JOUR 5174: Magazine Editing and Production
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Basic Information
Prerequisites
Course Description
Expected Competencies
Competency Goals
Assignments and Activities
Workload
JOUR 5174: Magazine Editing and Production(3 credits)
- Single section course
- Capstone course
- Lecture and lab depending on production cycle
Prerequisites
- Major status
- JOUR 3004W, JOUR 3101, and (JOUR 3155 or 3173 or 3321 or 4302)
Course Description
Journalism 5174 is the SJMC's capstone practicum in magazine writing, editing, photography, graphic design, and production. Students will study concepts of magazine communication and form with a special concern for how words, pictures, and design can be combined effectively. Over the semester the class will create and produce a professional quality single-theme magazine. During this process students will experience firsthand the organization and working of an editorial and production staff, and the implications of specific divisions of labor and working relationships.
Expected Competencies
Students who have enrolled in 5174 should have already taken or be concurrently enrolled in Jour 3004W, 3101, [3155 or 3173W or 3321 or 4302], [jour major or approved IDIM najor or ICP major or BIS major], or grad student. All students should have the following skills:
- An ability to work in groups
- A familiarity with conmercial magazines
- An ability to find and evaluate appropriate sources of information
- An advanced knowledge of the fundamentals of English mechanics, including sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation
- A familiarity with story editing and copy editing
- A familiarity with computer page design programs
Competency goals for 5174
Jour 5174 is an advanced skills-based course designed to teach journalism majors the fundamentals of magazine editing, design, production, and distribution. It is a lab course which replicates real-world working conditions. Class participation is essential, as is the ability to work collaboratively. It is designed to teach students six interrelated skills:
Writing
- Story ideas
- Reporting
- Accuracy
- Style
- Story structure
Design
- Software mastery
- Topography
- Mastery of style grids
- Understanding color and hue
Text Editing
- Mix of stories
- Copy editing
- Proofreading
- Headlines, cutlines, credits
Image Editing
- Quality of images
- Appropriateness of image to story
- Use of type as a graphic element
Marketing and Production
- Appropriate subject matter for target audience
- Distribution
- Meeting production requirements and deadlines
Team Dynamics
- Ability to work as a group to make editorial decisions
- Ability to take instruction from student editors and art directors
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to take responsibility and to assess needs and take initiative to fill them
Writing assignments
- First day interview and write up (400 words)
- Magazine critique (800 words)
- Magazine story assignments (400-3000 words, depending on assignment)
Design assignments
- One-page flyer
- 11x17 color poster
- Four-page magazine article
- Magazine layout assignments
Magazine production
- Completing job application with references, clips, and portfolio materials
- Brainstorm magazine theme, department, and story ideas
- Edit, copy edit, fact check articles
- Produce and follow magazine style sheet and color pallettes
- Create production schedule
- Follow deadlines
- Evaluate funding and advertising options
- Create a distribution plan
Additional activitiesto complement assignments and instruction
- Guest speakers from Twin Cities magazine industry
- Visit to printer
Workload
Workload will vary depending on the type of position that the student receives. Everyone will write, everyone will be able to use the design program and have an introduction to design basics and grids.
Some students will edit copy, some will fact check, some will take pictures, some will do layout and design work. All will meet required deadlines. Individuals will function as part of the staff of a magazine.
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