Course Syllabus

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MSCH-J360 (32120)

Social Media & Journalism

Class meets

Tuesday/Thursday 3:55-5:10 pm, Franklin Hall 215 (FF 215)

 

Instructor

Dr. Taeyoung Lee

 

Course description

As social media have altered the way that audiences find, consume, and share news, using social media effectively has become an essential aspect of journalism today. This course is designed to critically examine the impact of social media on journalism and how individual journalists and news organizations use social media platforms to reach and interact with audiences, gather and share news, and build their own brands.

 

You may use social media in your everyday lives, but this does not necessarily translate into effective usage of social media in a journalistic setting. This course will educate you on how to utilize social media effectively, fairly, ethically, and safely as a journalist with specific focuses on:

  • Implications of social media for news consumption and distribution
  • Best practices in journalistic use of specific social media platforms
  • Dangers and threats social media pose to journalism and democracy

 

Throughout this course, you will gain hands-on experience by creating content suitable for certain social media platforms and investigating analytical methods to determine the efficacy of social media outreach. You will also be equipped with skills and knowledge about social media by obtaining several certificates. Given that the social media landscape evolves rapidly, each of you will play a critical role in assisting your peers in moving forward in this ever-changing environment.

 

Learning objectives/outcomes

By the end of this semester, you will be able to:

  • Comprehend how news publishers, journalists, and audiences use major social media platforms
  • Effectively, fairly, and ethically use social media for news gathering, distribution, and audience engagement
  • Produce compelling journalistic social media content and effectively promote it
  • Strategically use social media for professional branding and build up your social media presence
  • Develop a professional portfolio demonstrating your proficiency in using social media journalistically
  • Recognize the risks associated with social media and know how to protect yourself
  • Identify misinformation and verify information on social media platforms
  • Understand audience engagement tactics and use tools to measure the effectiveness of using social media platforms

 

Grading structure

Letter grades are assigned in this course as presented in the table below. The grade you receive will be the grade published on Canvas following the final quiz. Since Canvas keeps track of all of your grades, you should always be able to calculate your current grade in the course.

A+

100% to 97%

A

< 97% to 93%

A-

< 93% to 90%

B+

< 90% to 87%

B

< 87% to 83%

B-

< 83% to 80%

C+

< 80% to 77%

C

< 77% to 73%

C-

< 73% to 70%

D+

< 70% to 67%

D

< 67% to 63%

D-

< 63% to 60%

F

< 60% to 0%

 

Assignments 

Social media content creation

400 points total; 100 points each (40%)

Final group project

200 points (20%)

Social media observation and critique

150 points (15%)

Quizzes

100 points total (10%)

In-class assignments

100 points total; 25 points each (10%)

Social media certification

50 points (5%)

Total

1000 points (100%)

 

Course delivery method & Attendance

This is an in-person class. Regular attendance and active engagement are essential for success in this course. Attendance will be recorded at the beginning of each class but will not negatively affect your grade. However, students with an attendance rate of 95% or higher will earn 1 extra credit point toward their final grade.

 

 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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