USC
University of Southern California
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School of Journalism

Courses of Instruction

Journalism (JOUR)

The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.

090x Internships in the Media (1, max 8) Intensive experience in the news and other media. Minimum time requirement; enables students to acquire skills and knowledge that cannot be gained in the classroom. Graded CR/NC. Open to journalism majors only. Not available for degree credit.

190 Introduction to Journalism (2, Fa) Survey of all media and outlets including print, broadcasting, public relations and online journalism, plus analysis of what it means to be a professional journalist.

201 History of News in Modern America (4, FaSp) Understanding news today. A survey of how news is gathered, weighed, and disseminated and how historical events have shaped news in the 20th century.

202 Newswriting: Print (3, Fa) Introduction to basic skills of print newswriting, news judgment, construction of print news stories. Social responsibility and ethical framework for print journalists. Typing ability required. Concurrent enrollment: JOUR 203.

203 Newswriting: Broadcast (3, Fa) Introduction to broadcast newswriting with emphasis on the ear and eye. News judgment. Social responsibility and ethical framework for broadcast journalists. Typing ability required. Concurrent enrollment: JOUR 202.

204 Newswriting: Online (2, Fa) Introduction to online newswriting with emphasis on context and relationship of topics to the story. Social responsibility and ethical framework for online journalists. Typing ability required.

210x Basics of Broadcast Newsroom Production for Non-Majors Only (2, max 4, FaSp) Introduction to broadcast newsroom production; preparation and treatment of form and content; procedures, problems, ethics, and practice in planning and producing a nightly newscast. Open to non-journalism majors only. Not available for degree credit to journalism majors. Graded CR/NC.

302 Reporting: Print (3, Sp) Introduction to basic reporting techniques, public records reporting and beginning investigative journalism. Social responsibility and ethical framework for print journalists. Prerequisite: JOUR 202, JOUR 203; concurrent enrollment: JOUR 303.

303 Reporting: Broadcast (3, Sp) Introduction to field reporting, audio and visual media. Social responsibility and ethical framework for broadcast journalists. Prerequisite: JOUR 202, JOUR 203; concurrent enrollment: JOUR 302.

304 Reporting: Online (2, Sp) Introduction to computer assisted reporting, precision reporting including statistics. Social responsibility and ethical framework for online journalists. Prerequisite: JOUR 202, JOUR 203, JOUR 204.

306 Production: Broadcast (3, Fa) Studio and field production for audio and visual media. Social responsibility and ethical framework involving broadcast non-fiction production. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

308 Newspaper Editing and Design (3, Fa) Copyediting and newspaper production layout. Headline and caption writing. Design. Social responsibility and ethical framework involving print production. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

309 Introduction to Online Media (3, FaSp) Convergence journalism and online skill sets. Blogs and Web content production. Social responsibility and ethical framework in digital information technology. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

310 Investigative Reporting (4, FaSp) Reportorial and analytical skills and techniques required for portraying and evaluating contemporary newsworthy events; lectures, discussions. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

330 Photojournalism (4, Fa) Emphasis on fundamental skills necessary for photojournalism including camera techniques, story ideas and digital darkroom.

340 Introduction to Advertising (4, FaSp) History and development of advertising; basic advertising campaigns showing relationships of marketing, creative, print and electronic media.

341 Advertising Copywriting (4, Fa) Writing and editing for advertising and commercial copy for all media. Prerequisite: JOUR 340.

342 Advertising Media and Analysis (4, Fa) Selling, planning, buying for the media; advertising’s relationship to society and business; media choice. Prerequisite: JOUR 340.

343 Advertising Design and Production (4, Sp) Production of advertising materials; emphasis on the creation and design of advertising elements. Prerequisite: JOUR 340.

350 Principles of Public Relations (4, FaSp) Theories, processes, and techniques involved in planning and implementing programs designed to influence public opinion and behavior through socially responsible performance and mutually satisfactory communication.

