In the field of print journalism, I’d say that for me, priority one was just getting out there and learning by doing. As a reporter on the Pirates’ Log, I became comfortable with interviewing people and also acquired fundamental people skills. I now work as the sole editor and reporter for The Stanislaus County Farm News, a weekly agriculture newspaper published by the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau in Modesto. I was brought in as a reporter intern and was hired on as a reporter in less than five months, and became editor about a year and a half after that. You never know where a job or internship might lead you.
Kristin Platts, MJC Alum
Modesto Junior College helped me transition from high school to the world of print journalism. I'm so grateful that I got immediate reporting experience at MJC, as I learned some hard lessons pertaining to the field of journalism, like getting spelling names correctly. I'm glad I encountered these lessons at MJC rather than in a professional environment. After graduating, I moved on to Fresno State and landed a job at one of the biggest newspapers in the West. The MJC experience has helped me along the way. I now work at the Turlock Journal, a community newspaper that prides itself on doing all the little things . . . like getting names spelled correctly.
Chhun Sun, MJC Alum
The Program in Print Journalism is designed to develop in students the skills and attributes of the professional journalist, particularly those working in print media: newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Working on the Modesto Junior College newspaper, PiratesLog, is a core class in both the AA degree and certificate sequences. This is a hands-on practicum in newspaper publising in which the reality of producing fair, accurate and ethical journalism on deadline is simulated. Students often go on to internships and jobs with the local media.
Skills Recognition Award: Print Journalism
To earn a Skills Recogntion, the student must complete the following coursework. Each course must be completed with a grade of C or better.
REQUIRED COURSES - Complete 12 units
RATV 150 [NP] Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
JRNAL 100 [NP] Reporting and Writing for the Media (3)
JRNAL 120C [NP] Newspaper Production Staff (3)
CGR 211 [NP] Typography 1 (PageMaker and QuarkXpress) (2)
LR 120 [NP] Library Research on the World Wide Web (1)
ELECTIVE COURSES - Complete 3 units
RATV 138 [NP] Writing for Radio and Television (3)
CMPGR 264 [NP] Publishing on the World Wide Web (3)
FILM 154 [NP] Movies with a Message (3)
ENGL 105 [NP] Creative Writing: Poetry (3)
ENGL 106 [NP] Creative Writing: Short Fiction (3)
ENGL 108 [NP] Creative Writing: Autobiography (3)
ENGL 178 [NP] Mass Media and the Public (3)
Total Units for Skills Recognition Award (15)
A.A. Degree: Journalism
To earn an Associate in Arts Degree in this major, the student must complete the requirements detailed in the Career Technical Education Pathway (p.71) or the University Preparation Pathway (p. 69) which include completion of the requirements below.
REQUIRED COURSES - Complete 19 units
JRNAL 100 [1] Reporting and Writing for the Media (3)
JRNAL 120C [2] Student Newspaper Production Staff (3)
RATV 150 [1,2] Introduction to Mass Communications (3)
RATV 138 [1,2] Writing for Radio and Television (3)
ENGL 178 [NP] Mass Media and the Public (3)
CMPGR 262 [1] Exploring The World Wide Web (1)
CMPGR 264 [3,4] Publishing on the World Wide Web (3)
ELECTIVE COURSES - Complete 3 units
CGR 331 [3,4] Typography 2 (PageMaker and QuarkXpress) (3)
CMPGR 252 [3,4] Desktop Publishing for Computer Graphics (3)
UNITS IN A.A. Major (22)
Consult the MJC College Catalog for the latest listing of degree and skills recognition award requirements.
To learn more contact:
Arts, Humanities & Communications Division Office
Performing and Media Arts Center 205 - East Campus
Modesto Junior College
435 College Ave
Modesto CA 95350
209.575.6081
