Journalism in the Classroom

These courses present an integrated (theory and practice) approach to film and video documentary. The theoretical component presents a historical overview of the various styles and modes of documentary with a discussion of the way each has developed in response to perceived limitations of the mode then dominant and the ethical decisions that filmmakers continue to face. Majors can take both Documentary and Narrative capstones, counting one for the major and one as electives if they so choose. Students will then collaborate with their teams in the production and post-production phases of a documentary project. This includes filming, editing, sound design, scoring, color correction and mastering. In-class critique sessions and guest speakers bolster this experiential quarter.

The narrative courses are both process and product oriented with a goal for students to work collaboratively to develop a 7-10 minute original narrative film script or web series (2-3 episodes that run approximately 10 minutes total) and complete all of the pre-production tasks necessary to take it into production spring quarter. Depending on class size students will make 3-5 films. Classes will examine the scriptwriting revision and pre-production processes, and students will finish the quarter with a completed pre-production notebook that will include, among other things, a shooting script, overheads, a script breakdown, production schedules, casting decisions, location scouting reports, a look book, a pitch deck and a shooting schedule. Likewise, through readings, discussions and screenings, the course is designed to expose students to the larger world of narrative filmmaking. During the second quarter students will film, edit and present finished work.

This capstone course in the Media Studies major is open to all students interested in engaging in the work of media research, which includes identifying a research question, collecting and analyzing data, and writing research reports. The course covers interviewing, textual analysis, ethnography, historical research, and is rooted in project-based learning.

This is the capstone course in the strategic communication sequence. In this course, students examine special topics in strategic communication and apply what they have learned to group projects in which they take on a client and work together as a team on a strategic communication campaign.

This course is one of two possible capstone classes for journalism students. In this course, students tap the reporting, writing, editing, and multimedia production and editing skills and knowledge learned and practiced in previous journalism studies classes and apply them to building from scratch, an open content management based multimedia web site.

This capstone course for journalism majors provides students with opportunities in experiential learning as together they bolster the coverage and amplify the voices of underserved communities in Colorado. Rural, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and religious minority communities, among others, will be the subject of our attention and the focus of the class media projects. Students produce several mini-documentaries and written pieces that will be submitted for consideration to, and may air on, the RMPBS program, Colorado Voices, and on the PBS Video app.

Student opportunities to practice journalistic excellence go beyond the classroom through initiatives such as StoryLab and Project DU F.I.L.M.

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Rocky Mountain Reverb is a student-run podcast that allows students to work on all aspects of podcasting, from proposing and researching stories through to editing and post-production.

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Project DU F.I.L.M. gives students the opportunity to work together with alumni in the industry to create, promote and distribute films. Recognizing industry-wide inequities, we place special emphasis on populating our cast and crews with people from traditionally underrepresented groups.

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