First Nations Technical Institute's
Journalism-Aboriginal Profile
First Year Course Descriptions
Second Year Course Descriptions
Third Year Course Descriptions
First Year Course Descriptions
Semester 1
Fundamentals of Reporting:
Fundamentals of Reporting, through a series of classroom lecture and practical
assignments, will lay the foundation for all news writing and reporting
for all media. Emphasis will be placed on recognition of news values and
on the development of a clear, concise and readable style of news writing.
Learners will learn that journalism is not a 9 to 5 job and that prospective
employers are looking for journalists who not only have excellent reporting
and writing skills, but who also show initiative, persistence, curiosity
and respect for the profession.
Mainstream Media Coverage of Aboriginal Issues:
In a key course and a thread which runs through all of the Aboriginal
Media Program, learners study, understand and critique how mainstream
media covers issues of critical interest to Aboriginal communities, nations,
and also to indigenous peoples internationally. The learners will gain
a broader understanding of political, legal and economic issues, from
their historical basis to their impact on First Nations in the 21st century.
Basic Photography:
This course teaches basic photography and electronic imaging as practiced
in journalism. The course will enable the learner to assess, evaluate
conditions, take photographs and scan onto computer disk for publication.
Emphasis will be on the photographic skills required for taking photographs
that are well exposed, composed and in focus.
College Writing Skills(for Journalism):
College Writing Skills is designed to complement and enhance the writing
done by Journalism learners in their core courses. A thorough study of
grammar will equip the learners with the vocabulary and skills needed
to manipulate text. Models of creative writing will be studied and the
learners will write short stories and brief exercises. The primary focus
will be literary fiction rather than genre writing. Learners may be asked
to take part in off-campus activities such as literary readings.
Words From Elders:
Elders play a significant role in Aboriginal societies. The experiences
and wisdom of Elders will be shared through guest appearances, pertinent
videos and assigned readings. The learners will gain an appreciation of
the role of Elders in Aboriginal society and the many contributions they
have to offer to the future.
Community Building & Healing:
Aboriginal communities have endured years of oppression. The effects of
residential schools, acculturation, governmental assimilation policies,
alcoholism and abuse continue to plague Aboriginal communities. This course
is designed to identify and help deal positively with the rebuilding and
healing of Aboriginal communities.
Semester 2
Broadcast Writing:
This course will introduce learners to the radio industry, the television
newsroom, and the basics of broadcast news writing. The course examines
the importance of radio formats, the way ratings are gathered and analyzed
in Canada, and the differences between private radio and CBC radio. Learners
are also introduced to the basic rules of broadcast-style news writing
and the differences between writing for the eye and the ear. Writing clear,
concise broadcast news copy is the main emphasis of the course. Learners
will also learn the terms and vocabulary specific to television news,
and examine the job functions of a TV newsroom. Learners will practice
rules of broadcast writing and apply them to television – specifically,
writing to pictures. Skills learned in this course will prepare learners
for the more advanced formats of radio and TV news scripting and writing
taught in the next semester.
Newspaper Reporting 1:
This course continues building on the foundation laid in Fundamentals
of Reporting. Emphasis will be on reporting in-depth, using a variety
of standard and on-line research tools. Reporters will be placed under
increased deadline pressure, often handling a “tumble” of stories,
rather than completing one story at a time. Police and court reporting
and coverage of public meetings will increasingly take place in the field.
Issues Reporting/Politics of Self-Determination:
This course covers the political structures of Aboriginal communities.
Learners will be cognizant of the contrast between traditional forms of
government and contemporary legislated forms of government. The course
is divided into two sections - one studying political issues in federal,
provincial and First Nations governments, and the other studying the major
beats covered by today’s news outlets. As aspiring Aboriginal journalists,
it is also important that learners understand how specific legislation
ultimately affects Aboriginal communities as well as the concept of Aboriginal
and Treaty rights within the constitutional framework.
Interviewing Skills:
This course targets the skills necessary for information gathering, which
are integral to good reporting. Emphasis will be placed on the dynamics
of interviewing, the practical and legal requirement of keeping a clear
record and the importance of an expanding galaxy of research tools/sources.
In the interview sessions, learners will develop journalistic techniques
that will enable them to extract necessary information from their sources.
In order to expand their knowledge of interview topics, learners will
gain a better understanding of various research methods and sources.
Professional Writing Skills (for Journalism):
Communications 301 carries on the work begun in Communications 201. Classes
will be devoted to matters of style and grammar. Since the ability to
write well is based to some degree on understanding the mechanics of good
writing in others, learners will study and analyze sample texts.
Portfolio in the Aboriginal Media Program:
This course is designed to provide the learner with an awareness of self,
family, community, nation, environment and the world around them. While
honing their writing skills, learners will acquire a holistic view of
their people, nations and cultures.
