JRNL 100H - Journalism and American Society. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. A survey of the history, development and role of the media in society, including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, books, the internet and social media. The course examines ethical, political, financial and other issues related to mass media. Also included is an introduction to media literacy and critical thinking about the media and its messages.

Gen Ed Attributes: Historical Studies, Democracy and Citizenship

JRNL 102Y - Calling Bullshit. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. This is a survey course about bullshit. Why is it so easy to make and so hard to combat? What are the goals of those spreading it? Why are the tools that democratizing publishing the very weapons used to spread misinformation? How do we become better consumers and producers of information? Students will learn basic critical thinking and media literacy skills to help them become smart media consumers.

Gen Ed Attributes: Democracy and Citizenship

JRNL 105X - Global Current Events. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. This deep-dive into the historical, cultural and political context of current news events allows every student to be “in the know” about world events.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural & International Diversity

JRNL 140A - Intro Radio/Audio Storytelling. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. If you’ve ever heard a great, creative audio story on a podcast, online or on the radio, this course teaches the basics skills to pull that off. Learn the art of using sound and stories together by making them.

Gen Ed Attributes: Expressive Arts

JRNL 170 - Writing the News. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. Learn basic techniques and style of news writing for online, print, broadcast and social media audiences.

JRNL 191 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

JRNL 194 - Seminar. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered autumn and spring. This course introduces freshmen to the world of journalism and its career opportunities. It also helps them to learn, understand and take advantage of university resources, and to develop time-management and study skills.

JRNL 257A - Beginning Video and Photojournalism. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. This hands-on introductory course in photo and video journalism explores visual storytelling and the tools used to produce quality still photo and video narratives. Students learn the technical, aesthetic and ethical aspects of digital photography and videography through weekly assignments.

Gen Ed Attributes: Expressive Arts

JRNL 270 - Reporting the News. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., WRIT 101 (or higher) or equivalent, JRNL 100H and JRNL 170. Learn to gather and verify information, then write and produce news stories for a variety of online, broadcast news and mobile news media.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing Across the Curriculum

JRNL 291 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

JRNL 300 - First Amendment and Media Law. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. At least Sophomore standing. Overview of issues related to journalism and the law. Exploration of free speech, libel, copyright, privacy, prior restraints, access and other First Amendment questions along with ethical problems peculiar to media news gathering.

JRNL 301X - Diversity in Media. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Examination of how both local and national news media portray communities of color as well as other diverse populations. Students use content produced by news outlets to discuss how journalists’ personal views and professional practices affect their coverage of unfamiliar communities and cultures. Over the course of the semester, professional journalists of color are invited to discuss their own beats and how their background affects their work.

Gen Ed Attributes: Cultural & International Diversity

JRNL 328 - Intermediate Photojournalism. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., JRNL 257A. Students develop technical photography skills and ability to tell stories with images. In this workshop-style course students shoot a variety of deadline assignments including sports, features, portraits, news, events, strobe photography and photo stories. Assignments may be published on local news outlets and social media platforms.

JRNL 330 - News Editing. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., JRNL 270. Learn how to fix bad writing and make good writing great. This class teaches line editing and the elements of AP Style, grammar and usage. It also teaches conceptual editing, news savvy and tips for managing reporters.

JRNL 331 - Digital and Interactive Reporting. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., JNRL 270. Students learn to produce reporting for different websites and digital news sources, with a special emphasis on using digital technologies to broaden sources for stories. Course will also explore the societal, business and ethical effects of these emerging technologies.

JRNL 332 - Social Media and Audience. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Students learn to identify different and distinct audiences and to identify specific groups and users of information. The will develop research skills and craft content for social media platforms tailored to reach and engage those audiences. Students will learn the basics of audience research and best practices for the major social media platforms.

JRNL 340 - Intermediate Audio. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., WRIT 101 or equivalent, JRNL 270 and JRNL 257A. Use of audio in news, interview and feature programs. Students will research, write, gather audio and produce audio segments and programs using digital audio equipment and studios. Students work with KBGA College Radio to produce daily newscasts for live broadcast.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing in the Disciplines

JRNL 342 - Multimedia Sports Announcing and Writing. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Students learn to research, produce and announce live sports broadcasts for audio and video audiences. They will also write preview and summary coverage for an online audience and use social media for reporting.

