Course descriptions
Summer 1 (6 credits; 8 weeks)
The goal of this intensive set of summer courses is to prepare students to “hit the ground running” once fall classes begin. They will learn the basic tools of journalism so that they may then begin applying those in the fall classes.
JRN 300: Introduction to Newswriting (3 credits)
An introduction to the fundamentals of crafting news stories. This includes how to write a lead, the “inverted pyramid,” grammar, punctuation, use of quotes, sourcing of facts, and other fundamental skills. This is a “learning by doing” class, which will involve daily writing assignments. Students will be taught in English. Those fluent in Armenian will be required to write a second version of at least some articles in Armenian.
JRN 305: Introduction to Digital Tools (3 credits)
The AUA multiplatform journalism degree prepares students to produce news stories on every media “platform” – print, broadcast, radio, and the internet. This requires a basic knowledge of the digital tools used for production, beginning with the smart phone. This course will introduce students to “mobile journalism,” the use of mobile phones to capture professional-quality audio and video, basic audio and video editing software, and basic video cameras. This is a hands-on course, with students sent into the field to create audio and video segments.
Fall semester (15 credits; 15 weeks)
JRN 315: Multimedia Journalism 1 (3 credits)
This course is one of two pillars of the Multiplatform Journalism MA. The course will begin by introducing students to the many aspects of the craft of journalism. Modules will cover ethics and responsibility, critical thinking, basic approaches to reporting, how to research news stories, the art of interviewing, how to cover breaking news stories, and the essentials of multimedia storytelling. All of these topics will be set in an international context, exploring what can be learned from journalism in other parts of the world.
Prerequisites: JRN 300: Intro to Newswriting and JRN 305: Intro to Digital Skills
JRN 306: Journalism & Democracy (3 credits)
The central theme of this course is the role of journalism in democratic societies. It will examine Armenian journalism: past, present, and future; the evolution of journalism in the Caucasus and internationally, the global war on truth; the challenges of misinformation and disinformation around the world; the importance of fact-based reporting; and the protections and challenges of media law and freedom of information in Armenia and the region.
JRN 310: Data Journalism (3 credits)
Data journalism plays an increasingly important role in media today. This course shows how to understand and critically assess statistical information and how to present that information in engaging and accurate ways visually. Students learn how to efficiently scrape data from various official websites, create and manipulate data in databases to find new insights, and work with data visualization programs to create powerful stories.
Must be taken either concurrent with, or following, JRN 315: Multimedia Journalism 1.
IRD 324: Armenian Politics and Diplomacy (3 credits)
The course aims at providing an in-depth understanding of major turning points of Armenian political transition since the late 1980s. It is organized thematically and plans to discuss a set of questions including, but not limited to: democratic transition, institutional, socio-political, and demographic, developments in post-Soviet Armenia. Key issues of foreign policy and diplomacy as well as questions related to the impact of the Artsakh conflict on Armenia’s domestic politics and foreign relations will also be considered.
In addition to course assignments, students will be expected to produce at least one news story about regional politics as part of their AUA Newsroom reporting.
JRN 320: Newsroom Practice 1 (3 credits)
This is the second pillar of the program; a working newsroom where students put into practice what they have been taught in the above classes. Students will produce multimedia content for a current affairs website. This will include text stories, photographs, video segments, and studio-based interviews. Through the year, they will rotate through all the roles in an actual multiplatform newsroom, from reporter to chief editor. This is when they hold planning sessions and story conferences, get their assignments, and confer with editors on the progress or challenges they are encountering in the process of producing their stories.
Must be taken concurrent with JRN 315: Multimedia Journalism 1.
Spring Semester (16 credits; 15 weeks)
JRN 325: Multimedia Journalism 2 (3 credits)
This is a continuation of the foundational course by the same name in the fall semester. Modules in this semester include data journalism; narrative (longform) journalism; investigative journalism; enterprise reporting; intellectual property law and plagiarism, both in Armenia and abroad; digital media journalism, and an introduction to television reporting, in which students will be exposed to the operations of a professional television studio at a partner organization.
