Multimedia Journalism CA

The Certificate of Achievement in Multimedia Journalism prepares students for work as a freelance or on-staff member of a news team, including reporter, photographer, editor, designer, website assistant, or promoter.  A Certificate of Achievement can be obtained upon completion of:

Journalism: 9 units

Photography: 3 units

Digital Media: 3 units

Skills and Strategies: 3-3.5 units

Production: 3-4 units

Elective: 3 units from any category

Multimedia Journalism Total: 24-25.5 units

All courses for this major must be completed with a minimum grade of C or a P if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate proficiency in writing for various media platforms, including print, online, and broadcast, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and journalistic style.
2. Develop and produce compelling multimedia stories using a combination of text, images, audio, and video to effectively communicate information to diverse audiences.
3. Understand and apply ethical principles and legal considerations specific to journalism, including issues related to privacy, libel, and responsible reporting in the digital age.
4. Conduct thorough research, analyze information, and critically evaluate sources to produce well-informed and contextually rich journalistic content.
5. Use social media platforms effectively to disseminate news, engage with audiences, and build a professional online presence while adhering to journalistic standards.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in journalism, reflecting it in coverage and story selection to represent a broad range of perspectives.
7. Work collaboratively in a newsroom setting, demonstrating effective communication and teamwork skills essential for the dynamic and fast-paced nature of journalism.
8. Compile a comprehensive and professional portfolio showcasing a range of journalistic work across different media formats, demonstrating growth and proficiency over the course of the program.

The mission of Solano Community College is to provide the highest quality academic, occupational, cultural, developmental, and continuing educational programs that are dedicated to the achievement of students’ learning outcomes and responsive to the needs of our community. In fulfilling our mission, we are committed to a diverse educational and central campus environment that prepares our students for productive participation in the 21st century.

The goal of the Certificate of Achievement (CA) Multimedia Journalism is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work as a freelance journalist or apply for an entry-level position in a newsroom as a reporter, photographer, assistant editor, website assistant, social media director, or sales representative. Coursework includes history and theories of mass communication; standards, practices, and ethics of journalism; elements of a news story; fundamentals of photography, photojournalism, digitalmedia, and graphic design.  Students collaborate with peers to produce the Solano College News Website which involves the following strategies and skills: identifying stories and sources, conducting independent research, interviewing subjects, editing text, designing layout to include text and images, setting and meeting deadlines, and promoting the site.  Students are also required to complete a second semester production course in which they could choose to focus on TV production, Sports Broadcasting, or Literary Magazine production or accept a leadership role in the newsroom which would include “presenting a portfolio of completed projects for student media that demonstrates a range of storytelling formats/styles appropriate for an intermediate-level student journalist.”

Most courses in the CA in Multimedia Journalism are included in the Journalism AA-T and transferrable to both UC and CSU; therefore, students completing the CA can choose a pathway to complete both the required courses for a CA and the additional GE coursework for transfer to obtain a bachelor's degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, Public Relations, Advertising, Media Studies, or a related discipline. 

Journalism courses have not been offered at Solano since Spring 2018 and that was limited to the two content courses, Newswriting & Reporting and Introduction to Mass Communication.  The course sequence for those years is unclear, but the plan to offer one course each semester on a set rotation will accommodate the number of students who have historically taken these classes and ensure meeting/exceeding minimum enrollment requirements. The News Production class, in which SCC student journalists produced the College’s newspaper, The Tempest, has not been offered since 2014 and so the data is not available in the CCCO Datamart. 

