Print and Photo Journalism

Course Descriptions

Journalism

• JRNL 100H - Media History and Literacy

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. A survey of the history, development and role of the media in society, including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, books, movies, recordings and the World Wide Web.  The course examines ethical, political, financial and other issues related to mass media.  Also included is an introduction to media literacy and critical thinking about the media and their messages.

  Course Attributes:

  • Historical & Cultural Course
  • American and European

• JRNL 102Y - News Literacy

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. The course will teach students to become discriminating news consumers, helping them recognize the difference between news and propaganda, news and opinion, bias and fairness, assertion and verification, and evidence and inference in news reports. It will cover the foundation of news dissemination from its earliest manifestations through the accelerating news revolution of the present.

  Course Attributes:

  • American and European

• JRNL 105X - Global Current Events

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Survey of global news intended to make students familiar with the context and vocabulary necessary to understand the news, what makes it, and the implications that stem from it.

  Course Attributes:

  • Indigenous and Global

• JRNL 140A - Intro Radio/Audio Storytelling

  Credits: 3. Offered intermittently.  Introduction to the fundamentals of audio storytelling.  Students will learn creative skills through experimentation with the use of sounds, interviews and voice description. 

  Course Attributes:

  • Expressive Arts Course

• JRNL 170 - Elements of News Writing

  Credits: 3. Offered Fall and Spring. Prereq. or Co-req., grade of C- or better in WRIT 101. Foundational course in the elements of news writing, with a focus on the style and conventions of writing for print, online and broadcast media.

• JRNL 201 - Diversity in Media

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Examination of how the news media portray different ethnic groups and other diverse populations and how the media's portrayals of diverse groups affect journalists' personal views and professional practices. Students will learn how to portray more accurately and fairly individuals, groups and points of view outside society's mainstream.

• JRNL 257 - Beginning Visual Journalism

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. This course provides an introduction to photo and video journalism using digital cameras. Students will learn the basics of editing still images with Photoshop and video with Final Cut Pro. Students will learn how to take compelling, content-driven photographs using light, composition and depth of field. Students will also learn about capturing quality video, audio and natural sound used to build video sequences. The overall emphasis is on visual storytelling.

• JRNL 260 - Sports Journalism

  Credits: 3. Offered intermittently. Prereq., JRNL 270. Study and practice of sports journalism in print and broadcast, including its history and its finest examples.

• JRNL 270 - Reporting

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., JRNL 170. Fundamentals of interviewing, reporting, writing and audio editing of news stories for print, online and broadcast media.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40
  • Writing Course-Intermediate

• JRNL 295 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 300 - First Amendment and Journalism Law

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 270 and admission to professional program, or consent of instr. Overview of issues related to journalism and the law. Exploration of libel, privacy, prior restraints, access and other First Amendment questions along with ethical problems peculiar to media news gathering.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 328 - Intermediate Photojournalism

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Must be admitted to Journalism Professional Program. Students create single photo assignments for newspapers, magazines and online publications. Students also create narrative picture stories and photo essays, one of which is produced in Final Cut Pro, and learn the basics of portable flash units.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 330 - News Editing

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Must be admitted to Journalism Professional Program. Fundamentals of editing and headline writing for print and online media.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 331 - Intermediate Web Reporting

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Must be admitted to Journalism Professional Program. Students learn to produce reporting for different websites and digital news sources, with a special emphasis on using digital technologies to broaden sources for stories. Course will also explore the societal, business and ethical effects these emerging technologies are having.

• JRNL 340 - Intermediate Audio

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., admission to Professional Program. Use of audio in news, interview and feature programs. Students will write, gather audio and produce segments and programs using digital audio equipment.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40
  • Writing Course-Advanced

• JRNL 350 - Intermediate Video Photography

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., admission to Professional Program. Digital video photography, storytelling and non-linear editing.  Students will be introduced to high-definition video cameras and advanced editing techniques and build on photojournalism skills introduced in JRNL 257.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 351 - Intermediate Video Directing

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 350. Students will learn the fundamentals of production and directing of studio-based programming. Students will work with those enrolled in Intermediate Video Reporting & Producing to create content. Newscasts produced in these courses are not intended for air.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 352 - Intermediate Video Reporting and Production

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 350. Creation of video news stories and programs including story idea generation, research and interviewing techniques, sound selection, script writing, television anchoring and producing, video photography and editing. Works with Intermediate Video Directing class to create news programs.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40
  • Writing Course-Advanced

• JRNL 362 - Feature Writing

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Must be admitted to Journalism Professional Program. Classroom instruction and practical experience in applying feature-writing techniques to the coverage of news, entertainment and sports for print and electronic media.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40
  • Writing Course-Advanced

• JRNL 370 - Public Affairs Reporting

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Must be admitted to Journalism Professional Program. Study and practice of reporting public issues with emphases on news sources, interpretive writing and the coverage of local, state and federal governments.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40
  • Writing Course-Advanced

• JRNL 396 - Adv Journ Problems

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr.  Independent study.

