Here are the journalism courses that constitute the new curriculum, their old names and numbers when relevant and how they would fit the old curriculum. More information on how the courses fit the new requirements can be found linked to this page. See the schedule for sections, times, classrooms and instructors. Use the web schedule reachable through the GW home page for updated information.
Jour 100
Journalism: Theory and Practice (3 credits) An overview of journalism in the United States. Introduces students to organizations and institutions of the American news media, outlines basic history and social context of American journalism, examines how news is constructed, and explores intellectual underpinnings of the occupational ideals and professional practices that guide journalism today. This existing course retains its number and was formerly titled Mass Media and Society. It is no longer a prerequisite but remains a requirement for the journalism major and a requirement for the minor. Prerequisite: SMPA 50
Jour 111
Reporting and Writing the News (3 credits) Fundamentals of news reporting and writing, with emphasis on the print media. Develops news judgment, information gathering skills, and facility in crafting news and feature stories. Students complete regular in-class and outside reporting and writing exercises to learn journalistic style. Freshmen need departmental permission to enroll. This is an existing course with a slight name change that retains its old number. It remains a prerequisite for the major and a requirement for the minor.
Jour 112
Advanced Reporting (3 credits) Reporting, writing and computer skills for covering beats and developing in-depth news stories. Techniques in researching, observing and interviewing to frame stories of public interest will be learned through outside and in-class reporting and writing assignments. Lectures and class discussions examine journalism values and ethics. This course replaces Jour. 133, Advanced Reporting: Public Affairs. For those under the old curriculum, the course will continue to fulfill the requirement of an advanced writing course, using its old number. Under the new curriculum, it will become a sequel to Jour.111 and a required course for the major. It will be restricted to journalism majors. Prerequisite: Jour. 111
Jour 120
Editorial & Persuasive Writing (3 credits) Techniques of editorial and column writing; editorial page and public affairs programming; function of commentary in a free press. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the advanced writing courses in Subgroup 1A. This course was formerly Jour. 151 under the same name. It continues to count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum, using its old number. Prerequisite: Jour. 111
Jour 121
Feature Writing (3 credits) Development and writing of a wide range of feature articles, including interviews, profiles, op-ed columns and personal memoirs. Emphasis on weekly writing assignments and practical experience, including marketing work to publications. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the advanced writing courses in Subgroup 1A for the major. This course retains its old name and number, and continues to count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum. Prerequisite: Jour. 111.
Jour 122
Broadcast News Reporting (3 credits) Preparation of radio and television scripts based on actual news events. Using workshop techniques, scripts are evaluated for content, structure and use of words, pictures and sound. Extensive use of network news reports.Under the new curriculum, this course joins the advanced writing courses in Subgroup 1A for the major. This course was formerly Jour. 139, Advanced Reporting: Radio and Television News. It will count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum, using its old number. Prerequisite: Jour. 111.
Jour 123
Computer Assisted Reporting (3 credits) Retrieving information from online sources and government databases, with emphasis on the ethical use and evaluation of data. Use of computer databases to analyze records and produce reliable and valid data for investigative news stories. Under the new curriculum, this course counts either as an advanced writing courses in Subgroup 1A or as skills course in Group 2. This course has been taught as Jour. 190 Variable Topics, Computer Assisted Reporting. Under the old curriculum, this course can count as an advanced writing course or a skill course. Prerequisite: Jour. 111
Jour 124
Internet News and Investigation Examination of news and journalism on the Internet with an emphasis on news writing and presentation, including design and navigation. Students will be exposed to news standards, ethics, issues of access, and distribution and business strategies on the web. Under the new curriculum, this course counts either as an advanced writing courses in Subgroup 1A or as skills course in Group 2. This new course has been taught as Jour 190 Variable Topics, Online Reporting. It will continue to count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum. Prerequisite: Jour. 111
Jour 130
Buisness & Technology Reporting Development of reporting and writing techniques in covering the world of money, work and technology. The course explores how the media relate economic changes to the general public, and develops journalistic practices through exercises in writing and analyzing trends in a broad range of topics, including business, banking, labor, technology and international trade. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the speciality reporting courses in Subgroup 1B for the major.This course was previously taught as Jour 190 Variable Topics, Economic Reporting, and it will count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum. Prerequisite: Jour. 111.
Jour 131
Science/Medical Reporting (3 credits) Translating
the worlds of science and medicine for a mass audience. Using in-class
exercises and outside assignments, students will acquire reporting and
writing skills needed to understand and present complex topics to readers
and viewers. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the speciality
reporting courses in Subgroup 1B for the major. This is a new course and
it will count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum. Prerequisite:
Jour. 111
Jour 132
Campaign Reporting (3 credits) Developing news gathering and writing skills needed for the coverage of political campaigns. Using in-class exercises and outside assignments, students will acquire reporting and writing proficiency needed to illuminate how campaigns work and how politics affects the lives of citizens. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the advanced writing courses in Subgroup 1A for the major. This course was taught as Jour 190 Variable Topics, Covering the Campaign. It will count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum. Prerequisite: Jour. 111.
Jour 134
Washington Reporting (3 credits) Examination of reporting and writing techniques employed in news coverage of the national government, with an emphasis on serving a regional readership or audience. Using Washington as a laboratory, students focus on contemporary issues and newsmakers in the legislative and executive branches of government. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the speciality reporting courses in Subgroup 1B for the major. This course was formerly Jour 137, Advanced Reporting: National Affairs. Under the old curriculum, it will continue to count as an advanced writing course, using its old number. Prerequisite: Jour. 111
Jour 135
Critical Writing and Reviewing (3 credits) Reviewing and commenting on the arts and entertainment for the mass media. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the speciality reporting courses in Subgroup 1B for the major. This course was formerly numbered Jour 155, and it will continue to count as an advanced writing course under the old curriculum, per its old number. Prerequisite: Jour. 111
Jour 140
Photojournalism (3 credits) Elements of effective news and feature photos, including study and evaluation of slides taken by students. Picture selection, cropping, and captions. Student costs include film and developing. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the editing and design skill courses. This existing course keeps its old number and name, and will continue to count as a skill course under the old curriculum.