 Course Information                           2016-2017                                 2017-2018

Course	Course Title	Annual # of Section	Annual Enrollment Total	Annual # Sections	Annual Enrollment Total
JOUR001	Newswriting & Reporting	1	16	1	12
JOUR011	Intro to Mass Communication	1	21	2	44

Although the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research puts Solano College in the “Bay Region,” the campus and county also has a strong connection to the Sacramento area.  For this reason, it feels appropriate to look at programs in our very immediate area (within 50 miles) that offer pathways related to Journalism and it is important to note that only two have an option for students to earn a Certificate of Achievement: Contra Costa College and Sacramento City. The following report reflects the most recent program awards for Journalism, Mass Comm & Media Studies, Digital Media, and/or Public Relations:

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Program Awards Summary Report Journalism, Mass Comm & Media Studies, Digital Media, Public Relations

State of California Total 2022-2023			4,754
Regional Total			239
	American River Total		26
		Associate in Arts for Transfer (A.A.-T) Degree	8
		Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree	10
		Certificate: 16 to < 30 semester units	2
		Certificate: 6 to < 18 semester units	6
	Contra Costa Total		3
		Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree	2
		Certificate: 16 to < 30 semester units	1
	Cosumnes River Total		41
		Associate in Science for Transfer (A.S.-T) Degree	15
		Associate in Arts for Transfer (A.A.-T) Degree	6
		Associate of Science (A.S.) degree	7
		Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree	4
		Certificate: 16 to < 30 semester units	7
		Certificate: 8 to < 16 semester units	2
	Diablo Valley Total		86
		Associate in Science for Transfer (A.S.-T) Degree	31
		Associate in Arts for Transfer (A.A.-T) Degree	4
		Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree	23
		Certificate requiring 30 to < 60 semester units	26
		Certificate requiring 6 to < 18 semester units	2
	Los Medanos Total		3
		Associate in Arts for Transfer (A.A.-T) Degree	2
		Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree	1
	Napa Total		1
		Associate in Science for Transfer (A.S.-T) Degree	1
	Sacramento City Total		79
		Associate in Arts for Transfer (A.A.-T) Degree	4
		Associate of Science (A.S.) degree	22
		Certificate: 30 to < 60 semester units	17
		Certificate: 16 to < 30 semester units	23
		Certificate: 8 to < 16 semester units	13

Occupational Demand

Table1. Employment Outlook for Journalism Occupations in Bay Region

Occupation	2021 Jobs	2026 Jobs	5-yr Change	5-yr % Change	5-yr Total Openings	Annual Openings	25% Hourly Earning	Median Hourly Wage
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	933	1,118	184	20%	796	159	$19	$27
Total	933	1,118	184	20%	796	159	$19	$27
Source: Lightcast 2022.3
Bay Region includes: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma Counties

Table2. Employment Outlook for Journalism Occupations in North Bay Sub-region

Occupation	2021 Jobs	2026 Jobs	5-yr Change	5-yr % Change	5-yr Total Openings	Annual Openings	25% Hourly Earning	Median Hourly Wage
News Analysts, Reporters,     and Journalists	85	95	11	12%	65	13	$16	$22
Total	85	95	11	12%	65	13	$16	$22
Source: Lightcast 2022.3
North Bay Sub-Region includes: Marin, Napa, Solano, Sonoma Counties

Job Postings in Bay Region and North Bay Sub-Region

Table3. Number of Job Postings by Occupation for latest 12 months (Jan. 2023 -Dec. 2023)

Occupation	Bay Region	North Bay
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists	337	43
Source: Lightcast

A brief survey was conducted via GoogleForms, with the advice and help of the Associated Students of Solano College. The initial results show that the majority of students are interested inone or more classes in the program and all students expressed interest in “reading a student-run news website that focuses on stories about Solano College and the local community.”  Half of the students said they would like to contribute news or reviews while more than 75% were interested in photojournalism. Perhaps surprisingly, a quarter and a third of participants indicated that they would like to help with the layout design and copy-editing work, respectively. 

