As the capstone course in the journalism concentration, this course will prepare students to responsibly handle the skills they have acquired thus far in the program (the ability to exercise news judgment, gather information, and prepare effective journalistic products). Upon successful course completion students will: 1) Understand the media's role in constructing the civilization we know today. 2) Understand the "Fourth Estate" role of the media in society 3) Understand the effect mediated messages can have on the direction of public discourse, public understanding of critical information, and public opinion. 4) Gain an increased appreciation for the importance of one's decisions as a media practitioner 5) Be able to defend one's position on media-related issues that impact mass society Increase one's awareness of current nature of the mass media (the way the media are today)

Prerequisites: JRNL3020, JRNL3050, and JRNL2035