Jour 141
Newspaper Editing and Design (3 credits) Emphasis on newspaper design, editing, and layout. Selecting and editing stories; writing headlines and photo captions; selecting, sizing and cropping photos and other graphic materials; laying out pages. Ethics of editing. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the editing and design skill courses. This was formerly Jour 115, Newspaper Editing and Make-up, and it will continue to count as a skill course under the old curriculum.
Jour 142
Magazine Editing and Design (3 credits) Layout, typography, and design for magazines, house organs, and similar publications for associations, institutions and industry. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the editing and design skill courses. This course was formerly Jour 116 Magazine Layout and Design, and it will continue to count as a skill course under the old curriculum.
Jour 147
Television Worshop (3 credits) A joint workshop between the journalism and EMDA programs, the course centers on the production of a television news shows. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the editing and design skills courses of Group 2 for the major. It will count as a skill course under the old curriculum. Enrollment will be limited and departmental registration is required. Preference will go to journalism majors who have taken Jour 122 and EMDA 140 (or EMDA 75).
Jour 150
Media Law (3 credits) Freedom of the press, censorship, legislative controls, copyright laws, laws of libel and privacy, and other law relating to the news business, privilege and fair comment. This course was formerly Jour 198 Law of the Press and it continues as a requirement for the major under the new or old curriculum.
Jour 152
U.S. Journalism History (3 credits) History of American journalism, starting with the colonial period; political, social and economic developments. Media relations with government; the evolving concept of journalistic rights and responsibilities.Under the new curriculum, this course joins the history, politics and law group for the major. This course was formerly Jour 101, U.S. Media History, and it will continue to count as a critical analysis course under the old curriculum.
Jour 153
Covering Court Decisions (3 credits) Primer for journalists on how the courts and the Constitution work. Emphasis on reading and reporting U.S. Supreme Court rulings and understanding legal principles. Under the new curriculum, this course joins the history, politics and law group for the major. This course has been taught as a Jour 190 Variable Topics, Covering Court Decisions. For the old curriculum, it can count either as an advanced writing course or a critical analysis course.
Jour 190
Selected Topics: Radio News: History
& Practice (3 credits) A combination lecture and lab course exploring
the evolution of America's first form of electronic journalism from its
creation in the 1920s to today's digital age. The class will study the
underpinnings of today's news formats, listen to historic broadcasts, learn
radio broadcast writing technique, write and record newscasts and gain
hands-on experience through guest lecture by top professionals and by visiting
the CBS News Washington Bureau, WTOP NewsRadio and the U.S. House Radio-Television
Gallery. Students will also have an opportunity to participate in the production
of GW radio programs “Washington Forum” and “Capital Jazz” which air on
WRC Radio 1260-AM
The course will count as fulfilling a requirement in the history, politics
and law Group 3 for the major. For the old curriculum it would meet the
requirement for a critical analysis course.
Jour 190
Selected Topics: Electronic News Gathering (3 credits) A hand’s on course to teach the skills of gathering, writing and producing television news. Course will cover everything from video voiceovers, to interview techniques, and finally the assembly of news “packages” from the field. Students will be taught to shoot and edit tapes on the advanced Final Cut Pro system, and emphasis will be placed on construction and story-telling skills. The course will fulfill the requirement of a skill or design course. Enrollment will be limited and departmental registration is required. Preference will go to journalism majors who have taken Jour 122 and EMDA 140 (or EMDA 75) Prerequisite J. 111
Jour 190
Selected Topics: Narrative Journalism (3 credits) This seminar will introduce students to the storytelling role of journalism through readings, discussions and writing exercises. It will focus on narrative or "literary" journalism and other genres that stretch traditional journalistic precepts. Course requirements consist of classics in narrative journalism (including works by John Hersey, Tom Wolfe, Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Joseph Mitchell, William McFee, and Mark Bowden), active participation in discussions, several short writing exercises, and a final project utilizing the techniques of narrative journalism that are the focus of the course. Enrollment is limited to 15 students. The course will meet the requirement of a history, law or politics course, Group 3. Under the old curriculum, it belongs in the critical analysis group. Prerequisite J. 111
Jour 196
Independent Study (1-6 credits) The student pursues a program of directed reading, research, and writing under the direction of a faculty advisor. This course is unchanged and is limited to seniors. Permission of the program director is required. This is an elective under the new or old curriculum.
Jour 197
Internship (1-3 credits) Students spend at least 5 hours a week per credit during the semester interning in an approved news organization. Restricted to juniors and seniors and journalism majors and minors. Permission of program director required. Grades are assigned pass/no pass. Under the new curriculum, the internship will be a journalism elective. Under the old curriculum, three internship credits will continue to count as skill course. For more information, go to internship page on this web site.
PCM 128
Media, Politics and Government Exploration of the role played by communication, principally through the mass media, in the conduct of government and the making of public policy. This course was formerly Jour 128, Media and Public Affairs, which was cross-listed in Political Communication. The course is now listed solely as PCM 128 but, under the new curriculum, this course joins the history, politics and law group for the journalism major. It will continue to count as a critical analysis course under the old journalism curriculum.
Note: Courses in public relations have been transferred to the Political Communication Program. They can be taken as electives but will not fulfill requirements for the journalism program.
Updated 6/21/00