2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog

Table of Contents

Overview

Academic Information

Directories

More Information

Broadcasting

Chairperson: Dr. Sharon A. Evans
Office: Sallee Hall 306
Telephone: 309/298-2888
Fax: 309/298-2829
E-Mail: SA-Evans@wiu.edu
Web: www.wiu.edu/broadcasting
Faculty: Edsall, Evans, Hoon, Murray, Ness, Norton, Sadler, Stout.

The Department of Broadcasting offers a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting. Students in Broadcasting study digital audio and video production techniques, including non-linear editing, post-production, animation/graphics, and sports. WIUS-FM and wiutv3 give students the opportunity to put into practice learned skills. They also examine the impact of history, law and programming on broadcasting, cable and satellite operations. Graduates of the program enter various careers in television, radio, cable, satellite, and post-production operations including directing, producing, reporting, on-air talent programming, sales, advertising, sports, and post production.

GradTrac is available to Broadcasting majors. See more information about GradTrac.

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts-Broadcasting

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting must complete I, II, III, IV, and V. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.

  1. University General Education Curriculum: 43 s.h.
  2. Core Courses: 24 s.h.
    Comm 130; BC 121, 223, 224, 321†, 323, 324, 425, 497
  3. Directed Electives
    1. BC 322 or 327; and BC 422 or 426 or 427: 6-8 s.h.
    2. Broadcasting Electives: 12–14 s.h.
      Note: Students may count no more than 4 s.h. total of BC 360, 365, or 418
      toward fulfillment of the major in Broadcasting.
  4. Any Approved Minor: 16–20 s.h.
  5. Open Electives: 13–17 s.h.

†BC 321 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) graduation requirement.

Minors

Minor in Broadcasting: 18 s.h.

  1. BC 121, 223, 321, and either 322 or 327: 12–13 s.h.
  2. Broadcasting Electives: 5–6 s.h.

Minor in Broadcast and Print Media: 18-19 s.h.

See Interdisciplinary Studies Minors.

Course Descriptions

BROADCASTING (BC)

121 (formerly BC 221) Telecommunications Fundamentals. (3) Introduction to the electronic media. Includes history and practices of broadcasting-related industries. Prerequisite: broadcasting major/minor status or consent of instructor. IAI: MC 914.

222 Broadcast Performance. (3) Role, function, and responsibility of the performer in television and radio. Non-dramatic performance before the microphone and camera. Critical evaluation. Prerequisite: BC 121 or consent of instructor. IAI: MC 918.

223 Principles of Radio & Television Production. (3) An introduction to broadcast production principles and their application in advertising, public relations, business, and education. Experience in using broadcast equipment. Prerequisites: Broadcasting major/minor status or permission of instructor. Sophomore standing (at least 30 s.h. completed).

224 Newswriting I. (3) Theory and practice of gathering, interpreting, and reporting news in the electronic mass media, concentrating in radio. Analysis of contemporary issues in broadcast journalism. Prerequisite: BC 121 or consent of instructor. Keyboard proficiency desirable.

321 Broadcast Continuity. (3) Theory and practice of advertising and copy writing for radio and television. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course.Prerequisites: BC 121 and 223 or consent of instructor; Eng 180 and 280. Keyboard proficiency desirable.

322 Television Production. (4) Theory and practice of producing various kinds of television program formats, including interview features, news, commercials, and public service announcements. Laboratory in TV studio. Prerequisite: BC 223.

323 Broadcasting and Society. (3) Traces the development of broadcasting as a major cultural form in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries through a critical review of historic and contemporary literature.

324 Newswriting II. (3) Continuation of BC 224. Advanced newswriting for the mass media concentrating primarily on electronic news gathering (ENG) and television news. Prerequisites: BC 121, 223, and 224, or consent of instructor; Eng 180 and 280; keyboard proficiency required.

325 Comparative Broadcasting Systems. (3) Classification and analysis of the structure of international broadcast systems. The role of media in developing nations, as well as CATV, public broadcasting, and satellite communication systems are discussed. Prerequisite: junior standing.

327 Radio Broadcast Production. (3) Basic audio production techniques. Review of FCC requirements in radio station operations. Projects in commercial, promo, music, news, and feature production. Prerequisite: BC 223.

328 Mass Media and Minorities. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) Examination of relationships between minority groups and mass media. Reviews the portrayals of minorities in the electronic media and discusses effects on our society.

360 Broadcasting Practicum. (1–2, repeatable to 6) Guided practicum in which student assumes leadership roles and/or makes decisions concerning program and station policies. Student may also produce original audiovisual program content. Prerequisites: BC 121 and 223 or consent of instructor; Eng 180 and 280.

