Writing for Mass Media

Writing for Mass Media (JMC 2033) is a course that prepares students to develop professional writing and communication skills. The class focuses on how to use words in proficient manners to create messages that can be easily understood. The students will learn to put words into context and send messages to create verbal messages.

To be enrolled in Writing for Mass Media, a student must meet the prerequisite of passing the University of Oklahoma Language Skills Test (LST) and have a sophomore level standing. Each field of journalism: print media, broadcast media, public relations, and advertising will be explored. The students will learn the importance of being critical reader, thinker and media literate, to understand how the media works.

A few of the course goal includes merely improving the students writing and thinking as a writer. Students will learn to correct grammar, punctuate, edit, and establish a clear message in their writing. Another goal is to adapt to the media style of writing and build media literacy. Students will practice different types of media writing. As well, they will learn to understand core values of their profession and define their interest, which will help students find what area of mass media they are most skilled in. Lastly, Writing for the Mass Media will help a student develop professional skills that will help them make ethical and moral decisions.

The course is broken into two classes, lab and lecture. The lecture, taught by Kathryn Jenson White, focuses on the concepts of professional writing and communication skills. Daily quizzes will be given in the first ten minutes of the lecture everyday. In the lab, students will practice writing and language. The lab instructors will coached and help the students become better writers. The lab counts for 50 percent of the students grade and the quizzes and exams count for 25 percent.