351ab Public Relations Media (4-4, FaSp) Research, design, production, and writing public relations media; includes news releases, features, pamphlets, brochures, financial statements, management reports, scripts, scenarios, and publicity. Prerequisite: JOUR 202, JOUR 203, JOUR 350.

371 Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace (4, Sp) The study of current and historical battles over the limits of free expression from press and public parks to television, movies, music and cyberspace.

373 The Ethics of Television Journalism (4, Fa) Ethical questions in television journalism; the application of these moral dilemmas to prepare students for dealing with similar issues in their lives.

375 The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture (4, Fa) The impact of conflicting images of reporters in movies and television on the American public’s perception of newsgatherers in the 20th century. A decade-by-decade evaluation.

380 Sports, Business and Media in Today’s Society (4, Sp) An inside look at the symbiotic relationship of sports and the media -- from the interdependence of sports and media, to the coverage of sports in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The economic and ethical issues involved, the conflicts of interest, the history and current status of sports coverage in American media today.

381 Entertainment, Business and Media in Today’s Society (4, Fa) An examination of the symbiotic relationship of the entertainment business and the media; press coverage of the entertainment industry; Hollywood’s relationship with news media.

390 Special Problems (1-4, Irregular) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.

400 Interpretive Writing (4, Sp) Weekly assignments in the shorter forms of newspaper and magazine writing: essays, reviews, editorials, opinion-page articles, profiles; analyses of major 20th century journalists. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

402 Advanced Television Reporting (4, FaSp) Role of the broadcast journalism reporter; similarities and differences between print and electronic media; application of audio-video equipment; analysis and practical experience. Prerequisite: JOUR 306.

403 Television News Production (4, FaSp) Production of television news programs; preparation and treatment of form and content; procedures, problems, and practice in planning and producing broadcast news materials. Prerequisite: JOUR 306.

405 Non-Fiction Television (4, Fa) Presentation and selection in non-fiction television programs including documentaries, electronic magazines and news series; ethical problems, field research, reporting, interviewing, pre-production. Prerequisite: JOUR 306.

406 Advanced Broadcasting Production (2, Sp) Advanced analysis, methods, and techniques of radio and television production; preparation and treatment of complex form and content; procedures, problem-solving, and practice. Prerequisite: JOUR 402.

407 Newsradio (4, Sp) Production of radio news: research, reporting, writing, preparation and treatment of form and content: procedures, problems and practice in producing radio news programs.

409 Radio News Production (4, Fa) Reporting for public radio news: writing newsgathering, editing, vocal delivery. Study of standards, content and ethics. Prerequisite: JOUR 202, JOUR 203.

410 Radio Documentary (4, Sp) In-depth reporting for public radio news: writing, editing, advanced vocal delivery. Production of long-form radio features and short documentaries. Prerequisite: JOUR 409.

412 Introduction to Online Publishing (4) Introduction to the methods, theory and production of news publishing on the World Wide Web including basic HTML, graphics production and news design. (Duplicates credit in JOUR 413.)

413 Introduction to Online Journalism (4) An introduction to the methods and theory of news publishing on the World Wide Web, with an emphasis on journalism skills and techniques. (Duplicates credit in JOUR 412.) Prerequisite: ITP 105x or ITP 101x.

415 Design and Graphics in Online Publishing (2) Focuses on the process of creating images and graphics, essential elements for online publishing sites, and crafting successful Web-based layouts. Prerequisite: JOUR 412 or JOUR 413 or COMM 321.

418 Multimedia Content in Online Publishing (2) Focuses on integrating interactive content into online news stories. Updates journalism techniques and skills for Web journalism. Prerequisite: JOUR 412 or JOUR 413 or ITP 413x; recommended preparation: ITP 411x.

420 Advanced Photojournalism (4, Sp) Emphasis on advanced photojournalism techniques for complex photo storytelling; focus on style, content, design, expression and ethics. Prerequisite: JOUR 330.

