Broadcast and Online Journalism

This course combines journalism critical thinking skills with the technical elements of shooting and editing visuals and audio for news and information programming as a solo Video Journalist. Students will explore both pre-production planning and field techniques including the basic elements of lighting. They will also use pacing, structure and sequencing for effective storytelling in a television and online news and information environment.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​This course teaches students how to edit video footage, still images and audio using professional editing software to create a variety video content. It also introduces basic video graphics and some creative editing techniques including green screen keying.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​Announcing techniques, news reading skills and basic concepts of effective voice usage are introduced in this course. You will explore articulation, pronunciation, inflection, and breathing techniques to help you develop your voice to its maximum potential. During the course daily practice is required and coaching will be provided both individually and in groups.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Introduces the student to the basic principles of online, radio and television news gathering and production. The course will give students a grounding in the systems, issues, and practices of the broadcast news industry and will prepare them for the more detailed and involved aspects of the succeeding broadcast and online journalism courses.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​Introduction to Radio explores the fundamentals of audio storytelling and news reporting. Students will use broadcast equipment and editing software to produce engaging short and long-form content. Class time will be divided between classroom instruction and hands-on lab experience. Journalistic standards and principles apply for all content in this course.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Trains and prepares students to write news for online, television and radio delivery. Two hours per week are devoted to lecture and basic writing theory. Two hours are spent writing in class to deadline. The course relies heavily on in-class practice, writing analysis and critique.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Visual Fundamentals is a hands-on, creative course that introduces students to the aesthetic and technical principles of visual storytelling. Students will explore both photography and video production throughout the course. In this class, students will develop an understanding of how to incorporate visual storytelling techniques in order to engage an audience across multiple platforms. Through assignments, they will apply mobile production techniques to create a variety of visual stories with an emphasis on the concepts of composition and sequencing. All content will be explored using the principles of journalism.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​In this hands-on, creative course, student journalists will explore all aspects of web design. Throughout BCST 2215, students will learn all the skills necessary to construct a personal portfolio website from the ground up. Using a variety of industry standard digital tools and software, students will plan, design, and build an engaging personal website to showcase their work.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Trains a broadcast journalist to function within the Canadian judicial system. This course explains the inner workings and the various levels of courts, and familiarizes students with Canadian criminal law and the laws of libel and slander.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all term 1 courses.

Involves the student in identifying, researching and gathering of news material in an organized manner. The student is introduced to beat and filing systems, the courts, the police, organized labour, business, and politics.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all term 1 courses.

Presents the first opportunity for students to work in a newsroom environment, on- or off-campus. The class is divided into small groups for personal instruction on operating newsroom equipment. This is followed by several weeks of practice where students gather, write, compile and read newscasts as well as hone their ability to use newsroom equipment.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all term 1 courses.

Teaches the process by which a story idea is transformed into a television news story, how to gather visual materials that tell the story, to write a script that works with the visuals, and to edit visuals together with script to create a comprehensible television news story. Some attention is given to newscast make-up and presentation.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in BCST 1130 and 50% in BCST 1134

This course introduces students to the elements of radio documentary production. During the semester students will work on researching, interviewing, writing, sound-gathering techniques and producing effective proposals. They will assess effective long-form productions. Students will produce a number of small assignments and work with a partner to produce a final six to seven minute final radio documentary.
Prerequisite(s):

• Level 1 of Broadcast Journalism.

In this course students are immersed in a radio/TV/online newsroom environment. Students will learn to function in a working environment across platforms with deadlines and incorporating industry ethical and legal standards in their work. Students will operate the Evolution newsroom, produce BCIT Magazine and produce multi-media for the Journalism website www.bcitbroadcastnews.ca. Students will also contribute to our social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1 and Level 2 courses in the Journalism program or Program Head's approval.

This course is designed to build on the skills learned and practiced in the News Writing course in Level 1 (BCST 1134). Students will continue to improve their use of industry standard writing for television, radio and online sites with an emphasis on news. The focus is on effective communication using proper format, style and structure. This course is a lab in which students work, to deadline to produce news and information assignments. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all term 1 courses

This course is a broad exploration of Digital Journalism. Throughout the term, students will explore the current digital landscape, with a focus on web writing, design, social media, and online story delivery. Classes will be a mix of topical lectures/discussions and hands-on learning. Through course work, students will explore a variety of digital tools and platforms currently being used in industry. The course will also investigate the important topic of verification and look at tools to combat misinformation in the digital landscape. At the culmination of this course, students will bring together everything they have learned to create an in-depth, cross-platform multimedia story. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all term 1 courses