COMPLETER PROJECTIONS

The college has not offered an interdisciplinary certificate of this nature, but the evolution of journalism and mass media, more generally, means that the courses therein and a multimedia curriculum 

The decision to (re)establish a journalism program at Solano College is driven by several compelling reasons, all of which consider the unique characteristics and needs of community college students.  The SCC Journalism program will serve the entire county, giving students a chance to provide coverage of local events, issues, and stories directly affecting the community which benefits students by offering practical reporting opportunities but also addresses the need for local journalism in the immediate and surrounding communities while fostering a sense of civic engagement and responsibility.  The accessibility and affordability of community college means that introducing this program at Solano will make quality journalism education available to a broader range of students, including those who may face financial constraints or geographical limitations, as many SCC students do.  The diverse student body at Solano can bring a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to a journalism program which, in turn, provides a pathway for underrepresented groups to enter the field, fostering diversity in the media industry. 

The Certificate of Achievement in Multimedia Journalism is 24-units and intended to support the College’s workforce development goals, emphasizing practical, hands-on learning and essential skills such as writing, reporting, editing, photography, web design, graphic design, and multimedia production, preparing students for entry-level positions in journalism and related industries.  However, the Certificate will also provide a solid foundation for related fields such as communications, public relations, and media production, broadening the educational pathways available to students.  In particular, the LMI report indicates an undersupply of entry-level journalists in the local job market, which was a factor in the decision to create a variety of pathways for students and, as much as possible, to align the curriculum with the needs of regional media outlets in order to contribute to the workforce development of the community.  Journalism 001 Newswriting and Reporting and Journalism 060/061 News Production will offer opportunities to bring in working reporters, editors, photographers, and experts in related fields, helping students establish strong connections with local media outlets and professionals.  

The interdisciplinary nature of this certificate means that students will have the broad array of skillsets needed to succeed in contemporary newsrooms, many of which expect journalists to have the ability to a general understanding of the history and theory of journalism, photography, and digital media; know how to investigate and write up a news story, take and edit photos; design an aesthetic/effective presentation of text and images; and work both individually and with a team to plan and execute a project on a deadline.  While the CA offers a one-year, full-time pathway, all of the courses are also applicable to the Associates Degree for Transfer and transferrable to CSU and UC, allowing students to apply these credits contemporarily or at a later date, should they decide to pursue a degree.  In other words, students can complete a one-year certificate and go directly into the field, or they can complete the certificate before/while completing an ADT, and maintain eligibility for financial aid.

Faculty teaching Journalism will have the education and/or experience necessary to support students with course content, practical experience, and networking opportunities.  Further, industry professionals will serve as advisors to faculty to ensure relevancy and currency of curricula and the overall program.  Faculty in the three core disciplines (Journalism, Photography, Digital Media Arts) collaborated to develop the certificate and will work together to promote the program and courses, and ensure that course sequencing and scheduling meets students’ needs.  The faculty in elective disciplines (Skills & Strategies; Production) were also included in the planning and intend to participate in future interdisciplinary efforts to improve the program.

Opening a newsroom requires securing a dedicated space with the appropriate equipment, including desks, computers, software, and various subscriptions, but also branded materials such as pens, notepads, mousepads, etc, and furniture that encourages collaboration such as tables and couches.  These are all being addressed with campus facilities and through multiple funding streams, including Perkins and Strong Workforce Development.  However, after an initial modest investment in the program, the only ongoing expenses will be related to the subscription for the website platform and any relevant software licenses (which, most likely, have been purchased by the college, already).

A Certificate of Achievement can be obtained upon completion of:

Journalism: 9 units

Photography: 3 units

Digital Media: 3 units

Skills and Strategies: 3-3.5 units

Production: 3-4 units

Elective: 3 units from any category

Multimedia Journalism Total: 24-25.5 units

 

All courses for this major must be completed with a minimum grade of C or a P if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Multimedia Journalism (Total Units 24-25.5)

Journalism Courses (Total Units 9)

Complete all of the following

JOUR011 - Introduction to Mass Communication                                     3                                           Spring

JOUR001 - Introduction to Reporting andNewswriting                           3                                           Fall

JOUR060 - News Production and Publication                                           3                                           Fall/Spring

 

Photography Courses (Total Units 3)

