Journalism and Public Relations course offerings include:

--Intro to Broadcast
--Public Relations
--Mass Communication
--Magazine Production (The Crowder Quill)
--Digital Photography and Photojournalism
--A media internship
--All levels of newspaper journalism (the award-winning Crowder Sentry - View online).

Benefits of journalism classes:

Membership on the staff of a quality magazine or newspaper looks great on any resume. Furthermore, in the graphic arts and publishing fields, computer desktop publishing experience is a must. In all career areas, the analytical, problem-solving and group communication skill you would gain as a staff member would be invaluable to your future or present employer.

All classes count as general electives for any major at Crowder. Additionally, these courses are requirements for the Journalism and Public relations major at Crowder. For both publications, a staff of diverse talents and abilities is needed, including those adept in art, design, writing, organization, creativity, and public speaking. Students are welcome to join either or both staffs.

The Crowder Quill

Magazine Staff

The Crowder Quill is an art and literary magazine and contest for the high school, college and the community. Although the Quill is a hands-on learning experience, it is not a writing course. As a staff member, your main responsibility would be to produce the magazine, an 80+ page publication. The staff judges entries of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, or art to decide which entries will be published in the magazine. Then, students design the magazine using computer desktop publishing technology. Students also organize and host an awards ceremony. To be a part of the Quill staff, students should enroll in Comm 111 Magazine Production for three credit hours.

Newspaper Staff

The Crowder Sentry was recently recognized as the “Best in State” for community colleges since its 2007 editions and has also received national recognition. It offers hands-on experience in the basics of journalism including interviewing and reporting as well as the latest trends and software for desktop publishing, online newspapers, and digital photography. Advanced journalism techniques include writing editorials, cartooning, and investigative reporting. To be a part of the Sentry staff, students should enroll in Comm 150 Intro. to Journalism. Scholarships are available to first-time staff members with a recommendation by a high school counselor or instructor or by a college English instructor.

Other journalism Classes:

* Digital Photography and Photojournalism - Photography is now totally digital and doesn’t use the darkroom. Photoshop editing software is used; photojournalism principles are also emphasized.

* Mass Communication - Students learn about media such as radio, TV, newspaper, magazines, advertising. Students also take tours and hear guest speakers.

* Internship (all areas) – This is a recommended course for students planning on finding a job after graduating Crowder rather than transferring to a four-year institution. The internship gives real job experience and often leads to a full-time position. One recent student interned at KSN and is now the morning show producer. Journalism prerequisites must first be completed.

* Intro to Public Relations – This class gives students hands-on experience in public relations activities such as writing news releases and publicizing events.

* Intro to Broadcast – This course is taught by KSN anchor Jim Jackson and explores the history as well as current trends in broadcast journalism.

Newspaper sequence:

* Comm 150, Intro to Journalism - This course focuses on basic reporting and interviewing skills as well as an introduction to layout.

* Comm 151, News and Feature Writing

* Comm 250, Computer Journalism, Layout and Production

* Comm 251, Journalistic Editing

* Applied Journalism: Comm 152 (the Sentry – online, 1 credit hour): The online version of the Sentry is offered for any student who would like to learn basic reporting skills. Students in Nevada, Webb City, Cassville, and McDonald County (or Neosho) may be a part of the newspaper experience in a limited way compared to the regular 3-credit-hour class.

* Topics in Journalism: Comm 171 (specified involvement for the Sentry – online, 1 credit hour) This special topics course is provided for students interested in participating in the Sentry in a specialized capacity such as in advertising, photography only, sports writing only, graphic design (Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop), cartooning, and website management of our new online edition with Facebook.

All classes are open to all students, not just journalism/PR majors. However, there are prerequisites for some courses: Eng. 101, for example, as a prerequisite for Intro to Journalism and other journalism courses. See the current catalog for official course descriptions.

Financial information:

For A+ eligible students interested in journalism, Missouri offers only two community colleges with a degree that will transfer to a four-year institution. One of those programs is Crowder College’s award-winning program. The Crowder Sentry competes against several colleges that have newspapers but not transfer programs, or these colleges have programs that recently ceased.

Crowder is also one of the few community colleges in Missouri that offers affordable on-campus housing.

A+ students receive full tuition waivers to Crowder College. In addition, a limited number of scholarships is available for incoming students in the journalism program, which may be applied toward books, housing, and other fees. Applicants need a high school reference and enroll in Comm 150 Intro to Journalism, which comprises the beginning staff of the Crowder Sentry. Top editorial staff positions receive more sizable scholarships.

Degree requirements for Associate of Arts Degree in Journalism and Public Relations

General Education Core: 43 hours

Highly recommended that Spanish be taken to fulfill a humanities requirement if transferring to Missouri Southern State University and other four-year institutions. For best transfer experience, check the requirements for the transferring institution.

Plus Major Courses: 15 hours = 5 courses

1) Comm 101 Intro. to Mass Communications (3)

Offered spring only, this course introduces all media, including journalism and public relations.

