Broadcast and Digital Journalism

This course provides a broad overview of journalism with a focus on news programming in the electronic media. Students examine how radio, television, and online news stories are covered, written and produced. There is much hands-on learning, including exercises in news writing, announcing and reporting. This fast-paced course also explores interview styles, media law, editorial writing, and on- camera performance.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

In today's age of social media platforms and the need to rapidly develop online content, video editing skills are beneficial to many professions and applications. This course introduces students to the artistic and technical platform of video editing using Adobe Premiere, beginning with an overview of the software interface, basic editing tools, and roles of a video editor. Along with learning how to use the software, students will become familiar with editing styles and postproduction workflow through provided handouts and assignments. Upon completion of this course, students will have the basic skillset to build successful and presentable sequences with provided video clips and export them as compressed video files for upload to various online media. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​In the ever-changing, fast-paced environment of global news, the Backpack Journalist on the ground is emerging as the vital link for the world audience. In this introductory course, you will explore what it takes to find and tell that compelling visual story from conception to final edit. You will focus on using smaller professional video cameras, both creatively and technically, and the basics of digital video editing, which is the realm of the Video Journalist. Additionally, you will also learn to use your smartphone to capture professional video and audio in the new world of the Mobile Journalist. You will develop interview and on-camera skills, and utilize these skill sets to produce a news-style story as a final project. This is a hands-on course where you will write, shoot, edit, and present news stories. In this career, you will work as a solo journalist, responsible for all aspects of producing stories for all platforms. Through this course, you will be equipped with many of the skills needed to begin exploring the world of the Backpack Journalist
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

What matters the most in photography is finding a voice which represents personal perspectives and notions. It's all about how you see the world and how you express your vision through photography. This course examines the necessary fundamental components of photography, including camera settings, exposure triangle, depth of field, white balance, color wheel, visual depth as well as complete training in post processing in Adobe Lightroom. Black and White, Color and Landscape Photography are being highlighted in this course. By exploring the most influential photographs of all time and expanding skills on evaluating their purposes and stories, students will learn how to create an effectual and evocative image. Ultimately, by the end of this course we aim to answer this question: How photography can push emotions and perception into something pure and powerful?
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​​Shine in front of any audience. Elevate your message. Leave a lasting impression in interviews, presentations and everyday conversations. Stand out confidently whether it's to a group, a client or your circle of friends and family. Be assured you have effectively communicated your message for the biggest impact on your listeners. Using age-old techniques passed down from masters in performance, you will gain a solid foundation to tackle any message or conversation to inspire and inform others in a meaningful way. Through personal exploration and technical exercises, you'll gain an inner confidence that sets you above the mundane and enables you more personal comfort and enjoyment for all interaction, whether personal or business.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Podcasts are ubiquitous nowadays, being created for brand marketing and awareness, education and entertainment purposes. This course will cover content preparation, storytelling, interviewing, writing, audio-editing, marketing and basic graphic design for promotional purposes. You’ll also learn about equipment, apps and software available to facilitate podcast-making. All you need is a smartphone to get started. Much of what we'll cover is also applicable to people pursuing broadcast careers.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Do you like to have fun, whether it be individually or with your classmates? If so, this is the class for you. Each week you will work with authentic broadcast scripts covering news, entertainment, sports and advertising, all under the guidance an encouragement of a industry professional who has been on the air in Vancouver for over 25 years. This course is designed from the perspective that, in this age of media convergence, good performance skills are transferrable to all forms of media, whether traditional broadcasting, podcasting or any other on-line broadcast platform. This is a fast-paced class where students learn vocal and performance skills for radio and television announcing which are transferable to many other occupations. In addition, students will learn the basic operations of a radio production board and proper microphone technique. On-air technique is much more than rambling about your favourite band or mumbling your way through a dry news script. Great announcing involves impeccable communication skills – emotions and thoughts need to be transmitted with clarity while understanding who the audience is. Students should be willing to have fun, take risks and perform outside their comfort zone.