Plan

Approved by Journalism Unit faculty vote, March 25, 2022

Revision approved by Journalism Unit faculty vote, December 9, 2022

The Journalism Unit recognizes assessment as a valuable institutional tool that informs teaching methods and spurs curriculum innovation with the goal of improving student learning. The program’s original assessment plan was developed in 2001. It underwent revision four times before the journalism program moved into the new Media School in 2015 when the B.A.J. degree was reformed and controlled at the school level. The Journalism Unit now monitors the degree most closely and works to maintain its relevancy through revision and reform. Throughout the transition into the Media School, the Unit continued collecting most of the assessment measures specified in the 2014 plan while adapting to changes in coursework for entering students. During its first five years as part of the Media School, the Journalism Unit completed a curriculum audit, redesigned several courses and revised requirements for the B.A.J. In 2022, the assessment plan was revised to incorporate those changes and provide more structure and clarity. A newly formed standing committee on assessment now oversees assessment administration, data gathering and evaluation.

The plan comprises eight sections:

1. Preface. Affirms the Unit’s embrace of assessment as an essential tool to improve teaching and learning at the program level
2. The Unit’s Assessment Objectives. Describes the Unit’s objectives for assessment and how they relate to its mission
3. Student Learning Outcomes. Enumerates the ACEJMC’s 10 professional values and competencies, which the Unit has adopted as outcomes for all its majors
4. Oversight. Identifies the administrator responsible for ensuring the plan is implemented and the committee structure that assists her/him in this effort
5. Curriculum. Indicates where the values and competencies are addressed in core courses, required electives and general education requirements. An appendix includes a matrix, detailing which values and competencies are emphasized in core and elective courses
6. Direct and Indirect Measures. Explicates the multiple direct and indirect measures the unit uses to gather data to assess whether learning outcomes for the values and competencies are being met at the program level
7. Timeline. Explains the Unit’s assessment cycle, including data collection, data analysis, committee work, and deliberation and action by the faculty on changes in teaching practices, courses and curriculum, and implementation of those changes
8. Use of Information. Describes how the unit analyzes and uses data about student achievement of the 10 values and competencies and how it shares the information with internal and external constituencies

Preface

The Journalism Unit views assessment as an essential tool to improve teaching and learning and to evaluate curriculum. It considers quantitative and qualitative data generated by the assessment process as the best means to determine whether students are achieving learning outcomes. Information gathered through both direct and indirect measures provides insight into needed curricular changes at the course and program level.

The Unit collects and analyzes data from multiple sources to determine how well journalism majors, both in news reporting and editing and in public relations, have achieved awareness, understanding and application of the 10 professional values and competencies. The Unit is accredited and seeks re-accreditation every six years.

The purpose of assessment is not to grade students, instructors or the Unit, but to identify strengths and weaknesses in the overall program, and to determine and implement changes at the course and curriculum levels. The assessment process will improve the academic environment, increase learning and advance the mission of the Unit.

This plan guides the Journalism Unit’s assessment of student learning at the program level.

The Unit’s Assessment Objectives

Using multiple measures, the Unit regularly assesses student learning, analyzes the resulting data and uses them to improve instruction and curriculum. The Unit actively enlists its faculty, students and alumni as partners in implementing this plan.

The mission statement goals are followed by the related values and competencies in parentheses:

The Journalism Unit is responsible for journalism education on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University.

The Mission of the Unit is to foster critical thinking (No. 7) about media institutions and global audiences (No. 1), encourage ethics (No. 6) in an international environment, and develop knowledge of the evolving professions of journalism and public relations (No. 2).

The mission is both academic and professional. It is about learning, teaching and doing as informed by our core values of excellence, innovation, diversity (No. 3), integrity (No. 6) and social responsibility (No. 6).

We are committed to scholarly research in journalism and public communication (No. 7), to liberal arts education, and to professional media practices (Nos. 4, 5, 8, 10).