421 Photo Editing for News Media (4, Fa) Emphasis on understanding, selection and power of photographs; how they work in concert with words and graphics to inform the public.

425 Advanced Radio News Production (4, Sp) Production of public radio news: producing real-time newscasts for Annenberg Radio News. Newsgathering, assigning stories, anchoring, interviewing, working with reporters, editing and producing live programming. Prerequisite: JOUR 409.

430 Writing the Film Review (4, Sp) Techniques of writing the film review; preparation and treatment of form and content; problems, responsibilities and ethics of film reviewing. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

431 Feature Writing (4, Sp) Techniques of writing newspaper feature stories, including the profile, the light feature, the news feature, the in-depth story; the art of narrative writing. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

435 Writing Magazine Non-Fiction (4, FaSp) A seminar in “how to” interview, research, write -- and place -- professional quality articles for a full range of magazines/newspapers including women’s, sports, ethnic, local and national. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

436 Magazine Production (4) Publishing and production technologies; economics of magazine publishing including cost analysis, marketing, advertising, and circulation. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

438 Editing Magazine Non-Fiction (4, Fa) Editing magazine non-fiction; defining audiences; editorial functions from assigning stories to creating page layouts. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

440 Environmental Journalism (4, Fa) Techniques of reporting and writing about the environment. Includes both theory and practice needed for reporters specializing in this area of journalism. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

441 Sports Reporting (2, Sp) News and feature coverage of sporting events, including social and economic factors influencing sports in America. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

442 Advanced Reporting in Spanish (4, Sp) Coverage of news trends and events in Spanish, including spot news, profiles, features, essays, backgrounders, and analysis of media. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

443 Business Reporting (2, Fa) Techniques of reporting and writing about business, economics and finance. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

444 Reporting on Religion (4, Fa) Provides print, online and broadcast journalists with basic tools for reporting on the religion angle of news stories. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

446 Entertainment Reporting (2, Sp) Techniques of reporting and writing about the entertainment business, economics and finances. Analysis of the skills and background needed for reporters specializing in this area of the news. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

447 Arts Reporting (2, Fa) Techniques of reporting and writing about the arts, including television, film, theatre, music, graphic arts, architecture and design. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

448 Government and Public Affairs Reporting (4, FaSp) Techniques for covering beats that are the foundation of daily newspaper reporting, including crime, education, immigration and local government. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

449 Reporting Los Angeles (2) Specialized reporting class focused on Los Angeles that requires intensive field work in the neighborhoods, ethnic communities and among local institutions such as City Council, hospitals, police departments, social work agencies, etc. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

450 Advanced Public Relations (4, Sp) Application of principles and methods to intensive analysis of public relations problems, decision-making, programming, and evaluation in simulated staff and agency organization. Prerequisite: JOUR 351b, JOUR 463.

451 Promotional Public Relations (4, Sp) Principles and practices of public relations as a basic component in the promotion and marketing of goods and services; regulatory considerations; consumerism. Prerequisite: JOUR 350.

452 Public Relations in Entertainment (4, Fa) Public relations in the design, promotion, and presentation of popular entertainment, including films, broadcasting, music, expositions, amusement parks, resorts and arenas.

454 Sports Public Relations (2, Sp) Introduction to the field of sports information and promotion, including lectures, media assignments, role-playing, and presentations by sports professionals. Junior standing.

455 Public Relations for Non-Profit Organizations (4, Fa) Introduction to the specialized field of public relations for non-profit and non-governmental organizations; emphasis on case studies, strategic and critical thinking, and campaign development. Prerequisite: JOUR 350.

456 Public Relations for Diverse Audiences (4, Fa) Researching, planning, executing and evaluating communications campaigns aimed at audiences segmented by culture, lifestyle and other factors. Prerequisite: JOUR 350.