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​The breadth and depth of sports media have exploded in recent times – would you like to join this growing and exciting industry? This course includes fundamental skills required of all sports media professionals. The role of the sports media in general will be analyzed along with potential ethical dilemmas presenters can face. You will explore how to conceptualize, research, write, and perform a captivating sports story. Other critical elements include building and editing a sportscast as well as interviewing players, coaches and other key stakeholders. Those enrolling in this course should demonstrate a keen interest in sports and sports broadcasting. High profile guest speakers are often included as part of the course curriculum, subject to their availability. To name a few of many, past guests include: Don Taylor (Donnie and Dhali - The Team Co-host) Brendan Batchelor (Vancouver Canucks Radio Play-By-Play Announcer) Taralynn Reburn (Florida Panthers Vice-President, Ticket Sales, and Service) Matt Baker (BC Lions Manager, Communications and Content) James Cybulski (EA Sports NHL video game Play-By-Play Announcer) Rob Williams (Daily Hive Sports Editor) Mantar Bhandal (Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi Analyst) Shantelle Chand (TSN/National Lacrosse League Sideline Reporter) Thomas Drance (The Athletic Vancouver Senior Writer)
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

While its true most of us have set up social media accounts, are you aware of the subtle nuances of using your social media effectively? Do you know how to stand out in the digital space over the non-stop buzz of social media noise? Ultimately, understanding the story you wish to tell is key, along with the art of being able to tell a good story. The focus of this course is identifying the story you wish to tell and learning to manipulate social media tools to better tell it. This skill set includes building your (or your business’) social media presence, identifying the best social media platforms for your story, and learning social media time management around your digital storytelling.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Through this course, you will explore the steps needed to take a video from project development activities in pre-production to planning, scheduling, and managing the substantial number of details of production through to the final crafting of the video in post-production. These skills are in increasing demand in business and online and need to be done at a professional level.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​This course focuses on the fundamentals of Ableton Live for composing, recording and editing music. Ableton Live is recognized as one of the top competitors in digital music creation and is also recognized for its non-linear composition and audio recording environment while also enabling a more traditional linear arrangement. The course examines automation essentials and tools for creating, editing and producing music compositions. Course studies also focus on MIDI programming, composition strategies, use of device racks, live audio recording and editing, sampling, MIDI instrument design, and mixing for production, collaboration and remixing finished works within Ableton Live. Essentials for setting up the digital audio workstation, processor efficiency, collaboration and file management are covered. Use of Ableton Live for live performance is also explored.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of sound design principles and techniques for various media applications, including film, television, radio, and social media. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on exercises, and projects, students will learn the fundamentals of sound design, including microphones, recording, and editing techniques, mixing, and mastering. Emphasis will be placed on applying creative concepts to enhance storytelling through sound.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Film captures the attention of audiences and brings stories to life. Having a solid foundation in camera skills is essential in this modern media age. This course is designed for students interested in the basics of video and film camera operation; Students will explore professional camera set up, lighting, sound recording and editing of scenes. The art of sequencing your shots to tell a story both technically and aesthetically is also introduced. The hands-on approach enables students to gain experience and confidence using a professional video camera to shoot popular scenes used in news, corporate, online and film production.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​Students will learn how to apply the many elements required of a freelance producer to create and launch programming on various social media platforms. From overseeing show conception to creating content, show layout, scriptwriting, interviewing guests to pre-production planning and post-production, students will gain the knowledge and experience to have the confidence to take their ideas and share them with their intended audience.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course is designed to help you use the power of narrative (storytelling) to engage people on matters related to environment, climate change, science and sustainability. The course is designed for everyone from news consumers to aspiring/existing journalists and/or anyone interested in engaging their employees or other (corporate, government, etc.) stakeholders on environmental action and engagement. Taught by Dr. Kamyar Razavi, a climate change journalist and veteran television news producer, the course examines the role of the news media in drawing attention to environmental issues including environmental justice, political mobilization as well as climate mitigation and adaptation. We will examine the evolution of environmental journalism beginning with the 'discovery' of the environment and climate change as a topic worthy of recurring news coverage in the late 1980s and 1990s. We look at the subsequent periods of false balance, apathy/hope, and the turn toward climate solutions. The politics of climate change are examined in depth as are the various social, individual, and psychological barriers impeding action on climate change.