Mass Communication and Journalism Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Mass Communication

Examines the scope, characteristics, and functions of mass communication. Grounds students in terminology used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Audiences and Media Consumption

Explores how audiences are defined, measured, and targeted by media organizations. Links audience behavior to content strategy.

Lesson 3 • Communication Models and Theories

Introduces foundational models from Shannon-Weaver to agenda-setting theory. Provides analytical tools for evaluating media effects.

Lesson 1 • Diversity and Representation in News

Addresses how source selection and framing affect representation of marginalized groups. Builds inclusive reporting habits from the outset.

Lesson 2 • Journalistic Ethics and Codes of Conduct

Examines ethical dilemmas journalists face and the frameworks used to resolve them. Connects ethical reasoning to daily editorial decisions.

Lesson 3 • Accuracy, Fairness, and Verification

Covers the professional standards that distinguish reliable journalism from misinformation. Prepares students to verify claims before publication.

Lesson 4 • The Role of Journalism in Society

Defines journalism's democratic function and its relationship to the public interest. Establishes the ethical baseline for all subsequent reporting skills.

Lesson 1 • The Inverted Pyramid Structure

Introduces the most widely used news story format, prioritizing information by importance. Students practice structuring hard-news stories efficiently.

Lesson 2 • Feature and Narrative Story Structures

Expands beyond hard news to narrative and feature formats that engage readers deeply. Builds versatility in story construction.

Lesson 3 • Editing and Self-Editing Practices

Trains students to review their own copy for accuracy, clarity, and style compliance. Reinforces all writing skills developed in the chapter.

Lesson 4 • Writing for a Mass Audience

Teaches plain-language principles and readability techniques for broad audiences. Directly applies to every writing task in the course.

Lesson 1 • Research and Pre-Interview Preparation

Covers background research methods that strengthen interviews and story accuracy. Establishes preparation as a professional standard.

Lesson 2 • Source Identification and Cultivation

Teaches how to identify, approach, and maintain diverse source networks. Connects source quality directly to story depth and credibility.

Lesson 3 • Covering Beats and Specialized Topics

Introduces beat reporting as a systematic approach to covering recurring subject areas. Builds domain expertise alongside reporting skills.

Lesson 4 • Interview Techniques and Strategies

Develops skills for conducting effective on-record and off-record interviews. Prepares students for resistant, emotional, and expert sources.

Lesson 1 • Live Reporting and Breaking News

Prepares students for the demands of live broadcast under deadline pressure. Builds composure and accuracy in real-time reporting scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Writing for the Ear

Adapts print writing principles to broadcast style, emphasizing conversational clarity. Directly contrasts with print techniques learned earlier.

Lesson 3 • Podcast and Audio Documentary Production

Extends audio skills to long-form podcast formats gaining prominence in journalism. Connects traditional radio craft to emerging distribution channels.

Lesson 4 • Radio News Production

Covers the full workflow of producing a radio news package from recording to air. Builds technical and editorial skills simultaneously.

Lesson 1 • Data Visualization and Interactives

Teaches how to present data-driven stories through charts, maps, and interactive graphics. Adds a visual layer to investigative and analytical reporting.

Lesson 2 • Photography and Visual Storytelling

Introduces photojournalism principles and basic camera skills for digital reporters. Connects visual content to narrative impact.

Lesson 3 • Writing and Optimizing for the Web

Adapts news writing for digital reading patterns and search discoverability. Builds on print writing skills with platform-specific techniques.

Lesson 4 • Digital News Ecosystem

Maps the landscape of digital news platforms, aggregators, and social channels. Contextualizes digital production decisions within audience behavior.

Lesson 1 • Publishing and Legal Considerations

Prepares students to navigate legal risks before publishing sensitive investigations. Connects editorial courage with responsible publication practices.

Lesson 2 • Digital Investigation Techniques

Introduces open-source intelligence methods for verifying digital information. Extends investigative skills to online environments and social media.

Lesson 3 • Data Journalism Fundamentals

Covers acquiring, cleaning, and analyzing datasets to find newsworthy patterns. Builds quantitative literacy essential for modern investigative work.

Lesson 4 • Accessing Public Records and Documents

Teaches how to request, obtain, and analyze government and institutional records. Provides the documentary foundation for accountability journalism.

Lesson 1 • Audience Analytics and Engagement

Teaches how to interpret traffic and engagement data to inform editorial strategy. Connects audience metrics to sustainable journalism models.

Lesson 2 • Newsroom Leadership and Team Management

Builds skills for leading diverse editorial teams and managing workflow under pressure. Prepares students for senior editorial and management roles.

Lesson 3 • Crisis Communication and Media Relations

Covers how organizations communicate during crises and how journalists cover them. Bridges journalism and public relations perspectives on crisis events.

Lesson 4 • Editorial Planning and News Judgment

Develops skills for planning coverage calendars and making high-level editorial decisions. Applies news values at an organizational rather than individual level.