457 The Role of Celebrity in Public Relations (4, Sp) Understanding of the history and application of celebrity in public relations, focusing on the entertainment industry and the notoriety attached to politics and the media.

458 Public Relations in Politics and Political Campaigns (4, Sp) Application of public relations principles to the context of political campaigns; emphasis on message development and delivery; relationship between candidate, news media, and electorate.

459 Fact and Fiction: From Journalism to the Docudrama (4) Historical, legal and ethical limitations to the misrepresentation of fact. Includes print and broadcast journalism, books, theatre, cinema and new technology.

460 Social Responsibility of the News Media (4, Fa) News media as instruments of constructive social change; standards of ethics and aesthetics; interactions between news media and cultural settings; social responsibility of news media personnel.

461 Literature of Journalism (4) Survey of journalistic careers and times; the influence of editing and reporting on such American writers as Whitman, Twain, Cather, Crane, Runyon, Lardner, and Hemingway.

462 Law of Mass Communication (4, FaSp) Press law; government controls on the news media; legal responsibilities of the journalist.

463 Research and Analysis (4, Fa) Use of social science research techniques in contemporary reporting and public affairs, including both interpretation and reporting of existing data and conducting of surveys. Prerequisite: JOUR 351a.

466 People of Color and the News Media (4, Sp) Reporting and portrayal of people of color in the United States; impact of racial diversity on media, employment and access, and development of media for individuals and communities of color. Open to non-majors.

467 Gender and the News Media (4, Sp) Gender and news media evolving images of women and men in print and electronic media. Impact of gender in content and style of news, television and cinema. Open to non-majors.

468m The American Press and Issues of Sexual Diversity (4, Fa) Examines how news media reflect and affect perception of gay/lesbian issues; provides historical-contemporary context; arms students to bypass rhetoric and knowledgeably evaluate facts.

470 Community Journalism (2, FaSp) Analyses of ethnic and community issues in community journalism. Students work with local youth to write, edit and design school newspapers and other media. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

471 Newsroom Management (2) Survey of the business environment and problems confronting media companies; resource requirements and the managerial functions necessary to present the news.

474 Interviewing and Profile Writing (2, Sp) Techniques of, and intensive application in researching and writing interviews and profiles for newspapers and magazines. Prerequisite: JOUR 302, JOUR 303.

475 Publications Design and Technology (4, FaSp) Art, typography, and other graphic elements in publication design; traditional, contemporary, and advanced production methods, processes, and equipment; representative examples; practice in design.

480 The News Media and World Affairs (4) News media systems of major countries representing free, controlled, and totalitarian types; international communication agencies serving the news media; censorship and propaganda.

481 Washington Reporting (4) Techniques of covering news in the nation’s capital; intensive field work offering a better understanding of how journalism is practiced in Washington, D.C.

482 Comparative Media in Europe (4, Sm) Examines print, broadcast and public relations media and their interactive roles in multi-national and supra-national settings at sites in both Western and Eastern Europe. Recommended preparation: JOUR 350.

483 Negotiating and Reporting Global Change (4) Examines 12 recent history-shaping decisions, negotiations and outcomes; considers how these decisions were reached, reported, positioned publicly and interpreted in retrospect.

490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8, FaSpSm) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: departmental approval.

498 Honors Seminar (2, Sp) Intensive study of a subject of contemporary relevance or of professional importance to journalists. Prerequisite: admission to Honors Program.

499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8, FaSpSm) Selected topics in journalism.

500 Media and Society (3, FaSp) Analysis of major theories on the role of communication media and society with special emphasis on the role and responsibility of the news media.

501 Newswriting: Print, Broadcast, Online (3, Fa) Basic newswriting and news judgment in print, broadcast and online journalism. Social responsibility and ethical framework for new media journalists. Typing ability required.

502 Production: Print, Broadcast, Online (3, Sp) Basic broadcast studio and field production, copyediting and newspaper production, database creation and management, online production. Social responsibility and ethical framework involving new media production.

