Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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COM 308 - Public Affairs Reporting and Writing


Description:
Students will learn more advanced methods of writing and reporting of journalistic stories for print and online media, with a focus on how to cover public affairs news beats. Course will be offered every year (Fall).

Prerequisites:
Prerequisites: COM 226, and admission to the communication department majors.

Credits: (5)

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Identify key sources on their public affairs “beat” who can be regularly interviewed to reveal stories important to their news outlet’s audience.
  • Locate and recognize where all the different important public affairs beats conduct their business and their key players and issues
  • Recognize the difference between records and documents available to the public and those that aren’t and how to request and use them for stories.
  • Recognize the difference between what/when/how government councils/commissions/committees can legally discuss government business in private versus what and when and how they must do so with public notice and in the public eye. 
  • Write public affairs stories that include backgrounding, interviews, documents, data and observation that are relevant to their audience.
  • Write stories about government agency meetings that are accurate and relevant to local readers
  • Use social media to help cover public affairs beat and to disseminate stories and engage with their audience.

Learner Outcomes Approval Date:
5/18/17

Anticipated Course Offering Terms and Locations:



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