JOURNALISM (Course #1080)
Journalism, a course based on the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts and the Indiana High School Journalism Standards, is a study of news elements, journalism history, First Amendment law, ethics, fact and opinion, copy editing, news, and features as they apply to print and digital media products. It includes a comparison study of journalistic writing to other types of English writing with practical application of news, features, editorials, reviews, columns, and digital media writing forms. For the second credit: Students continue to develop journalistic writing skills in addition to studying graphic design, advertising, public relations, photojournalism and emerging media development and design. By the end of the semester, students write, shoot, and design stories for print and digital media products.
Recommended Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 • Required Prerequisites: none • Recommended Prerequisites: none • Credits: 1 or 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester. Second credit may be subtitled Advanced to allow for a successive semester of instruction at an advanced level. • English/Language Arts credit (1080): Journalism course work addresses the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, the credits accrued can be counted as part of the eight (8) required English/Language Arts credits for all diplomas • Counts as an Elective for all diplomas • NOTE: This is not a student publications course. The designated school newspaper or yearbook course is Student Media (1086).
• High School Journalism Standards
DIGITAL MEDIA (Course #1084)
(Revised November 2020 • formerly Mass Media • Mass Media standards still apply) Digital Media, a course based on the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts and Media Literacy Standards, is a study of media literacy and production skills. This course examines the impact of informational, narrative, and persuasive media on everyday life. This course will focus on changes in media and includes practice in broadcast journalism, audio/visual storytelling, multimedia storytelling, as well as different platforms such as online and social media. Students will analyze local, national, and global media through the lens of law, ethics, and social responsibility. Students use course content to become knowledgeable consumers and producers of media. For the second credit: Students continue to develop media production skills in addition to continuing critical media analysis. By the end of the semester, students write and produce media projects.
Recommended Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 • Required Prerequisites: none • Recommended Prerequisites: none • Credits: 1 or 2 semester course, 1 credit per semester. Second credit may be subtitled Advanced to allow for a successive semester of instruction at an advanced level. • English/Language Arts credit (1084): The Digital Media course work addresses the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, credits accrued can be counted as part of the eight (8) required English/Language Arts credits for all diplomas. • Counts as an Elective for all diplomas
• Digital/Mass Media and Media Literacy Standards
STUDENT MEDIA (Course #1086)
(Revised November 2020) Student Media, a course based on the High School Journalism Standards and the Student Media Standards, is the continuation of the study of Journalism. Students demonstrate their ability to do journalistic writing and design for high school media, including school newspapers, yearbooks, and a variety of other media formats. Students follow the ethical principles and legal boundaries that guide scholastic journalism. Students express themselves publicly with meaning and clarity for the purpose of informing, entertaining, or persuading. Students work on high school media staffs so that they may prepare themselves for career paths in journalism, communications, writing, or related fields.
Recommended Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 • Required Prerequisites: none • Recommended Prerequisites: Journalism, Digital Media, or teacher recommendation • Credits: 1 semester course, 1 credit per semester. The nature of this course allows for successive semesters of instruction at an advanced level or in different media types where defined proficiencies and content standards are utilized. • Counts as a Directed Elective or Elective for all diplomas • Fulfills the Fine Arts requirement for the Core 40 with Academic Honors. • NOTE: This is the designated School Media course, including newspaper and yearbook.
• Student Media Standards
Class titles and descriptions are from the Indiana Department of Education 2023-2024 course catalog. Any questions about the Indiana journalism, digital media, and student media courses may be directed to IHSPA Executive Director Ryan Gunterman at rgunterman@franklincollege.edu.
*page updated June 14, 2023