To fulfill its mission, the Unit must serve these constituencies: high school, undergraduate and graduate students; parents; scholars and educators; professional practitioners and employers; the citizens of Indiana; and the general public. Directly or indirectly, these constituencies hold the Unit accountable.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Journalism Unit has adopted the 10 professional values and competencies articulated by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications as learning outcomes at the program level.

All journalism graduates, regardless of their specializations or career aspirations, should achieve the following outcomes:

1. apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, in a global context, and for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located;

2. demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
3. demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts;
4. present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies;
5. write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
6. demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
7. apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
8. effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
9. critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
10. apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

The Unit enlists its faculty, students and alumni as partners in achieving these outcomes. The Journalism program’s learning outcomes below, which are based on the ACEJMC’s values and competencies, are posted online within the College of Arts and Sciences bulletin.

• Development of strong skills in writing, critical thinking, independent learning, mathematics, foreign language, and information technologies;
• Exposure to a broad range of coursework in the liberal arts and sciences, both in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the liberal arts courses within the B.A.J.;
• Understanding of cultures outside the United States and of minority cultures within the United States;
• Training in the professional skills of journalism and mass communication, including reporting, writing, editing, visual communication, new communications technology, and collaborative work;
• Training in statistical analysis and quantitative and qualitative research methods;
• Awareness of the institutions, processes, and effects of mass media in society;
• In-depth exploration of a subject other than journalism and mass communications; and
• Preparation for a lifetime of learning

Every syllabus lists the values and competencies emphasized in that course. Faculty members are encouraged to discuss the values and competencies in class and to note them on exercises, assignments and other course materials, when applicable. The Unit believes repeated exposure to these goals will help our students recognize the role these 10 outcomes play in their education. 

The Unit collects, analyzes and reports data on all 10 values and competencies regularly and takes appropriate action.

Oversight

The Journalism Unit Assessment Committee is responsible for implementing the Unit’s Assessment Plan, but the entire faculty regularly and consistently contributes to the assessment process.

Each semester the Committee collects data and meets to analyze results. The Committee makes recommendations to the full faculty and spearheads implementation. The Committee is assisted by the Unit Director’s Assistant who maintains files and schedules various routine tasks.

Near the end of each academic year, the entire faculty convenes to review and discuss the Committee’s report. During this meeting, Journalism faculty develop recommendations for changes to curriculum and instruction and then relay those recommendations to the School’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for action.

Curriculum

The Unit ensures the 10 professional values and competencies are covered in one or more of the six core courses in the B.A.J. Additional coverage results from required journalism electives, Indiana University Bloomington’s General Education Common Ground Requirements, and the College of Arts and Sciences Education Requirements.

Each skills elective includes a technology component that amplifies students’ achievement of No. 10 on applying tools and technologies. Additionally, the new three-course Story Lab sequence assures that students begin using technology tools early in the curriculum, a change that resulted from previous assessment efforts.

Curriculum requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

Students pursuing the B.A.J. complete a common core of courses and must choose between two concentrations: News Reporting and Editing or Public Relations. The structure of both concentrations is the same with one exception. Within their concentrations, students complete a principles course, a gateway course, a research course, a mastery course and two (2) concentration-specific electives.

The two concentrations differ in that News Reporting and Editing students are required to take MSCH-J 400 Converged Newsroom while Public Relations students are required to complete one (1) additional skills elective.

Current curricular requirements are listed in the IUB Bulletin.

