Blue Springs School District

Course # HS0167 
0.5 credit hours | Grades 9, 10, 11

Credit Type: Elective

Journalism I is a semester course that introduces students to the fundamentals of both news writing and yearbook (magazine) journalism.  Students are introduced to the responsibilities and ethics of journalists and to journalistic ethics.  This course emphasizes learning to write news, features, editorials, and sports stories.  Students are also introduced to headline writing, copy editing, and layout and design.  This course will also cover some fundamentals of 35 mm photography, advertising, journalism law, and the duties of editors, assistant editors, and copy and layout editors.  The fundamentals of layout and design will be covered, and students will become proficient in using the software for word processing and desktop publishing.  
 

Course # HS0952 & HS0952H
1 credit hour | Grades 10, 11, 12 | Honor Point

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Dual Credit: 3 College Hours – Missouri State University (MSU): MED 345 Fundamentals of Media Production
Fees: ~$300 Will be Billed/Paid Through the Cooperating College Business Office
Prerequisites: B or Higher in Video Production & Broadcasting and/or Teacher Approval for 2nd year students

Students will further develop skills in the use of editing software, digital camcorders, video, and broadcast equipment.  Students will be responsible for producing a weekly TV broadcast for BSSD TV and for covering news-worthy events for the school and for BSSD TV and Radio. Class size is limited due to availability of editing/camera equipment.  Completing Introduction to Video Production & Broadcasting does not guarantee entrance to this class.  Seniors who are taking this course the second time and meet MSU’s college criteria may enroll in MED345 for dual credit and in HS0952H for high school credit with an honor point.
 

Course # HS0163
0.5 credit hours | Grades 10, 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Prerequisites: B or Higher in Introduction to Video Production & Broadcasting and/or Teacher Approval

Students will gain greater experience in video producing and editing, advanced video productions such as film making, commercials, documentaries and more.  Students will also participate in field productions, such as covering and broadcasting LIVE sporting activities and community events.  Many of these video and broadcasting opportunities will be re-broadcasted on BSSD TV Comcast 15.  **Some assignments will require outside-of-school time (such as filming evening sporting/activity events and film projects).  Class size is limited due to availability of editing/camera equipment.  Completion of Video Production & Broadcasting I does not guarantee entrance to this class.  Can take two semesters maximum at Blue Springs South High School.
 

Course # HS0166
1 credit hour | Grades 10, 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Recommended: Journalism I, Newswriting Teacher Approval 

Newswriting I is a full-year course that gives students the opportunity to experience all facets of newspaper journalism, including writing, copy editing, layout and design, photography, advertising, and production.  Students will experience the responsibilities of newspaper journalists as part of the school newspaper staff; write news features, editorials, and sports stories; and to apply positions as section editors and assistant editors on the staff.  Students do headline writing, copyediting, and layout and design; use the software for word processing and desktop publishing and computer labs; and help produce each edition of the school newspaper.  This course will prepare students for entrance into the Newswriting II class.
 

Course # HS0170
1 credit hour | Grades 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Prerequisites: Newswriting I or Newspaper Teacher Approval

Students will experience all facets of newspaper production, including writing, in-depth reporting, copy editing, layout and design, photography, and advertising.  They will learn the responsibilities of newspaper journalists as editors on the school newspaper staff.  They will write news, features, editorials, sports columns, and in-depth stories for the school newspaper; some will serve as editors and assistant editors on the staff.  This class will prepare students for a future in a journalistic career. 
 

Course # HS0169
1 credit hour | Grades 10, 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective
Recommended: Grade of B or above in previous English Class

The students in this journalism course will produce the photographs for the school newspaper, website, and yearbook.  This class involves after-school work.  The students’ coursework will prepare them for entrance into a college journalism program.  Students interested in photography for these publications should see the advisor for information.
 

Course # HS0913
0.5 credit hours | Grades 10, 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Recommended: Grade of B or above in previous English Class

Students will learn the basics of digital camcorder operations, video editing, software, and other broadcast equipment by producing weekly video projects.  Students will also learn basic radio techniques and occasionally broadcast LIVE on BSSDradio.net.  
 

Course # HS0176
1 credit hour | Grades 10, 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Prerequisites: Journalism I, Yearbook Teacher Approval 

This class covers all the fundamentals, including copywriting, editing, layout design, planning, organization, and photography.  Students will learn the software used for computer production and will be assigned articles for the yearbook publication.  This course will prepare the student for entrance into advanced yearbook.
 

Course # HS0178
1 credit hour | Grades 11, 12

Credit Type: Elective/Practical Art
Prerequisites: Yearbook I, or Journalism I, Grade of B or above in previous English Class and Yearbook Teacher Approval

Advanced journalism students will produce the school yearbook.  Each person handles certain portions of the book; meeting deadlines is a necessity.  This course involves after-school work.  Students interested in photography for this publication should see the advisor for information.