Writing for Mass Media Overview

Make a note: Writing for Mass Media is no longer just for journalists. Public relations, meteorology, and even chemical engineering majors can benefit from taking this course. It will teach its students how to gather information, trim that information into a story, and endlessly edit until a deadline is reached. Kathryn Jenson White, this semester's professor, is adamant in teaching her students how to gain the knowledge of a well-trained writer, so they may successfully apply those lessons to the field of their choice.

It is of upmost importance that a successful writer be able to properly edit their own work. That is why a large part of this class involves exercises in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and copy editing. With quizzes given during the first 10 minutes of lecture over the AP style book and drills from the Stovall text, proper writing becomes second nature, allowing the student to develop a style for their specific career path.

Writing for Mass Media will not only teach its students how to effectively and efficiently write articles for their chosen career, but also for careers outside their specific focus. As Professor Jenson White says, "You can't call yourself just a print journalist or just an advertising copywriter." Having experience in all realms of media writing will benefit students by teaching them to be more self-sufficient in their own field, yet more marketable to a multimedia community.