JOUR 356 Social Media Writing

This course explores writing for various social media platforms and how they fit into a marketing plan. Students learn practical techniques used in producing social media content that promotes audience affinity and loyalty.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Today is not the day of the specialist. It is the day of the person who can do many things—and do them well. The student who desires a life in news/strategic communication will find a time when it is necessary to present information across various platforms. The idea behind this course is to introduce the student to the purposes, methods, and techniques of creating social media content that satisfies a specified audience and achieves organizational objectives. The student will learn the use of tools and techniques that allow the creation of engaging social media content. Knowledge and a skillset of this type is a great addition to the student’s professional toolbox.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. For each post, the student must respond to the discussion and reply prompts accordingly.

Video Discussion: Student Introductions

The students will post 1 thread with a short video (no more than 60 seconds) introducing themselves to their classmates. The student must then post 2 written replies of at least 150 words each and including at least 1 source per reply (1 may be the textbook) in APA format. 

Discussion: Social Media Audit

The student will post 1 thread of 500 words demonstrating ownership with a social media audit that directly responds to the prompt, engages with the content, and inspires dialogue with other students in the course. The student should include at least 3 APA style references from the textbook. The student must then post 2 written replies of at least 150 words each and including at least 1 source (1 may be the textbook) per reply in APA format.

Discussion: Biblical Journalism

The students will post 1 thread of 500 words demonstrating ownership of the topic that directly responds to the prompt, engages with the content, and inspires dialogue with other students in the course. The student should include at least 1 APA style reference from the textbook, 1 APA style reference to an additional source, and 1 APA style reference from the Bible. The student must then post 2 written replies of at least 150 words each and including at least 1 source per reply in APA format.

Discussion: Final Project Analysis

The student will post 1 thread of 150 words demonstrating ownership of the topic that directly responds to the prompt, engages with the content, and inspires dialogue with other students in the course. The student must then post 2 written replies of at least 150 words each and including at least 1 source per reply in APA format. 

Journalist Social Media Analysis Assignment

The student will analyze the social media strategies of a news outlet and one of its journalists. The assignment involves a 2-page written analysis evaluating platform use, content engagement, professional branding, and a focus on real-world application. A minimum of 4 citations in current APA format is required. 

Social Media Video News Story Assignment (2)

The student will produce 2 video news stories using mobile journalism techniques, including B-roll, interviews (SOT), and a stand-up segment. The assignment emphasizes storytelling, technical quality, and source attribution, preparing the student for multimedia content creation. 

Social Media Written News Story Assignment (2)

The student will write 2 mobile-friendly news stories (between 500-600 words each) that complement his/her video package. The assignment requires use of the inverted pyramid structure, direct quotes, hyperlinked sources, AP Style, and SEO keywords, helping the student develop effective written content for digital platforms. AI is ethically utilized for headline and SEO assistance. 

Multimedia News Story Assignment (2)

The student will create a professional website featuring his/her edited written and video news stories that includes 2 original photos and 2 social media posts. This assignment integrates multiple media formats and encourages the student to build a cohesive and professional online portfolio. 

Quizzes (2)

There will be 2 quizzes that will cover the assigned textbook readings. Each quiz will cover the textbook reading for the assigned Module: Week. These quizzes contain 25 true/false and multiple choice questions, are open-book/open-notes, have a 1 hour time limit.