Students will explore how journalism fits in a media landscape that includes both traditional mainstream news sources and alternative information sources such as social networking, YouTube, Twitter and blogs. They will also explore reporting by citizen journalists. Students will explore the ramifications of economic and technological change in the industry. They will also study its impact on journalists and journalism, citizens, human rights, community and democracy.

Level: UG

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will explore citizen journalism, in which members of the public play an active role in researching and disseminating news and information. They will explore the investigative techniques commonly employed by professional journalists, including but not limited to court searches, property searches and Freedom of Information requests. Students will learn how to use many of these techniques to find information important to themselves and their communities. They will discover how tools such as blogging and search-engine optimization can be used to share this information with the larger community. They will learn how to write clearly and concisely. Students will also learn aspects of media law that are relevant to citizen journalism.

Level: UG

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will be introduced to and practice journalistic writing, which is a distinct style of writing. In this class, students will learn the fundamental skills of news writing and reporting, including conducting interviews, covering news events, analyzing source documents and writing clearly and concisely. They will use the Canadian Press Style guide, which is the standard for journalistic writing in Canada.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 1220

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will explore the types of multimedia journalism and other non-fiction storytelling made possible by inexpensive hardware and software tools, and the ability to easily publish on the internet and through social media. They will explore the role of audio, video and interactivity in creating rich, immersive stories, through profiles, event coverage, journalistic storytelling and other modes. Students will learn storytelling and technical skills needed to create and publish effective stories of their own.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 1160

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will practice and develop feature writing skills in subject areas including, but not limited to, health and science, education, sports, entertainment, fashion and lifestyles, and opinion writing. Students will explore the evolving mediascape, which includes traditional media and new-media competitors, and examine differences in writing styles and presentation. They will examine the potential for accessing and providing in-depth information in specialist and niche areas, analyze publications, and develop and publish traditional or non-traditional feature stories.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2120

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will learn photojournalism skills for print and online publication. They will gain practical experience while capturing subjects in a variety of lighting conditions and locations, requiring different techniques. Students will learn image editing software and how to use that software ethically. They will explore the differences between photojournalism and other types of photography. Note: Students are required to have a digital camera for this course. Specifications will be provided by the department. This course is equivalent with JRNL 2360. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2230

Attribute: ARTS

Students will learn how to use data visualization techniques to present information in interesting and compelling ways, including interactive maps and graphics. They will explore the principles of data visualization, learn the strengths and weaknesses of various chart types, and create charts that convey information as clearly as possible. They will learn how to use spreadsheets to find interesting patterns in their data and how to turn that data into engaging online tools. They will also learn how to obtain raw data from open-data portals and other sources. This course is equivalent with JRNL 4165. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher

Attributes: ARTS, QUAN

Students will learn about the art of narrative nonfiction, which marries strong journalism with literary technique to produce compelling stories. Students will analyze published narrative nonfiction, such as magazine articles, books, and personal essays. They will develop their voices as narrative nonfiction writers by practicing the art of this type of journalism.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2240

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will learn reporting techniques and strategies necessary to work as a journalist today, including how to cover city council, school board, police, court cases and more. Students will report breaking news from the field. They will also analyze examples of local reporting to apply what they’ve learned in class with real-life examples.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2240

Attribute: ARTS

Students will explore the full range of sports journalism, analyzing how sports reporters operate across the platforms of print, broadcast, online and social media. They will examine and create a range of sports journalism, including but not limited to game coverage and features, sports beat coverage, long-form sports storytelling and in-depth sports packages using text, images, video and interactivity. Students also will analyze the history, contemporary issues and ethics of sports journalism. Note: Students will be expected to cover a live sporting event as part of the course.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2240

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will explore the economics of existing and emerging media. They will also explore the implications and opportunities for journalists working in traditional and new media. They will learn skills, techniques and technologies needed for developing a professional reputation and personal brand. Students will learn the organizational, business and personal skills needed for freelance employment, and for leading or working as a team member with media start-up companies.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher

Attribute: ARTS

Students will expand their visual storytelling skills with an emphasis on filming, editing and producing video. They will explore the legal and ethical aspects of video storytelling and describe its role in public discourse. They will learn how to apply basic visual storytelling skills to video, and the role images, sound, music and text play in video storytelling. Students will learn video-editing skills using professional-level software and will produce a long-form video documentary.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2230

Attribute: ARTS

Students will learn the fundamentals of telling true stories using audio. They will be taught how to use recording, editing and publishing tools. They will also learn planning, reporting, structuring, writing and ethics. Students will produce professional audio stories in various styles and lengths.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2230

Attribute: ARTS

The content of this course varies each time it is offered, giving students the opportunity to deeply explore different media issues or skills. That exploration could involve analyzing an important current issue in media or new storytelling method or learning a specific type of technology or skill. Students may take this course more than once on different topics.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): 30 credits from courses at the 1100 level or higher

Attribute: ARTS

Students will analyze social-issues journalism, do research and write social-issues journalism on subjects of their choice. They will learn, and draw on, the traditions of social-issues journalism, a long-established branch of journalism that ranges from the work of early social commentators such as Charles Dickens to today's investigative reporters. Students will combine narrative writing and investigative reporting to cover important issues by issuing readers an invitation to work for change.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2240

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will produce political journalism by conducting in-depth research and interviews using a variety of sources. They will also explore issues such as the watchdog role of journalism in a democracy and the relationship among politicians, bureaucrats, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and journalists. Students will learn the importance of political journalism to democracy.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2240

Attributes: ASTR, ARTS

Students will work as a newsroom team during the semester to report and produce stories for a single-theme on-line publication (a story package). Students will develop the initial concept and identify stories using the full-range of storytelling methods (narrative text, visualized data, video, audio, photography, etc.). They will also learn or deepen skills in story planning, storytelling, story presentation and interactivity. They will produce a final project that will be a rich and interactive website on the assigned topic.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2230 and JRNL 2240

Attribute: ARTS

The content of this course varies each time it is offered, giving students the opportunity to deeply explore different aspects of journalism. That exploration could involve analyzing journalism’s role in an important current issue, experimenting with a specific type of storytelling equipment or technology, or developing reporting skills. Students may take this course more than once on different topics. Note: This course may require students to attend events outside of campus.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 2240

Attribute: ARTS

Students will present and share their completed thesis project or research-based journalism project in different ways and to various groups both within and outside KPU. They will present in a variety of ways, which may include publishing a news story, speaking to journalism students or other groups, or sharing their research with other academics. This course is equivalent with JRNL 4295. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 4995

Attribute: ARTS

Students working under the supervision of a faculty member will identify a topic for their honours research and undertake a research program that involves reading and synthesizing the materials in an extensive reading list developed by the student and faculty supervisor. They will design a proposal for their research project. This course is equivalent with JRNL 4190. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): Both (a) 9 credits from courses in JRNL at the 2000 level, including JRNL 2120, and (b) 3 credits from courses in JRNL at the 3000 level or higher

Attribute: ARTS

Students working under the supervision of a faculty member will write an honours thesis or produce an in-depth journalism research-based story based on the research and outline completed in JRNL 4990. Students will engage in an extensive process of drafting, revising and/or editing the projects. This course is equivalent with JRNL 4290. Students may earn credit for only one of these courses.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): JRNL 4990

Attribute: ARTS