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Documentary Photojournalism


Course Description

Exploration of the extended visual essay using still photography and audio to create stories with social impact. Students research, propose, and complete multiple in-depth projects and look at how the visual story affects community understanding.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Evaluation of graduate students differs significantly from that of undergraduate students. Not only will graduate students be assigned more readings and additional projects, they will also be graded with higher expectations than undergraduate students. Specifically, graduate students will be assigned an additional research or applied project depending upon the discretion of the instructor. Research projects may involve secondary research reviews and synthesis, whereas primary research studies will involve collection and analysis of data. Applied projects will consist of an original professional-level project delivered as a written report and/or oral presentation.


Athena Title

Documentary Photojournalism


Undergraduate Prerequisite

JOUR 3330 and permission of department


Graduate Prerequisite

Permission of department


Semester Course Offered

Offered spring


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

Students will be able to create and produce visual essays using still photography and audio. Students will be knowledgeable about the social impact of documentary photojournalism, including how visual stories affect communities.


Topical Outline

History of the photographic essay Impact of the photographic essay Researching subjects and the story pitch Gaining access and trust with subjects sequencing of still images The illustrative photo essay Advanced interviewing techniques for audio Advanced audio editing Advanced multimedia story production


Syllabus