Journalism Minor

Florham Campus
Journalism Minor
The 15-credit Journalism minor is intended for students who seek to develop a richer understanding of broadcast, online, and print media. The purpose of the minor in journalism is to offer students the opportunity to build a skill-set suitable for the professional field of news media. Students can choose from a variety of courses, such as news writing, news editing and article writing. They can also gain newsroom experience through the Practicum course or the completion of a department approved Internship.
Required Courses (9 credits):
- COMM 2011 Introduction to Journalism
- COMM 3012 Newswriting
- COMM 3016 News Editing
Electives (6 credits) selected from the list below:
- COMM 2214 Intro to Radio Broadcasting and Digital Journalism
- COMM 2345 Journalism Practicum
- COMM 2443 Media Ethics
- COMM 3013 Feature Writing
- COMM 3015 Political Reporting
- COMM 3248 Writing for Broadcast and Podcast
- COMM 3432 Sports Journalism
- COMM 3248 Writing for Podcast & Broadcast
- COMM 4444 Multimedia Journalism
Metro Campus
Convergent Journalism Minor
This 15-credit minor builds on a foundation of basic skills in the three primary platforms of the modern media industry — print, broadcast and the internet — and offers a range of free electives that allows the students to further explore areas of specific interest.
Required Courses (9 credits):
- CGD2174 Digital Publishing (formerly COMM1174/ART1174 Desktop Publishing)
- CGD1177 Introduction to Digital Media (formerly COMM1177/ART1177)
- COMM2833 News Reporting
Choose one from the following (3 credits):
- CGD1178 Multimedia on the Internet (formerly ART1178)
- COMM2558 Basic Radio Station Engineering
- VDEO2310 Postproduction I (formerly COMM2648 Basic Video Editing)
- COMM2835 Feature Article Writing
Choose one from the following (3 credits):
- COMM3665 International News: The Views Beyond Our Borders
- COMM3668 TV: The Big Issues
- COMM3834 Advanced News Reporting
- COMM4470 The Television Newsroom
Course Descriptions
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ART1174 Fundamentals of layout, design and typography on the computer. Introduction to publishing on the computer using Quark Xpress, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
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ART1177 Fundamentals of using the computer as a drawing/painting medium. Digitizing, video imaging, manipulation of digital information to create visual art.
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ART1178 Fundamentals of interactive design for the web using Macromedia Flash. Useful in multimedia and web design. Three contact hours required for all students. Extended lab of two contact hours required for all art majors only.
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COMM1174 Fundamentals of layout, design and typography on the computer. Introduction to publishing on the computer using Quark Xpress, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
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COMM1177 Fundamentals of using the computer as a drawing/painting medium. Digitalizing, video imaging, manipulation of digital information to create visual art.
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COMM2011 A survey course in the history of journalism in America, with emphasis on the development of principles of modern journalistic practice, including broadcasting.
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COMM2214 This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of the broadcasting industry. While the focus will be on radio broadcasting, many of the discussions will have application to the television industry as well, particulary when it comes to legal issues. The course wull include training & practice in radio productions. Students will also receive an introduction to radio programming (both commercial & noncommercial), production, broadcast station policies, legal issues and industry trends.
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COMM2345 This course will give students the opportunity to develop or enhance their writing portfolio by completing journalistic assignments for the College at Florham's campus newspaper, The Metro. Students will gain real world experience with newsgathering, interviewing, preparation of copy and copy editing, proofreading, headline writing, page layout and design, and picture editing
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COMM2443 Ethics in both the print and broadcast media, using current newspaper articles and news programming as resources. Students participate in the decision-making process of reviewing and selecting information for mass audiences. Emphasis on class discussions.
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COMM2558 A hands-on course involving broadcast audio equipment theory, wiring, operation, studio design, construction and maintenance. Emphasis on the current digital revolution in broadcasting with areas of discussion including the digital production studio, editing tools, the on-air studio, and HD digital radio transmission (both conventional and satellite).
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COMM2648 Introductory video/audio techniques, procedures, and theory. Studio work features AVID digital non-linear editing equipment to edit video projects.
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COMM2833 This course identifies and develops skills required for effective news reporting and writing with applications in the print, broadcast and electronic media. It is essentially a "hands-on" course in which students report and write on assignment.
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COMM2835 Recognizing, reporting, writing and editing quality feature stories, based in sound journalistic practice, drawing on contemporary and classic examples.
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COMM3012 Practical instruction in newswriting, feature writing and reporting and interviewing for newspapers. How to cover and write about meetings, speeches, crime, the courts and business. Standard news style and ethical and legal limitations on the press.
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COMM3013 Practice in writing feature articles for magazines, newspapers and other print media.
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COMM3015 This course will give students the opportunity to write news articles and analyses about the race for the U.S. presidency. Students will work on breaking news and longer form pieces, all while examining the political process. Students also will review and critique the work of national media outlets, especially once the election is over. Articles will be submitted to The Metro for possible publication.
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COMM3016 Practical instruction in editing copy and writing headlines for newspapers. Also covers standard news style, newsroom routine, newsroom technology, wire services, photo editing, typography, page makeup and design and ethical and legal limitations on the press.
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COMM3248 This course will prepare students to write for the electronic news media. In addition to developing the skills necessary for writing good radio and television news copy and promotional/ commercial copy, students will also discuss current issues (ethics, legal issues and history) as well as current events in broadcast journalism. Writing projects will be completed both individualy and in teams and sample asignments may include radio and television commercials, broadcast news copy, broadcast interviews, public service announcements, and dramatic pieces.
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COMM3432 This course is one of the Sports & Movement minor electives. It is concerned with the news and feature writing of sports events, including reportorial skills, photography, and opinion writing. Attention given also to public relations and promotion of sports and sports events.
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COMM3665 Analyzing the way foreign news is covered and conveyed, how it shapes our world news and the image of United States that it presents.
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COMM3668 Television's coverage of the major social, economic, political and philosophical issues of our times.
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COMM3834 This course identifies and develops skills required for effective news reporting and writing with application in the print, broadcast and electronic media. It is essenially a "hands-on" course in which students report and write on assignment. Additional emphasis is given to practical assignments.
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COMM4444 This course will attempt to keep up with the ever-changing media landscape. In addition to developing the skills needed to ensure they produce solid journalism, students will learn how to apply multimedia techniques to tell stories in new and interesting ways. Throughout the semester, students will work on developing their own Web pages, complete with original reporting, audio and video components, photography and blogs. Students will also study current events, as well as ethical and legal issues in electronic media.
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COMM4470 The inner workings of the television newsroom: operations, structure, personnel and crew. This approach is used in con- junction with an in-depth study of TV news field reporting. Students will produce, shoot and edit on-the-scene-news story formats using professional broadcast techniques and procedures.