IUB General Education Common Ground Requirements

Indiana University Bloomington’s General Education Common Ground courses are required for all IUB students. They are designed to ensure that all undergraduates improve their skills in English composition and mathematical modeling and are exposed to offerings in arts and humanities, social and historical studies, natural and mathematical sciences, and world languages and cultures. Although students can choose from a variety of approved courses in each area, the Common Ground requirements are the same for all undergraduates, regardless of their school or academic unit:

• English composition: Students must complete, with a grade of C or higher, one (1) three-credit GenEd-approved English Composition course.
• Mathematical modeling: Students must complete one (1) three-credit GenEd-approved Mathematical Modeling course.
• Arts and Humanities: Students must complete at least two (2) GenEd-approved Arts and Humanities courses for a total of six credits.
• Social and Historical Studies: Students must complete at least two (2) GenEd-approved Social and Historical Studies courses for a total of six credits.
• Natural and Mathematical Sciences: Students must complete at least two (2) GenEd-approved Natural and Mathematical Sciences courses, for a total of at least five credits.
• World Languages and Cultures: Students must either take six hours of World Culture courses, complete the study of a GenEd-approved world language, or complete an approved study abroad program or approved study abroad internship of at least six credit hours and at least six weeks abroad in duration.

The GenEd curriculum also includes Shared Goals course requirements. Unlike the Common Ground requirements that are the same for all undergraduates, the Shared Goals are program-specific and vary depending on major and school. 

They entail:

• Intensive Writing: Students take intensive writing courses taught by faculty in small sections or by individual arrangement that includes a series of written assignments.
• Information Fluency: The information technology skills courses introduce students to critical information resources within their field.
• Diversity: These courses focus on the issues of diversity and cultural, racial, ethnic, class, age, ability, sexual orientation, religious, and gender discrimination within the context of the United States.
• Other educational experiences: Designed to provide meaningful educational experiences, these offerings may be outside the traditional classroom and may or may not be linked to specific courses.

The Media School and Journalism Unit embrace these shared goals of promoting writing, information fluency, diversity in the United States and enriching educational experiences. They align well with the Unit’s student learning outcomes and ACEJMC’s values and competencies.

College of Arts and Sciences Education requirements

The Media School is a school within the College of Arts and Sciences. It therefore conforms to College requirements that overlap with the GenEd Common Ground requirements listed above but are not identical. “CASE” is the acronym the College uses for these College of Arts and Sciences Education requirements. The college uses CASE to distinguish its specific degree requirements from those of other Indiana University Bloomington schools such as business, education, music, public affairs, and public health.

CASE requirements include:

• CASE Foundations: This requires completion of one English composition course (which can be exempted) as well as a Mathematical Foundations course. The Foundations requirements are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills that are foundational to a liberal arts education. It is strongly encouraged that they be completed during the first year of study at Indiana University.
• CASE Breadth of Inquiry: This requires completion of courses in the Arts and Humanities, Natural and Mathematical Sciences and Social and Historical Studies.
• CASE Cultural Studies: This requires students complete a course on Diversity in the United States and Global Civilizations and Cultures.
• Additional CASE requirements: Students must take a course on Critical Approaches to the Arts and Sciences, complete a foreign language requirement, take an intensive writing course and complete a public oral communication course.

Journalism curriculum matched with the values and competencies

The following section matches the values and competencies with core Journalism courses, requirements for the journalism major and other courses outside Journalism required for the degree.

Freedom of speech and press

Students should understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 203 Foundations of Journalism, MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations, MSCH-J 300 Communications Law (AKA, MSCH-H 300) and MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions (AKA, MSCH-H 410).

History

Students should demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 203 Foundations of Journalism, MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations, MSCH-J 300 Communications Law (AKA, MSCH-H 300) and MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions (AKA, MSCH-H 410).

The B.A.J. includes and the Unit faculty recommend MSCH-C 206 Media Reporting in a Global World, MSCH-J 450 History of Journalism and MSCH-J 448 Global Journalism: Issues and Research.

General Education Common Ground Requirements: All IUB students must complete two courses in social and historical studies.

Domestic diversity

Students should demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 203 Foundations of Journalism, MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations, MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I and MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions (AKA, MSCH-H 410).

The B.A.J. requires every journalism major to take three courses selected from an approved list of university courses that focus on foreign cultures and American minority cultures. The School of Journalism also offers and recommends MSCH-J 375 Race, Gender and the Media.

Global diversity

Students should demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society.

