MCA181
URBAN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
Offered in a current or upcoming term. Official schedule
- Department
- Media, Culture & the Arts
- Terms offered
- 3
- Data refreshed
- Jun 27, 2026
Description
Learn the world of digital news from a working journalist. This Problems of Practice (POP) course, explores the many steps that lead to a reader clicking on a headline. Students will hear from working reporters, photographers and editors. The course is based on the inner workings of a daily newspaper website, telegram.com (Worcester Telegram & Gazette), with scenarios and insight too fresh for a textbook. The class will occasionally meet in the newsroom of the Telegram & Gazette. Students who took MCA 281 should not take this course.
Syllabi
Sign in to view syllabi.
Offerings and forecast 2024–2026
2024 2026
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer | Intersession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2030 Fall: 42% chance, low confidence. Offered in every fall term since 2024. Department course count falling about 9% per year. | 2030 Spring: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 spring terms since 2018. | 2030 Summer: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 summer terms since 2018. | 2030 Intersession: 8% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 6 intersession terms since 2020. |
| 2029 | 2029 Fall: 46% chance, low confidence. Offered in every fall term since 2024. Department course count falling about 7% per year. | 2029 Spring: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 spring terms since 2017. | 2029 Summer: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 summer terms since 2017. | 2029 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2028 | 2028 Fall: 49% chance, low confidence. Offered in every fall term since 2024. Department course count falling about 6% per year. | 2028 Spring: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 spring terms since 2016. | 2028 Summer: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 summer terms since 2016. | 2028 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2027 | 2027 Fall: 53% chance, low confidence. Offered in every fall term since 2024. Department course count falling about 5% per year. | 2027 Spring: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 spring terms since 2015. | 2027 Summer: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 summer terms since 2015. | 2027 Intersession: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2026 | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered | No data |
| 2025 | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2024 | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
Forecast Under 15% 15–39% 40–69% 70–89% 90%+ Not enough history
Fall Spring Summer Intersession More sections Not offered No data
Meeting times
Recent first- Tue, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM TC112 20262025
| Term | Professor | Type | Credits | Enrollment | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Mike R. Elfland | Lecture | 1 | 7 of 15 enrolled | 23358 |
| Fall 2025 | Mike R. Elfland | Lecture | 1 | 13 of 15 enrolled | 23358 |
| Fall 2024 | Mike R. Elfland | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 20 enrolled | 23358 |