Journalism
This one-semester writing-intensive course is a survey of the history, ethics, practices, and methods of newspaper and magazine journalism. Using professional style rules, students learn how to write articles in the areas of news, features, editorials and sports. Additionally, students write leads, headlines and captions and learn key elements in graphic design, photojournalism, multimedia, social media, and advertising. The course includes a heavy emphasis on the rights and responsibilities of student journalists. Journalism I is highly recommended for students interested in applying for a position on the staff of The Kirkwood Call, the school newspaper, or The Kirkwood Pioneer, the school yearbook.
Magazine Journalistic Writing II
Magazine Journalistic Writing II is a learner lab in which students create The Kirkwood Pioneer under the guidance of an adviser. Students learn design and photographic composition skills. Emphasis is placed on such writing skills as clarity, sentence variety, syntax and journalistic style rules. Students are expected to edit copy and design. Students will work with each other to develop layouts and create and gather all elements necessary for spread: photographs, captions, graphics, copy and ethics consistent with responsible journalism. Students are also required to sell advertising. At least 15 after-school hours are required of students each month.
Newspaper Journalistic Writing II Honors
Students taking the honors section of this course will be responsible for leading a staff of their peers as they produce the The Kirkwood Call, the school news magazine and The KirkwoodCall.com website. As editors, students will be expected to serve as role models for their staff members. Students will oversee teams of students producing elements for the newspaper and website in the areas of news, editorials, sports, features and entertainment, photography, art, graphic design and advertising. Each member will be responsible for some aspect of production. Student editors can expect to spend approximately 30 hours a month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines.
Students taking Photojournalism I learn to operate a digital SLR camera, using all manual settings. Photographic composition and developing a photographic eye are key outcomes of the course. Photography assignments and activities are based on the principles of both photography and journalism. Media law and ethics, as it applies to photojournalists, will be studied. No equipment or previous photography background is needed, only an interest in photography and photojournalism.
Magazine Journalistic Writing II Honors
Students taking this course for honors credit will be responsible for leading a staff of their peers as they produce The Kirkwood Pioneer, the school yearbook. As editors, students will be expected to serve as role models for their staff members. They will oversee teams of students producing various pages and elements of the yearbook, including writing, photography, art, graphic design and advertising. Each member will be responsible for some aspect of production. Furthermore, student editors can expect to spend approximately 30 hours a month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines.
Students taking Multimedia Broadcast produce the live broadcast of KHTV and create content for TheKirkwoodCall.com, which includes daily news and school announcements, news story packages, promos, and public service announcements. Students work in a lab environment under the guidance of student producers and an adviser as they master various skills including camera work, interviewing, digital editing, pre-and post-production, and advertising and promotions. Students will be expected to meet daily and long-term deadlines on project-based, out-of-class assignments. Students spend approximately 20 hours each month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines.
Newspaper Journalistic Writing II
Students taking Newspaper Journalistic Writing II will be responsible for producing The Kirkwood Call, the school news magazine, and TheKirkwoodCall.com website. Students will produce issues of the The Kirkwood Call during the school year and be responsible for production of the Turkey Day football program when the game is in Kirkwood. Students will work in teams to produce elements for the newspaper and website in the area of news, editorials, sports and features, photography, art, graphic design and advertising. Each member will be responsible for some aspect of production. Students are also required to sell advertising. Students are expected to spend approximately 15 hours a month outside of class, independently and/or during publication deadlines.