MMC 2100 - Writing for the Mass Media

Communications Department

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2024 (630)

Requisites

((Prerequisite ENC 1101 or
Prerequisite ENC 1101H) and
Prerequisite REA 0017) or
Prerequisite EAP 1695 or
Prerequisite appropriate scores on the college placement test

Course Description

Multimedia platforms are the foundation for instruction in this course which includes writing assignments for the Internet, print, audio, video, and social media. New technology issues, current events, and the importance of diversity and ethics in media writing are addressed.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will identify the tools and styles of writing for the mass media by:
    1. composing short reports and news stories in the appropriate styles.
    2. composing short reports and news stories utilizing appropriate grammar, spelling, and other fundamental components of writing.
  2. The student will compose media reports by:
    1. devising newspaper-style news stories about campus events.
    2. writing an interview-based magazine-style feature story about this college.
    3. creating a script for a radio commercial and a storyboard for a television commercial for an advertisement or public service announcement or promotion.
  3. The student will assess internet news sources by:
    1. critiquing on-line news sources.
    2. analyzing the use of the internet as an information source.
  4. The student will distinguish appropriate news coverage and effects of current events, trends, and changes in the industry by:
    1. assessing and critiquing media coverage of current events.
    2. analyzing trends and changes in the industry which affect the news coverage.
  5. The student will determine the importance of diversity in news gathering and news reporting by:
    1. commenting in discussions about the importance of diversity in news coverage.
    2. comparing coverage of the importance of diversity issues in mainstream media and nonmainstream media
  6. The student will assess the use of media ethics by:
    1. commenting in discussions about ethics and the media.
    2. examining case studies regarding ethical issues in the media.
    3. hypothesizing media coverage of an ethical controversy and bias.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will demonstrate mastery of 70% of the above stated objectives through classroom assessment methods developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 6/11/02, BOT 7/29/02, Effective 20021. Effective 20022. (H added to prereq) . 3 Year Review 2005, reformatted eff 20061(0370). Effective 20082(0405). Amended prerequisites effective 20112(0450). 3-Year Review 2010: Acceptable As Is
C&I Approval: 07/21/2023, BOT Approval: 09/19/2023, Effective Term: Spring 2024 (630)