Complete the following number of rules: 1

PHOT056 - Photojournalism and Documentary Photography                  3

PHOT029 - Introduction to Photography                                                   3                                          

 

Digital Media Courses (Total Units 3)

Complete the following number of rules: 1

DMA001 - History of Visual Media                                                           3

DMA009 - Introduction to Digital Design                                                 3

DMA010 - Graphic Design I                                                                        3

 

Skills and Strategies Courses (Total Units3-3.5)

Complete the following number of credits:3-3.5

CIS070 - Adobe Photoshop for the Web                                                    3

CIS085 - Digital Publishing with InDesign                                                3

CIS061 - Creating Web Pages                                                                     3

ENGL006 - Creative Writing I                                                                    3

DMA010 - Graphic Design I                                                                        3

DMA011 - Graphic Design II                                                                      3

DMA102 - Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp                                                    1

DMA101 - Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp                                                     1

DMA100 - Design Bootcamp                                                                      1

DMA092 - Social Media for Professionals                                                 3

PHOT163 - Landscape and Nature Photography                                       1

PHOT165 - Workshop: Lighting on Location                                            1

LR011 - Internet Explored: Advanced Information Competency             1.5

 

Production Courses (Total Units 3-4)

Complete the following number of credits: 3-4

ENGL058 - Creative Writing: The Literary Magazine I                            3

ENGL059 - Creative Writing: The LiteraryMagazine II                          3

JOUR061 - News Production and Publication II                                        3

FTV055 - Television Production: Beginning                                             3

FTV056 - Television Production: Advanced                                              3

COMM075A - Sports Broadcasting-FallSports                                        3

COMM075B - Sports Broadcasting-Spring Sports                                    3

COMM080A - TV Sports Production-FallSports                                     3

COMM080B - TV Sports Production – Spring                                          3

 

PROPOSED SEQUENCE:
Year	Semester	Units
Year 1	Fall	12
Year 2	Spring	12

The LMI report does not include the Sacramento Region, but many of our students feel a connection to that area as much as, or more than, the Bay Area; for example, more students transfer to Sacramento State than Cal State East Bay, San Francisco State, or Sonoma State. For this reason, future inquiries could/should include Sacramento. A quick search on Indeed.com shows 24 “entry level” postings for “Reporter” within “50 miles” of Sacramento. Based on the data included in this report, there is a small annual “oversupply” of four (4) students in the Bay region with 159 annual openings for the Journalism occupational cluster and 163 annual (3-year average) awards from community colleges and other educational institutions. In the North Bay Sub-Region, there is a small annual “undersupply” of four (4) students, with 13 annual openings and nine (9) annual (3-year average) awards from community colleges.

In developing the AA-T and CAs in Journalism, Solano faculty worked with colleagues at neighboring and exemplary CCC Journalism programs, including Laney College and Santa Rosa Junior College, seeking advice and opportunities to collaborate. Recommendations included involving students in the process of naming the news organization/website (in progress), establishing a dedicated and permanent space as the Solano College Newsroom, contracting with a reputable and widely-adopted website host (School Newspapers Online: snosites.com), and inviting experienced journalists into the classroom to share stories with and offer networking opportunities to students. A visit to the newsroom and meeting with the Chair of Journalism at SRJC, Anne Belden, was particularly helpful given the advanced stage of the program, there. The space is well-defined, with ample equipment and a smoothly running news organization. Professor Belden offered strategies for ensuring student journalists are fully prepared through their participation in the production of the news website, including her intentional design of teams, beats, assignments, deadlines, and workflow management. The faculty member initiating the Journalism CA and AA-T met multiple times with Eleni Economides Gastis, Chair of Journalism at Laney College, and enrolled in her Newswriting and Reporting course to get the benefit of her mentorship. Professor Gastis is a veteran teacher and journalist who recently developed a new Journalism program at her college, including an AA-T and two CAs, which gives her a unique and valuable perspective as a guide.