503 Reporting: Print, Broadcast, Online (3, Sp) Basic print reporting techniques, broadcast field reporting, computer assisted reporting and statistics. Social responsibility and ethical framework for new media journalists.

504 Public Relations Research and Evaluation (3, Fa) Covers the use of primary psychographic and demographic research, pre- and post-campaign testing, and other highly quantifiable research techniques in program development and evaluation.

505 American Media History Seminar (3, FaSp) A seminar surveying the history of the news media in the United States, and their sociopolitical impact, with emphasis on the 20th century.

506 Print Journalism (3) Exploration of all media skills: writing, editing, reporting, research, law, history, and production.

507 Broadcast Journalism (3) Special emphasis on skills necessary for broadcast training, including writing, editing, reporting, research, law, history, and production.

508 Introduction to Strategic Public Relations (3, Fa) A survey of the profession, focusing on the key role of strategic public relations in today’s information-based society; provides a social, economic and political context for the program.

509 Computer-Assisted Research and Reporting (3) Introduction to the theories and strategies of information gathering for the mass media campaign development with an emphasis on the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web.

510 Legal, Ethical and Social Foundations of Public Relations (3, FaSp) Explores the origins, effects of, and processes for adhering to the complex network of legal, ethical and social responsibilities of the contemporary PR practitioner.

511 Editing and Design (3) A survey of newsroom management and the editorial process, from story idea to print, with emphasis on layout and contemporary newspaper design.

512 Advanced Interpretive Writing (3) Analysis and writing of editorials, essays, Op-Ed page articles, profiles, and other shorter forms of journalism, combined with study of historic practitioners of those forms.

513 Advanced Newswriting and Reporting (3, Sp) Reportorial and analytical skills and techniques required in searching out and evaluating newsworthy events. Research and publication of stories.

515 Advanced Computer-Assisted Reporting (3) Explore techniques useful in discovering, gathering, organizing, verifying, and evaluating knowledge in the context of news reporting. Prerequisite: JOUR 503 or JOUR 506.

517 Advanced Investigative Reporting (3, FaSp) Advanced reportorial and analytical skills and techniques required for evaluating newsworthy events. Group research and publication of stories on important current topics.

519 Advanced Magazine Writing (3, Sp) Reporting and preparation of articles for publication; analysis of magazine non-fiction markets; research and writing, techniques, and analysis of magazine markets.

520 Advanced Broadcast Newswriting (3, Sp) Writing for broadcast, preparation and presentation. Responsibility and ethics of broadcast newswriting. Form and content of broadcast news presentation. Similarities and differences between media.

521 Broadcast Documentary (3, Fa) Pre-production of the television documentary; ethical problems, research, reporting, interviewing, writing, legal issues, economics, aesthetics. Problems of balanced presentation, selection of topics.

522 Advanced Broadcast Documentary Production (3) Seminar in production of the documentary; techniques, aesthetics, economics, legal issues, production problems, research, execution.

524 Advanced Broadcast Reporting (3) Reporting and writing broadcast news; analysis and practical experience; role of the broadcast journalism reporter; similarities and differences between media; application of audio-visual equipment.

526 Advanced Broadcast News Production (3, Fa) Production of television news programs; preparation and treatment of form and content; procedures, problems and practice in planning and producing broadcast news materials.

530 Strategic Public Relations Management (3, Sp) An analytical, case study-based approach to strategic campaign planning, management and execution, with heavy emphasis on problem solving and the role of research.

532 International Public Relations (3, Sm) Public information policies and practices of national and supranational government units and national and multinational corporations involved in international relations.

534 Case Studies in Public Relations (3, FaSp) Analysis of landmark and contemporary public relations cases; evaluation of current literature, programs, and professional personnel; identification of emerging issues.

535 Specialized Writing for Public Relations (3, Fa) Intensive focus on the specialized writing requirements of online, broadcast, print and other public relations media; includes content analysis of strategic public relations materials.

