SRJC Course Outlines

3/29/2024 3:27:17 AMJOUR 54A Course Outline as of Fall 2019

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  JOUR 54ATitle:  MAG WRITING/PRODUCTION 1  
Full Title:  Magazine Journalism: Writing and Production 1
Last Reviewed:1/28/2019

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled2.5017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled43.75
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled2.506 min.Lab Scheduled43.75
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total5.00 Contact Total87.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  87.50Total Student Learning Hours: 175.00 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  JOUR 54

Catalog Description:
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Introduction to the magazine industry and to writing and producing articles for publication. Students will learn to develop story ideas, submit query letters, conduct research and interviews, write and edit articles. Students can publish and market finished pieces in an online SRJC magazine or submit queries to outside publications.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent and Course Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in JOUR 1

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Introduction to the magazine industry and to writing and producing articles for publication. Students will learn to develop story ideas, submit query letters, conduct research and interviews, write and edit articles. Students can publish and market finished pieces in an online SRJC magazine or submit queries to outside publications.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent and Course Completion or Concurrent Enrollment in JOUR 1
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2019Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:Effective:Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1.  Describe  business and editorial functions of print and online magazine industries, strategies
     and methods for creating a print or online publication and  methods for selling content to
    magazines.
2.  Apply reporting, writing skills and/or multimedia skills to create text-based or multimedia
    content for at least three different types of magazine articles.
3.  Formulate constructive critiques of professionally published magazine pieces, as well as the
    work of their peers.
4.  Participate as a productive team member of an online or print magazine staff from magazine
    inception to publishing and marketing/distribution.

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
 
1. Discuss the how-to's of magazine publication, including brainstorming, researching, reporting,
    planning visuals and layouts, fact-checking, editing, publishing and marketing.
2. Develop story ideas, find sources, research, report and create content for at least three types of
    magazine articles, with at least one short article (how-to, news, listicle, reader service) an
    in-depth, feature-  length piece and a personal experience essay, using high standards of
    ethics and accuracy. Note: Content can include writing, photography, design or multimedia.
3. Participate in tasks associated with online magazine production, such as copyediting, headline
    and cutline writing, photo taking and editing, design, layout, website uploading and social
    media marketing.
4. Compare and contrast different styles of magazine writing, from features, news and profiles to
    shorter service and how-to pieces.
5. Edit both peer and professional articles for content, clarity, style and grammar, and learn to
    give and receive constructive criticism.
6. Evaluate and critique options for visual storytelling and packaging.
7. Write an effective query letter to an editor.
8. Publish stories online and use social media to market them to targeted readers.
9. Identify areas of career interest and explore options in the industry.

Topics and Scope
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I. The Magazine Industry and Jobs
    A. National vs. regional, general interest vs. specialty, indie vs. mainstream, online vs. print
    B. Audience/readership studies
    C. Success/failures
    D. Evolving media culture/industry outlook
    E. Internships and career opportunities
II. Magazine Production Overview - Print and Online
    A. What goes where in a print magazine
         1. Whole-issue pacing
         2. Up-fronts, sections and feature well
    B. Editorial philosophy development
    C. Goals and standards
    D. Self-publishing online (SRJC magazine)
    E. Teamwork and roles
    F. Online presence management
III. Libel and Ethics in Magazine Journalism
IV. Content Development and Creation
    A. Brainstorming article ideas*
    B. Story pitch writing*
    C. Query letter writing and submission guidelines*
    D. Art, photography and design planning and production*
    E. Research and source development*
    F. Interviewing practice*
    G. Lead and nut graph writing*
    H. Story structure practice (news, features, profile, personal experience)*
V. Story Article Types and Storytelling
    A. Short articles, such as listicles, how-to, local travel or localized news
    B. Feature Stories
         1. Organizing material
         2. Story structures
         3. Leads and nut graphs
         4. Feature types (such as public interest, service journalism, investigative, lifestyle etc.)
    C. Profiles
         1. Interviewing for profiles
         2. Details and observation
         3. Profile structure
    D. Personal Experience Articles
         1. Columns and commentary
         2. Reviews and criticism
         3. Personal essays with reader focus
    E. Storytelling techniques
         1. Story arcs - Freytag's Pyramid
         2. Conflict, complication, resolution
         3. Story tropes
VI. The Editing Process
    A. Fact checking and content editing*
    B. Copy editing (grammar, punctuation and house style)*
    C. Developmental editing (clarity, conciseness, voice, tone)*
    D. Constructive critiquing
    E. Writing headlines, decks and captions*
VII. Visual Storytelling
     A. Story packaging: matching package to idea and packaging stories and art
    B. Sidebars, pull quotes, captions
    C. Photo taking, editing and selection*
     D. Finding or creating art and/or graphics*
    E. Storytelling through written, visual, audio, video or other multimedia formats
VIII. Social Media Marketing Techniques and Strategies
IX.   The Business Side of the Publication
    A. Advertising and sales
    B. Distribution (online and print)
 
*Lab only

Assignments:
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Lecture-Related Assignments:
 
1. Three or more articles (2000 to 5000 words total), which may include one or more of the
    following: issue-oriented feature stories, profiles, personal experience essays, reader
    service pieces.
2. Reading 15 to 40 pages per week from magazines, textbook and instructor-prepared material.
3. One to two midterm(s) and a final exam.
 
Lab-Related Assignments:
 
1. Participation in online magazine production
 
Lecture- and Lab-Related Assignments:
 
1. Five to fifteen short assignments to build reporting and writing skills that may include:
    A. Reader analysis
    B. Content analysis
    C. Developing story ideas
    D. Finding sources
    E. Writing queries
    F. Interviewing
    G. Writing leads and nut graphs
    H. Writing different story structures
    I. Editing exercises
    J. Critiquing articles

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
50 - 65%
Articles and short assignments
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
20 - 30%
Midterm(s) and a final exam that can include multiple choice, short answer and essays
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
5 - 20%
Attendance and classroom participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Instructor-prepared materials.
 
The Best American Magazine Writing. Holt, Sid. Columbia University Press. current year
 
Magazine Writing. Benson, Christopher and Whitaker, Charles. Routledge. 2014 (classic)
 
Feature and Magazine Writing. 3rd ed. Sumner, David and Miller, Holly. Wiley-Blackwell. 2013 (classic)
 
The Art of Making Magazines: On Being an Editor and Other Views from the Industry. Navasky, Victor and Cornog, Evan. Columbia University Press. 2012 (classic)

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