Journalism Courses

This course introduces students to how news is gathered and presented in a variety of media, including print, Web, radio and television. Major emphasis is on developing solid news values, reporting skills and writing skills. Ethical issues related to the practice of journalism are also discussed.

This course gives students intensive experience in gathering, writing, and producing news for radio, including capturing, editing and incorporating audio sound bites. Regular reporting assignments allow students to refine their skills in writing effective, concise radio news stories. By the end of the course, students will be able to report, write and produce a radio newscast, observing typical time constraints.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This course provides students the opportunity for intensive work in all aspects of broadcast news performance. It is designed especially for students preparing for on-air careers in the field of broadcasting. The course includes extensive critique of broadcast news professionals, instruction in the use of technology used in radio and television news performance, and practice and coaching in radio and television news performance. Special emphasis on reporter narration, anchoring, and delivering the live report.

This course is a consideration of the inventions, events, and people that have shaped and influenced journalism in the United States, and how the practice of journalism has shaped American history. The course follows the history and contributions of American journalism from colonial times to the Web, in the context of the technical, economic, political, and cultural aspects of American society.

This course gives students the opportunity to apply their radio news skills in the “real world” as a member of the WHSN news team. The student becomes a working reporter, gathering, writing and reporting news for broadcast. Students conduct interviews, attend press conferences and develop contacts in the local community, and may find themselves working alongside broadcast news professionals in the Bangor market.

Prerequisites: JRN 114, JRN 115

The knowledge and skills gained in COM 114 and COM 115 are applied in this course as students engage in hands-on television news gathering and reporting. Students will work cooperatively with students in COM 239 (Electronic News Gathering) to cover, write, and produce television news and sports stories for use in NESCom’s weekly, student-produced TV newscast. Emphasis is on reporting, writing, production, and performance (including package narration, standups, and live shots). As part of the weekly newscasts, student work will be seen throughout the campus community via NESCom’s Campus TV Network.

Prerequisite: JRN 115

This course offers in-depth practice in writing for newspapers and magazines, with emphasis on news judgment, solid research, accuracy and writing style. Students weave the practical and conceptual elements of journalism together by writing news stories and features that pertain to current events of significant public interest. Assignments for this course are done both in the classroom and in the greater Bangor community.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This is primarily a writing course in which students learn to write for the Web. Assignments require students to produce well-researched packages that include photos, videos, audio, and other mixed-media that are available to online journalists. Students will participate in creation of an online webzine, and participate in creating content to post on it. The course also introduces students to blogging, and requires students to post weekly blogs online.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This course explores issues facing U.S. news media as they struggle to understand an increasingly diverse society. It includes a historical overview of how media portray images and construct messages related to ethnicity, race, gender, class, and sexual orientation, and examines obstacles facing journalists' efforts to improve coverage and newsroom representation. Writing assignments help students prepare to do cross-cultural reporting with sensitivity and accuracy.

In this course, students apply the reporting skills they’ve developed in JRN 115 and JRN 217 to report and produce news for television. Students will work cooperatively with students in VID 239 and VID 325 classes to report, write, and produce television news packages and ultimately produce an entire newscast, including sports, features, and interviews. Major emphasis is on reporting skills, writing, package and newscast production, and performance. The cooperative dimension of the course will help students understand the critical importance of communicating with colleagues, photographers/editors, directors, and studio crew in creating and presenting television news.
Prerequisite: JRN 115 and JRN 217

Essentially a capstone experience for students in the broadcast journalism concentration, this course draws on the reporting, writing, interviewing, and producing skills students have developed in lower level courses, to produce long-form public affairs programs for radio and television, and for airing online, on WHSN Radio, and on the NESCom Broadcasting Network.
Prerequisite: JRN 360

This course is designed for students with no experience or limited experience with video cameras. It focuses on the basics of camera angle, continuity, cutting, close-up and composition. Students shoot video elements and edit the shots into clear visual communication projects with extensive instructor oversight.

Be introduced to video practices and theories. Through lecture and hands-on labs, students learn how to operate a video camera to acquire well-lighted subjects with proper picture composition. Audio gathering and manipulation are covered also. Shooting and editing for continuity are covered at length. The unique language of the video arts is learned as the student progresses through the semester.

