Journalism Courses
JR 107. Introduction to Mass Communications
This course provides students with an understanding of the
history of the mass media and theories related to mass
communications. The course is an overview of mass communication and
will examine the development of various media, the functions of
mass media, and the implications of media systems and practices.
(U)(3)
JR 112. Writing for Print Media
JR 112 is the foundational course in news writing and reporting
and is required of all students majoring in journalism and public
and corporate communication. This course emphasizes writing
primarily for newspapers, but its basic tenets are also applicable
for other print media, the Internet and broadcast news writing.
(U)(3)
JR 212. Newswriting and Reporting
Journalism 212 is an intermediate news writing and reporting
course. Students begin with a review of the fundamental principles
of the inverted pyramid style of writing, but focus on how to use
principles of news writing to develop news stories that expand upon
or differ from the inverted pyramid style of writing. Issues,
problems and practices associated with reporting constitute the
core of JR 212. Prerequisites: C- or above in JR 112. (U)(3)
JR 221. Principles of Advertising
This course provides students with a survey of advertising,
including its history, functions, theories, ethics, and relations
to modern organizations. Prerequisites: C- or above in JR 112.
(U)(3)
JR 223. Introduction to Public Relations
This course introduces students to the terms and practice of
public relations. The class includes the history, theories, ethical
and legal constraints, common contexts, and strategic practice of
public relations. Prerequisites: C- or above in JR 112. (U)(3)
JR 309. Feature Writing
This course focuses on crafting feature stories that give
readers a sense of place, knowledge of another human being, and
deeper understanding of an event, trend or issue. Prerequisites: C-
or above in JR 112. (U)(3)
JR 311. News Editing
JR311 is the third course in a four-course sequence in news
reporting and writing required of journalism students. Because
students have successfully completed JR 112 and JR 212, JR 311
introduces students to fundamental editing principles associated
with Associated Press style, grammar, punctuation, spelling,
editing text for accuracy, clarity, brevity and avoidance of libel,
headline writing, photo editing, writing photo captions, news
budget development, and news page and news section design.
Prerequisites: C- or above in JR 112 and JR 212. (U)(3)
JR 315. News Photography
The purpose of the course is to explore non-verbal
communication. Specifically, it teaches students the value of
photography in communicating ideas and information, how to meld
words and pictures to communicate most effectively, the basics of
digital camera usage and a digital workflow, the basics of Adobe
Photoshop, and how to tell stories visually. Prerequisites: C- or
above in JR 112. (U)(3)
JR 317. Editorial Writing
Editorial writing focuses on opinion writing for print media,
concentrating on editorials, columns and reviews. Course
participants will be taught the fundamentals of researching and
writing opinion pieces. Students who complete the course will have
enhanced skills in gathering and analyzing information, and in
writing to inform, entertain and persuade readers. Prerequisites:
C- or above in JR 112. (U)(3)
JR 321. Advertising Practices
This course will provide opportunities to learn and apply
foundations for building successful advertising campaigns,
including strategy development, media research and selection,
creative development and production and measurement. Prerequisite:
C- or above in JR112 and JR 221. (U)(3)
JR 322. Advertising Copywriting
This course explores a practical approach to advertising
copywriting through the development of creative strategy and
hands-on copywriting experience. This course will include
applications to various print and electronic media. Students
examine early advertising examples as well as contemporary
advertising works and develop their own writing styles within the
disciplines of sound strategic thinking. Prerequisites: C- or above
in JR 112 and JR 221 (U)(3)
JR 324. Case Problems in Public Relations
This course introduces students to different approaches, both
effective and ineffective, that have been used to address public
relations problems and opportunities. The class examines key cases
of public relations practices across different application areas
(to address distinct internal and external audiences), such as
media relations, employee relations, member relations, government
relations, and community relations. Critical to this class is the
examination of current events/issues in the news relevant to course
topics. In addition, this course fulfills Butler University's
writing intensive course requirement for juniors and seniors. As
such, the course emphasizes both content and demonstration of
comprehension of content through effective writing skills.
Prerequisite: C- or above in JR112 and JR 223. (U)(3)
JR 327. Research Methods for Public Relations and
Advertising
This course examines common approaches to research in public
relations and advertising. These approaches include the uses of
informal scanning, situation analysis, focus groups and
questionnaire-centered approaches to information gathering and
assessment. Prerequisites: C- or better in JR 112 and 223.
(U)(3)
JR 328. Public Relations Techniques
This course prepares students to think strategically and to
understand the basic tools and processes public relations
practitioners use to reach and communicate with their publics. An
applied writing laboratory approach is used to allow students to
practice and hone writing skills for a wide range of public
relations activities. Prerequisites: C- or above in JR 112 and JR
223. (U)(3)
JR 350, 352, 353. Media Internship
All journalism and public and corporate communication (PCC)
majors are encouraged to complete an internship during one semester
of their junior or senior years. The internship program includes
one-on-one assistance with resume preparation, selection of
internship possibilities, interview skills and a group orientation
session prior to beginning the internship. At the conclusion of the
semester, the student will also have prepared a professional
presented portfolio of projects completed during the internship.
