CM313: Multimedia Publishing and Production

Semesters taught:
Spring 2017, Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025

Catalogue Description:
This advanced writing course explores shifting and emerging forms of writing and publishing on the Internet. In addition to reading and analyzing existing Internet media, students in this course practice pitching and producing non-fiction stories (journalistic, literary, critical or documentary) in multiple media forms (multimedia feature story, audio package, photo gallery, infographics, video segment) as individuals and as small teams. The course culminates in the collaborative production of a multimedia publication.

Course Materials

Syllabus
Multimedia Reflection Journal
Pitch, Draft, and File a Story Assignment
Audio Package Assignment
Photo Gallery Assignment
Video Segment Assignment
One Month in Murphy Assignment

Sample Student Multimedia Feature
Sample Student Publication

CM313 is a course I developed in order to better serve our Multimedia Publishing students. While fundamental principles in journalistic writing are supported by courses in the English department, there was a need for our media students to combine the forms and genres of writing for internet publication with basic media production and web design skills. The semester takes the form of a series of “draft sprints” in which students explore a single story through a range of different media. The final project asks them to revise their drafts into a single multimedia feature story, as well as collaborate with peers to stand up and launch a web publication.