Journalism Major Goals

At the end of their program of study, Journalism Majors should be able to:

Write material of professional quality according to the practices and standards of news agencies and contemporary professional communications
As a journalist, research, write and edit news reports according to the practices and standards of professional newspapers and other news agencies.
- Understand the functioning of municipal and state governments so as to be able to report on them.
- Understand the rudiments of press law and ethics, such matters as libel and proper relations with news sources, and other requirements of good journalistic practice.
- Perform the basic tasks of electronic editing, including but not limited to the revision of copy, writing of headlines and picture captions, and editing of photographs.
- Perform entry-level work at a professional newspaper or as a professional writer, as demonstrated by completion of a media experience.
Produce material of professional quality conforming to the standards of contemporary professional communications, including news stories, features, newsletters, technical, and business documents.
- Distinguish between journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, and management communications.
- Identify sources and gather information through primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative research.
- Adapt a body of information to various uses, including public relations, advertising, marketing, and management communications.
- Adapt a body of information to various media, including print, broadcast, Internet, interactive, and immersive media.
- Make appropriate editorial, aesthetic, ethical, and technical judgments about the best way to present a particular body of information to specific audiences.
- Demonstrate knowledge of production practices.
Demonstrate a focused awareness of ethical conduct in journalism and professional writing.
Demonstrate an awareness of the assumptions about culture and gender implicit in choice of media, representations and focus in journalism and professional writing.
Demonstrate sensitivity to the craft of writing through knowledge of the history and traditions of journalism and professional writing.