COMM 3070 - Communicating Today: Creating Strategic Messages across Media

(CU-SBY)

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: COMM 2310 or COMM 2010 or permission of instructor.

L. Chambliss.

In many career fields, the ability to translate complex issues into compelling messages is an important professional skill. This requires knowledge of information gathering, message strategy and product selection. In this course, students pick a topic of personal interest and create strategic communication using four of the following popular traditional and multimedia formats: press release, fact sheet, blog, webpage, news story, op-editorial, audio slideshow, short video. Research continues through the semester as needs for facts and colorful content are identified with each product. Students learn effective use of data, narrative, commentary, storytelling, images, and message enhancement. Students are encouraged, but not required, to select topics related to science or sustainability. Class covers communicating about hot-button issues, such as climate change. Instructor will help students identify venues for publications.

Outcome 1: Develop an in-depth understanding of a current policy, science or technology issue’, using both primary and secondary sources of information, exploring cultural contexts, and managing projects from beginning to end.

Outcome 2: Present complex information with clear and compelling written, oral and visual forms of modern communication, utilizing new media and traditional media formats, for general and specific audiences.

Outcome 3: Demonstrate evidence-based communication techniques through integrating, synthesizing and summarizing qualitative and quantitative information.