Minor
Journalism
Herbert H. Dow II Program in American Journalism
Lecturers: JOHN J. MILLER, MARIA SERVOLD, SCOT BERTRAM
Mission Statement
The Herbert H. Dow II Program in American Journalism is devoted to “the restoration of ethical, high-minded journalism standards, and to the reformation of our cultural, political, and social practices. Through academic challenge and practical application, the Program seeks to educate students to become defenders of traditional values, passing on to posterity the blessings of our American heritage and the legacy of First Principles intended by our Founding Fathers.”
Non-Curricular Requirements
Students who pursue either a minor or a specialization in journalism must complete an internship in journalism, approved by faculty advisors. It may be taken for optional course credit as JRN-340. In addition, students must complete a portfolio of their work and submit it to the faculty advisors.
Degrees
-
Journalism, -
Journalism, Specialization
Courses of Instruction
JRN 180: Wonona Yearbook
Credits 1This course provides students with hands-on experience producing the Winona, the campus yearbook. Students assume roles on the yearbook staff and work with the publisher to produce the edition.
JRN 301: Introduction to Journalism I
Credits 3This two-semester sequence focuses on journalistic writing and an ethical free press. JRN 301 offers practice in news writing and copyediting, accompanied by the study of style, punctuation, usage, and spelling. JRN 302 continues with practice in feature writing, editorial writing, and headlines. JRN 301 and JRN 302 are offered in the fall and spring semesters, respectively. ENG 104 is a prerequisite and sophomore standing is required. Students must complete JRN 301 before starting JRN 302.
JRN 302: Introduction to Journalism II
Credits 3This two-semester sequence focuses on journalistic writing and an ethical free press. JRN 301 offers practice in news writing and copyediting, accompanied by the study of style, punctuation, usage, and spelling. JRN 302 continues with practice in feature writing, editorial writing, and headlines. JRN 301 and JRN 302 are offered in the fall and spring semesters, respectively. ENG 104 is a prerequisite and sophomore standing is required. Students must complete JRN 301 before starting JRN 302.
JRN 306: Major Figures in Journalism
Credits 3A close, critical study of major figures: their lives, their work, and their impact
JRN 310: The History of Journalism from Gutenberg to the Muckrakers
Credits 3This course combines a survey of journalistic literature with practical lessons in how to write well, in which students will aspire to bring historical subjects to life through vivid prose. Along the way, students will examine the story of journalism from the advent of the printing press in the 15th century to the birth of investigative reporting at the turn of the 20th century. Representative readings include well-known journalists such as John Milton, Daniel Defoe, Addison and Steele, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, James T. Callender, William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Mark Twain, Henry Morton Stanley, Nellie Bly, Stephen Crane, and Ida Tarbel. The course also will pay special attention to journalism at the time of the American founding and the Civil War.
JRN 311: The History of Journalism in the 20th and 21st Centuries
Credits 3This course combines readings in modern journalism with practical lessons in how to write well. It will focus on print journalism but also cover the rise of radio, television, and the Internet. Representative readings include Ernest Hemingway, H.L. Mencken, Evelyn Waugh, George Orwell, Truman Capote, William F. Buckley Jr., Tom Wolfe, and Bob Woodward. JRN 310 is not a prerequisite for this course.
JRN 312: Editing
Credits 3This course helps students become better editors through writing and editing their own work and the work of their peers, focusing on clarity, accuracy, style, length, content, and deadline pressure. Prerequisites: JRN 301 and 302.
JRN 315: Political Journalism
Credits 3This course helps students improve as political reporters and commentators by writing stories on public figures and elections as well as op-eds on public-policy topics. Frequent writing assignments will receive thorough critiques from the instructor and classmates. Students will read outstanding works in political journalism from past and present, coming to know both the qualities of excellent journalism and the people who have produced it. A secondary goal of the course will be to familiarize students with recent political history
JRN 317: Sportswriting
Credits 3This course teaches students how to write about athletes and sporting events by covering national events on television (such as the Super Bowl) as well as games on campus. Frequent writing assignments will receive thorough critiques from the instructor as well as classmates. A major assignment will require each student to attend a professional sporting event as a credentialed member of the press, sit in the press box or at the press table, and attend post-game news conferences. Students also will read classic works of sportswriting.
JRN 318: Issues and Themes in Journalism
Credits 3A close examination of particular topics in journalism, such as investigative reporting, freedom of the press, and ethics.
JRN 320: Radio Programming and Production
Credits 3An overview of radio broadcasting, both from the programming and business side. Topics covered include fundamental radio terms, audio production basics, AM vs. FM vs. streaming vs. podcasts, radio formats, ratings/audience measurement, news and public affairs programming, talk radio, music radio, sports radio, the FCC, producing great radio, and conducting interviews. Includes production work and projects in the WRFH 101.7 studios.
JRN 321: Elements of a Talk Show
Credits 3This course examines the design, planning, and execution of a successful talk show, building from show topic and mission statement to planning hours and rundowns to improving the product and air-checking. Includes discussion on producers and technical assistants with a focus on booking guests and conducting interviews. Time will be spend on how to keep listeners entertained, informed, and interested in the audio product. Students will study how to communicate ideas and stories to a mass audience.
JRN 322: Radio News
Credits 3This course is an intensive study of the writing, editing, and production of radio news. Students learn to write news stories while integrating audio news elements. Includes an introduction to journalistic writing and reporting techniques for radio, including interviews, story selection, and research. A secondary goal is an examination of new technologies and the evolving state of journalism.
JRN 323: Issues & Themes in Radio
Credits 3A close examination of a particular topic in radio, such as advanced production techniques, long-form storytelling and drama, or sports broadcasting.
JRN 340: Internship in Journalism
Credits 1 Max Credits 3By working at a newspaper, magazine, media website, radio station, television channel, or other journalistic enterprise, students gain essential practical experience. Recent internship hosts include the American Spectator, CNN, Daily Caller, Detroit News, Fox News, Humanities, National Review, Orange County Register, Philadelphia Inquirer, Santa Barbara News-Press, Tennessean, Wall Street Journal, Washington Examiner, Washington Post Express, and Washington Times. Students who secure journalism internships have the option of enrolling in this course, but it is not required. It does not count as an elective for the journalism minor.
JRN 350: Documentary Filmmaking
Credits 3Students will learn the art of documentary storytelling as a journalistic medium. Students will discover how to watch documentaries to evaluate not just what the story is, but how the story is told. Students will learn to identify and research compelling stories; shoot interviews and supporting footage; write scripts; and edit the final product. This will be a hands-on, practical course with students writing, editing and producing a variety of video documentary projects ranging in length from 3-30 minutes. All projects will be stories about Hillsdale College - its history, alumni, students, faculty, teams and programs. The majority of graded student coursework will be the videos that students produce.
JRN 380: The Collegian
Credits 1This repeatable course provides students with hands-on journalism experience at The Collegian, the campus weekly newspaper and website.
JRN 381: WRFH Radio
Credits 1This repeatable course provides students with hands-on journalism experience at WRFH 101.7 FM, the College's radio station.
JRN 393: Topics in Journalism
Credits 1 Max Credits 3One-credit courses listed under this number do not count as electives for the journalism minor except under special circumstances, such as participation in a fall or spring session of WHIP.
JRN 404: Advanced Writing
Credits 3This course is for good writers who want to become great writers, and especially for students on the brink of careers in journalism, communications, and public relations. Students will read examples of excellent writing, both old and new, but primarily they will produce and examine their own work through weekly assignments. Enrollment is limited to eight students and instructor permission is required.