Relevant core or required courses: Every journalism major is required to take three courses selected from an approved list of university courses that focus on foreign cultures and American minority cultures. The B.A.J. includes and the Unit faculty recommend MSCH-C 214 Race, Prejudice, and the Media

General Education Common Ground Requirements: All IUB students must complete the second year of a world language (4 semesters) or take two world culture courses or participate in a six-credit approved study abroad experience. [School travel courses do not fulfill the six-hour requirement.]

Visual communication

Students should understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I and MSCH-C Story Lab II. The Media School also offers and recommends numerous courses in broadcast news, photojournalism, graphic design and multimedia storytelling.

Ethics

Students should demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 203 Foundations of Journalism, MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations, MSCH-C Story Lab I, MSCH-J 300 Communications Law (AKA, MSCH-H 300) and MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions (AKA, MSCH-H 410).

Cognition

Students should think critically, creatively and independently.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I, MSCH-C Story Lab II, MSCH-J 300 Communications Law and MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions (AKA, MSCH-H 410).

In addition, all journalism majors are required to complete one research course from a list of nine research courses. Students engage in critical thinking as they learn the various methodologies — qualitative and quantitative research — and apply those methodologies to produce their research papers and projects.

General Education Common Ground Requirements: All IUB students must complete two courses in arts and humanities.

Research

Students should conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.

Relevant core or required courses: Relevant core courses: MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I, MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions (AKA, MSCH-H 410).

All journalism majors are required to take MSCH-C 101 Media and MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I and are advised to take them concurrently. The courses provide an introduction to basic research resources available at Indiana University, emphasizing those most useful to journalism.

Journalism majors are required to complete at least one course from a list of courses designated as “research.” Each course provides instruction and experience in using appropriate research methods for communications professions. Students learn and apply appropriate research methodologies as they gather information, evaluate it and synthesize it into papers and projects. The courses include:

• MSCH-R 348 Public Relations Planning and Research
• MSCH-J 407 Current Issues in Media Law
• MSCH-J 409 Media Management
• MSCH-J 423 Public Opinion
• MSCH-J 448 Global Journalism: Issues and Research
• MSCH-J 450 History of Journalism
• MSCH-J 470 Broadcast Media Analysis
• MSCH-X 478 Field Experience in Media (approved topics)
• MSCH-J 460 Topics Colloquium (approved topics)

Writing

Students should write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I, MSCH-C 251 Story Lab II, MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing, and MSCH-J 410 Media as Social and Ethical Institutions.

Journalism majors are required to take three additional skills course that include writing instruction from lists of courses, depending upon the student’s concentration within the degree: Journalism Mastery and Journalism Skills Electives or, Public Relations Mastery and Public Relations Skills Electives. Additionally, as students in the College, students must complete a CASE Intensive Writing Course. MSCH-J 410 is approved as Intensive Writing and is required in the BAJ. To meet the CASE standards, the course must be no larger than 25 students, be taught by an appropriate member of the faculty with experience in writing instruction and meet the College’s expectations for the types and amount of writing. Students are asked to make, illustrate, and develop arguments. Graded revision of assignments is a requirement of all CASE Intensive Writing courses.

General Education Common Ground Requirements: IU Bloomington requires all students to take one of several courses to fulfill the English composition requirement. Journalism majors are advised to enroll in English-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I, to fulfill their General Education requirements for English Composition because of its designed relevance to journalism and mass communications majors.

Evaluation

Students should critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I, MSCH-C 251 Story Lab II and MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing.

Basic numerical and statistical concepts

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 203 Foundations of Journalism, MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations, MSCH-R 348 Public Relations Planning and Research, and MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I.

All journalism majors are required to take a course in statistics from a list of courses maintained by the university that are taught by several departments outside the Media School.

General Education Common Ground Requirements: All IUB students must also take a course in mathematical modeling, and two natural and mathematical sciences courses.

Technology

Students should apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work, and to understand the digital world.