Web-Based Journalism:
The convergence of the print and broadcast media online is rapidly changing
the opportunities for journalists who understand both traditional and
new media styles. As a result, there is a demand for individuals who can
write, edit and manage content for the web, blending broadcast and print
techniques. This course will prepare writers, editors and journalists
for content jobs in online publishing. In addition, the course offers
an introduction to web page design using basic HTML coding and Dreamweaver
software to create a simple web page with graphics, internal and external
links.
Second Year Course Descriptions
Semester 3
Socio-Politics of Self-Determination:
This course is a continuation of the first year course Politics of Self
-Determination.
Magazine Writing:
In this introductory course, learners will apply the skills needed to
write for magazines. Learners will develop the basic skills of a magazine
writer, focusing on feature and service pieces for Aboriginal and Canadian
magazines, both in print and on-line.
Newspaper Reporting 2:
This course constitutes a practical laboratory for the production of news
stories sports, features, and reviews for publication. With professional
coaching, guidance and discussion on practices currently used in newspapers,
students will hone the skills necessary to contribute publishable stories
for both the print and on-line versions of FNTI publications and other
media outlets.
Learners will produce a portfolio of stories from an assigned beat, working
to deadline and rewriting to industry standard with feedback and guidance
from the facilitator. Learners will file publishable stories on IBM compatible
computers adhering to CP and paper-specific style guides.
Page Design for Journalists:
In this course learners will learn how to design publication-quality news
pages using QuarkXPress - the industry standard desktop publishing tool.
Opinion Writing:
This course will introduce the learner to the powerful – and often
confusing - art of writing with a ‘point of view’. It will include
feature profiles, editorials, columns and reviews.
TV Production:
This course continues the development of skills introduced in first year
television. It will further develop the formats and techniques necessary
for TV news writing and reporting. Learners will be given instruction
in putting together taped TV stories by using camcorders in the field
and using digital video software to edit them. In addition to developing
reportorial skills, learners will also be introduced to the team approach
to news by understanding the editorial responsibilities of producers,
editors and researchers. TV Production is an extension of TV News 1. Writing
projects and other assignments may be similar but they will differ in
format, scope and complexity.
Radio News and Voice Training:
This course continues the development of skills learned in the first level
of this program. It concentrates on writing, interviewing and production
techniques (including audio editing using digital software) to produce
a wraparound report. In addition, learners will receive voice training.
Learners will put all their radio skills together to produce full newscasts
in class in preparation for on-air work at KWE, Tyendinaga’s community
radio station. Upon successful completion of this course, learners will
have an understanding of the skills and standards of the industry.
Web based Journalism:
The convergence of the print and broadcast media online is rapidly changing
the opportunities for journalists who understand both traditional and
new media styles. As a result, there is a demand for individuals who can
write, edit and manage content for the web, blending broadcast and print
techniques. This course will prepare writers, editors and journalists
for content jobs in online publishing. In addition, the course offers
an introduction to web page design using basic HTML coding and Dreamweaver
software to create a simple web page with graphics, internal and external
links.
Semester 4
News Photography:
This course extends and solidifies the skills of photography and electronic
imaging as practiced in journalism. Learners will examine and evaluate
news photographs to better understand the importance and value of photojournalism.
The course will enable learners to assess and evaluate conditions for
taking news photographs, and introduce them to basic and intermediate
skills in Adobe Photoshop 6.0 and digital prepress techniques. The course
will prepare learners for work on newspapers and magazines to manipulate
and enhance photos for publication on the digital platform.
Radio News 3:
This course builds on the skills that have been developed in Broadcast
Writing and Radio News II. It concentrates on writing tight, clean radio
copy, as well as sharpening lineup techniques and improving organizational
and interpersonal skills for the newsroom. Learners write, produce and
read five-minute news packages in a newsroom laboratory setting with a
goal of reading newscasts live on the community radio station as their
classroom work. Learners learn the pressures of broadcast deadlines by
preparing fresh newscasts each hour or half-hour. In addition, voice training
will continue on a weekly basis. The goal of this course is to polish
skills and techniques to prepare learners for JRNL 512/520, and to create
awareness of the importance of teamwork in a newsroom.
Newspaper Reporting 3:
This course continues the practical newspaper laboratory for the production
of news, business, entertainment and sports stories, and features. With
professional coaching, and guidance, learners will further develop the
skills necessary to contribute publishable stories for community or daily
newspapers. Learners will complete the preparation and research required
of a junior reporter on a newspaper including researching a specific community
and its news requirements, developing a file of contacts, clippings and
ideas for that newspaper and proposing and writing five or more stories
suitable for publication.
The aim is to develop the skills necessary for entry level reporting jobs,
to initiate contact with editors and to develop a portfolio of clippings
from newspapers.
Magazine Editing and Production:
In this second-level magazine course learners will apply the skills needed
to write for magazines. Learners will develop the basic skills for magazine
writing, editing and production for Canada’s non-consumer publication
market by producing their own magazines.
This course is taught in tandem with JRNL 415 Digital Pre-press for JRNL
in which the online and/or print versions of magazines will be produced.