JRNL 350 - Intermediate Video Photography. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 257A. Students build digital video storytelling skills while working on weekly deadline assignments as well as an in-depth final project. Students will be introduced to high-definition video cameras and advanced non-linear video editing techniques and build on photojournalism skills introduced in JRNL 257A. Students produce television segments, including Business: Made in Montana, intended to air on MontanaPBS.

JRNL 351 - Intermediate Video Directing. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 350. Students learn the fundamentals of production and directing of studio-based television/video programming. Students direct commercials, promotions and news. Students work with Intermediate Video Reporting & Producing (JRNL 352) to create and produce newscasts.

JRNL 352 - Intermediate Video Reporting and Producing. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 270 and JRNL 350. Creation of video news stories and programs including story idea generation, research and interviewing techniques, sound selection, script writing, television anchoring and producing, video photography and editing. Works with Intermediate Video Directing (JRNL 351) to create news programs.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing in the Disciplines

JRNL 362 - Feature Writing. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., WRIT 101 or equivalent and JRNL 270. Take reporting and writing skills to the next level by reading, learning and writing creative and in-depth features. Adapt for journalism what you love about fiction: scenes, descriptions, arcs, character development, tension and conclusions. Satisfies the upper-division writing requirement within the major.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing in the Disciplines

JRNL 370 - Beat Reporting. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 270. Building on skills learned in Reporting and Elements of News Writing, students develop the necessary skill to navigate common reporting beats seen in newsrooms across the country. The course emphasizes both tenacious reporting and source development with accurate, confident writing all while under tight deadlines. Weekly assignments based on real-world reporting are commonly critiqued in-class with feedback geared toward improvement in both reporting and writing.

Gen Ed Attributes: Writing in the Disciplines

JRNL 383L - Hollywood and the War Correspondent. 3 Credits.

Throughout the semester, students will explore Hollywood's presentation of the war correspondent. We will view nine films from the 1940 to the present day in which the main character is a war reporter as well as non-fiction memoir and other work by war correspondents. The course aims to provide students with the critical tools to discuss and critique film and international journalism.

Gen Ed Attributes: Literary & Artistic Studies

JRNL 384 - Documentary Film History. 3 Credits.

Offered Spring. Examines the beginnings of non-fiction film through today. Students will gain an understanding of how the "real world" has historically been represented through film and how this may influence our current reality. Students write proposals and pitch their own ideas for a documentary film.

JRNL 391 - Special Topics. 1-9 Credits.

(R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

JRNL 392 - Independent Study in Broadcasting. 1-3 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. and broadcast faculty. Independent study in broadcasting issues of interest.

JRNL 396 - Advanced Journalism Problems. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr.  Independent study.

JRNL 400 - Ethics & Trends in News Media. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., JRNL 300 (for minors) or junior status for majors. The course examines the challenges and opportunities facing the news media's credibility and sustainability through studying cases and trends. Level: undergraduate and graduate.

JRNL 410 - Native News Honors Project. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 270 and consent of instr. In this professional publications class students research, report, write, and design stories about Montana's Native American communities. Students travel to Montana's Indian reservations to document in-depth stories under a single theme and produce a newspaper and a multimedia website. Students meet strict deadlines in this capstone course. Satisfies Capstone requirement. Level: Undergraduate

JRNL 411 - Reporting Native News. 1-6 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq. JRNL 370 and consent of instr. In this professional publications class students research, report, write, and design stories about Montana's Native American communities. Students travel to Montana's seven Indian reservations to document in-depth stories under a single theme and produce a newspaper and a multimedia website. Students meet strict deadlines in this capstone course. Level: Undergraduate

JRNL 412 - Magazine Production and Design. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered autumn. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. In this capstone course, students produce a journalistic print and online magazine. The staff includes editors, art director, writers, photographers, videographers, print and web designers and a social media team. Co-convenes with JRNL 640. Level: Undergraduate

