J X39T J 339T Topics in Specialized Journalistic Skills 3 Hours
3 Lecture Hours 0 Lab Hours
Contemporary social, professional, and intellectual concerns in the practice of specialized journalistic skills. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics may require additional laboratory hours.
Pre/Corequisites: Journalism 310F and 311F with a grade of at least B- in each.
Restrictions: Restricted to journalism majors.
Grading: Student Option
Repeatable for credit: May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
Academic Level: Upper Division
Topic 1: Mapping in Storytelling. Creating visual stories that combine text, charts and maps. Foundations of data analysis, spatial analysis, design, data visualization and cartography, including hands-on practice with GIS software and discussions of editorial and ethical concerns in visual storytelling. Assignments include combining new skills and reporting to produce visual stories. Journalism 339T (Topic: Mapping in Storytelling) and 339T (Topic 1) may not both be counted. Restrictions: Restricted to journalism majors.
Topic 2: Music into Words. Reviewing, writing, and reporting on music in the digital age; covering the music industry from the stage to the recording studio; and from the start up record label to the established labels. Journalism 339T (Topic: Music into Words) and 339T (Topic 2) may not both be counted.
Topic 3: Producing Documentaries for Sports Journalism. Applied skills in teams to produce one original documentary sports story. Emphasis placed on stories that transcend competition and explore larger social issues, such as race, sex, gender, class, opportunity, community, and identity. Journalism 339T (Topic: Documentaries for Sports) and 339T (Topic 3) may not both be counted. Restrictions: Restricted to journalism majors.
Topic 4: Tracking Online Audience Engagement. Introduction to current practices in tracking and engaging online audiences such as web metrics, Google Analytics, search engine optimization, and keyword advertising.