TV News/Videography:
This course continues to build on the news reporting and writing skills
learned in TV News I and TV News 2. Learners are given more complex writing
and reporting assignments. These writing skills will also be incorporated
into ENG assignments. Classes will explore ways to polish the scriptwriting,
reporting, producing and analytical skills needed to develop into a well-rounded
broadcast journalist. Learners will also analyze the treatment of television
news reports at the network level. The workload in this course is heavy,
so a serious commitment is needed to handle the quality and quantity of
assignments.
Digital Pre-press for Journalists:
In this course learners learn how to produce publication-quality print
and on-line magazines. The outcome of the course will be a class online
magazine. In addition to completing in-class design projects, learners
accept roles and perform the functions of the production team for the
magazine.
Third Year Course Descriptions
Semester 5
Internship 1:
The Aboriginal media industry is growing at a rapid pace with the launch
of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, the ever expanding Aboriginal
Community Radio network, as well as several successful newspaper and magazine
launches. With this industry growth comes the need for trained Aboriginal
media professionals. Over three years, the Practicum Industry Work Placement
course will provide learners with industry work experience in follow-up
to skills and techniques introduced in the classroom. The learners will
receive hands-on experience in media (ie. print, broadcast, radio, or
other communications/public relations field.) This course will bolster
the learner's portfolio and industry experience as well as provide the
learner with valuable industry contacts throughout their three-year studies.
As a result, the learner not only gains valuable insight into the demands
of the journalism field but also access to future employers and colleagues
within the Aboriginal Media network.
Media Law:
Designed for graduating learners, this course is an intense practical
study of criminal and civil law as it pertains directly to journalism.
Advanced Newspaper
This course is fourth in a series designed to provide the learner with
the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to produce a newspaper
- both print and online. The course will be taught as a lab in the newsroom.
Simulating current industry procedures and drawing on the professor's
experience and contacts in the community newspaper industry, learners
will work to deadline, editing copy on Macintosh computers, placing and
manipulating electronic and electronically scanned images using QuarkXPress
and PhotoShop software. Learners will also write editorial and opinion
pieces, news and features, headlines and cutlines. Learners will assume
management positions as senior reporters or as editor, managing editor,
online editor, copy editor, photo editor or section editors. Online production
will involve both content and design using DreamWeaver, Flash, Fetch and
other appropriate web production software.
Imaging for Journalism:
This course is designed to provide graduating learners in the print pathways
with advanced skills in Adobe PhotoShop and an introduction to intermediate
digital prepress techniques for online publication production. The course
will prepare learners to work with designers on larger publications or
on their own in smaller shops to create, manipulate and enhance photos
for publication on the digital platform and to prepare publications for
online presentation.
Semester 6
Careers in Journalism:
This is an advanced course that prepares learners to seek employment in the journalism industry. Learners will learn how to write cover letters and resumes that address specific needs of the workplace. The course also prepares learners for job interviews through portfolio/demo tape development, researching job opportunities and role-playing job interviews.
Advanced TV News
This is the final and most advanced level of the Television News courses.
It continues to build on the skills and techniques learned in the previous
TV courses. Learners will produce a full newscast each week, rotating
through all newsroom positions - producer, lineup editor, writer, reporter,
as well as technical control room jobs. The emphasis is on reporting,
writing and producing television news stories and news programs. The work
will differ in scope and complexity from previous TV projects, because
it is the culmination of learning and achievement in the television pathway.
Learners will be expected to perform at a near-professional level to prepare
them for the competitive workplace. Learners will also be responsible
for producing a feature or mini-documentary and a demo tape.
Internship 2
The Aboriginal media industry is growing at a rapid pace with the launch
of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, the ever expanding Aboriginal
Community Radio network, as well as several successful newspaper and magazine
launches. With this industry growth comes the need for trained Aboriginal
media professionals. Over three years, the Practicum Industry Work Placement
course will provide learners with industry work experience in follow-up
to skills and techniques introduced in the classroom. The learners will
receive hands-on experience in media (ie. print, broadcast, radio, or
other communications/public relations field.) This course will bolster
the learner's portfolio and industry experience as well as provide the
learner with valuable industry contacts throughout their three-year studies.
As a result, the learner not only gains valuable insight into the demands
of the journalism field but also access to future employers and colleagues
within the Aboriginal Media network.
Entrepreneurial Skills:
This course is designed to provide graduating learners with the necessary
tools to be successful in a fluctuating market. Learners will identify
markets for skills evaluated in the Careers in Journalism course and develop
plans to market themselves effectively either through freelancing or other
entrepreneurial endeavors. The course will cover how to develop freelance
contacts, how to sell freelance work, and how to work on contract. It
will also examine business plans and tax tips for self-employed journalists.
The course includes many guest speakers - representatives from media outlets
who will offer advice and provide opportunities for learners to make connections
in the industry. Learners will be required to attend and participate in
all speaker engagements. Learners will prepare a case study of the management
structure and job possibilities and requirements of their internship company
or a business plan for a new venture publication or production.