JRNL 414 - Investigations. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 370 or JRNL 352. Learn how to hold powerful people and institutions accountable. This class teaches students how to report on crime, corruption and malfeasance of all types. Included are techniques for developing deep sources and digging through data to uncover stories that have impact. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 427 - Advanced Photo & Multimedia Storytelling. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 328. In this advanced course in photojournalism, students learn to research, shoot and edit photo stories. They hone their photography skills and vision, while working on several long-term projects, geared toward newspaper, magazine and online publications. Students learn multimedia techniques to enhance their photo stories with writing, video, audio, graphics and social media. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 428 - Freelance Photography. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 328. This workshop-style class centers on editorial, commercial and retail photography. Students work on-location and in the photo studio. Students produce adventure portraiture, astrophotography, music/concert photography, product and food illustrations, fashion projects and travel stories. The course covers copyright, contracts, branding/promotion, pricing, stock and assignment photography, licensing, negotiation and the cost of doing business as a freelance photographer. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 430 - Print & Web Editing & Design. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Introduction to basic graphic design principles including visual hierarchy, typography and color. Students will develop visual design skills as they create logos, resumes, informational graphics, concert and movie posters, book covers, newspaper front pages, magazines and websites. Students learn Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and content management systems. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 433 - Marketing Your Work. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 270. Learn how to freelance and get paid for it. Develop your big idea. Create the next media success story. This class teaches the business of freelancing including pitching stories, negotiating contracts, filing invoices and understanding taxes. It also requires students to think like an entrepreneur and create a media project. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 440 - Advanced Audio. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., JRNL 340 or consent of instr. This is the class to take if you're curious about exploring an audio career. You'll do creative, in-depth stories with lots of individual instruction, while learning the next-level skills required for podcasting and radio work. The class produces a professional project. This satisfies the capstone requirement. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 470 - Campaign Coverage. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn of even-numbered years. Prereq., consent of instr. Students will provide multi-platform coverage of Montana’s statewide candidates and ballot measures for a network of commercial and public news organizations. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 471 - Covering the Legislature. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered spring of odd-numbered years. Prereq., JRNL 370 or consent of instr. Students will earn 1-6 credits producing coverage of Montana's biennial legislative sessions for newspapers, broadcast stations and the web. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 472 - Opinion Writing. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., JRNL 370 or consent of instr. Having an opinion is just the beginning to expressing it persuasively. This course teaches well-researched, well-written subjective writing with a focus on both arts criticism (movie reviews, music, books) and longform reported op-eds. Advanced level course for writers who like writing. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 473 - International Reporting. 3 Credits.

(R-9) Offered intermittently. Prereq., JRNL 270 or consent of instr. Prepares students to report internationally and to develop global sources for local stories. History and practice of foreign correspondence. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 480 - Reporting Video News. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 352. Teams of students report, write and produce weekly newscasts for online and television audiences. They get experience working on deadline as reporters, photographers, video editors, producers and anchors. Level: Undergraduate

JRNL 481 - Advanced Video Photo and Directing. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 351 or consent of instr. Students work as a team in a television control room to record weekly mini-newscasts for online and television audiences. They get experience working on deadline as directors. and they learn to control studio cameras, audio, graphics and video playback. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 482 - Advanced Video Storytelling. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., JRNL 350 or consent of instr. Teams will generate story ideas about Montana issues, businesses and people. Students will research, write, photograph, interview, edit and create long-form video programs. The programs generated in this course are intended for air on commercial and public television stations. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 484 - Daily News. 1-3 Credits.

(R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of instructor. Students will report, write, produce, anchor, direct and technical direct daily television news updates to be made available to commercial and public television stations in Montana. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 488 - Student Documentary Unit. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. In-depth examination of documentary film history and techniques and production of a video/television documentary on a topic of importance in Montana. Students will research, report, write, photograph, edit and promote the film intended for air on public and commercial outlets. Co-convenes with JRNL 412. Level: Undergraduate

JRNL 491 - Special Topics. 1-9 Credits.

(R-9) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 494 - Pollner Seminar. 3-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., Consent of Journalism Director. Seminar on a topic selected by the T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor. Topics will range from journalism history, ethics, practices and performance to current issues in the news media. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 495 - Journalism Field Studies. 1-6 Credits.

