Journalism

This course will introduce the first-year student to the history of news reporting in the United States, press freedom and censorship. Principles of Associated Press (AP) Style writing will be introduced. The student will familiarize themselves with journalism’s role in a healthy democracy. Journalism students are strongly encouraged to take this course in their first semester in their freshman year. Open to non-majors and minors. 

Students in this course are introduced to the news industry and the rules that govern the newsroom. All students will learn about the history of the industry and be introduced to news writing principles. The student will produce 500-word stories for publication in The Spreading Oak, Oakwood’s student-run newspaper. Skills learned in this course are useful no matter the platform or format. Interviewing techniques and principles of journalistic research are also introduced. Students will be paired with a department on campus to produce stories on as part of the lab requirement.

This is a course designed to help the student acquire the skills that lead to competent performance as a media announcer across multiple platforms. Study is given to the speech techniques that are required in preparation, announcing, and narration of various types of material. 

This course focuses on the tools photographers need to know for optimizing images, sharpening, retouching, black and white conversion, directing the viewer’s eye, HDR, panorama-stitching, and preparing images for media reproduction. Emphasis is placed on print and digital media use.

This course enriches the student with reporter responsibilities and will report to the professor as the chief editor of the classroom. The student will learn advanced data reporting skills and unearth stories hidden in numbers and research. Advanced research skills are introduced. Students will produce a dozen stories on a beat of their choice. The student will develop expertise in a particular area of coverage, familiarizing themselves with the ins and outs of the area. All stories will be pitched to the student-led newspaper, Spreading Oak, for publication.

Media plays an important role in our lives today. This course provides a critical understanding of the nature and various approaches on how information is conveyed through the media. The course provides an opportunity for students to think critically, analyze, interpret, deconstruct, create, and evaluate media content from articles, photographs, video images, and the internet. Students will discuss media literacy philosophies and its’ impact or challenge the Christian worldview through various content. The students will have the opportunity to create at least one media message for critical in-class discussion. Lab fees required. Open to non-majors.  

Students are introduced to the world of radio production and learn about radio’s impact on society and the skills involved in creating scripts for different program formats on the medium. Students will conceptualize basic program ideas and bring them to fruition.

Students will gain knowledge of the basics of photography for news, sports and feature stories. Topics covered include lighting, stop action techniques, shooting with cell phones, among others. Students will learn diverse photographic principles, using critical-thinking skills to tell compelling stories through pictures.

Students will learn the basics of producing content for news reporting. The content covers the basic knowledge and production skills including interviewing, news writing, reporting, editing and approaches used in collecting information.

Students will learn the art of using user-generated content to create effective storytelling. The course will delve deeply into the ethics and standards of social newsgathering, exposing the student to fact checking and accuracy principles and audience engagement tactics. Course material will also expose the student to mis and disinformation, and how journalists dig through falsehoods to unearth accurate reporting. 

Principles and techniques for script writing for non-fiction radio and TV productions are explored. Besides simulated exercises, students also write a final documentary script targeting a community-based organization. (Previously CO 232).

This course focuses on basic skills necessary for podcast production, including exploring recording and editing principles and narrative structure development. Students will learn how to build and maintain audiences and how to analyze metrics to support podcast performance.

This hands-on course provides an in-depth examination of writing to help photojournalists refine an individual voice and focus. The course provides an in-depth examination of feature writing to help photojournalists refine ideas and carry concepts to finished products. The student will write strong narratives for photographs produced in the Beginning Photojournalism course.

This course offers the student an opportunity to research, investigate, write and report a story that has not been fully made aware to the public for print and/or television. Students get the opportunity to utilize the elements of journalism, ethics, laws, and techniques. The course provides an opportunity for students to develop the skills needed to investigate public concern, organizations, injustices, and government.

This course is operated like a broadcast newsroom and is designed to provide students with real time practical experience in the art of deadline storytelling. Students will write, shoot, report, produce, anchor and edit news stories while rotating through different jobs in the newsroom. Students will write more than half a dozen news stories during the semester. Editorial decision-making and production management will be emphasized. 

This course mixes the written word with images to tell travel stories to various audiences across various platforms. It will teach the student how to craft photo essays that tell a complete story. Travel is required in this class.

The course will introduce the student to city and/or local government reporting – covering crime, public school education, culture, politics, health and other stories that are considered important to residents. Students will cover local government and school board meetings, producing stories suitable for public consumption. 

This course will teach students to master the use of audio recording equipment and editing software, while conducting research for short audio news stories. Students will learn how to pitch an effective audio story and produce weekly newscasts for WJOU Praise 90 FM, Oakwood University’s radio station.

This course explores photography created for the purpose of illustrating articles. Working approaches can include still life, people, documentary and/or fashion photography. Students will be asked to fulfill realistic and challenging assignments from simple portraits to elaborate conceptual stories to accompany their writing. Students will be encouraged to develop a professional approach that includes knowing your potential client, building relationships with photo editors and art directors, shaping ideas and concepts with art reference, and devising a clear plan of production prior to a session. Artistic vision and style will be emphasized simultaneously with the importance of completing a job successfully and professionally. Regular assignments with real deadlines will generate work for weekly critique and portfolio editing and development.

Students will be required, as part of graduation requirements, to develop and produce one news magazine story over the course of the semester. With 60 Minutes-style storytelling in mind, emphasis will be placed on the production of a 20–30-minute documentary script. Students get the opportunity to reinforce their skills to produce a journalistic video narrative.

The student will study and perfect the craft of long form storytelling. This class exposes the student journalist to magazine features and reported essays. The student will learn how to write to develop strong imagery in the mind of the reader and practice the art of investigative interviewing. Students will produce a longform story for public consumption. 

This course explores various approaches to audio documentary work, including stories exploring specific social issues and presenting effective solutions through the in-depth interviewing of topic experts and those affected by the concern being explored. Students will produce a longform documentary for audio broadcast.

This course will explore issues evolving in the mass media space. This could include political reporting, ethics, social media reporting, drone reporting, classes on new technologies and ideas and new developments in the field of Journalism.