Journalism Courses
Note: Some courses will be offered on an occasional basis.
- IMC 330-0 Principles of Public Relations
Introductory course in which students design, implement, and evaluate a public relations plan using strategic and integrated communication methods. - IMC 331-0 Public Relations Strategies and Writing
Students apply strategic communication skills in writing various public relations pieces for print, electronic, and audiovisual media. Prerequisites: JOUR 201 and IMC 330. - IMC 332-0 Case Studies in Public Relations and Integrated Marketing Communications
Students will learn from the mistakes and successes of others when they analyze real-world cases from both the corporate world and the non-profit world. Prerequisite: IMC 330 - JOUR 101 Introduction to Journalism
An overview of journalism fundamentals that explores how news is defined, reported, written and produced across print, broadcast and online media platforms in Qatar and around the world. (Offered only in Qatar and only to students in the Academic Bridge Program.) - JOUR 201 Reporting, Writing and Multimedia Storytelling
An introduction to the fundamentals of journalism necessary for any platform or storytelling format. Includes news and information gathering; story construction; using basic numbers and data to tell a story and assess information; editing and presentation; ethical issues while covering stories; and visual literacy. The course emphasizes drills and practice in basic reporting and writing, plus still photography, photo editing, audio recording, audio editing, and audio slideshows. - JOUR 202 Introduction to 21st Century Media
An exploration of the forces and issues that influence and shape journalism and the media, using history to illuminate current trends. Topics include: what is journalism? what outside forces influence changes in media and journalism? The relationship between journalism and community; media and audience trends; the business and economics of media; the purpose and role of journalism in a democratic society; and standards and ethics for journalists in any society. - JOUR 203 Visual Journalism
Students report complex stories with still and video cameras and the latest editing software. Prerequisite: JOUR 201. - JOUR 250 Media Literacy
This introduction to the expanding forms, roles, and content of the media aims to produce discriminating and analytical consumers of media. Students will examine the impact of unprecedented changes in technology, convergence, audience penetration, and content; historical forces; influence of social, political and cultural currents; the changing and perennial roles of journalism and its relationship to the community; audience trends and business aspects; global media; vetting sources and information; and ethics. Not open to journalism majors. - JOUR 301 Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities
Advanced-skills course on in-depth multimedia reporting and storytelling. By getting to know a specific audience within a Doha neighborhood and experimenting with a variety of reporting and storytelling techniques, students produce cross-platform content for print, broadcast, and the Web. The course also provides training in reporting for and about diverse audiences. Prerequisites: JOUR 201 and sophomore standing. - JOUR 310 Media Presentation: Newspaper/Online
Essentials of newspaper editing and online production, including headlines, page layout and design, photo editing, information graphics, and appropriate electronic tools. Prerequisite: 301. Taken the same semester as the Journalism Residency JOUR 345. - JOUR 311 Media Presentation: Magazine
Fundamentals of editing magazine copy and graphics, with emphasis on precision, style, and structure for print and online products. Provides an overview of the magazine industry— both traditional and increasingly interactive — and the role of magazines in society. Prerequisite: JOUR 301. Taken the same semester as the Journalism Residency JOUR 355. - JOUR 320 Storytelling: Interactive News
The craft of digital storytelling, with emphasis on creating compelling packages for the Web and other digital platforms (such as PDAs) using a variety of narrative formats, interactive tools (such as Flash), and other digital content, including blogs, RSS feeds, and citizen journalism. Prerequisite: JOUR 301 - JOUR 321 Storytelling: Magazine and Feature Writing
The craft of magazine and feature writing, with emphasis on character, scene and theme development, story architecture, voice, alternative story forms, in-depth reporting, public service journalism, and marketing ideas for articles. Prerequisites: JOUR 301 - JOUR 323: Broadcast Production and Presentation