Prerequisites: News editorial: C- or above in JR112, JR212 and
JR311. Public Relations and Integrated Communication: C- or above
in JR112, JR223, JR327, JR328 and JR351. (U)(3)
JR 351. Design and Production in Public Relations and
Advertising
This course focuses on design and production of public relations
and advertising materials, including copy preparation, graphics,
typography, photography and computer applications for various
print, electronic and audio-visual media. Prerequisites: C- or
above in JR112 and JR 223. (U)(3)
JR355. Sports Journalism
This course has two primary objectives: 1) providing a basic
writing foundation for students interested in sports journalism and
2) an examination of the role of sports in our society. With
regards to the first, students cover five basic areas of
sportswriting-feature writing, pre-event (advance) coverage,
game/event writing, column writing and "take-out'' writing, the
latter being an in-depth and therefore more lengthy look at a
sports subject or personality.
JR356. Sports Promotion Marketing, Administration
This course provides students with an overview of sports
marketing and promotions. While much of the course focuses on
sports marketing for a team, students also learn about the rest of
the industry; including the media, corporate community and the
civic community. They develop an understanding of how the various
departments of a sports organization work together; including
promotions, sponsorship sales, ticket sales, media relations,
community relations and event management.
JR357. Web Design for an Interactive Age
This course examines the principles and techniques of
information design and interactive communications. Students explore
current practices and emerging trends in interactive communications
from leaders in the industry. This course teaches HTML web page
development basics for non-programmers. It also includes writing
for the web, design and layout techniques, and best practices for
organizing content and site navigation. Web graphics development is
taught using Adobe Photoshop and ImageReady.
JR 401, 402, 403. Independent Study
An independent study provides an opportunity for qualified
students to pursue a topic of individual interest. Open to juniors
and seniors with permission of director of the School of
Journalism. (U) (1, 2, 3)
JR 409. Media Management
This course provides students with an overview of the
principles, theory and practices of mass media institutions within
the current society. Product considerations, Constitutional
underpinnings, leadership, technology within the workplace,
budgeting issues, and market analysis are covered. Prerequisites:
junior standing and approval of instructor. (U)(3)
JR 412. Reporting Public Affairs
This course is considered the capstone course of the
news-editorial sequence, and is designed to give students valuable
practical experience in reporting about public affairs. Reporting
skills are developed by confronting the challenges of actually
identifying and developing real-world news stories. Students are
required to go into a community of their choice and report about
schools, crime, police, courts, and local governments. The use of
the Internet as a reporting tool also is a vital component of the
course. JR412 also requires a substantial time commitment outside
of class hours to do actual reporting. Prerequisites: C- or above
in JR 112, JR212 and JR311. (U)(3)
JR 414. Mass Communications Law
This course provides students with a basic understanding of
media law as it has developed and is developing in the United
States. It is a survey course which focuses on the major legal
principles and standards underlying the free speech/press clause of
the First Amendment as well as the major legal issues confronting
mass communicators, including libel, invasion of privacy, access to
information, trespass, hidden cameras and wiretapping, journalist
privilege, free press/fair trial, commercial speech and regulation,
and intellectual property law. (U)(3)
JR 415. History and Literature of Journalism
This course provides students with an understanding of the role
that printing and the press has played on the changes in American
society, In addition, the class explores the structure and exercise
of power that transformed journalism. When the Bill of Rights were
ratified on December 15, 1791, newspapers gained the freedom to
grow as the nation grew; they became a symbol of how Americans
broke down all distinctions by conveying to every class in society
knowledge of their government and the information necessary for the
public intelligence. It is the growth of newspapers and their
contribution to American society and culture that will be studied
in this class. (U)(3)
JR 416. Mass Communications in Society
This course engages students in a critical reflection on and
group discussion about the role of mass communications in society,
with a special focus on the ethics and ethical dilemmas of
journalism. The ethics of public relations and advertising also are
addressed. Students are asked to critically reflect on media
values, social values, and their interaction with an eye toward a
more refined understanding of media ethics and a more critical
assessment of media performance. The course asks students to frame
a perspective based on one central question: "What should a
journalist's ethics be and why?" (U)(3)
JR 417. International Communications Systems
This course introduces students to important issues and topics
in international communication in the era of globalization. The
course is divided in three parts: the historical context of and
theoretical approaches to international communication; case studies
and topics in international journalism; and the representation of
race and gender in international news. The course provides students
with an understanding of contemporary debates, including those
related to cultural imperialism, development, the information
society, and the digital divide, and prepares students to enter the
workplace with a heightened awareness of global issues. (U)(3)
JR 424. Public Communication Campaigns
This course is the capstone course in the public relations
sequence, and combines a student's understanding of public
relations processes gleaned through JR223, the research techniques
honed in JR327, the critical thinking skills sharpened in JR324,
and the writing and design skills developed in JR 328 and JR351 to
develop effective and successful public communication campaigns for
real-world clients from the non-profit sector. Through this
service-learning experience, students will thoroughly explore
public relations concepts, with the end goal of serving worthy
organizations and the special publics they serve. Prerequisites: C-
or above in JR 112, JR223, JR324, JR327, JR328 and JR351.
(U)(3)
JR 426. Special Topics in Public Relations and Advertising
A thematic study of contemporary topics and issues in public
relations and/or advertising, this course may be repeated when
topics change. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. (U)(3)
Topics may include:
Crisis Communication and Issue Management
This course examines issue management and crisis communication
across a range of contexts and through a variety of analytic
frameworks by focusing on representative "cases" as benchmarks. The
major topics include: approaches to issue management; elements of
crisis planning; and type of crises such as product tampering,
environmental, disaster, violence, international perspectives, and
media roles.
JR 499. Honor Thesis
For more information: University Honors
Program