduction to major issues challenging news media in today's digital society, including ethics, public perception of the press, the Internet, political pressures, financial viability and standards of press performance.

JOU 3940   Practicum: Voyager

3 sh (may be repeated for up to 6.0 sh of credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

Experience in preparing news, opinion and feature material for publication in the student newspaper. Permission is required.

JOU 4101   Advanced Newspaper Reporting

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

Advanced principles and procedures in gathering, reporting and writing news, features and opinion articles.

JOU 4181   Public Affairs Reporting

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

Principles and procedures involved in reporting and writing news stories about public affairs/government for newspapers, broadcasters and online news services. Permission is required.

JOU 4201   Newspaper Editing

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

The editing of local and wire copy for newspapers and other publications. Strong emphasis on principles of grammar, punctuation, diction, syntax, and logic. Headline writing, cutline writing, news judgment and photo display. Use of standard reference books.

JOU 4213   Newspaper Design

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

Principles and practices in newspaper layout and design. Credit may not be received in both JOU 4213 and JOU 4211.

JOU 4302   Editorial Writing

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)
Prerequisite: JOU 2100

Principles of and practice in the art of writing persuasively. Focuses on newspaper editorials and commentary.

JOU 4306   Writing Critical Reviews

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

Devoted to writing reviews of books, film, art, and music. Offered concurrently with JOU 5317; graduate students will be assigned additional work. (Gordon Rule Course: Wrtg).

JOU 4308   Magazine Writing

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

Principles and practices in the art of writing for magazines. Focuses on in-depth reporting and refined focus for the magazine market. (Gordon Rule Course: Wrtg).

JOU 6010   Emerging Topics in Media Issues

1.5 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

This course explores the rapidly changing mass media landscape including media convergence. Students investigate numerous forms that industry may take in both its news and entertainment aspects. Particular attention is paid to the potential implications of strategic communication action within emerging media cultures. The course emphasizes critical analysis of media texts and news information cycles through theoretical frameworks in communication.

JOU 6115   Interviewing and Information Gathering

3 sh (may not be repeated for credit)

Provides advanced grounding in how historians, journalists, and qualitative social scientists employ best practices in interviewing and other information seeking to accomplish their objectives.