Prerequisite: Previous video experience or VID 100^

Continue to grow an understanding of the techniques and the art of television by doing. This course builds on the basics learned in VID 105 and challenges the student in more complex projects. Through lecture and lab settings, students learn an elevated level of thinking in the numerous positions in the video career path. Students engage in creative expression and critical thinking. An introduction to non-linear editing provides the student with additional ways to communicate visually.

Prerequisite: VID 105^

This is a chance to work in organizations such as a broadcast station, advertising agency, video production company, and others, under the direct supervision of a full time employer. This course is open to upper class students who have attained a 3.0 average and have faculty approval. Students are required to intern 135 hours in the field, applying the knowledge learned to date, while being willing to “learn the ropes” of the day-to-day operation of a business.

By permission only

Different only from COM 330 (Field Experience) in that the students enter into the internship not only to experience the work place environment but to choose one aspect of that environment to focus on and do research. A substantial research paper and oral presentation are required in this course.
By permission only

This is a chance to work in organizations such as a broadcast station, advertising agency, video production company, and others, under the direct supervision of a full time employer. This course is open to upper class students who have attained a 3.0 average and have faculty approval. Students are required to intern 135 hours in the field, applying the knowledge learned to date, while being willing to “learn the ropes” of the day-to-day operation of a business.

By permission only

This course is designed for students with no experience or limited experience with video cameras. It focuses on the basics of camera angle, continuity, cutting, close-up and composition. Students shoot video elements and edit the shots into clear visual communication projects with extensive instructor oversight.

Be introduced to video practices and theories. Through lecture and hands-on labs, students learn how to operate a video camera to acquire well-lighted subjects with proper picture composition. Audio gathering and manipulation are covered also. Shooting and editing for continuity are covered at length. The unique language of the video arts is learned as the student progresses through the semester.

Prerequisite: Previous video experience or VID 100^

Continue to grow an understanding of the techniques and the art of television by doing. This course builds on the basics learned in VID 105 and challenges the student in more complex projects. Through lecture and lab settings, students learn an elevated level of thinking in the numerous positions in the video career path. Students engage in creative expression and critical thinking. An introduction to non-linear editing provides the student with additional ways to communicate visually.

Prerequisite: VID 105^

This course introduces students to how news is gathered and presented in a variety of media, including print, Web, radio and television. Major emphasis is on developing solid news values, reporting skills and writing skills. Ethical issues related to the practice of journalism are also discussed.

This course gives students intensive experience in gathering, writing, and producing news for radio, including capturing, editing and incorporating audio sound bites. Regular reporting assignments allow students to refine their skills in writing effective, concise radio news stories. By the end of the course, students will be able to report, write and produce a radio newscast, observing typical time constraints.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This is the NESCom gateway course to sports journalism. Alongside course work designed to develop basic reporting and writing skills, this course introduces students to the practice of sports journalism. Students will learn the history of sports journalism, and deepen their sports knowledge and sports reporting skills in preparation for more advanced work in play-by-play, sportscast production, and sports information. The course includes intensive critique of the work of current professional sportscasters.

This course provides students the opportunity for intensive work in all aspects of broadcast news performance. It is designed especially for students preparing for on-air careers in the field of broadcasting. The course includes extensive critique of broadcast news professionals, instruction in the use of technology used in radio and television news performance, and practice and coaching in radio and television news performance. Special emphasis on reporter narration, anchoring, and delivering the live report.

The knowledge and skills gained in COM 114 and COM 115 are applied in this course as students engage in hands-on television news gathering and reporting. Students will work cooperatively with students in COM 239 (Electronic News Gathering) to cover, write, and produce television news and sports stories for use in NESCom’s weekly, student-produced TV newscast. Emphasis is on reporting, writing, production, and performance (including package narration, standups, and live shots). As part of the weekly newscasts, student work will be seen throughout the campus community via NESCom’s Campus TV Network.