Prereq., consent of instr. Through backcountry or community travel, an experiential examination of field-based reporting skills, story structure, non-fiction writing/production skills. Includes workshop-style critique of writing and expert interviews. Offered by the Free Flow Institute. Level: Undergraduate/Graduate.

JRNL 498 - Supervised Internship. 3 Credits.

((R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., Junior status and consent of instructor. Open to students with the appropriate intermediate skills. Students are required perform 160 hours of work for news, communications, and media organizations. They will enroll for three credits and repeat for a maximum of six credits. All internships must be pre-approved by the faculty internship supervisor. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 499 - Capstone/Senior Thesis. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

JRNL 505 - Journalism and Society Seminar. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., graduate standing. Discussion and research about current journalism issues related to environmental science and natural resource journalism. Study of relevant traditional and online research methodology. Level: Graduate

JRNL 557 - Video Essentials. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. This course prepares graduate students with limited or no experience with video storytelling to incorporate video into their master's projects or portfolios. Students will learn to shoot and edit video and to write for the format. Level: Graduate

JRNL 567 - Press/Broadcast Law. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing. Examination and discussion of state and federal court cases affecting the mass media, with emphasis on First Amendment issues. Level: Graduate

JRNL 570 - Reporting Environmental Science and Natural Resource Issues. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., graduate standing. Principles of news gathering through records, documents, meetings, observation of events, and interviewing with a focus on coverage of environmental science and natural resources. Producing news and feature accounts for broadcast, print and digital media. Perspectives on reporting standards and practices especially related to natural resource news. Level: Graduate

JRNL 575 - Story Lab. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing. Journalism students are paired with UM researchers for a practicum on telling the stories of scientific research for a general news audience. Level: Graduate

JRNL 590 - Methods in Journalism Research. 3 Credits.

Prereq., consent of the graduate program director. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the back ground and objectives of the student. Level: Graduate

JRNL 591 - Special Topics. 1-8 Credits.

(R-8) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Graduate

JRNL 592 - Independent Study. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., consent of instr. Production and direction of studio and remote television programs. Level: Graduate

JRNL 594 - Seminar. 1-9 Credits.

(R-9) Offered intermittently. A review and discussion of current research. Topics vary. Level: Graduate

JRNL 599 - Professional Project. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Planning, research and execution of a major project in print, photographic or broadcast journalism. Level: Graduate

JRNL 620 - Covering Native American Issues. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Researching, writing, photographing and/or editing in-depth special reports on issues that affect the Indians who reside within Montana's borders. Co-convenes with JRNL 410 and JOUR 411. Level: Graduate

JRNL 640 - Montana Journalism Review. 1-3 Credits.

(R-6). Offered spring. Prereq., consent of instr. Intensive laboratory experience in all phases of magazine publication, including writing, editing, layout, design, production and distribution of an annual publication of the School of Journalism. Co-convenes with JRNL 412. Level: Graduate

JRNL 650 - Graduate Broadcast Newsroom-Editorial. 3 Credits.

(R-6) Prereq., Consent of instr. Students fulfill all duties necessary to produce a weekly television newscast, including reporting, producing, directing, anchoring. Co-convenes with JRNL 480 and JRNL 481. Level: Graduate

JRNL 688 - Graduate Documentary. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., Consent of instr., graduate standing. Students conceive, research, report, photograph and edit a television documentary intended for broadcast on Montana PBS. Co-convenes with JRNL 488. Level: Graduate

JRNL 690 - Research in Journalism. 1-9 Credits.

(R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of the graduate program director. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the back ground and objectives of the student. Level: Graduate

JRNL 691 - Special Topics. 1-9 Credits.

(R-9) Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

JRNL 692 - Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

Offered every semester. Prereq., Consent of graduate director. Allows appropriate independent research in journalism or media/communication issues related to natural resource and environmental issues. Level: Graduate

JRNL 698 - Externship. 1-3 Credits.

(R-3) Offered every term. Prereq., JRNL 570. Practical experience working for news media and other approved businesses, agencies or organizations focused on natural resource issues, industries or scientific research. Level: Graduate

JRNL 699 - Thesis. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Research and writing of master's thesis. Level: Graduate