Photojournalism

Photojournalism

The photojournalism minor helps to build a strong visual communication foundation that may be used in a variety of career paths. Students experience challenges ranging from photo story production to small product and fashion work. Class time is spent in the iMac-equipped Publications Lab or just down the hall in the studio.

Each year photojournalism students have the opportunity to participate in the Southeast Journalism Competition and the Baptist Press Collegiate Journalism Conference Contest. Union students consistently bring home top awards in these events.

Spring of each year brings the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference held in Fort Worth. Union not only takes a large group of students to the event, but also serves in a lead role in the direction of the event. Students also take several short one-day trips yearly to nearby locations to visit with professionals in the field.

Each year there are a number of unique opportunities. For instance, this year journalism/photojournalism students went to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to assist in media coverage of Awana’s Returning Hearts Celebration. Inmates are allowed one day a year to visit with their children without a wall between them. Sixteen stories were written and hundreds of photographs were taken to help tell the story of this unique moment.

Minor Requirements: Photojournalism Minor-19 hours COM 121*, 236*, 326, 336, 346, 426

*Students whose major requires COM 121, 236* may substitute with courses from: ART 232; COM 360, 327, 481.

 

COM 121 Writing Across Media Platforms

Introduction to news writing skills for the beginning media student to understand the differences and similarities of writing for print and broadcast media.Credit hours: 4. Offered in the Fall and Spring.

COM 236 Digital Photography

 The basics of seeing a story-telling photograph and learning to apply the basics of photography to help communicate a message. Emphasis will be placed on setting high standards of visual integrity and communication ethics and on developing an understanding of the role of photojournalism in shaping and reflecting contemporary society. The history of photojournalism, current trends, and the varied challenges found in this field will be explored. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Fall and Spring.

COM 326 Social Documentary

 Prerequisite: COM 336 Social documentary photojournalism is an attempt to bear witness, to bring attention, and to advocate. At its best, it tries also to communicate something a concerned and informed photographer felt when he/she released the camera’s shutter. Social documentary photojournalism communicates through a complex distillation of visual truth and interpretation. This course will take a close look at work that has made an impact on its audiences and at the photographers who produced it. Technical proficiency and visual awareness will continue to broaden.Offered in the Spring.

COM 327 Interactive Media

 Prerequisite: COM 220 Project-based approach toward developing skills in the creation of interactive media using industry standard software, interactive design theories, needs assessment, and project management procedures. Credit hours: 3 Offered in the Spring

COM 336 Advanced Digital Photography

Prerequisite: COM 236
Course will broaden proficiency and visual awareness in the articulation of ideas through learning how to “see” light, capturing the moment, documentary photography, portraiture, fashion, food, architecture, advertising, and sports. It will also stress exploring a fresh view of the commonplace, maintaining high standards of visual communication and understanding the relationship between words, photographs, and design. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Fall and Winter

COM 346 Photo Editing

Prerequisite: COM 336
An exploration of the technical aesthetic qualities
of photographs and how these factors affect editorial
decisions concerning their use in publications. Students
will acquire skills in visual editing and participate in
discussions of ethical and legal issues. Understanding
subject emphasis, application of framing techniques,
characteristics of good photographs, universal themes,
photograph evaluation, recognizing impact value, and
ethics will be stressed. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Spring.

COM 360 Publication Design

Using hands-on experiences to edit, design, layout, and
develop camera-ready documents to provide practical
knowledge of state-of-the-art publishing technology. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Spring.

COM 426 Photojournalism Professional Portfolio

Prerequisite: COM 336
This course will explore the many variations of portfolio
presentation in today’s marketplace and the photographs
needed to present a well-rounded collection. Preparation
of a portfolio based upon research in the student’s areas of
interest will be a primary target of the class. Looking closely
at potential clients, target audiences, various ways of delivery,
and the images needed for a portfolio will be addressed. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Fall

COM 481 Internship in Photojournalism

Prerequisite: Three courses required in the Photojournalism minor
Selected students work as interns in supervised photojournalism work. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer 

 

ART 232 Photography II

Prerequisite: ART 231.
A continuing exploration of photography with emphasis on creative expression and visual experimentation. Six studio hours per week. Credit hours: 3. Offered in the Fall and Spring.