In this course, students prepare for work in a media relations role for an organization. It relies on the concepts of mass media to address the role of media relations in organizations, and explains the development of a media relations plan in the context of both old and new media. This course also assesses the contemporary issues and topics surrounding media relations, while providing students with effective writing, communication, audience identification & demographics, branding, and interview strategies. Students will learn how to build an effective media relations plan, how to evaluate media relations within a broader corporate public relations plan, and apply concepts using tools and procedures used in interactions with the media. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This begins structured newsroom operations building on the experience in first year practicum. Students produce content for the student radio station, both live and recorded, and for filing online (Journalism website, Facebook and Twitter sites.) There are assignments for reporting from the field (e.g. news conferences, the courts, police headquarters). Evaluation is based on performance, writing/content, professionalism, original news stories. Students with a minimum average of 70% in the course may have the opportunity to participate in an industry placement rotation. For those commencing industry placement for Rotation 1 (first Fall rotation), the first-year Practicum mark will be used to assess this benchmark. For industry placements during Rotation 2 and beyond, the “term to date” marks will be used to assess the 70% minimum requirement.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1 and Level 2 courses in the Journalism program.

Building on the experience gained in first year practicum, this course intensifies student learning within the context of a television newsroom, producing a weekly newsmagazine program. Students research and develop their own television stories that are focused and timely, and are also given opportunities to be on-air hosts and show producers. Students will produce a mix of stories they will shoot and edit themselves and others that will be shot and edited by students from the BCIT Television program. They will also feed the BCIT News web site with video, photos and written content, as well as regularly posting to Twitter and Facebook. Evaluation is based on their produced stories, their role as web editors or producers (if applicable), their on-air performance and professionalism. Students may also participate in an industry rotation. In order to participate in industry placements, a student must have a minimum average of 70%. For those heading out on industry placements for Rotation 1 (first Fall rotation), the first-year Practicum mark will be used to assess this benchmark. For industry placements during Rotation 2 and beyond, the “term to date” marks will be used to assess the 70% minimum requirement.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1 and Level 2 courses in the Journalism program.

Building on the skills learned in Levels 1 and 2, students will work individually and in small groups to identify, research, pitch and produce original investigative multimedia news stories for online distribution. Students will also develop a professional website and demo reel highlighting their work in writing and photojournalism as well as audio and video production.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1 and Level 2 courses in the Journalism program.

In this course, students will expand upon the digital newsroom skills learned in Digital Journalism (BCST 2240) and Journalism Practicum 1 (BCST 2235) and apply those skills in an active daily Digital News lab. Participants will work in the field and also in the newsroom managing the BCIT News webpage and multiple social media accounts. As a team, students will work to produce original content created specifically for a digital audience as well as curate all content produced by other reporters in the BCIT News newsroom.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all level 1 and level 2 courses.

This course looks at the business side of Journalism. It is to give the student practical experience and confidence in handling the business side of being a free-lance journalist, independent documentary producer and the business skills of a program director. Business cases and industry speakers will cover topics such as finance and budgeting, personnel, production costs, marketing, and general management. Acquaints the student with management decision-making and effective verbal and written business analysis. Students will learn the basics of developing a business plan specific to the broadcast and media industry. ​​
Prerequisite(s):

• Completion of Levels 1 and 2 of the Broadcast and Online Journalism program or permission of Program Head.

This course provides student journalists in their final term with the opportunity to use the skills they have acquired during the previous three terms to produce a video documentary and accompanying website. The course builds on skills in journalism video production and critical thinking storytelling to enable the students to develop a concept, a pitch and a final documentary and website. The documentary is produced by a team and will be posted on the Broadcast and Online journalism website.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 courses in the Journalism program or Program Head's approval.

Presents an advanced course in newsroom operations. Students continue to practise the skills of reporting, writing and announcing, and work in the field as well as operating the student radio station and the news labs. The major thrust of this course is to identify student weaknesses and to assist students in strengthening their performance for entry into the industry.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 courses in the Journalism program or Program Head's approval.

Continues from the third-term television news lab. While the format for both courses is the same, the standards of evaluation in the fourth term are raised to reflect the expectations of professional broadcast journalism.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 courses in the Journalism program or Program Head's approval.

In this course, students will expand upon the digital newsroom skills learned in Digital News 3 and apply those skills in an active daily Digital Newsroom environment. Participants will work in the field and also in the newsroom managing the BCIT News webpage and multiple social media accounts. As a team, students will work independently to produce original content created specifically for a digital audience as well as curate all content produced by other reporters in the BCIT News newsroom. Through this course students will also utilize more advanced digital reporting skills to create weekly long form "Digital Documentary" features.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 courses in the Journalism program or Program Head's approval.

In this course students apply learned skills in a relevant external fieldwork environment (industry). They spend four weeks working under the direction of a workplace mentor at a media related organization, where they may actively participate in the various aspects of day to day operations or specialize in specific areas of interest, related to the program.
Prerequisite(s):

• Successful completion of all other Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 courses or Program Head's approval.