COURSE SYLLABUS: INTERNET JOURNALISM

Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

Partner Institution: Universidad Latina Heredia (Latin University Heredia)

Course Title (English): Internet Journalism

Course Title (Spanish): Periodismo en Internet

Sessions Offered: Semester

Instructional in: Spanish

Classroom Contact Hours: 45

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4 quarter units        

Prerequisites: Advanced Spanish I

Course Code: PD05

Course Description

The rise of the Internet as a communication medium requires journalists to adapt a new form of agile, immediate and very versatile communication for broadcast news and information.

The future journalist should understand its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, with the aim of expanding his or her range of employment opportunities and developing skills for success in this specialized environment.

Course Objective

• Apply digital tools for Internet journalism in different projects.
• Study digital journalism trends in Costa Rica and the world.
• Become familiar with the characteristics of the web newsroom.
• Apply writing rules for internet publishing.
• Develop multimedia application and editing skills for online journalism.
• Take advantage of different forms of interaction with the public on the Internet.

Program Schedule

Unit I
Trends in the world of Internet journalism

• History and evolution of electronic journalism.
• Early versions of web media.
• Comparison between the printed journal and electronic journal.

Unit II

Costa Rica’s experience in the field of online journalism

• Critical analysis of the characteristics of the print media, radio and television and their web versions.
  

Unit III

The web newsroom
• Basics of web wording.
• Structure of web wording.
• Models of personal or integrated writing.
• Profile of the online journalist.
• Virtual newsroom components and functions performed by journalists.

Unit IV
General characteristics of journalistic writing on the Internet:
• The construction of a text for instantly updated reading.
• The news on the Internet.
• Characteristics of products for the web.
• Updating information in real time.
• Importance of segmenting audiences.
• Interdisciplinary relationships between journalists and other professionals.

Unit V
Multimedia Editing
• Creating a script for audio
• Using audio editing software (Audacity)
• Producing a podcast
• Construction of a script for video
• Use of video editing software
• Real-time Video (Applications)
• Data management and infographics
• Digital Applications for building infographics
• Photography: Photo proper use for internet

Unit VI
Forms of interaction with the public through the Internet
• Social networks
• Magazines, newspapers, eBooks, press releases
• Blogs, chat, forums, surveys, as means of interacting with the public.
• Video, Webinars

Course Activities

Course Methodology

The course promotes projects and practice through the study, analysis, application of different software and new tools used in Internet journalism. It also includes reading and analysis of web products as well as participation in forums through the virtual classroom.

The classes are participatory with practical applications designed for the student to apply knowledge and develop skills that enable them to serve as a web journalist.

As a final project, the future journalist will design a product for the web which integrates the knowledge acquired and applies the tools studied during the course.

Course Evaluation

• Presentation of project draft                                 20%
• Project part 1                                                 20%
• Applications and exercizes                                20%
• Homework and readings                                10%
• Presentation of Final Project                        30%

Rules, Conduct, Guidelines, Special Recommendations

Classes start on time.  Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy.  Three tardies equal one absence.  Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates three (3) or more absences fails the course.

All assignments must be handed in on the due date.

Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented emergencies.  If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the professor and make arrangements.

There is a 17,000 colon charge for make-up tests/activities which require the professor´s presence.

The University provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Academic Coordinator as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Approved accommodations will not change the basic elements of the course/class.                                                                          100%

Bibliography (Text and Materials)

• Diaz. N. (2002) Digital Writing: Hypertext and introduction of informative speech in electronic journalism. University of the Basque Country.
• J. Flores (2003). Ciberperiodismo. Mexico: Editorial Limusa.
• Vilomar J. (2000) Journalistic Writing for the digital generation. Spain: Editorial Universitas.
• Crucianelli. S. (2009) Digital tools for journalists. Knight Center for Journalism.
• Canavihas. J. Webnoticia. Proposed a model newspaper for www.
• Camus. J. You have 5 seconds. The Daisy Model. Creative Commons
• Full legal text of this license at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/cl/legalcode
• Vargas. E. (2010) Reflections on Journalism. Creative Commons
• Vargas. E. (2011) Google +: A guide for journalists. Creative Commons
• Piticelli. A. (2010) Post-University Facebook Project. Fundación Telefónica

Attendance Policy

Classes start on time.  Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy.  Three tardies equal one absence.  Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates four (4) or more absences fails the course.

Description of Special Assignments/Activities

Plagiarism in any form or manifestation will not be tolerated and will carry very severe consequences that range from a grade of 0 in the course the expulsion of the student from the program.

Other Expectations, Rules, Conduct Guidelines, Special Recommendations:

All assignments must be handed in on the due date. Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented emergencies.  If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the professor and make arrangements.

There is a 17,000 colon charge for make-up tests/activities which require the professor’s presence.

The University provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Academic Coordinator as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Approved accommodations will not change the basic elements of the course/class.

Contact Information:

SOL EDUCATION ABROAD

EMAIL: info@soleducation.com

WEB: www.soleducation.com

PHONE: 512.380.1003

FAX: 512.287.4886        

MAIL: 503 Oakland Ave. Austin, TX 78703

(Translation of the syllabus from the Universidad Latina, Heredia)