Prerequisite: JRN 115

This course is a continuation of JRN 127. Students expand their sports knowledge and sports reporting skills in preparation for more advanced work in play-by-play, sportscast production, and sports information courses. The course includes intensive critique of the work of current professional sportscasters. Students may be assigned to assist with preparation for and broadcast of Husson College sporting events. Proper methods of court side and in-studio interviewing will be taught.

Prerequisite: JRN 127

Learn the fundamentals of photojournalism in this course while developing content for weekly broadcasts. Students expand their ability to communicate messages through sharpened storytelling skills. Advanced shooting, lighting, editing, interview techniques and meeting deadlines are essential components of this course.

Prerequisite: VID 205^

Sports Information is an advanced sports journalism course that introduces students to the sports information function and provides extensive practice in sports information work. Topics covered include: writing a sports news release, creating game notes and stats, the function of media passes, scheduling and conducting news conferences, and handling crisis situations. Students will go up close and personal to the sports information work at the high school, college, and professional levels.
Prerequisite: JRN 227

This course pulls together the knowledge and skills students have acquired in basic journalism courses, and JRN 127 and 227, to focus specifically on the sports play-by-play and color function in sportscasting. Students will learn how to prepare for a game and then do the broadcast on both radio and television.
Prerequisite: JRN 227

In this course, students apply the reporting skills they’ve developed in JRN 115 and JRN 217 to report and produce news for television. Students will work cooperatively with students in VID 239 and VID 325 classes to report, write, and produce television news packages and ultimately produce an entire newscast, including sports, features, and interviews. Major emphasis is on reporting skills, writing, package and newscast production, and performance. The cooperative dimension of the course will help students understand the critical importance of communicating with colleagues, photographers/editors, directors, and studio crew in creating and presenting television news.

Prerequisite: JRN 115 and JRN 217

This course pulls together all of the knowledge and skills students have developed in lower level courses and allows them to produce and host a weekly 15 to 30 minute sports show, featuring local, regional and national sports teams and action. Students will produce sports shows for radio and television, and possibly for the Web. This is essentially a capstone experience for students in sports journalism, giving them a chance to hone their reporting, writing and performance skills to create a show that will look and sound good on their audition reel.

Prerequisite: JRN 227 and JRN 360

This course explores issues facing U.S. news media as they struggle to understand an increasingly diverse society. It includes a historical overview of how media portray images and construct messages related to ethnicity, race, gender, class, and sexual orientation, and examines obstacles facing journalists' efforts to improve coverage and newsroom representation. Writing assignments help students prepare to do cross-cultural reporting with sensitivity and accuracy.

Sports journalism students will be given extensive opportunities to develop their skills in shooting video for sports, including B-roll and interview material. Students will develop skills in editing sports video, writing scripts, and doing sports reporting. By the end of this course, students will have the ability to do quality play-by-play work, and be able to shoot, edit, write and produce a five to seven minute sportscast.
Prerequisite: VID 105^, JRN 115^, JRN 227^

The knowledge and skills gained in COM 114 and COM 115 are applied in this course as students engage in hands-on television news gathering and reporting. Students will work cooperatively with students in COM 239 (Electronic News Gathering) to cover, write, and produce television news and sports stories for use in NESCom’s weekly, student-produced TV newscast. Emphasis is on reporting, writing, production, and performance (including package narration, standups, and live shots). As part of the weekly newscasts, student work will be seen throughout the campus community via NESCom’s Campus TV Network.

Prerequisite: JRN 115

This course introduces students to how news is gathered and presented in a variety of media, including print, Web, radio and television. Major emphasis is on developing solid news values, reporting skills and writing skills. Ethical issues related to the practice of journalism are also discussed.

This course gives students intensive experience in gathering, writing, and producing news for radio, including capturing, editing and incorporating audio sound bites. Regular reporting assignments allow students to refine their skills in writing effective, concise radio news stories. By the end of the course, students will be able to report, write and produce a radio newscast, observing typical time constraints.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This course gives students intensive experience in gathering, writing, and producing news for radio, including capturing, editing and incorporating audio sound bites. Regular reporting assignments allow students to refine their skills in writing effective, concise radio news stories. By the end of the course, students will be able to report, write and produce a radio newscast, observing typical time constraints.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This course is a consideration of the inventions, events, and people that have shaped and influenced journalism in the United States, and how the practice of journalism has shaped American history. The course follows the history and contributions of American journalism from colonial times to the Web, in the context of the technical, economic, political, and cultural aspects of American society.