Prerequisite: JRN 315: Multimedia Journalism 1.
JRN 316: Reporting Critical Societal Issues (3 credits)
Building on the knowledge acquired in the Fall semester of this course, Spring semester will involve modules on a range of critical issues in Armenia, the broader Caucasus region, and internationally, such as health, business and the economy, technology, women and society, humanitarian law, and refugee and minority rights. For one-third of this course, students will take EVN 300: Natural Environment and Humans. In the remainder of the course, students will do a “deep dive” into a rotating set of issues, taught in 2-to-3-week blocks. The goal is to familiarize them with the issues, not make them experts. The course will combine aspects of a seminar and a practicum, with students assigned to produce a story on each of the topics presented. Flexibility is built into this course to allow the introduction of new, topical issues and take advantage of the expertise of visiting faculty.
Prerequisites: JRN 315: Multimedia Journalism 1 and JRN 306: Journalism, Democracy, and the War on Truth.
EVN 300: Natural Environment and Humans (1 credit)
A special one-credit course focused on understanding the complexities of environmental issues in Armenia and the Caucasus. The course is designed for graduate students from disparate disciplines to gain an overview of environmental principles and current environmental issues. Topics will be supplemented by Armenia and Caucasus-specific cases.
In addition to course assignments, students will be expected to produce at least one news story about the environment as part of their Newsroom Practice reporting.
JRN 326: Covering Conflict (3 credits)
The recent history of the Caucasus and neighboring regions underlines the need for journalists to be prepared to cover conflict. This involves learning ways to safely and accurately report in the midst of combat, but also to deal with the physical and emotional challenges of those who witness war. Students will learn to report on the victims of war and trauma with empathy and balance, and to consider how patriotism and nationalism shape coverage of war. They will also be taught digital security, to protect themselves and their sources from government surveillance both on the battlefield and far from the front.
Prerequisites: IRD 324: Armenian Politics and Diplomacy
JRN 340: Media Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation (3 credits)
The media industry is in a constant state of change. This course will involve modules that tackle key issues, trends, and challenges both in Armenia and abroad. These include the business structure of news organizations in Armenia and abroad, emerging business models, the rise of entrepreneurial journalism, newsroom technology, the evolving use of social media, and tomorrow's tech, such as AI and VR, as well as additional developments on the media landscape. Students will learn about the latest efforts to revitalize the news business in the U.S. and Europe, where organizations are experimenting with nonprofit models and worker-owned newsrooms.
Prerequisites: JRN 306: Journalism, Democracy & the War on Truth.
JRN 330: Newsroom Practice 2 (3 credits)
This is a continuation of the Fall semester course, with journalistic roles continuing to rotate, and an expectation that the quality will continue to improve. Content that will be published includes stories produced for the Specialized Reporting class.
Must be taken concurrently with JRN 325: Multimedia Journalism 2.
Summer 2 (8 credits)
JRN 360: Capstone Project (4 credits)
The multimedia capstone project is a significant piece of enterprise reporting that brings together the skills and knowledge the student has acquired through the entirety of the program. It will involve a level of work equivalent to that of a thesis. The project will focus on one of the specializations studied (e.g. politics, health, environment, technology, etc.) and will be delivered for publication in the medium of their choice (e.g. print and video; print and audio). This is not a single news story; it might involve a magazine-length article, a documentary, a radio series, or similar significant piece of in-depth journalism, with accompanying version in another media format. Students will receive approval for their capstone project during the Spring semester and must complete it by the end of their internship. The capstone is required for graduation.
JRN 380: Internship (4 credits)
Students will be placed in full-time internships lasting a minimum of six weeks in newsrooms in Armenia and, for the top students when funding is available, a short fellowship in media organizations abroad. The internship will take place in the summer following completion of courses.
Prerequisite: Completion of all courses.
Special Topics Course designation:
JRN 340: Special Topics: [Course Name].
As the program grows and develops, special topics courses will periodically be offered that may replace one of the courses offered above.