Journalism Curriculum

Journalism Curriculum

Locally Developed/Acquired Senior High School Course

COURSE TITLES: Journalism 15, 25, 35 Credits: Journalism 15 - 5

Journalism 25 - 5

Journalism 35 - 5

YEARS OFFERED: Journalism 15 - Grade 10

Journalism 25 - Grade 11

Journalism 35 - Grade 12

IMPLEMENTATION DATE: Semester 2, 2000-2001

PHILOSOPHY & RATIONALE

These courses allow the students to explore and create products in a variety of media focusing on print and television.

In order to provide a realistic experience of journalism, the teacher takes the role of Managing Editor/Executive Producer, providing policy decisions that guide the explorations of the students. The production elements provide the students with insights into the practical and artistic concerns of the communications industry.

Following the patterns of an independent newspaper and production house, students will take on the creation and production of a monthly newspaper, daily television news broadcast, and weekly video magazine, contributions to which will reflect the level of student capabilities at the 15, 25 and 35 level.

In this course of studies, production plans are built around concepts of teaming and student group work that reflect the realities of production teaming found in the industry.

The program is intended to expose students to the processes of technology to enable them to explore its varied uses in the production of print and video messages.

GENERAL LEARNER EXPECTATIONS

Media and Industry-Related Issues. Students will develop an understanding of the impact and responsibility of media in our culture. They will also learn the economic and technical realities of the industry.

Pre-production Skills. This includes all the pre-planning required for a successful media production. The complexity of the planning is determined by requirements of the project and the level of the course. Emphasis will be placed on the needs and expectations of the audience in the context of available resources and student abilities.

Qualities of a Media Production. The students will learn to demonstrate an understanding of the required qualities of effective media production.

Performance. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to represent themselves and issues in a variety of media productions.

Production Skills. Students will demonstrate the ability to work with a variety of technologies in the production of print and video formats.

Advertising Sales and Design. Students will learn to approach potential advertisers and, using a variety of technological tools, to follow through with the design/production of an advertisement to the client's specifications and satisfaction.

Field Production Skills. Students will demonstrate the ability to work on location in the creation of their media projects.

Post-Production Skills. Students will demonstrate the ability to take work through a post-production process of critiquing and analyzing for the purpose of self-evaluation and improvement.

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTITUDE LEARNER EXPECTATIONS

JOURNALISM 15 (pre-requisite: Grade 10 English)

Ethics of Journalism:

Introduction to the ethics of journalism and the basic principle of morality in news gathering and dissemination

Print:

The makeup of a newspaper
Basic writing skills
Journalism Writing techniques
Interviewing techniques
The Role of Advertising
Technical work: introduction to

--word processing

--page design

--advertising design

--still photography (35mm, digital)

Electronic

Basic storyboarding

Elements of script writing

Speech and personal presentation

Introductory videography

JOURNALISM 25(pre-requisite: Journalism 15 or Grade 10 English with teacher recommendation)

Ethics of Journalism:

Review of the standard Canadian Codes of Ethics for Journalism

Print

Writing skill development
Editorial writing
Writing a column
Advertising sales
Advertising design
Advanced photography
Editorial responsibilities

Electronic

Program design and production
Set design
Powerpoint daily bulletin on TVs
Storyboard development
Speech and personal presentation
Advanced videography
Video editing

JOURNALISM 35 (pre-requisite: Journalism 25)

Ethics of Journalism

Review and revise the school developed code of print and broadcast journalism

Print and Electronic

In addition to a continued development of the skills already acquired in Journalism 25, these students will be expected to take a significant role in leadership in a variety of editorial roles. They will become the managing editors and station managers of the products of the Journalism program: newspapers, newsletters, and TV productions. A major area of skill development will be in the design of pages and programs.

Extension/Enrichment Projects

Management skills

personal time management
group organization
leadership development

Off-campus journalism projects (e.g. producing a daily news bulletin for Quality Learning 2001 Conference, coverage of provincial high school basketball championships for local media outlets, video records of conference highlights)

ANTICIPATED ENROLMENT

Anticipated enrolment is 80 – 100 students.

FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

These will be consistent with that of Senior High School ICT technology.

CONTROVERSIAL OR SENSITIVE CONTENT

Issues of a controversial or sensitive nature will be treated in accord with educational and community standards.

LEARNING RESOURCES

References:

Media Focus: The News. Roy Ingram and Steve Kennedy. Copp Clark Pitman, Ltd. 1989.
Understanding Mass Media. William Jawitz. National Textbook Company. 1996.
Mass Media and Popular Culture. Barry Duncan. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Canada. 1988.
Getting Started in Journalism. Jack Harkrider. National Textbook Company. 1997
Looking Good In Print. Roger C. Parker. Ventana Press, Inc. 1990.
Journalism Today. Donald L. Ferguson and Jim Patten. National Textbook Company. 1988.
Scholastic Journalism. English, Hach, and Rolnicki. Iowa State University Press. 1996.
Modern Journalism Workbook. Ferguson and Patten. National Textbook Company. 1993.
Secondary School Journalism. Judith Ann Isaacs. Butterfly and Bear Press. 1991.

OVERLAP WITH PROVINCIALLY DEVELOPED COURSES

There is no existing high school journalism course in the province that combines the study of print and electronic news gathering and delivery.

ASSESSMENT STANDARDS

Assessment of students’ performance will be based on

Observation checklists of classroom work		10%
Skill development: tests and performances in:	writing skills per KSAs page design per KSAs advertising sales/design videography skills program design skills speech and presentation leadership	35%
Projects: student contributions to program products		35%
Observation of teamwork in production situations		10%
Peer and self-evaluation checklists		10%