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​All lifestyle, factual, reality or documentary television tells a story, even though there is no script. Story editing for these genres is an important and collaborative art between producers, directors, story editors and editors to create a cohesive, impactful story to each episode and series as a whole. Students will learn the job of the story editor in unscripted television and how they interact with other key creatives, how episodic unscripted television is produced and the post-production process and workflow. Analysis o​f episodic unscripted television series will focus on understanding the story threads, identifying the A, B and C story, characterization elements and story thread conclusions. Students will learn about the pieces they will have to draw on to build and advance story, including scene work, interviews, both sit-down and on the fly style, B-roll, and shot coverage and will have the opportunity to outline, storyboard and string-out an act of an episodic series. Students will learn to create story outlines, storyboards, and scene string-outs of footage to create entertaining and informative, well-paced scenes.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course is designed for those who are confident with the fundamentals of digital photography and are now ready to broaden one's skills by refining shooting style and expanding on elements of design. Each session will explore multiple approaches to photography, with the aim of challenging one's understanding of visual aesthetics. Students will learn what's essential to add and subtract from the scene in order to obtain an intriguing and unique composition, and more importantly how to fill the frame with a distinguishable narrative. There is an emphasis on using the camera's shutter speed creatively to generate unusual and impactful photographs. Students will have the opportunity to explore Street, Documentary and Landscape Photography, while relying on one's own judgement to turn mundane situations into extraordinary moments. We finish off this course by optimizing the highlights, shadows, color shades and tones in Adobe Photoshop. Use of a DSLR or Mirrorless camera (not supplied by BCIT) is REQUIRED for the duration of this course. Compact cameras and GoPros are NOT acceptable. BCST 1198 is suggested, but not required to take this course. Students with a solid understanding of manual camera operations are welcome.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​​There is a community and an audience online for just about every story, idea, and concept. The problem is that many people don't know how to create their ideas online, and to build and engage a community around those ideas. That is what you will begin to build in this course – a storyworld around your digital media endeavours (whether for personal branding, business or a project). This will include utilizing WordPress to build a professional website, optimizing SEO to that website and an associated youtube channel, niche audience building, creation of and participation in a digital storytelling campaign, measuring social metrics, crowdfunding, crafting appealing email newsletters, and developing a long term strategy for continued community engagement.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Today, every company is in the media business – whether they know it or not. That’s why it’s crucial to learn how to use both online and broadcast media to tell your story. The way to build a strong company and brand in today’s online world is by winning the attention of your target audience through the essential skill of storytelling. Whether it takes the form of a podcast, blog, video content or any of the other countless online methods of online communication, storytelling and pure human communication will never become obsolete. The focus of this course is honing your storytelling skills to create compelling and powerful content that will stand out in this cluttered new media landscape.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​​​​The media industry is exponentially growing and changing. In this course you will discover broadcast jargon, some broadcast history, and most importantly how to work on your pitch. Knowing what a pitch is and being able to practice pitching is crucial in any business but especially media. This begins with knowing how to navigate the media landscape. Human beings are natural born storytellers, it is part of why so many of us are drawn towards media. There are many ways to be a part of the industry that bring these stories to life but in all aspects of the business at some point you will have to pitch yourself and your idea. This interactive course is the place to practice and perfect your pitch. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​In a modern world where visual technologies increasingly facilitate communication and social interaction, visual literacy is vital. Much of our experience in looking is grounded in habit rather than analysis. Through cultural theory and concepts, this course explores how meaning is both created and transmitted in the visual world.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Covers the basic media process; developing media strategy; news room realities; packaging your message; the media as messenger, interview techniques and critiques; and crisis communications. The media is a business like any other. Their product is controversy. By knowing the rules of the game, astute managers can make the media work for them.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.