Academic Catalogs

Journalism

The Journalism Department at Orange Coast College offers a range of courses designed to guide students from the basics of news writing and reporting to understanding the depth and scope of newsgathering in the 21st century. Students receive personal and hands-on experience in all aspects of journalistic writing from experienced faculty, which includes professional, practicing journalists. The department provides invaluable journalistic training in journalism through our award-winning newspaper, Coast Report, and students who graduate from our program will be ready for leadership positions on university newspapers and magazines as well as entry-level positions in the professional workplace.​ 

Department Contact Information

Dr. Jeremy Shermak
jshermak@occ.cccd.edu

Journalism Department Website

Credit Courses

JOUR A1103 Units (54 lecture hours)  
News Writing and Reporting  
Advisory: ENGL A100 or concurrent enrollment.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Beginning journalists will acquire the skills to write practical news stories under deadline pressure with a focus on accuracy, balance, and style. Writing assignments will include police stories, obituaries, speech coverage, round-ups, and feature stories. Graded or Pass/No Pass option. C-ID: JOUR 110.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A110

JOUR A1131 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Social Media Journalism I  

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course is for any student enrolled in the student newspaper and will help them understand the issue of social media as a vital part of news gathering and reporting. The course will allow journalism students to create and maintain both a professional personal presence on social media as well as work to maintain the paper's presence on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A113

JOUR A1154 Units (54 lecture hours; 90 lab hours)  
Student Newspaper I  
Advisory: ENGL A100; and JOUR A110 or concurrent enrollment.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Assist in all aspects of newspaper planning, writing, design and production. Requires writing news and feature stories on deadline, commentary, writing headlines, designing pages, editing, and layout techniques. Students will use state-of-the-art computer design, graphics, and word processing software in a professional setting. Graded or Pass/No Pass option. C-ID: JOUR 130.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A115

JOUR A1163 Units (36 lecture hours; 90 lab hours)  
Multi-Media Reporting and Producing  

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Students will acquire the skills needed to research, write and produce multi-media stories for posting online, including online newspaper sites. Students will gain a basic understanding of digital photography, videography, and photo editing software. Graded or Pass/No Pass option. Lecture, Lab. C-ID: JOUR 120.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A116

JOUR A1173 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Feature Writing  
Advisory: JOUR A110 and ENGL A100, or concurrent enrollment.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

A writing workshop focusing on student writing and marketing in-depth non-fiction feature articles. Emphasis will be on guiding students and developing interesting non-fiction stories from the idea stage through publication and finding suitable markets for publication. Same as ENGL A117. Students completing JOUR A117 may not receive credit for ENGL A117. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A117

JOUR A1231 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Social Media Journalism II  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A125 or JOUR A135 or JOUR A145 or concurrent enrollment.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course will build on the basics of social media for students enrolled in the student newspaper. Students will use social media planning software to post stories and photographs on various platforms and help drive traffic to the campus newspaper’s website. An introduction to social media etiquette will also be reinforced. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A123

JOUR A1254 Units (54 lecture hours; 90 lab hours)  
Student Newspaper II  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A115.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Assist in all aspects of newspaper planning and writing. Requires writing news and feature stories on deadline, along with commentaries, sports and arts and culture stories and reviews. Students will continue to practice basic newswriting and feature writing skills while expanding background to include sports and arts stories. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A125

JOUR A1263 Units (36 lecture hours; 90 lab hours)  
Multi-Media Reporting and Producing Level 2  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A116.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Students will acquire the skills needed to research, write and produce multi-media stories for posting on CoastReportOnline.com. Students will also cover news judgment and advanced editing and hardware and software skills specific to news websites. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A126

JOUR A1331 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Social Media Journalism III  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A123.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course will build on the basics of social media for students enrolled in the student newspaper. Students will use social media planning software to post stories and photographs on various platforms and help drive traffic to the campus newspaper’s website. An introduction to social media etiquette will also be reinforced. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A133

JOUR A1354 Units (54 lecture hours; 90 lab hours)  
Student Newspaper III  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A125.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Assist in all aspects of newspaper planning, writing, design and production. Requires writing headlines, designing pages, editing, and layout techniques. Students will use state-of-the-art computer design, graphics, and word processing software in a professional setting. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A135

JOUR A1431 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Social Media Journalism IV  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A133.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course will build on the basics of social media for students enrolled in the student newspaper. Students will use social media planning software to post stories and photographs on various platforms and help drive traffic to the campus newspaper’s website. An introduction to social media etiquette will also be reinforced. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A143

JOUR A1454 Units (54 lecture hours; 90 lab hours)  
Newspaper Production Level 4  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A135.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Assist in all aspects of newspaper planning, writing, design and production. Requires writing news and features stories on deadline, commentary, writing headlines, designing pages, editing, and layout techniques. Students will use state-of-the-art computer design, graphics, and word processing software in a professional setting. Students will also use social media to promote readership. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A145

JOUR A1853 Units (36 lecture hours; 54 lab hours)  
Photojournalism  

Grading Mode: Standard Letter

Transfer Credit: CSU.

Covers the fundamentals of photojournalism with students gaining practical experience in the creative process and techniques of making photographs for publication. Work will be assigned for publication in the campus newspaper, Coast Report. C-ID: JOUR 160.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A185

JOUR A2103 Units (54 lecture hours)  
Advanced Newswriting and Reporting  
Prerequisite(s): ENGL A100 and JOUR A110.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course offers students insight and background into covering public affairs for print and online news environments. The course guides students through the process of community news reporting and writing, including coverage of student government, local and regional governments, city boards, police, courts and school boards. The course also covers legal and ethical issues in the news media as it pertains to public access, California's open meetings law, and other news gathering specifics. The course is designed for students pursuing media-related majors and for those seeking employment in the field. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A210

JOUR A2151 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Coast Report Editorial Board Level 1  
Prerequisite(s): Must be editor on Coast Report staff.
Co-requisite(s): JOUR A115, JOUR A125, JOUR A135, or JOUR A145.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course is for the editorial board of the student newspaper. The editors will meet once per week to discuss policy matters, the upcoming issue and the instructor’s critique of the past one. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A215

JOUR A2251 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Coast Report Editorial Board Level 2  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A215 and must be editor on Coast Report staff.
Co-requisite(s): JOUR A125 or JOUR A135 or JOUR A145.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course is for the editorial board of the student newspaper. The editors will meet once per week to discuss policy matters, the upcoming issue and the instructor's critique of the past one. The editors will also design and write headlines for the paper. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A225

JOUR A2351 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Coast Report Editorial Board Level 3  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A225 and must be editor on Coast Report staff.
Co-requisite(s): JOUR A135 or JOUR A145.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course is for the editorial board of the student newspaper. The editors will meet once per week to discuss policy matters, the upcoming issue and the instructor's critique of the past one. The editors will also write editorials and do advanced layout of the paper and begin directing content for CoastReportOnline.com. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A235

JOUR A2451 Unit (18 lecture hours)  
Coast Report Editorial Board Level 4  
Prerequisite(s): JOUR A235 and must be editor on Coast Report staff.
Co-requisite(s): JOUR A145.

Grading Mode: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Transfer Credit: CSU.

This course is for the editorial board of the student newspaper. The editors will meet once per week to discuss policy matters, the upcoming issue and the instructor's critique of the past one. The editors will work independently to produce each week's paper and stay up to date on posting content to CoastReportOnline.com. Graded or Pass/No Pass option.

Catalog Program Pages Referencing JOUR A245