  Course Attributes:

  • Service Learning/Volunteer
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 400 - Ethics & Trends in News Media

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq. JRNL 270 (for minors) or senior standing in journalism's professional program. Practical ethics case studies from print, online and broadcast media, as well as an examination of the trends that are shaping the evolving news media.

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 410 - Native News Honors Project

  Credits: 1 TO 3. (R-6) Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Researching, photographing and designing stories about Montana's Native American community. Photojournalism students travel with reporters to Montana's seven Indian reservations to document in- depth stories on a single topic.

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 411 - Reporting Native News

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Researching, reporting and editing stories about Montana's Native American community. Reporters travel to Montana's seven Indian reservations to investigate in depth a single story topic. Editors coach reporters and edit their stories. The stories appear in a publication distributed throughout the state and nation.

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 412 - Montana Journalism Review

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Students assist writing, editing, design and overall production and distribution of the Montana Journalism Review, a publication of the School of Journalism.

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 414 - Investigations

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 370 for print students, JRNL 352 for broadcast students. Introduction to methods and ethics of investigative reporting, emphasizing computer-assisted research and analysis of public records and databases.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 427 - Advanced Photo & Multimedia Storytelling

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 328 and admission into Professional Program. Students discuss, research, photograph, design, write and produce several documentary-style stories and essays using still photography, video, audio, text and graphics.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 428 - Freelance Photography

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., JRNL 328 and admission into Professional Program. A workshop-style class that centers on the technical aspects of digital still and video camera lighting for freelance photography. Includes instruction in basic business practices for freelance work. Students produce weekly assignments including editorial and adventure portraiture, food illustrations, magazine fashion projects and travel stories. Business and marketing practices will include copyright, branding, usage, pricing, licensing and negotiation. Students must provide a professional still digital SLR with lenses and a portable strobe.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• JRNL 429 - Documentary Photojournalism

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 427 or consent of instr. Production of an in-depth documentary project involving a social issue with intent to educate, inform and implement change. Students write, shoot and design final project in book form or produce a multimedia project using stills, video, audio and text.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 430 - Print & Web Editing & Design

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 330 or consent of instr. Introduction to basic design principles, typography, color theory and usage, headline and caption writing.Discussion of the newest research on how readers use print and online publications. Students will design newsletter, brochure, newspaper, magazine and websites, plus other publications.

• JRNL 431 - Online Journalism

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., admission to the professional program or consent of instr. Course introduces students to the basics of website design and organization, explores how the Internet can be used to generate sources for stories and directs students in using multimedia reporting techniques for a web-based news site.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 433 - Marketing Your Work

  Credits: 2. Offered spring. Prereq., admission to the professional program. This course aims to help upper-division students find buyers for their journalistic work in today's rapidly changing information marketplace. Students will study how to identify news markets, how to establish and maintain relationships with editors, producers and publishers; and how to maintain control of their work while maximizing its value.

• JRNL 440 - Advanced Audio

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 340 or consent of instr. Students will create long-form, in-depth audio programs such as radio documentaries and radio deliberation programming on a variety of topics. Students will report, interview, host, and write the programs for a variety of outlets such as radio stations, webcasting and online.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• JRNL 470 - Covering Elections

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn of even-numbered years. Prereq., JRNL 370 or consent of instr. Students will produce coverage of Montana elections for newspapers, broadcast stations and the web. 

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums

• JRNL 471 - Covering the Legislature

  Credits: 3. Offered spring of odd-numbered years. Prereq., JRNL 370 or consent of instr. Students will produce coverage of Montana’s biennial legislative sessions for newspapers, broadcast stations and the web.

