Division: Language & Communication Studies
The Journalism Department is responsible for the production of the COS student-produced newspaper, The Campus. Students can gain invaluable hands on experience — seldom offered to students in their first two years at a four-year college — in all areas of news production including news, feature, opinion writing, photojournalism, design, podcasting, streaming, videography, drone journalism, social media for professionals, cartooning and illustration, event planning and leadership.
There are no prerequisites for the student news media classes so non-majors are encouraged to join to gain practical workplace skills such as meeting deadlines, working on a team, approaching people and management.
Students enrolled in the student news media classes are offered the opportunity to attend a regional journalism conference in the fall and a statewide convention in the spring when they may compete, attend workshops, take college and media tours and network with students from other colleges and reps from four-year colleges and universities.
In addition, the courses in “Mass Communication” and “Cultural Issues in Film/TV/Web” also meet a transfer requirement in Area 4 for the CSU and UC transfer.
Contact Information
Language and Communication Studies Division Chair
Cynthia Johnson | (559) 730-3966 | cynthiaj@cos.edu
Kaweah: 251C | Visalia Campus
Dean of Arts and Letters
Richard Lubben | (559) 730-3735 | richardl@cos.edu
Tule: 550 | Visalia Campus
For a complete list of courses and descriptions visit: COURSES
JOUR 001 Writing for New Media
3.5 unit(s)
An introduction to gathering, synthesizing/organizing and writing news in journalistic style across multiple platforms. Includes role of the journalist and related legal and ethical issues. Students will report and write based on their original interviews and research to produce news content. Experiences may include covering speeches, meetings and other events, writing under deadline and use of AP Style. While student work may be eligible for use in student and/or professional publications, this is not a publications class. (C-ID JOUR110)
JOUR 007 Mass Communication
3 unit(s)
A media survey course covering newspapers, radio, television, magazines, books, films, the web, public relations/advertising industries, and the recording industry. Students will study strengths and weaknesses of each, as well as the major challenges to a democratic society including censorship, sensationalism, pornography, propaganda, and monopoly. (C-ID JOUR100)
JOUR 011 Intro to Digital Photography
3 unit(s)
This course is designed for students who want knowledge of digital camera practices ranging from basic to advanced levels, basic Photoshop and computer skills. The course will give students practical publication experience and an opportunity to publish their photographs in The Campus student newspaper in print and online.
JOUR 020 Cultural Issues in Film/TV/Web
3 unit(s)
An in-depth study of social and cultural issues such as ethnicity, gender and politics through the prism of film, television and the Internet.
JOUR 114 Editorial Board: Beginning
2 unit(s)
This course is for student editors and other students interested in participating in The Campus student newspaper. Course content includes basic leadership skills, how to work under deadline, newsroom management, beginning opinion writing and editing, general editorial development and beginning multimedia. Two lab hours required each week by arrangement.
JOUR 115 Editorial Board: Intermediate
2 unit(s)
JOUR 115 is a course for student editors and other students interested in participating in The Campus student newspaper. Course content includes leadership skills, including peer mentoring, newsroom management, opinion writing, editing, new and emerging media including visual journalism and open journalism, social media, multimedia, and marketing a news operation. Two required lab hours to be arranged per week.
JOUR 116 Editorial Board: Leadership 1
2 unit(s)
Journalism 116 is a course for student editors and other students interested in serving as leaders of The Campus student newspaper. Course content includes intermediate leadership skills, including peer mentoring, managing a staff, organizing a news operation, and being in charge of a section of the paper.
JOUR 117 Editorial Board: Leadership 2
2 unit(s)
Journalism 117 is a course for experienced student editors of The Campus. Course content includes advanced leadership skills, managing a newsroom, dealing with personnel issues, and complaints against the paper, edit flow, story assignments and financial aspects of the paper.
JOUR 130 Media Practicum I
4 unit(s)
This course provides entry level practical experience in all aspects of producing a newspaper through work on The Campus. Course content includes writing, editing, multimedia, and general editorial development. This class meets an additional six hours per week by arrangement with the instructor.
JOUR 131 Media Practicum II
4 unit(s)
This course requires higher skill level and/or leadership/management involvement than
JOUR 130. Intermediate student media practicum regularly produces The Campus, a First Amendment student newspaper, both print and online, which is distributed to the college audience and the community. Course content includes weekly news assignments across multiple platforms, including print, broadcast, and online. This class includes practical experience in design/layout, visual, online, multimedia journalism, emerging technologies and leadership/management. The Campus is student produced with student leadership. This class meets an additional six hours per week by arrangement with the instructor. (C-ID JOUR131)
Journalism
Menezes, Judy
B.A., California State University, Fresno
M.A., California State University, Fresno