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High School Journalism I

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Journalism I provides students with the fundamental basics of journalism. Students begin by exploring the history of American journalism, examining different media such as print, radio, television, and internet journalism. Students learn how to write a news story, a feature story, and an editorial, with a focus on research, analyzing the reliability of sources, conducting interviews, writing leads, revising, and self-editing. Students will also take a close look at different careers in journalism, ethics in journalism, and visual layouts using technology, including web 2.0 tools.

Segment One

Module 01 - The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution

  • Freedom of press  
  • History of American journalism
  • First amendment issues
  • Advancements in technology
  • Types of news mediums
  • Characteristics of a journalist
  • Gatekeepers of journalism
  • Different types of journalist

Module 02 - Careers in journalism

  • How to conduct research
  • Analyzing the reliability of sources
  • Informative news reporting
  • The inverted pyramid and writing a lead
  • Elements of strong writing (grammar)
  • Interviewing a source
  • Formal vs. informal writing
  • Revision process and self-editing


Segment Two

Module 03 - Feature story writing (narrative writing)

  • Code of ethics
  • Making ethical decisions in news reporting
  • Slander and libel
  • Narrative writing techniques
  • Using images and technology to enhance writing
  • Ethical sharing of images
  • Using details and anecdotes to tell a story
  • Writing effective conclusions
  • Revision process and self-editing
  • Giving a strong presentation

Module 04 - Argument techniques and appeals

  • Pathos, ethos, and logos
  • How to recognize propaganda
  • Editorial story writing (argument writing)
  • Claim and counterclaim
  • Listening and speaking skills
  • Evaluating a speech for effectiveness
  • Identifying credible sources
  • Writing a rebuttal
  • Varying syntax
  • Revision process and self-editing