Welcome to the Journalism Minor! Our program prepares students for working in print and online media. Students learn a variety of rhetorical strategies to report news accurately and quickly, conduct interviews, gather information and cultivate sources, act ethically, think critically, and write clearly.

Why Minor in Journalism?

• Make a difference.

There's no doubt that the traditional newspaper industry is in decline, and that jobs calling for bona fide journalism skills have grown scarcer in recent years. But the world still needs good journalists, maybe now more than ever. We need them to tell, and find, the important stories that—in a world of context-free, entertainment-driven "journalism"—just aren't being reported.

• Supplement your major.

If you want to make a difference in the world of journalism, we believe you should declare our minor. But you should also major in a liberal arts subject such as Literature, Writing, Economics, History, or Political Science that will give you a body of knowledge to write about. We'll train you how to write for the media, but we also want you to learn something about the world while you're at it.

• Think like a reporter.

The Journalism Minor will help you learn to think like a reporter: it'll train you to be open-minded enough to hear multiple points of view and to represent those viewpoints objectively in a news story; it'll also help you hold corporate and political powers-that-be accountable for their actions.

• Seek the truth.

The professors who direct the Journalism Minor are committed to the idea that reporters (even citizen journalists) should follow industry standards of truth, verification, and the development of reliable sources, and that they should be held to the highest standards of ethics and excellence in writing.

• Answer a higher calling.

Journalism is a higher calling. It's about doing the service of citizenship. There may or may not be a career in it for you, and we can't guarantee that journalism will bring you wealth or fame. But what we can offer you is the satisfaction and fulfillment that you'll gain from learning to be a watchdog of the public interest.

Mission Statement

The mission of Journalism Minor is to maximize the intellectual, personal, and social capabilities of our students so that they can contribute to the preservation and advancement of our democratic society.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the Journalism Minor will learn to:

• Think critically and creatively
• Gather information in many ways from diverse sources
• Evaluate and select information
• Present information clearly in visual and verbal forms to defined audiences
• Use technology to present information effectively
• Learn skills necessary for the preparation of news copy
• Learn skills necessary in the design of newspapers
• Work in a collaborative setting
• Work within an ethical and legal framework
• Understand the cultural and professional roles of journalism in a diverse and democratic society
• Develop an understanding of the "watchdog" function of the news media

Advising Sheet

Like most minors at WCU, the Journalism Minor requires students to take six courses, or 18 credits, in order to complete the program. Five core courses—JRN 200, JRN 225, JRN 226, JRN 250, and JRN 411—are required; the sixth course is a journalism elective. Please see below for the complete list of required and elective courses. View our updated Journalism Minor Advising Sheet .

Courses

The English Department offers at least four to five Journalism Minor courses each semester, but students should check the online Schedule of Classes to learn about course availability for a given term. Also, all Journalism Minor students should choose their electives in consultation with the Minor Coordinator. Finally, please note that students in the minor may also take COM 212 but, if they do so, they must add a second JRN elective in order to complete the program.

Required Courses

• JRN 200: Communications Media

An introduction to the media of communications, emphasizing the development and characteristics of print and electronic media and their impact on American society. Note: Students may substitute COM 212 for JRN 200, but if they do so, they must take a second JRN elective.

• JRN 225: News Writing

A course designed to develop proficiency in the writing of news stories for daily and weekly newspapers. News values, the structure and style of news, and the preparation of copy in accordance with professional standards will be stressed. Writing Emphasis course.

• JRN 226: Public Affairs Reporting

Instruction and practice in covering public affairs events in the local community, including borough council meetings, municipal hearings, and campus speeches. PREREQ: JRN225 or equivalent.

• JRN 250: News Editing

A course designed to acquaint students with the skills involved in the preparation of copy for publication in newspapers and magazines. Instruction and practice in the mechanics of copy editing, headline writing, layout, and photo editing. PREREQ: JRN225 or equivalent.

• JRN 411: Journalism Practicum

Provides practical experience in writing news stories, columns, and features for print and online media. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their stories to The Quad, the student weekly newspaper of West Chester University, or some other weekly, daily, or online newspaper or publication. Publication of stories submitted to The Quad or to professional editors will be at the discretion of those editors, depending on the quality of the work and availability of space in the newspaper or on the website. This course may be taken again for credit.

Elective Courses

• JRN 272: Feature Writing

Practical instruction in the skills for successful feature writing for print and electronic media, with an emphasis on techniques used in personality profiles, critical reviews, column writing, and op-ed pieces.

• JRN 312: Sports Reporting and Writing

Instruction and practice in basic sports reporting techniques, including live-event coverage and feature writing, as well as an introduction to routine duties associated with working on the sports desk. PREREQ: JRN 225 or equivalent.

• JRN 315: Magazine Article Writing

Practical instruction in the skills required for successful freelance magazine writing, with emphasis on research, interviewing, writing techniques, and marketing. Students will write and submit for publication short features and a full-length magazine article. PREREQ: JRN 225 or equivalent. Writing emphasis course.

• JRN 325: History of Journalism

A historical survey of the American press from Colonial times to the present, with special emphasis on the continuing struggle for press freedom and the new journalistic environment created by the emergence of mass media.

• JRN335: Ethical Issues in Mass Media

This course investigates ethical issues in the mass media and shows how newspapers and television, in particular, shape American perceptions of political and economic power and help establish public standards of morality. Special emphasis will be placed on journalistic issues such as freedom of expression, invasion of privacy, censorship, the protection of sources, stereotyping, libel law, objective vs. subjective points of view, and the debate over professional codes of ethics. PREREQ: JRN 225 or equivalent.

• JRN345: Mass Media and the Law

The course explores First Amendment and other constitutional guarantees of a free press, as well as statutory and judicial protection/limitations of the media. Major issues to be covered include censorship and prior restraint, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, obscenity, free press versus fair trial, advertising and commercial speech, broadcast regulation, media ownership regulation, access to public information, and citizens' access to the mass media.

• JRN 355: Public Relations Principles

An introduction to the role of the public relations practitioner in the formation of public opinion. Communications theory will be combined with specific techniques for working with the press, producing printed material, and conducting special events. PREREQ: JRN 225 or equivalent.