This introductory online communication course focuses on methods required to create and maintain websites for basic publications, while emphasizing skills and concepts most relevant to beginning online journalists, public relations practitioners and communication professionals.
Students who complete this course will learn:
Two books are required for this course: Mark Briggs' Journalism Next and Molly Holzschlag's Spring into HTML & CSS. These are available online or at the campus bookstore. This course also requires that you read and comprehend handouts provided by the instructor -- this often requires work at home. This course website is also updated regularly and students must keep up with its changes.
Simply put, students cannot do well in Journalism 355 without regular attendance and participation. Each unexcused absence in this course results in a full letter reduction in the final grade. Coming to class late qualifies as an unexcused absence.
To clarify: If you averaged 95% on quizzes and graded projects and miss four classes without documentation, your average will be a 55% -- an F. Each undocumented missed class results in a 10% reduction in a student's final grade. Your final grade is non-negotiable.
Be prepared to provide medical documentation for any absence to avoid this grade reduction. Any student texting during lecture or class activity will be asked to leave. This also counts as an unexcused absence.
The Orion is not considered an acceptable excuse for tardiness or absences; you will be penalized with the same severity as any other unexcused absence. Please inform me if you are pressured to miss class by an editor or other superior at the newspaper.
Throughout the semester a series of exams will be given that address class material, with special emphasis on reading material. These are multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank format and graded in class.
These exercises are not formally graded, instead a credit-no-credit method is employed that influences your existing grade. The failure to complete one or more of these exercises will result in the same deduction as an unexcused absence -- 10 percent of your final grade. There are several of these exercises throughout the semester, including, but not limited to, the following:
Your first website requires four individual and linked HTML documents that may build on your initial single HTML page. Each HTML document is linked to the same CSS document created by the student.
The subject of this site is usually the student's portfolio, although there is no restriction on material, so long as there is no copyright infringement. Each student will present their personal website to the class.
Your final project is a website produced for a client that will be put online and meant to demonstrate skills learned during the semester. Students create and edit content (stories, photos, video), as well as design and development the website where content appears. Individual students roles will be assigned during midsemester.
Below 60: Failing grade (F)
If you have a disability and require special accommodations, please see me after class to discuss possible arrangements with ARC.
Matthew Blake Department of Journalism CSU-Chico
mdblake@csuchico.edu (530) 898-3608