Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Digital Content Photography (Face-to-Face)

COMM 3090-01

Course: COMM 3090-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: COMM
CRN: 32036

Course Description

Photography for publication in print and on-line media using digital technology. News, advertising, public relations, feature, sports, lifestyle, photo essay, multi-media and documentary applications.

Required Texts

  • Textbook: REQUIRED TEXT:  Kobre, Kenneth (2017) Photojournalism the Professional's Approach. 7th Edition FOCAL Press, ISBN-13: 978-1138101364. Be sure to get this required text. We will be using it starting the first week. 

  • Online Group: You will be required to have a gmail account to submit information to the class google drive. You will be posting photos to this site throughout the semester. You must make sure you have consistent and reliable access to a computer and the Internet.

Learning Outcomes

ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

1.       KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN CULTURES AND THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL WORLD  

Knowledge: Students demonstrate knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world through study in the fine arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, life and physical sciences. 

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION – Understanding how the media and specifically photojournalism help shape ideas, cultures, and describe the physical and natural world.

2.       INTELLECTUAL AND PRACTICAL SKILLS

Communication: Students develop and express ideas and will be able to do so in a variety of ways, namely in writing, by speaking, visually, kinesthetically, through design or aurally.

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students express ideas through photography and associated written material. 

Creative Thinking: Students combine or synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways, as well as think, react, and work in an imaginative way.

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students observe and investigate news related content and determine the best way to present the information in photographic form.

Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, 

analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, 

reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students analyze a possible news or feature news situation and determine the most effective photographic structure to present the information.

Information Literacy: Students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute and share information effectively and ethically. 

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students research information sources and determine validity and accuracy while documenting the situation for further information dissemination though photography

Inquiry & Analysis: Inquiry: Students systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and 

analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments. 

Analysis: Students break complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students systematically inquire and analyze news situations and determine best manner to portray the information in visual form.
Problem solving: Students design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer open-ended questions or achieve a desired goal.

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students apply problem solving strategies to news coverage. Practice and research skills in camera usage and news coverage.

3.       PERSONAL  &  SOCIAL  RESPONSIBILITY  

Ethical Reasoning: Students describe and analyze positions on ethical issues, apply reasoning about right and wrong human conduct, demonstrate ethical decision-making skills, and demonstrate an evolving ethical self-identity.

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students apply ethical reasoning to news coverage including but not limited to. the ethical concepts of photo-manipulation, compassion for victims and news sources, sensitivity to truth and fairness, ability to discern “fake news,” and overall being an autonomous ethical journalist.

 4. INTEGRATIVE  LEARNING  

Integrative learning: Students make connections among ideas and experiences and can synthesize and transfer their learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus

COURSE SPECIFIC APPLICATION: Students extend lessons and uses of photojournalism to all aspects of life including their future challenges and opportunities.

Course Requirements

Student Assignments (Homework)
Required Reading Assignments: Textbook and recommended reading list.
Required Writing Assignments: Responses to chapters, websites and exhibits; written critiques of pertinent examples from photojournalism history; text to accompany each photograph submitted; a photo essay.
Exams: Midterm and Final exams.
Required Photography Assignments: Most of the photographic assignments are experienced outside of the classroom and off campus. Students must provide their own digital camera of at least 5 mp resolution. Cell phone cameras are NOT adequate for this class.
Photo Submission Rules
  • ALL PHOTOS IN THE CLASS MUST HAVE PEOPLE IN THEM unless approved in advance by the instructor (a possible special assignment…rarely approved). Many of you have great skills in fine art, landscape, wildlife and abstract photography. This class emphasizes working with people in spontaneous situations and in situations where people may not want you there. Students must learn to be assertive and immerse themselves in a news situation.
  • CUT LINES (captions) are required for EVERY photo.
  • Assigned photos must be shot no earlier than two weeks before they are due. The date the photo was taken must be included in the label (ex: News 5 – Taken 01/12/15).
Examinations and Grading
The midterm will be an in-class written test worth 50 points. The final exam will be a short answer/essay test worth 50 points. Study the reading assignments and the class notes to prepare for the tests. Study guides will be distributed shortly before each test. It is the students' responsibility to obtain the study guide if they are not in attendance when it is distributed.
Grades will be based on a 100% scale.
Grade Breakdown
Photo Assignments | Points Awarded | Total Possible
Google Account| Pass/Fail – 10 points | 10
Self Portrait | Pass/Fail – 10 points | 10
Best 1 of 10 | Pass/Fail – 10 points | 10
Technical - Motion/Focus Challenge | Pass/Fail – 10 points each | 20
7 Elements Photos | Pass/Fail – 10 points each | 70
Feature Portrait | 1 photo x 0-20 points | 20
Indoor Sports | 1 photo x 0-20 | 20
Outdoor Sports | 1 photo x 0-20 | 20
10 News and Feature Photos. Should have strong news values and strong compositional elements WITH human interest. | 10 photos x 0-20 points each | 200
University Journal assignment | 50 points | 50
Photo Essay/Photos | 100 points | 100
Photo Layout/Captions | Layout worth 50 points | 50
Multi-Media Assignment | 100 points | 100
Portfolio (5) | 5 photos x 0-20 points each | 200
Tests/Written Assignments
5 short written assignments
News Quiz
10 News Ideas
Jones Creativity Reading
Ethics Response
NPPA Health Reading | 10 points each | 50
History Presentation and Report | Presentation 50 points + Report 20 points | 70
Midterm Exam | 50 points | 100
Class Participation | 50 points | 100
Final Exam | 50 points | 100
Total |  | 1200
Percentage and Grade
Percentage | Grade
90% | As
80% | Bs
70% | Cs
60% | Ds
Below 60% | F

