Media Writing II

Catalog description

Credits 3. 2 Lecture Hours. 3 Lab Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Builds on foundational practices of news and media writing by shifting from structured exercises to more independent, publication-oriented work. Deepens proficiency in interviewing, sourcing, verification and AP style while introducing longer-form formats such as features, profiles, explanatory reporting and/or issue-driven narratives. Applies legal and ethical frameworks through scenario-based decision-making rather than rule recall. Reinforces core reporting habits of verification, accuracy and clarity, while advancing professional editorial readiness. May draw on current events or public controversies, addressed through journalistic standards of accuracy, attribution and fairness. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Provides practical experience valued in newsrooms, digital media, public affairs, nonprofit communications and content development roles requiring rapid research and fact-based writing. Strengthens transferable skills in information gathering, synthesis and public accountability, useful in academic and civic contexts where claims and sources must be critically evaluated. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Highlights how journalistic authority is earned through transparency, corroboration and structural discipline rather than voice alone. Builds awareness of framing choices — what to include, exclude or emphasize — and how these decisions influence audience interpretation. Examines reporting not only as information transfer but as ongoing negotiation between accuracy, access, ethics and presentation. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include advanced interviewing techniques; background research and source vetting; feature and profile writing; beat development; editorial rewriting and collaborative critique; application of media law to reporting dilemmas; corrections and accountability practices; integration of photographs, headlines or multimedia assets based on publication constraints. May involve field reporting on campus or community issues, conducted within ethical and professional guidelines. Prerequisites: JOUR 203 , enrollment in JOUR major, USLA-BA-JNS concentration or JOUR minor; or approval of program director.