365 Broadcast Production/Operations Practicum. (1-2, repeatable to 6) Guided practicum in which student produces audio or video program content or manages activities related to the operation of broadcast station. Prerequisites: BC 121 and 223 or consent of instructor; Eng 180 and 280. Graded S/U only.

400 Senior Honors Thesis Research. (3) Bibliographic and other preliminary work in preparation for a senior honors thesis (see BC 401). Students will produce a final, graded project for this course. This course may not be taken concurrently with BC 401. Prerequisites: Eng 180 and 280; students must be in good standing in the Illinois Centennial Honors College and must be second-semester juniors or first-semester seniors majoring in broadcasting.

401 Honors Thesis. (3) Students will write a senior honors thesis. This course may not be taken concurrently with BC 400. Prerequisites: BC 400; Eng 180 and 280; students must be in good standing in the Illinois Centennial Honors College and must be seniors majoring in broadcasting.

418 Independent Research in Communication. (1–6, repeatable to 6) Individual reading or research under supervision of the faculty. Open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated competence in broadcasting, communication, rhetoric, public address, or the speech-language-hearing sciences. Prerequisites: Eng 180 and 280; consent of instructor and department chairperson.

420 Television Graphics. (3) Students design computer graphics and animation. Projects include news anchor boxes, graphic backgrounds, and animated feature introductions. Prerequisites: BC 322 or special permission of instructor; Eng 180 and 280.

421 Broadcast Writing. (3) Study and practical application of writing techniques for broadcasting. Special attention is given to longer fiction and documentary forms. Prerequisites: BC 321 or consent of instructor; Eng 180 and 280.

422 Television Directing. (4) Examination of procedures, techniques, and problems identified with the directing of television presentations. Laboratory in TV studio. Prerequisites: BC 322; Eng 180 and 280.

423 Broadcast Programs and Audiences. (3) History, development, and impact of broadcast programming. Attention to program creation, survival, and audience attitudes. Critical analysis of the current network television season. Prerequisites: BC 121 and 323; Eng 180 and 280.

425 Broadcast/Cable Law and Ethics. (3) Laws covering the broadcast/cable industry in America from the Communication Act of 1934 to the present. Ethical considerations faced by broadcasters and cablecasters. Prerequisites: BC 321, 323; Eng 180 and 280; senior standing; or permission of instructor.

426 Radio and TV Sports Production. (1–3, repeatable to 6) Theory and practice of remote radio and television sports production and editing techniques. Prerequisites: BC 121, 223, 321, and 322 or 327; Eng 180 and 280.

427 Advanced Radio Production. (3) Design and production of public affairs and feature news programming for radio. Critical analysis of public affairs radio programming. Prerequisites: Eng 180 and 280; BC 327, or permission of instructor.

428 On-Line Broadcast Journalism. (3) A study of the theory and practical application of on-line broadcast journalism including web-based communication theory, site design, navigation, and streaming broadcast media. These theory and design principles will be applied to build and maintain a functioning news website for WWIR TV. Prerequisites: Eng 180 and 280; BC 322 or 327, BC 324, or consent of the instructor. An understanding of Adobe PhotoShop is recommended.

429 Broadcast Internship. (3) Senior practicum at a selected professional broadcast production center for a semester. In addition to a prescribed work schedule, the intern must submit regular station activity reports. Prerequisites: BC 121, 223, 321, and either 322 or 327; Eng 180 and 280; permission of internship coordinator; 2.50 GPA. Graded S/U only.

430 Multimedia Design for Mass Media. (3) A study of the theory and practical application of multimedia-based journalism using digitized video, audio, text, computer graphics, and interactivity. Emphasis on broadcast communication and communication design principles using software for composing multimedia portfolios. Prerequisites: Eng 180 and 280; BC 322 or 327, BC 324, or consent of the instructor. An understanding of Adobe PhotoShop recommended.

480 Special Topics in Media Communications. (3, repeatable for different subtitles to 6) This course deals with selected topics of interest in broadcasting and media communication such as but not limited to radio, television and film criticism, broadcast history, mass communication theory and effects, and popular culture. Prerequisites: BC 121 and 323; Eng 180 and 280.

494 (cross-listed with Eng 494 and WS 494) Women and Film/Television. (3) An overview of women in film and television that considers the on-screen images of women as well as the positions of women working behind the scenes (with laboratory). Not open to students with credit for Eng 494 or WS 494. Prerequisites: Eng 180 and 280.

497 Senior Portfolio. (0) Broadcasting majors must complete a portfolio that includes refined projects from broadcasting classes and internship with appropriate documentation, a reflection paper, and a current resume. The portfolio and its presentation must be successfully completed to graduate from the broadcasting program. Prerequisite: Broadcasting major. Graded S/U only.

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