Course Outline

COURSE SCHEDULE - Communication 3090
| Week/Date | Activity | Assignment Due | Notes
| Week 1 |   |   | 
|   | Introduction, Syllabus, Google drive instructions Appropriate content = Censorship? Go over Foundation Concepts - Syllabus Self-portrait assigned – tips. Writing cutlines | Confirm email address for google drive, Get on Google drive In Class News Quiz (not graded) | 
|   | News Quiz, google Instructions, Free Speech, First Amendment-5 Freedoms, Creativity, What do photojournalists do? Writing cutlines, Types of Cameras, Specification sheets | Self Portrait due Chap 1 Summary | Complete Google access with self-portrait posted by today.
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 2 |   |   | 
|   | What is News? Values, Spot, Hard, Feature News. General News. Four levels of photographic quality | First Campus Photo | First “sample” of campus news photo due
|   | Shutter and Aperture, Depth of Field, Applications to creativity |   | 
 |   | News Quiz, Compositional Elements | News Quiz (graded) Chap 2 Summary Technical Challenge Photos | 2 photos due on google drive. Focus and Motion pics. The google drive should have 3 photos now.
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 3 |   |   | 
|   |   |   | 
|   | Low light situations, Critique NG photos. How elements apply to Features, Covering Issues, Shooting. | Martin Luther King Day photo Chap 3 Summary | Donald video
|   | Critique 7 elements photos. Portrait Shooting, Portraits in news, Discuss photo story assignment, Technical and Aesthetic Aspects, More on portraits, Features, Steps to a great photo. Shoot portraits | 7 Elements Photos List of 10 possible photo story ideas Chap 4 Summary | Your google drive should have 10 photos now. EVERY photo after this point must have an ID’d person.
|   |   |   | 
| Week 4 |   |   | 
|   | What do local photojournalists do? “Light” as truth, Light Characteristics, Diffusion, Strobe | News or Feature Photo #1 Chap 5 Summary | 
|   | More lighting | Lighting Demo in TV studio
|   | Portrait shooting (lighting) | Chap 9 Summary ** | 
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 5 |   |   | 
|   | More portrait shooting – practice with phones | News or Feature Photo #2
|   | Photo Story Intro – select a social cause to document | Chap 6 Summary | 
|   | Photo Editing | Feature Portrait Chap 7 Summary | 
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 6 |   |   | 
|   | Camera Bag, Action Shots Writing for Photo Stories Pulitzer Photos Shooting your photo story | Chap 8 Summary   | View Josh Smith video
|   | Photo Editing, selection, layout, design, Photo stories, | News or Feature Photo #3 Bring url of a sample of a photo story you found Chap 10 Summary | 
|   | Action Shots, Application to real world, Introduce Multi-Media, Real world Illustration applied to Journalism | Chap 11 Summary |   
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 7 |   |   | 
|   |   |   | 
|   | Mid-term Review, TBA | News or Feature Photo #4 – President Day theme Chap 12 Summary Throw darts to select assigned location
|   | Intro to Photojournalism History Mid-term Test | Indoor Sports Photo Chap 17 History Summary** | 
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 8 |   |   | 
 |   | Personal website development, Intro to Multi-media projects, Video | News or Feature Photo #5 – Assigned Location Chap 14 Summary ** | 
|   | On-Location Shoot 5 | Chap 13 Summary | 
 |   | Mid-term Exam on CANVAS | Test on CANVAS   | 
|   |   |   | 
| Week 9 |   |   | 
|   | Multi-media projects | News or Feature Photo #6   | 
|   | Better shooting Multi-media projects, Multi-media projects |   | 
 |   | Ethics – general intro |   | 
 |   |   |   | 
 |   | Spring Break |   | 
|   |   |   | 
| Week 10 |   |   | 
|   | Ethics— media specific | News or Feature Photo #7 – Spring Break theme Chap 15 Summary | 
|   | Ethics, SPJ, NPPA |   | 
|   | Law – general intro, Review 1st Amendment |   | 
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 11 |   |   | 
|   | Law— Libel, children, news coverage FCC, Copyright, Internet | News or Feature Photo #8
|   | Law - continued |   | 
|   | Law—privacy, access, apply to news coverage | Chap 16 Summary   | 
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 12 |   |   | 
|   | History of Photojournalism | News or Feature Photo #9
|   | Social Impact of Photojournalism, Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine |   | View Hine and Lewis videos in class
|   | Dangerous Nature of Journalism | Outdoor sports photo due Chap 18 Summary | 
|   |   |   | 
| Week 13 |   |   | 
|   | History Presentations | News or Feature Photo #10 Zoom presentations | 
|   | History Presentations  | Zoom presentations | 
|   | Photo Story Presentations | In class (must be posted on CANVAS before class) | 
|   |   |   | 
 | Week 14 |   |   | 
|   | Photo Story Presentation | In class (must be posted on CANVAS before class) | 
|   | Multi-Media Presentations   | In class (must be posted on CANVAS before class) Written Final on CANVAS | 
|   | Turning Pro Application | Portfolio on website link must be posted to CANVAS | Portfolio on your website of 5 best shots. Final Exam prep
|   |   |   |  
 |   | Final Exam Week – Final exam opens on the Monday of Final Exam week. | Final Exam due at the end of the scheduled final exam schedule –   |  
 

** Note chapter summaries that are out of sequential order.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

  • Quizzes can only be taken at a different time than the scheduled class time if the instructor is contacted IN ADVANCE.
  • Photos will not be graded if the photo was taken after the deadline on the due date.
  • Deadline for News/Feature photos is 11:59 p.m. on the due date.
  • Other late assignments will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is documented through quizzes and short written assignments that are only accepted in class. There may be some special guests and field trips that will also be beneficial to students. Oddly enough, I do notice who comes to class and who doesn’t.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.