We would like to introduce you to the world of journalism Northeastern style. Northeastern has a long tradition of combining academics through its programs and faculty with professional experience offered through its Cooperative Education program. As a student in our undergraduate journalism program, you will be introduced to the working world of journalists and public relations practitioners. Through Coop, you will put your academic knowledge and your talents to work. In addition to your classroom work, we strongly suggest that you include Cooperative Education in your plans so that you too can have a taste of our world before you graduate.

The School of Journalism is part of the College of Arts and Sciences. The curriculum is designed to give you a broad understanding of world civilization, of the sciences, of languages, as well as a competent grasp of professional skills. You will emerge from the School with a well-rounded base of knowledge and an abiding curiosity.

We encourage you to explore our Home Pages completely. Review the School of Journalism and the College of Arts and Sciences requirements. Check out our faculty's Home Pages. And then give us a call at 617.373.3237 if you want to talk to a real person.

Newswriting I and Newswriting II: In these two courses, you will learn the basic forms and styles of journalistic writing, as well as reporting, which includes such skills as fact-gathering, effective use of the library and government documents, observing people and events, and interviewing people thoroughly and sensitively. You will learn how to cover news events, including fires, accidents, speeches, meetings and press conferences. Most of this reporting will be done outside the classroom, covering news events along with professionals in the field. These two courses should give you the training you need for your first co-op job as well as for more advanced journalism courses. Students interested in broadcast and public relations have found that the basic newswriting skills give them the ability to write clear, logical prose that provides crucial background for all their courses and for their co-op jobs. You should plan to complete these courses during your freshman year so you will have the necessary skills for your first co-op experience.

Interpreting the Day's News: This is a great introduction to the world of journalism and the various careers you may choose in broadcasting, newspapers and magazines, and public relations. Professionals, including reporters and editors from both print and broadcast outlets and public relations practitioners frequently speak to these classes about their work.

Computer-Assisted Reporting: This course will help students become familiar with and proficient in the use of a wide variety of resource materials available to journalists for research-based stories today, and take a look at what the future might hold. The course incorporates use of the computer lab, lectures, out-of-classroom assignments and the internet.

History of Journalism: In this course, you will gain a rich perspective on how our profession developed in America, and you will see how society has shaped media and how our media have shaped society. Class topics include the First Amendment, the press and the presidency, war coverage, and the rise of broadcasting and the Internet

Law of the Press: This course will teach you about libel and other major legal issues for journalism and other media-related careers. You will take a critical look at landmark cases.

Journalism Ethics and Issues: Should you let the subject read your story and suggest changes before it's published? Should you go "undercover" to try to get a story? Are you able to fulfill every claim your press release makes? Questions like these come up every day for everyone in the business of mass communications. This course will teach you the importance of developing a sense of journalistic integrity by using case studies of actual situations.

Visual Storytelling: Visual Storytelling is an introduction to the visual aspects of journalistic storytelling. The class will study the principles of shooting, editing, writing and graphic design, along with the historical development of visual narrative. Students will critically examine how journalists tell stories with visuals, and consider the broader implications of these practices.

Print
Print courses provide intensive preparation for newspaper and magazine work. Students progress from the basic skills of thorough and accurate reporting and clear writing learned in the core newswriting courses to advanced techniques of investigative reporting and feature writing in advanced print courses. Techniques of Journalism is an intensive writing course in which you will sharpen your research and interviewing skills and learn to evaluate your own writing. In Local Government Reporting, you can expect to write stories each week as you cover government and politics, develop sources and develop story ideas. Design and Graphics will help you understand the fundamentals of effective page design and introduce you to graphic design and page layout by computer (desktop publishing).

Broadcast
Broadcast journalists need much the same news-gathering skills as print reporters and editors. But they also need to learn the special tools and techniques of broadcast news. Four courses, Radio News Gathering and Writing, Television Newswriting, Television News Production and Television Documentary cover this territory. In them, you'll learn to sum up major news stories in the concise style required when you have seconds, rather than pages, to tell your story. You'll learn to select just the right excerpt from a taped interview to highlight the issues and emotions involved in the news. And you'll learn how to combine moving pictures and words to tell people about a news event. Students in the broadcast concentration also learn the skills involved in making a TV documentary.

Public Relations
Students interested in public relations can take PR Principles, PR Practice and PR Problems. These courses will familiarize you with the practice of public relations as, an important management function. Courses examine the historical development of and social influences on public relations; the role of public relations in society and in organizations; the relationship between the news and the PR business; and the legal and ethical issues facing public relations practitioners. You will conduct research, gather information and interview, analyze PR campaigns and solve problems; write news releases, brochures, speeches and letters; and plan and evaluate your own public relations campaign.