MCA281
URBAN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
- Department
- Media, Culture & the Arts
- Terms offered
- 4
- Data refreshed
- Jun 30, 2026
Description
This class represents a melding of practical and academic approaches to journalism and combines the knowledge on the street with the knowledge of the academy and high level journalism. Students will connect regularly to the local community and produce publishable products. After several weeks devoted to reporting skills, this class will turn its focus to the city of Worcester and the Telegram and Gazette newspaper as representatives of urban America and urban journalism. The class will meet four or five times at the newspaper (transportation provided) to speak with the editors and reporters in business, criminal justice, sports, and the arts. As part of their work, students will write two stories based on their reporting on the Worcester community, with the aim of publishing them in the Telegram and Gazette. Note that this part of the course will require time off campus (again, transportation will be provided).
Syllabi
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Offerings and forecast 2020–2023
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer | Intersession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2030 Fall: 20% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 3 of 6 fall terms since 2021. Department course count falling about 9% per year. | 2030 Spring: 11% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 1 of 7 spring terms since 2020. | 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: 21% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 3 of 6 fall terms since 2021. Department course count falling about 7% per year. | 2029 Spring: 11% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 1 of 7 spring terms since 2020. | 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: 22% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 3 of 6 fall terms since 2021. Department course count falling about 6% per year. | 2028 Spring: 11% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 1 of 7 spring terms since 2020. | 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: 23% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 3 of 6 fall terms since 2021. Department course count falling about 5% per year. | 2027 Spring: 10% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 1 of 7 spring terms since 2020. | 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. |
| 2023 | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2022 | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2021 | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2020 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
Meeting times
Recent firstNo meeting times.
| Term | Professor | Type | Credits | Enrollment | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | Mike R. Elfland | Lecture | 1 | 8 of 20 enrolled | 21130 |
| Fall 2022 | Mike R. Elfland | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 20 enrolled | 21130 |
| Fall 2021 | David P. Nordman | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 20 enrolled | 28299 |
| Spring 2020 | Ronald E. Schachter | Lecture | 1 | 15 of 20 enrolled | 37984 |