JOURN 1 – Page 1
Date Approved:
9/12/89
Date Scanned:
5/20/2005
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
College of the Redwoods
CREDIT COURSE OUTLINE
DEPARTMENT AND COURSE NUMBER: JOURN 1
DEGREE APPLICABLE
NON-DEGREE APPLICABLE
FORMER NUMBER (If previously offered)
COURSE TITLE Beginning Reporting
LECTURE HOURS: 3.0
LAB HOURS: 0.0
UNITS: 3.0
PREREQUISITE: None
Eligibility for: Engl 150
Math 105
Request for Exception Attached
CO-REQUISITE: None
GRADING STANDARD:
Letter Grade Only
TRANSFERABILITY:
CSUS
UC
Articulation with UC requested
Repeatable
yes
no
CR/NC Only
Grade/CR/NC Option
NONE
Maximum Class Size 25
Max No. Units
Max No. Enrollments
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce students to the role of media in society, enable them to recognize news, learn
basic news and feature writing styles, identify and discuss ethical considerations that go into news
gathering and reporting. The course will also evaluate news sources, teach and practice news gathering
methods, interviewing techniques, library and records research, statistics and demographics in news, and
ethics of relationships with news sources.
NOTE:
COURSE OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES: List the primary instructional objectives of the class. Formulate
some of them in terms of specific measurable student accomplishments, e.g., specific knowledge and/or
skills to be attained as a result of completing this course. For degree-applicable courses, include
objectives in the area of “critical thinking.” Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be
able to:






understand the importance of journalism to a democratic society
be proficient at the basics of news writing
understand the structure of a newsroom
be competent at physically putting a newspaper together
understand how a newspaper functions as a business
be aware of newspaper ethics and law
COURSE OUTLINE:
Newspaper in Society
Newspaper Ethics and Law
Structure of News Story
Structure of Feature Story
Layout
Written Exercise
Critique of News Items
% of Classroom Hours Spent on Each Topic
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
15%
20%
JOURN 1 – Page 2
Date Approved:
9/12/89
Date Scanned:
5/20/2005
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
Testing
15%
APPROPRIATE TEXTS AND MATERIALS: (Indicate textbooks that may be required or recommended,
including alternate texts that may be used.)
Text(s)
Title:
News Reporting and Writing
Required
Edition:
4th
Alternate
Author:
Mencher
Recommended
Publisher: Wm. C. Brown
Date Published: 1987
(Additional required, alternate, or recommended texts should be listed on a separate sheet and attached.)
For degree applicable courses the adopted texts have been certified to be college-level:
Yes. Basis for determination:
is used by two or more four-year colleges or universities (certified by the Division Chair or
Branch Coordinator, or Center Dean)
OR
has been certified by the LAC as being of college level using the Coleman and Dale-Chall
Readability Index Scale.
No. Request for Exception Attached
If no text or a below college level text is used in a degree applicable course must have a minimum of one
response in category 1, 2, or 3. If category 1 is not checked, the department must explain why substantial
writing assignments are an inappropriate basis for at least part of the grade.
1. Substantial writing assignments, including:
essay exam(s)
term or other paper(s)
written homework
reading report(s)
laboratory report(s)
other (specify) _____
If the course is degree applicable, substantial writing assignments in this course are inappropriate
because:
The course is primarily computational in nature.
The course primarily involves skill demonstrations or problem solving.
Other rationale (explain) __________________________________________
2. Computational or Non-computational problem-solving demonstrations, including:
exam(s)
quizzes
homework problems
laboratory report(s)
field work
other (specify)_______
3. Skill demonstrations, including:
class performance(s)
other (specify)____
4. Objective examinations, including:
multiple choice
completion
field work
performance exam(s)
true/false
other (specify) essay
matching items
5. Other (specify) ____________________________________
NOTE: A course grade may not be based solely on attendance.
JOURN 1 – Page 3
Date Approved:
9/12/89
Date Scanned:
5/20/2005
Date Inactivated
3/14/08
REQUIRED READING, WRITING, AND OTHER OUTSIDE OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Over an 18-week presentation of the course, 3 hours per week are required for each unit of credit. ALL
Degree Applicable Credit classes must treat subject matter with a scope and intensity which require the
student to study outside of class. Two hours of independent work done out of class are required for each
hour of lecture. Lab and activity classes must also require some outside of class work. Outside of the
regular class time the students in this class will be doing the following:
Study
Answer questions
Skill practice
Required reading
Problem solving activity or exercise
Written work (essays/compositions/report/analysis/research)
Journal (reaction and evaluation of class, done on a continuing basis throughout the
semester)
Observation of or participation in an activity related to course content (e.g., play, museum,
concert, debate, meeting, etc.)
Field trips
Other (specify) ____________________________
COLLEGE LEVEL CRITICAL THINKING TASKS/ASSIGNMENTS:
Degree applicable courses must include critical thinking tasks/assignments. This section need not be
completed for non-degree applicable courses. Describe how the course requires students to
independently analyze, synthesize, explain, assess, anticipate and/or define problems, formulate and
assess solutions, apply principles to new situations, etc.
Much of the class time is spent analyzing the role and impact the media has on our society, the
responsibilities of a free press, and what makes good news writing. Newspaper clippings are brought in
daily and discussed in three areas above. In addition, students are encouraged to read aloud their written
assignments for peer critiquing prior to turning in a final draft. Content and style are addressed during
these critiques in a constructive manner. If a student finds fault in another’s writing, he or she should be
able to make a suggestion on how to improve the work. A student who has completed the course will
more fully understand the strengths, limitations and responsibilities of today’s press plus acquire some
basic writing skills in the area.
JOURN 1 – Page 4
Date Approved:
9/12/89
Date Scanned:
5/20/2005
Date Inactivated
3/14/08