536 Public Relations Media Strategies (3, FaSp) Creation and execution of strategic public relations media plans based on organizational goals, audience analysis, and media characteristics.

540 International Journalism Seminar I (3, Sp) Historical perspective of foreign correspondence; examination of the working conditions, problems and consequences of reporting from abroad.

541 International Journalism Seminar II (3) Overview of significant issues that will confront journalists reporting about or analyzing the Third World.

542 Foreign Reporting (3, Sm) News stories analyzed, researched, and critiqued for validity and background; projects to include editorials, news stories, magazine articles or broadcast reports.

543 Field Study (3, Sm) Study of contemporary institutions in selected regions of the world. Graded CR/NC.

544 Journalism and Society in South Africa (3) The history, culture and journalism of South Africa as preparation for May-June internships at Cape Town. News media and reporting trips throughout South Africa. Preference to master’s in international journalism students.

550 Introduction to Online Publishing (3) Methods, theory and publishing of online news; HTML skills, graphics production and design theory.

551 Intermediate Online Publishing (3, Fa) Advanced concepts in online publishing; focus on databases, editing, scripting and authoring applications for news Web sites. Prerequisite: JOUR 502 or JOUR 550.

555 Multimedia and Graphics in Online Publishing (3, Sp) Focuses on the process of creating multimedia, images and graphics for news storytelling on the Web; integration of interactive content, animation and video. Prerequisite: JOUR 551.

556 Online Journalism Seminar (3, Sp) Writing and reporting for the Internet and other technology platforms; computer-assisted reporting; multimedia storytelling. Prerequisite: JOUR 551.

560 Seminar in Mass Communication Law (3, FaSpSm) Analysis of major elements of mass communication law, legal issues in contemporary mass communication, and the impact of legal trends on professional journalists.

562 Public Affairs and Political Communication (2, Sp) Developing and managing political and issue-oriented campaigns; includes executive, legislative and regulatory relations at all levels of government, as well as constituency building.

563 Promotional and Product Public Relations (3, Fa) Planning, managing and evaluating integrated communications campaigns utilizing public relations strategies in concert with advertising and other marketing disciplines; emphasis on research, case studies and campaign development.

564 Crisis Management (2) The development, management and analysis of strategic crisis management programs; includes in-depth study of several timely cases presented by outside experts.

565 Corporate Public Relations and Reputation (3, Fa) Planning, managing and evaluating strategic public relations campaigns to effectively communicate with the investor community, regulators and related constituencies regarding the financial performance and reputation of the business entity and its management.

566 Public Relations for Multicultural and Niche Audiences (2) Developing, managing and evaluating campaigns designed to reach audiences segmented by culture, lifestyle and other factors.

567 Internet and High Technology Public Relations (3) Using the Internet as a strategic tool in the development and implementation of public relations campaigns for technology-based and other enterprises.

568 Critical Thinking and Crisis Management (3, FaSp) Introduction to the concept of critical thinking and its practical application to a variety of public relations challenges and opportunities; emphasis on formulating and evaluating problems from multiple perspectives.

569 Ethics in Public Relations (3) Application of public relations principles to ethical conduct in a business, government agency, non-profit organization or consulting entity; emphasis on applicable cases and dialogue.

575 Advocacy and Social Change in Entertainment and the Media (4, Fa) (Enroll in COMM 575)

576 The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture Seminar (3, Sp) Study and analysis of the conflicting images of the journalist in popular culture and its impact on the public’s perception of the media and newsgatherers.

583 Managing Communication in the Entertainment Industry (4, Fa) (Enroll in CMGT 543)

587 Audience Analysis (4, Fa) (Enroll in CMGT 587)

590 Directed Research (1-12, FaSpSm) Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

594abz Master’s Thesis (2-2-0, FaSpSm) Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

599 Special Topics (2-4, max 8, FaSpSm) Seminar in selected topics in journalism.