About WHHS Journalism
Why should you take Digital Media and Journalism?
- Work on fun projects
- Earn college credit at UConn or Southern
- Produce our morning news show
- Learn how to write news stories
- Work with out state-of-the-art equipment
- Go on fun field trips
- Interact with interesting guest speakers
- Make new friends
The WHHS Digital Media and Journalism pathway covers the fundamentals of journalism, reporting tips and tricks, ethics, and video production. By taking our advanced classes you can earn college credit at either UConn or Southern.
Our team produces Rostrum TV, the morning news show that airs school-wide during homeroom every day. We also produce a school newsletter that is distributed to parents once a month.
If you would like to learn more about the Digital Media and Journalism program, please see Ms. Cummings in F116 or email jennifercummings@apps.whschools.org.
Digital Media and Journalism I (half year)
Beginning in the 2024-25, this is a half-year class. This course is the perfect preparation for our advanced digital media and journalism classes.
Here are some areas Digital Media and Journalism I covers:
–the importance of a free press
–how to responsibly learn about current events
–how to use video production technology, including a Canon cameras, audio and lighting equipment and more
–how to report and write interesting news stories
–how to produce video news stories
–opportunities to get published on whhsnews.com
We read and watch great examples of journalism, go on field trips and have interesting guest speakers. Here some highlights from the past couple of years in the class:
–Field trips to visit the schools of communications at several local colleges, including Southern CT State University, UConn, University of New Haven, Quinnipiac University and the University of Hartford
–Fox 61 anchor/reporter Aisha Mbowe visited our class to tell us about her job and how she got it. We also took a field trip to her studio in Hartford.
–Field trip to see legendary reporter Bob Woodward speak in New Haven.
–Emmy-award winning editor Tim Mullen came to tell us about experience working at the Olympics, Wimbledon and other major sporting events.
–Field trip to High School Journalism Day to meet WTNH reporter Mario Boone
–Field trip to a writing conference in Westport to meet legendary writer RL Stine
Here is an overview of the course from our Program of Studies:
Digital Media and Journalism I
In today’s society we get our news through newspapers, magazines, television, radio, social media, podcasts and media sites that manage to incorporate several of these platforms all in one place. This course will help students create their own content for this multi-media age. Students will start by learning the fundamentals of creating a news story (picking intriguing story angles, conducting interviews and crafting compelling and error-free pieces of journalism). Students will then work with their classmates to produce their stories in a variety of ways, enhancing written stories through the use of videography, photography and social media. Students will become adept at identifying trustworthy sources, peer-collaborating and working under deadline pressure. This course is open to any student who loves storytelling in a variety of ways.
Advanced Digital Media and Journalism Courses
Students who do well in the introductory course can take one of our advanced courses. Students can pursue UConn credit, Southern credit or just take a high-school level course. Here are the descriptions of each course:
UCONN201 Foundations in Digital Media (UCONN Early College Experience Course)
Grade 10, 11, 12 1.0 credit
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of storytelling using a variety of practical digital media applications. Students will work individually and in groups to produce videos that can be shared with our school community. This will include content for our school’s daily morning news show, as well as videos that advertise our school’s program offerings. Students will learn the basics of design principles, storyboarding, project management, video production, video editing and video distribution. It is recommended you take Digital Media and Journalism I prior to taking this advanced course. Exceptions will be made for students who are pre-approved by course teacher, English department head or principal. The first 40 students who register through UConn will be eligible to earn college credit.
Meets the English IV requirement; elective grades 9, 10, 11
SCSU201 Visual Communication (SCSU Early College Partner Course)
Grade 11, 12 1.00 credit
Students learn fundamental concepts and theories related to designing effective content for print, online, and video distribution channels. Basic multimedia production technologies and software programs are learned and applied in both individual and collaborative projects to demonstrate student knowledge of effective communication principles and strategies. Students who complete this class with a “B” or better will receive three college credits through our partnership with Southern Connecticut State University. All concurrent enrollment courses are weighted on the AP/ECE scale beginning with the school year 2024-25.
Meets the English III and English IV requirement
EN 0067 Advanced Digital Media and Journalism
Grade 10, 11, 12 1.00 credit
This class is available by teacher recommendation only.
This class will be the news hub of West Haven High School. Students will produce stories, videos, photo galleries and podcasts for our student-news site, whhsnews.com. The course requires students who are self-starters and can find and produce stories our community will want to read. The class will also be in charge of producing a weekly newsletter that will be sent to parents. Students will collaborate on projects and will edit each other’s work. Prerequisites: grade of A or B in Digital Media and Journalism I; interview by course teacher; approval by course teacher.
Meets the English IV requirement; elective grades 9, 10, 11