Teaching

While working on a master’s degree at the University of Arkansas, I taught several sections of the basic course in writing and journalistic style for what was then the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas, working with about 45 students per semester. Faculty also gave me the opportunity to teach the department’s course in journalism ethics, for which I chose a textbook and developed a syllabus. About 30 junior- and senior-level students enrolled in it.

  • JOUR 1033: Fundamentals of Journalism Lab. Introduces students to the skills of observation, critical thinking and concise writing required in all aspects of journalism, as well as to the technology needed in upper- upper-level courses. Practice using references for grammar and journalistic style.
  • JOUR 4333: Ethics in Journalism. Critical examination of specific ethical problems confronting professionals in all areas of mass communications. Reading and writing assignments are aimed at familiarizing students with the nature of the mass media and their social responsibilities.

Now known as the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, the program has occasionally asked me to teach a particular journalism course as a fill-in. The University of Arkansas doesn’t allow staff members to teach in a permanent capacity, but we are allowed to fill in on occasion. My schedule allowed teaching of the following two courses, one on magazine editing and one on public relations writing. The number of students enrolled in each of those courses was about 18.

  • JOUR 4143: Public Relations Writing. Instructional and writing practice to develop the professional-level writing skills required of public relations practitioners. Emphasizes different approaches required for different audiences and media.
  • JOUR 4553: Magazine Editing and Production. Instruction with lab work in editing and producing various types of magazines. Course includes magazine design, selecting and editing stories and photographs, laying out the story and photo pages, and other mechanical processes. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours per week.