Purpose

This is an introductory online communication course that focuses on skills required to create and maintain websites for basic publications. This course teaches skills and concepts most relevant to beginning online journalists, public relations practitioners and communication professionals.

The final project is the real-world application of these skills. News-editorial students will produce an online magazine, CatBytes. Public relations students will produce a website for a local business.

Student learning outcomes

Students who complete this course will learn:

• Basic understanding and application of Web languages (XHTML, CSS)
• How to create an original online publication
• How to research and find information using the Web
• Writing for the Web
• Basic standards-based design for online journalism and public relations
• How to create original informational graphics for journalism and public relations
• Photographic reproduction for the Web
• How the Internet and Web operate
• The history of the development of the Web and Internet
• Contemporary uses of technology by journalists and public relations professionals

Books and materials

One book is required for this course: Molly Holzschlag's Spring into HTML and CSS is used for instruction of basic web languages. This book will be complemented with my weekly handouts that will be delivered via the course schedule.

You are also required to download and read parts of Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive by Mark Briggs. You can get it here.

Please purchase a USB card (flash drive) to save your design work, both inside and outside of class. I recommend at least 512mb capacity.

Plagiarism, cheating & lateness

Plagiarism in this course will result in the student's course grade being an "F." This includes the duplication of code and the presentation of non-original graphics as one's own. There is no excuse, especially in a journalism course. If a test is not taken or presentation deadline not met, a doctor's note is required for an extension to be considered. Without a legitimate doctor's note, a missed exam will result in a grade of zero.

Dropping the class

You may drop classes via the Portal without restriction until Sept. 1. After that date you must document (i.e. provide written evidence) a "serious and compelling reason" to drop and obtain the signature of the course instructor and the department chair on a Change of Program (COP) form. After the fourth week of classes, the signature of the college dean is also required. After the fifth week, you will be required to pay the Records Office a $10 fee to process a COP form. For details, see the University Catalog .

Disabilities

If you have a disability and require special accomodations, please see me after class to discuss possible arrangements.

Meetings

TR 11-12:15
Tehama 312

Contact

Tehama Hall 339
530-898-3608
352-225-1440 (cell)
mdblake (at) csuchico.edu

Office hours

Tehama 339
M 11-12, 3-4
T 1-2
W 11-12, 3-4