This course offers in-depth practice in writing for newspapers and magazines, with emphasis on news judgment, solid research, accuracy and writing style. Students weave the practical and conceptual elements of journalism together by writing news stories and features that pertain to current events of significant public interest. Assignments for this course are done both in the classroom and in the greater Bangor community.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

This is primarily a writing course in which students learn to write for the Web. Assignments require students to produce well-researched packages that include photos, videos, audio, and other mixed-media that are available to online journalists. Students will participate in creation of an online webzine, and participate in creating content to post on it. The course also introduces students to blogging, and requires students to post weekly blogs online.

Prerequisite: JRN 114

Building on the reporting and writing skills developed in JRN 223 and JRN 235, this course offers students practical instruction and editorial guidance in writing publishable feature pieces for magazines and newspapers. Students are expected to write high quality, well documented articles that demonstrate a mastery of attribution, organization, style and other basic journalism skills. Students are encouraged to learn the effective use of dialogue and narrative techniques, including vivid description and detail. Students will also develop techniques to involve the reader emotionally through human interest including drama, pathos, empathy, humor, and curiosity.
Prerequisite: JRN 223 and JRN 235

This course explores issues facing U.S. news media as they struggle to understand an increasingly diverse society. It includes a historical overview of how media portray images and construct messages related to ethnicity, race, gender, class, and sexual orientation, and examines obstacles facing journalists' efforts to improve coverage and newsroom representation. Writing assignments help students prepare to do cross-cultural reporting with sensitivity and accuracy.

This course gives students a chance to hone their skills in critical, interpretive and opinion writing for newspapers and other media. Students will be assigned to write in several forms, including editorials, reviews, columns, and letters. In addition to developing skill in persuasive writing, this class is intended to further hone students' ability to think critically and logically.
Prerequisite: JRN 223

In this course, students in the print/Web journalism concentration will have the opportunity to create, design, report, write and publish an original, non-fiction, online magazine. This is, essentially, the capstone experience for print/Web students, requiring them to exercise advanced skills to produce a publication that will clearly demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities they have developed in their time at NESCom.
Prerequisite: JRN 223

Be introduced to video practices and theories. Through lecture and hands-on labs, stu¬dents learn how to operate a video camera to acquire well-lighted subjects with proper picture composition. Audio gathering and manipulation are covered also. Shooting and editing for continuity are covered at length. The unique language of the video arts is learned as the student progresses through the semester.

Prerequisite: Previous video experience or VID 100^

This course is designed for students with no experience or limited experience with video cameras. It focuses on the basics of camera angle, continuity, cutting, close-up and composition. Students shoot video elements and edit the shots into clear visual communication projects with extensive instructor oversight.

Continue to grow an understanding of the techniques and the art of television by doing. This course builds on the basics learned in VID 105 and challenges the student in more complex projects. Through lecture and lab settings, students learn an elevated level of thinking in the numerous positions in the video career path. Students engage in creative expression and critical thinking. An introduction to non-linear editing provides the student with additional ways to communicate visually.

Prerequisite: VID 105^

This course is an introductory course offering students the experience of planning, designing, developing and deploying a basic web site using the latest tools and methods available. Additionally, students learn key concepts regarding the structure and work¬ings of the Internet. This course lays the necessary foundation for subsequent courses in Web Design/Development using instruction on Internet fundamentals, HTMXL, XHTML scripting, graphic creation, and basic page layout and interface design.

Prerequisite: COM 121

This course gives students the opportunity to apply their reporting and writing skills and sports knowledge to the task of sports reporting for distribution in print and online.

Prerequisite: JRN 223

This is a chance to work in organizations such as a broadcast station, advertising agency, video production company, and others, under the direct supervision of a full time employer. This course is open to upper class students who have attained a 3.0 average and have faculty approval. Students are required to intern 135 hours in the field, applying the knowledge learned to date, while being willing to “learn the ropes” of the day-to-day operation of a business.

By permission only