Graduate Calendar Archives: 2000 / 2001

Journalism and Communication

The School

The School of Journalism and Communication offers courses leading to the degree of Master of Journalism. (For a description of the degrees of Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Communication, see p.228.) The emphasis in the M.J. program is on advanced professional education for those who are or intend to become practising journalists in the news media. In practical terms, this entails both the polishing of professional journalistic skills to a high level of proficiency and advanced education in a related field of study. Provision is made also for students who wish to undertake research in journalism and mass media.

Following a common first year of professional coursework, students in the master's program will choose one of three areas of concentration in their second year of study:

Specialized Print Reporting

At present, specializations are offered in the fields of politics/public administration, international affairs, and economics/business. Others may be added as resources become available.

Broadcast Journalism

The focus of this specialty will be the study of advanced techniques in reporting, writing and producing programs for the broadcast media.

Journalism Studies

This program is designed for applicants who have mastered the skills of reporting and writing for the news media but who wish to spend a year studying their craft and/or the news industry. This specialty encompasses a number of topics, which include the role of the media in society as it is conceived by selected social and political theorists, communications law, politics nd the media, the economics of the media, and journalism history.

Carleton's School of Journalism and Communication is uniquely situated for advanced journalism study. It offers ready access to many of the people and institutions that most directly influence Canadian affairs: Parliament, federal government departments and agencies, embassies, business and labour organizations, and major economic and cultural institutions.

Master of Journalism

Admission Requirements

Admission will be selective. Admission will not be guaranteed to all who meet the published minimum requirements, as there are many more qualified applicants each year than there are available spaces.

A student who holds a bachelor's or master's degree from a recognized university in a field other than journalism may be admitted to the first year of study if he or she achieved at least high honours standing. Such students who complete the core first year, outlined below, and meet the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Section 11 of the General Regulations section of this Calendar (see p.60), may proceed to Second year.

Applicants who have a three-year journalism degree with high honours standing may be admitted to a First year made up largely of approved courses from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences and Public Affairs and Management. Such students may proceed to the second year of study if they have achieved high honours standing.

A limited number of spaces will be made available for direct admission to the Second year of the M.J. program. Students must normally possess one of the following qualifications to be considered for this advanced admission: a B.J. (Honours) or the equivalent with high second-class standing, or a degree in another discipline from a recognized university plus at least five years of professional experience in journalism, or long and distinguished professional experience in journalism. Students with suitable professional qualifications but no degree may occasionally be admitted to a program in which they take a required number of undergraduate courses in addition to the M.J. program.

Application is made on forms available from the School of Journalism and Communication. Students applying for the first year of the program are advised to apply by June 1 as enrollment in the School is limited. All applications received after June 1 will normally be considered only for entry into the program in the year following.

As a condition for graduation, all students are required to have a minimum of four months of practical experience in the media, and a working knowledge of a second language, preferably French.

Program Requirements

First Year

Candidates admitted to the first year of the Master of Journalism program must complete the following courses before proceeding to the second year of study:

* Journalism 28.500

* Journalism 28.520

* Journalism 28.522

* Journalism 28.526

* Journalism 28.528

* Journalism 28.541

* 1.0 credit of approved electives

First year M.J. candidates may be considered for advanced standing in certain of the above required courses, but in such cases will be required to replace waived courses with approved options.

Second Year

Credits will be determined according to the stream pursued:

Specialized Print Reporting

(i) Journalism 28.558

(ii) Journalism 28.570

(iii) Journalism 28.571

(iv) Journalism 28.576

(v) Journalism 28.598

(vi) 1.0 credit of approved electives in the student's area of specialization

Note: Under special circumstances, and with the School's approval, a student could replace items (iv) and (v) and 0.5 credit elective in item (vi) above with a 2.0 credit M.J. Thesis, Journalism 28.599.

Broadcast Journalism

(i) Journalism 28.558

(ii) Journalism 28.572

(iii) Journalism 28.573

(iv) Journalism 28.576

(v) Journalism 28.598

(vi) 1.0 credit of approved electives in the student's area of specialization.

Note:Under special circumstances, and with the School's approval, a student could replace items (iv) and (v) and 0.5 credit elective in item (vi) above with a 2.0 credit thesis, Journalism 28.599.

Journalism Studies

(i) Journalism 28.500

(ii) Journalism 28.550

(iii) Journalism 28.599

(iv) 2.0 credits related to the study of the media, chosen in consultation with the Supervisor of Graduate Studies.

