Journalism - Photojournalism Major

In today's rapidly evolving media landscape, social media has become an indispensable tool for journalists to disseminate news, engage with audiences, and cultivate a digital presence. This comprehensive course on Social Media Management in Journalism is designed to equip aspiring and practicing journalists with the essential skills and strategies needed to navigate the dynamic intersection of journalism and social media.

Building on the basics in Writing for Journalism, students will develop news and feature stories from different settings, and on different topics. The theory and practice of long-form feature writing will also be introduced.

Pre-requisites:

• WRIT 230

This foundation course will examine the tools used to tell journalistic stories online. The focus will be on contemporary content management technology used by newspapers to present photos, written stories, video, and rich content to a global audience.

Corequsites:

• PUBL 261

Equivalents:

• JOUR 219

Journalists are required to make decisions regularly about whom to talk to and use as sources, what information is appropriate to publish and what is not, and how to balance the competing demands of public versus private interests. Challenges related to the public sense of biases in news content, including AI-generated content, is an ongoing concern. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the practice of ethical decision-making in journalism. Topics that will be introduced include sourcing practices and issues of personal privacy, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #86, manipulation by, and of, the media, censorship and self-censorship, artificial intelligence, coverage of libel and slander laws in Canada and the right to be forgotten.

Building on the introduction they received in first year to straight news and feature writing, students in this course will work on more complex assignments, including long-form news features and specialized types of news stories.

Pre-requisites:

• JOUR 251

Marketing Essentials is an introductory course offering you a solid foundation in marketing principles. Working individually and in teams, you will research and discover how marketing decisions are made and identify the components of sustainable marketing programs. Your research, content application and teamwork skills will be developed and reinforced as you progress through the course.

Equivalents:

• MKTG 1060

This introductory level course explores the technical fundamentals of digital photography as it relates to print and online news media. Learners will develop competency in proper camera handling, image acquisition, and computer workflow techniques.

Building further on the technical concepts previously introduced in the program, this course focuses on the use of the photographic medium in journalistic storytelling. Through the use of still images and text, learners will discover the importance of visual communication in today's multiplatform media industry.

Pre-requisites:

• PHOT 216

An introductory course in which students become familiar with relevant computer systems and the SAIT network. The student will then be introduced to numerous industry relevant software programs vital to their future success in journalism.

The basic concepts in creation of graphic elements will be the main topic of this course. The design, production and editing of info graphics for print page layouts and online will be covered. The course will also introduce learners to the planning and organization of print publications such as magazines and newspapers.

Corequsites:

• JOUR 254

News stories must be researched before they can be written. In this course, students will learn how to develop information for stories, with an emphasis on interviewing and online information gathering. Specific research sources, including governments and experts, also will be covered.

WRIT 230, Writing for Journalism, is an introduction to writing in news style for beginning journalists. In addition to learning to present information for print and online readers, essential writing skills such as grammar, punctuation, capitalization and spelling will be emphasized.  Identification of newsworthy information, basic news story elements and structure, writing techniques and self-coaching methods are also covered.

This course introduces the second-year photo major to advanced location lighting concepts and practices as they relate to photojournalism. Students will gain experience using artificial light sources to photograph individuals and small groups on location and in the studio to create impactful and storytelling images. Environmental portraiture is emphasized, however studio portraiture will also be covered. The course provides the important element of practical experience through lighting workshops, seminars, and lectures, in-studio but predominantly on location.

The learner will develop the technical skills necessary to complete assignments for newspapers, wire services and magazines adhering to strict deadlines. The focus will be on the history and importance of photojournalism, perfecting industry relevant workflow, developing an understanding of the current marketplace and the needs thereof, editing images in the field, transmitting images and networking with industry professionals.

In this course, photojournalism students will learn advanced image editing, archiving and web site development as well as how to produce promotional material. Students will create a photographer's website, a set of computer monitor calibration profiles, a searchable catalog of their photographs, a business card and a computer configuration optimized for efficient processing of pictures.

This course builds on the foundations of lighting acquired in PHOT 320. Advanced methods of studio and location lighting will be covered, but with a more applied approach. Students will be tasked with covering a variety of realistic photographic editorial, corporate, and advertising assignments requiring a more sophisticated lighting approach. These assignments will be generated by the instructor as well as the student.

Pre-requisites:

• PHOT 320

The learner will build on the technical skills learned in PHOT325 to develop into a skilled photojournalist capable of creating publication ready images for daily newspapers, wire services and news magazines. On going mentoring and consultation with the learner's instructor/photo editor and working professionals in workshop settings will help the learner develop their skills.

Pre-requisites:

• PHOT 325

This advanced course builds on the fundamentals of documentary photojournalism acquired in PHOT 336, and explores both video and still imagery as a form of storytelling for an online audience. This is a project-oriented course which allows the learner to combine their journalistic and creative skills to tell compelling and poignant stories visually. Although video is emphasized in this course, students will not be restricted to one visual medium, and in fact will be encouraged to combine both mediums in an appropriate manner for their final project.