Relevant core or required courses: MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I, MSCH-C 251 Story Lab II and MSCH-R 429 Public Relations Campaigns.

Direct and Indirect Measures

The Journalism Unit collects data using multiple direct and indirect measures to determine if students are achieving learning outcomes.

Direct Measures

• Cumulative exam. The Unit requires all journalism majors to take a cumulative exam to test their awareness and understanding of the knowledge-oriented values such as first amendment, history, domestic diversity, global diversity, ethics and the skills-oriented competencies such as the presentation of images and information, numeracy and tools and technology. Students take this exam as they enter and leave the program. Previously entering students completed the cumulative exam in a Media School-wide course, which included many non-journalism majors. Starting in Fall 2021, entering journalism students take the cumulative exam in introductory foundations courses designed specifically for Journalism and Public Relations.
• Internship evaluations. The Unit analyzes employer provided evaluations of all internships collected by the Walter Center for Career Achievement.
• Course-embedded writing samples. The Unit conducts a course-embedded assessment of writing in MSCH-J 410, which is designated by The College as an Intensive Writing course. Random samples of a major writing assignment are collected and scored against a MSCH-J 410 writing rubric by graders trained in inter-grader reliability. None of the graders are instructors in the sampled courses.
• Student work samples. The Unit will collect student work from across both the News Reporting & Editing and Public Relations concentrations. Media professionals will apply relevant ACEJMC values and competencies when evaluating samples.

Indirect Measures

• Student surveys. The Unit conducts an annual survey of current students. Among other questions, it asks students how well they believe they are achieving the ACEJMC values and competencies.
• Alumni surveys. The Unit reviews periodic surveys of recent alumni conducted by the Walter Center for Career Achievement. The surveys ask alumni whether they practice the ACEJMC values and competencies and how well the Journalism degree prepared them for their careers.
• Alumni focus groups. Every 2-3 years the Unit invites alumni who have significant professional experience to participate in focus groups about skills graduates need to succeed in the industry.

Indicators

1. Employment. The Journalism Unit considers other factors as well. The College of Arts and Sciences Walter Career Center collects and maintains data on alumni six months after they graduate. The surveys are sent out and followed up with phone calls, providing on average an 80-percent response rate. The survey indicates where our graduates are employed as well as other data, including those entering graduate school, doing fellowships, traveling and starting their own businesses. See the employment data.
2. Graduation. The Unit reviews graduation and retention rates collected by the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education each year to track how our students fare after entering the program. See the graduation data.
3. Student awards. The Unit keeps account of awards won by its students in state and national competitions.
4. Alumni-student networking. The Unit keeps records of interactions between journalism and public relations alumni and our students, both virtual and in-person. 

Timeline

The Unit’s assessment process operates on an annual cycle. Each semester, the Assessment Committee collects data about student achievement of the 10 values and competencies using the direct and indirect measures as described in Section 3.

During the spring semester, the Committee analyzes the collected data and formulates recommendations. The faculty meet near the end of every year to review and consider assessment results. The Committee presents the collected data and recommends changes at the curricular and course levels.

Additionally, the faculty decides whether students are making sufficient progress on the values and competencies. The Unit then determines whether faculty need to focus on specific values or competencies. The Committee regularly reviews the Unit’s Assessment Plan (this document) and recommends necessary changes for approval at the final unit faculty meeting of each academic year.

Uses of Information

Sharing with the faculty

The Assessment Committee collects and analyzes data as outlined above in Section 5 on Direct and Indirect Measures. These data are reported to the faculty in a meeting near the end of the academic year. The faculty decides on changes and suggests ways of implementing those changes.

Sharing with constituencies

The Unit serves many constituencies including high school, undergraduate and graduate students; parents; scholars and educators; professional practitioners and employers; the citizens of the state of Indiana; and the general public. Based on its commitment to transparency, the Unit posts a summary of its assessment results on The Media School’s website. In addition, the Unit may share data with alumni and student advisory boards, professional organizations and other groups.