Academic Standing

Full-time students in a 10.0 credit M.J. program are advised that their thesis or research essay proposal must be formally approved within eighteen months of initial registration. Students in a 5.0 credit program must have the proposal formally approved by the middle of their second term of full-time registration. Due dates for part-time students will be adjusted accordingly. Students failing to file a proposal may not be permitted to register in subsequent terms until this requirement has been met. Approval of proposals shall be the responsibility of a thesis committee appointed by the Director of the School.

Students are advised to consult the General Regulations section of this Calendar for other regulations relating to academic standing.

Graduate Courses

F,W,S indicates term of offering. Courses offered in the fall and winter are followed by T. The number following the letter indicates the credit weight of the course: 1 denotes 0.5 credit, 2 denotes 1.0 credit.

First Year

Journalism 28.500F1 or W1

Journalism and Society I

An introduction to analysis of the news media in Western society, considering classical arguments and contemporary trends in the scholarly assessment of journalism practice.

Journalism 28.520F2

Print Journalism Laboratory

A laboratory course in basic reporting and editing techniques, followed by application in the print media.

Journalism 28.522W2

Broadcast Journalism Laboratory

A laboratory course in reporting and editing in the broadcast media.

Journalism 28.526F1, W1

Reporting Methods

Topics covered will range from interviewing and observation skills to conducting a title search, lodging an access to information request and interpreting data.

Journalism 28.528F1, W1

Public Affairs Reporting

A course devoted to understanding selected political, economic and social issues, and to analytical reporting on timely issues under professional conditions.

Journalism 28.535F1 or W1

Perspectives on Modern Society

A seminar course examining texts from the social sciences, philosophy, literature, and journalism for the contribution they make to an understanding of issues facing modern industrial society.

Journalism 28.541F1 or W1

Journalism Law

This course prepares journalists to function comfortably within the legal and ethical guidelines governing their occupation. Topics include: contempt of court; free press, fair trial; revealing of sources; civil defamation; obscenity; privacy; government secrecy.

Second Year

Journalism 28.550F1, W1

Journalism and Society II

A critical examination of the conduct of the news media, exploring the social, political and economic contexts in which the media work and assessing the consequences of journalism practice for contemporary society.

Prerequisite: Journalism 28.500 or permission of the School.

Journalism 28.558F1, W1

Professional Practices: Specialized Media

A workshop course designed to give students instruction in specialized areas such as radio documentary, video documentary, film documentary, editing, magazine writing, photojournalism. Not all specialties will be offered each year. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as Journalism 28.428« for which additional credit is precluded.

Journalism 28.570T2

Advanced Reporting (Print)

Students will explore and apply advanced journalistic principles and practices through a combination of readings, discussion and reporting in specific areas.

Journalism 28.571T2

Reporting and Online Publishing

This course is designed to enhance reporting and editing skills through online publishing of electronic newspapers and/or news-

magazines.

Journalism 28.572T2

Television Journalism

A seminar combining critical analysis of television journalism and practical skill development in television reporting, writing and production.

Journalism 28.573T2

Advanced Reporting (Broadcasting)

Enhances television and radio reporting and production skills to include news features and mini-documentaries, preparation and presentation of public affairs programs, and multimedia delivery.

Journalism 28.576F1, W1

Professional Practices

Students examine current journalism practices in a critical and analytical way, and explore ways of producing thorough and investigative journalism. Guest speakers share their expertise and skills.

Journalism 28.580F1 or W1

Survey Methods for Journalists

An examination of basic research design and data collection with emphasis on problems of interpretation.

Journalism 28.588F1

Directed Readings

Students, working under faculty direction, will undertake an intensive reading schedule in order to pursue a subject area of particular interest.

Journalism 28.589W1

Directed Research

Students, working under faculty direction, will develop and undertake a research project in order to pursue a subject area of particular interest.

Journalism 28.590T2, S2

Directed Studies

Reading and research tutorials.

Journalism 28.591F1, W1, S1

Directed Studies

Reading and research tutorials.

Journalism 28.598F2, W2, S2

M.J. Research Project

The student will complete a substantial piece of public affairs journalism; or a research project on the media; or a document that makes a major contribution to journalism education. The format of the MRP will be determined by the stream of study.

Journalism 28.599F4, W4, S4

M.J. Thesis

To fulfill the requirements of this 2.0 credit thesis course, students must produce a major piece of journalistic research or complete an academic thesis in the area of journalism studies.