Pre-requisites:

• PHOT 336

Learners will complete a practicum work placement at a digital or print-based journalism, editorial, corporate, or non-profit enterprise. The practicum is an opportunity for learners to apply the skills they have learned in the photojournalism program towards a real-world employment situation where visual storytelling and communications are integral. With instructor guidance, learners are encouraged to seek their own work placements that utilize the many different photojournalism-based skill sets they have acquired over the past four semesters including photography, picture editing, writing, editing, videography, interviewing techniques, video editing, public relations, social media, layout and design, and many others. The learning benefit of a practicum comes from the experience of working in a real-world assignment/media environment, working alongside professionals in the field, and receiving feedback from the employer during and after the work placement.

Pre-requisites:

• PHOT 320
• PHOT 325
• PHOT 336

Business Law outlines the Canadian legal system in the context of a business environment and empowers students to apply the law and make informed decisions concerning their legal affairs. Emphasis is placed on the construction of the judicial system, the resolution of disputes, tort law, contract law, business structures, and employment law. These legal principles are applied to personal and business scenarios. Upon completion, students will have an understanding of when to seek legal advice.

Equivalents:

• BLAW 2030

Perhaps no component of marketing has undergone the degree of change as advertising. And yet, despite the abrupt and sweeping conversion from analog mediums (print, broadcast and out of home) to digital mediums (social media, websites, mobile and more) the main goal of advertising remains the same as it was nearly 400 years ago. To attract attention. Once a privilege enjoyed by the elite or enormously wealthy brands, the onset of digital communication has made effective advertising, for pennies on the dollar, accessible to everyone from an individual for a fortune 500 company. This course will introduce core concepts in advertising, such as objectives, strategies, on both, the creative and media buy sides of the industry. Advertising theory will be applied using case studies and a term project that will assemble a media buy plan as well as a creative brief. Additionally, learners in this course will be required to earn certification in two Meta online courses: Digital Marketing Associate & Creative Strategy Professional.

Pre-requisites:

• MKTG 260

Equivalents:

• MKTG 4040

In this course, you will develop a practical approach to using digital, social and mobile platforms that achieve business goals. Current applications and tools, community management practices and legal/privacy issues related to digital marketing tactics will be examined. Teams will develop a digital plan that specifies the use of email, websites, SEO, social media and mobile marketing, all with the goal of targeting and delivering effective communication to digital media-savvy audiences. An emphasis is placed on the return on digital marketing investment and on building relationships that lead to a culture of trust.

Equivalents:

• MKTG 1265

Building and Managing Brands  explores the intangibles, such as corporate culture, as well as the tangibles, such as product differentiation, which help attain and maintain brand equity in the market. Rapidly emerging business trends, such as corporate social responsibility, are also featured, which help shed light on what companies are doing to separate their brand from competitors. Students will produce a brand book and plan to manage a brand.

Pre-requisites:

• MKTG 260

Equivalents:

• MKTG 2306

Business Development is defined as the creation of long-term value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships. This course will look at the relationship between traditional transactional sales, relationship selling and the evolution of the Business Development function. Market scanning and analysis, and the identification of potential growth markets, and key customers will be examined. Relationship, customer-centred selling techniques will be developed including relationship building, needs analysis, along with after sales customer care. Managing a sales force is explored including the effective organization of a sales department, forecasting and analyzing sales, recruiting and training a sales force, evaluating performance, and legal and ethical issues within the sales profession.

Equivalents:

• MKTG 2366

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) represents the "Promotions" P of the marketing mix. An IMC Proposal includes campaign messages and their translation into each of the elements of the marketing communications mix along with a proposed budget and evaluations for success. In our fast paced marketplace, messages need to be on target and on brand. Integration in business is imperative. Working in teams, each student will experience the planning process for IMC. This course offers the students case analysis, creative development structure, and facilitated problem solving, to develop a unified IMC proposal.

Pre-requisites:

• One of:
  • MKTG 260
  • MKTG 265

Equivalents:

• MKTG 2375

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to fundamental skills in critical thinking. You will develop skills in identifying fallacies, evaluating formal arguments, and diagnosing the appropriate form of argumentation in a variety of areas, including science and morality. Your skills in argumentation will be honed both in evaluating others' arguments and in making your own.

Equivalents:

• PHIL 1011

The emphasis of this course is for the learner to develop the business skills required to successfully freelance in the editorial, advertising and corporate marketplaces and to develop several portfolios of their work in multiple platforms which will showcase their talents and be used as tools to gain freelance employment.

This cooperative work term course provides the opportunity to apply your classroom learning in a practical workplace setting, as well as gain valuable industry experience. This course is optional.

Pre-requisites:

One of the following sets of pre-requisites, as applicable to your program of study:

Information Technology Services

• CPNT 224, CPRG 217, CPSY 204, CPSY 206, and PHIL 241

Software Development

• CPRG 211, CPRG 250, CPSY 200, CPSY 202, and PHIL 241

Information Systems Security

• ITSC 204, ITSC 205, ITSC 206, ITSC 302, and LAWG 200

New Media Production & Design

• MMDA 225, MMDA 237, MMDA 243, MMDA 244, and MMDA 247

Film and Video Production

• FVDO 250, FVDO 252, FVDO 254, FVDO 256, and FVDO 258

Journalism

• JOUR 251, JOUR 254, JOUR 258, PHOT 256, and PUBL 261

Interactive Design

• CPRG 218, DSGN 221, DSGN 227, MMDA 203, and PMGT 200

Integrated Artificial Intelligence

• ARTI 407, ARTI 408, ARTI 409, DATA 480, and PROJ 407