Nevada Joint Union High School District

• Grade Levels: 9-12
• Repetitions for Credit: Yes
• Prerequisites: None
• *Pending CSU/UC “G” College Prep Elective Credit

This project-based course is designed to provide practical, specific journalistic experiences leading to the production of a professional Yearbook. The course goals focus on the expository aspect of the reading and reporting (oral and written), extensive practice in writing that goes through a thorough editing and revision process as well as substantial reading of expository sources and other materials that develop empirical skills, and rigorous training on written themes including body copy, interviewing, captions and headlines, plus visuals including photography and designing layouts. Students are expected to assume the responsibilities and self-discipline necessary to contribute to the success of such an organization. Students learn to appreciate the ethical dimensions of life while they search for information and gain a respect and understanding of the viewpoints others hold. Students will need to evaluate information and convey intricate or multifaceted information to the student body. Students will develop real-world skills such as meeting deadlines, teamwork, working with advanced and professional technology, communication skills and independent thinking skills.

 

This course is a capstone option in the Digital Media Arts pathway. Students will have successfully completed prerequisites in design, photography, or publications/ media production. This leads to a year of serving in a leadership role in production teams for student media as well as studying college and career options in a setting similar to an internship. Options will range from serving as the design editor in WED teams (Writer-Editor-Designer) as the chief design organizer and planner to serving as editors over larger staffs. Students learn about media production by leading student staffs to production of the school’s publications. The course offers instruction and practice in digital storytelling; copy writing and editing; proofreading; writing in a variety of journalistic formats; headline writing, design, photo management, and business, including entrepreneurship and social media tools for successful 21st-century media management.