2) Comm 102 Intro. to Public Relations (3)

Offered fall only, this course introduces the theory and principles of public relations, including planning, special events, speeches, news releases, and research. It is designed for students interested in public relations or related fields in mass communications.

3) Comm 150 Intro. to Journalism (3) [Crowder Sentry newspaper]

This is an applied journalism course in which Sentry, the student newspaper, is used as a model for the forms and purposes of all phases of journalism: newsgathering, feature writing, layout, advertising and photography.

4) Comm 151 News/Feature Writing (3)

This is the second of two required semesters of working on the Crowder Sentry newspaper and explores advanced writing techniques.

5) Comm 111 Magazine Production (3) [Quill magazine]

This class provides experience in producing a magazine based on literary/art contest submissions. It is not a writing-intensive course but does promote team work, design and layout skills, and public relations activities.

And Approved Electives: 3 hours = 1 course

Comm 130 Photography and Photojournalism I (3)

Comm 160 Intro. to Broadcasting (3)

Comm 225 Internship (3)

Comm 250 Computer Journalism, Layout & Production (3)

Comm 251 Journalistic Editing (3)

Students planning to obtain a job upon graduation instead of transferring to a four-year institution are encouraged to complete Comm 225 Internship. Revised 8-08 L. Bailey

Catalog Course Descriptions

For Courses Offered in Journalism and Public Relations

COMM 101 3 Credits

Intro. to Mass Communications

This course surveys the principles, history and development of mass media. The roles and effects of radio, television, newspapers, magazines, film, books, advertising and the recording industry in the political, social, economic and philosophical life of today are examined. (Spring)

COMM 102 3 Credits

Introduction to Public Relations

This course introduces students to the theory and principles of public relations. It is designed for students interested in public relations or related fields in mass communications. (Fall)

COMM 111 3 Credits

Magazine Production

This course involves students in the magazine process from the collection of raw material through layout and design to the circulation of the finished product.

(Prerequisite or co-requisite: ENGL 101) (Spring)

COMM 112 3 Credits

Magazine Production

This course involves students in the magazine process from the collection of raw material through layout and design to the circulation of the Quill, Crowder’s community literary/art magazine.

(Prerequisite or co-requisite: COMM 111) (Spring)

COMM 130 3 Credits

Photography and Photojournalism I An Introduction to the essential process and practices of photography, this course emphasizes digital imaging and manipulation as well as photojournalism principles and skills. ( SLR) (Fall-Sprg)

COMM 131 3 Credits

Photography and Photojournalism II

This course continues COMM 130 (Photography and Photojournalism I) with further emphasis on lighting and shooting procedures. Digital darkroom techniques, such as editing, enhancing, manipulation, and restoration, are extended to include creative printing and photo illustrations. Emphasis will also be placed on story telling with newsworthy images. (SLR). (Fall-Spring)

COMM 150 3 Credits

Introduction to Journalism

This is an applied journalism course in which Sentry, the student newspaper, is used as a model for the forms and purposes of all phases of journalism: newsgathering, feature writing, layout, advertising and photography. (Prerequisite or co-requisite: ENGL 101) (Fall-Spring)

COMM 151 3 Credits

News and Feature Writing

Instruction and practice of gathering news materials, writing news reports and logos, rewriting, and preparing photos for layout will be given in the production of the Sentry. (Prerequisite COMM 150) (Fall-Spring)

COMM 152 1 Credit

Applied Journalism

By special arrangement with the instructor, students may work on the Sentry for one hour credit. They may work as a reporter, photographer, ad salesperson or computer operator. Students work independently through instructor assignments. (Fall-Spring)

COMM 160 3 Credits

Intro. to Broadcasting

This course will acquaint students with the historical development of the broadcasting industry; students will gain an appreciation of the roles of broadcasting in a free society and the role government and regulation played in the development of broadcasting. (Spring)

COMM 171, 172, 173/ 271, 272, 273

1-3 Credits

Topics in Communication

This course involves the study of selected topics in communication, journalism, and media-related fields that require greater emphasis, different methodology or are not covered in regular classes. Topics are identified by title in the class schedule. May be repeated if a different topic is covered. (Upon request)

COMM 225 3 Credits

Internship

Students enrolled in this course gain first-hand experience on the job, working 135 contact hours during the term in a program designed by the sponsor, student, and instructor, as a “capstone” experience. Internships may be completed in newspaper techniques, broadcast, advertising, public relations, or other approved media-related fields. Prerequisite: Successful completion of at least 15 hours in related field and instructor approval. (Pass/Fail)

COMM 250 3 Credits

Computer Journalism, Layout and Production

This course places emphasis upon the use of the computer, using QuarkXpress page layout programs. The Sentry will provide practical journalistic experience. (Fall-Spring)

COMM 251 3 Credits

Journalistic Editing

Emphasis upon the practices and principles of copy reading, headline writing, illustration, staff selection, copy layout and printing through editorial experience on the Sentry. (Prerequisite: COMM 250) (Fall-Spring)

COMM 252 1 Credit

Applied Journalism

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please call the Crowder College journalism department at 417-455-5410 or email journalism program director Latonia Bailey: lbailey@crowder.edu.