  Course Attributes:

  • Montana Field Experience

• JRNL 472 - Opinion Writing

  Credits: 3. Offered intermittently. Prereq., JRNL 370 or consent of instr. Practice in writing editorials, columns, op-eds, and opinion blogs. Examines the evolving role of journalism in moderating and stimulating public discourse.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40
  • Writing Course-Upper-Division

• JRNL 473 - International Reporting

  Credits: 3. Offered intermittently. Prereq., admission to the professional program or consent of instr. Prepares students to report internationally and to develop global sources for local stories. History and practice of foreign correspondence.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 480 - Advanced Video Reporting

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 352. Teams will create three to five minute television weekly news updates available online and broadcast on commercial stations in Montana. Students will fill all positions needed to produce the updates including reporters, producers and anchors, in tandem with students in JRNL 450, 650.

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 481 - Adv Video Photo and Directing

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 351 or consent of instr. Teams will create three to five minute weekly news updates to be broadcast online and on commercial stations in Montana. Students will fill all positions needed to produce the updates including photographers, editors and directors.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 482 - Advanced Video Storytelling

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 350 or consent of instr. Teams will generate story ideas about Montana issues, businesses and people. Students will research, write, photograph, interview, edit and create long-form video programs. The programs generated in this course are intended for air on Montana PBS

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp

• JRNL 485 - Griz TV

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 480 or 481. Techniques and strategies for directing, reporting, and producing a 30 minute live newscast. Students will also produce a weekly online newscast.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 488 - Student Documentary Unit

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 351 or 352 or consent of isntructor. In-depth examination of a topic of importance in Montana. Students will produce a one-hour television documentary to air on MontanaPBS and other outlets. Students will research, report, write, photograph, edit and promote the film. Co-convenes with JRNL 688.

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Co-Convened Course
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 491 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 494 - Pollner Seminar

  Credits: 3 TO 6. (R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instructor or print and photo department chair. Seminar on a topic selected by the T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor. Topics will range from journalism history, ethics, practices and performance to current issues in the news media.

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 505 - Journ and Society Sem

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., graduate standing. Discussion and research about current journalism issues related to environmental science and natural resource journalism. Study of relevant traditional and online research methodology. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 551 - Graduate Newscast Prod

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 482 or consent of instructor. Intensive instruction and practice in reporting, writing, producing, directing and delivering television newscasts. Work on a special program for Montana PBS. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 567 - Pres/Broadcast Law

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing. Examination and discussion of state and federal court cases affecting the mass media, with emphasis on First Amendment issues. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 570 - Reporting

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., graduate standing. Principles of news gathering through records, documents, meetings, observation of events, and interviewing with a focus on coverage of environmental science and natural resources. Producing news and feature accounts for broadcast, print and digital media. Perspectives on reporting standards and practices especially related to natural resource news. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 575 - Story Lab

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing. Journalism students are paired with UM researchers for a practicum on telling the stories of scientific research for a general news audience. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 580 - News Editing

  Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 570 or consent of instr. Fundamentals of copy editing and story editing for the print news media. In addition, students perform deadline editing on actual news stories for publication. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 590 - Meth Journ Research

  Credits: 3. Prereq., consent of the graduate program director. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the back ground and objectives of the student. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 591 - Special Topics

  Credits: 1 TO 8. (R-8) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 594 - Seminar

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered intermittently. A review and discussion of current research. Topics vary. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 599 - Professional Project

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered every term. Planning, research and execution of a major project in print, photographic or broadcast journalism. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 620 - Covering NA Issues

  Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Researching, writing, photographing and/or editing in-depth special reports on issues that affect the Indians who reside within Montana's borders. Co-convening course JOUR 420/421. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 640 - Montana Journalism Review

  Credits: 1 TO 3. (R-6). Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Intensive laboratory experience in all phases of magazine publication, including writing, editing, layout, design, production and distribution of Montana Journalism Review, an annual publication of the School of Journalism. Co-convenes with U 440. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 650 - Gr Bcst Newsroom-Editorial

  Credits: 3. (R-6) Prereq., R-TV 550, JRNL 551 or consent of instr. Students direct, photograph and edit a daily Newsbrief report for Montana PBS, and a weekly UMNews program for commercial stations, in tandem with students in R-TV 450, 460 and 650. Co-convenes with JRNL 460. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Co-Convened Course
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 690 - Research in Journalism

  Credits: 1 TO 9. (R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of the graduate program director. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the back ground and objectives of the student. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Research & Creative Schlrshp
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 698 - Externship

  Credits: 1 TO 3. (R-3) Offered every term. Prereq., JRNL 570. Practical experience working for news media and other approved businesses, agencies or organizations focused on natural resource issues, industries or scientific research. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Internships/Practicums
  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40

• JRNL 699 - Thesis

  Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered every term. Research and writing of master's thesis. Level: Graduate

  Course Attributes:

  • Journ/R-TV graduation limit 40