This is a combination of two Evanston courses, JOUR 312 - Video Producing for Broadcast and JOUR 322 – Video Reporting, Shooting and Editing. The course will teach students to write, produce and present news for television and other video platforms. There will be practice in field reporting, producing packages and programs, and presenting news bulletins – all with an emphasis on editorial judgment and decision-making. Prerequisite: JOUR 201. - JOUR 342-0 Advanced Online Storytelling
Students will undertake reporting projects that incorporates video, audio, interactivity, and photography. The class will be taught in an intensive five-week period at the beginning of the semester that concludes with the student’s Journalism Residency. - JOUR 345 Journalism Residency in Newspaper/Online
(2 units) Hones reporting and newswriting skills through practical assignments, including multimedia opportunities whenever possible, under deadline pressure and close editorial supervision. Prerequisites: JOUR 342 - JOUR 355 Journalism Residency in Magazine
(2 units) Exploration of aspects of magazine writing and reporting. Practical assignments, including print and Web content whenever possible, in a magazine office with deadline pressure and close professional supervision. Prerequisite: JOUR 321 - JOUR 365 Journalism Residency in Broadcast
(2 units) Gathering television news in the field; writing scripts, readers, voiceovers, packages, and on-camera news for reporters and anchors. Practical assignments in a television newsroom under close professional supervision. Prerequisite: JOUR 323 - JOUR 368 Documentary
Formats used in audio and video documentary production, with emphasis on transforming a major research effort into a radio or broadcast program or a multipart series. Prerequisite: JOUR 301 - JOUR 370 Media Law and Ethics
The legal and ethical framework defining media freedoms and constraints around the world, including copyright and trademark issues. Historical context and focus on the evolution of constitutional, statutory, judicial, and ethical standards. Taken the same semester as the Journalism Residency. Prerequisite: JOUR 301 - JOUR 375 Literary Journalism
A survey of the work of several print and broadcast journalists to explore the intersection of journalism and literature; analysis of the relationships between form and content within the historical contexts in which pieces were produced. Prerequisite: JOUR 301. - JOUR 376 Design and Infographics
Advanced tools of layout, typographic contrast, and color theory, including creating infographics, with a focus on current approaches to newspaper, magazine, web, and newsletter design. Prerequisite: JOUR 301 - JOUR 378 Photojournalism
Advanced skills and practice in telling stories with photographs, photo slideshows, photo galleries, and audio slideshows. Ethics as it applies to photojournalism. Prerequisite: JOUR 202 - JOUR 381 Business Reporting
Students gain in-depth knowledge of business and economic issues while reporting and writing stories related to business. Prerequisite: JOUR 301. - JOUR 383 Health and Science Reporting
Students gain in-depth knowledge of health and science issues while reporting and writing stories on the subjects. Prerequisite: JOUR 301. - JOUR 388 Internship
Student-initiated internships in journalism. Prerequisites: sophomore standing and consent of the senior associate dean. - JOUR 390 Special Topics
Specialized, courses offered from time to time by faculty. Subjects contemplated include but are not limited to Business Journalism, Environmental Journalism, Energy Journalism, Religion Journalism and Health & Science Journalism, Public Relations Strategy and Public Relations Writing. Students may take more than one Special Topics course. - JOUR 395 Journalism Residency in Public Relations (2 units).
Practical work under professional supervision in a public relations agency or in a division of a corporate or not-for-profit entity. Prerequisitea: JOUR 301 and IMC 331. - JOUR 399 Independent Study
Academic work sponsored and supervised by a faculty member working one-on-one with a student. Prerequisite: consent of the senior associate dean.
Journalism Grade Policy
- The minimum cumulative grade point average a student must earn to graduate from Northwestern University in Qatar is 2.0, but the minimum grade point average in all Journalism courses average must be at least 2.25.
- No more than one-fifth (1/5) of all classes students taken for the NU-Q degree, including liberal arts courses, may have a final grade of D or F, regardless of the final cumulative grade point average. It is understood at “a grade of D” means anything less than C-minus.
- To earn a Journalism course credit, students must earn a grade of C-minus or higher. Journalism courses can be, or in the case of requirements must be, retaken until the student earns at least a C-minus.
