2023 – Spring

Methods and Practice: Photojournalism

Course Number: JOUR-UA 203, section 1

Day & Time: Mon | 11:00 AM – 2:40 PM

Location: 20 Cooper Square, room 655

Instructor: Ben Norman

Prerequisites: None

This class is an introduction to photojournalism with an emphasis on developing the skills professionals use by capturing a series of photo assignments. The workload is demanding but also fun. You are encouraged to explore new territory, i.e. venture off campus, to seek out interesting subjects and events worthy of coverage. The photo assignments range from capturing a basic environmental portrait, covering a scheduled public event to finding feature and pictorial photos in an everyday setting.

The culmination is a final project, a photo essay on a single person or subject, utilizing skills learned throughout the semester. You are expected to spend time out of class looking at magazines and newspapers and online for excellent photojournalism examples to help generate ideas for the class. Guest speakers from the profession will visit occasionally.

By semester’s end, you should have a basic understanding of the impact photographs have on society, the legal and ethical concerns of photojournalists, digital production of photographs, and the importance of captions and text accompanying photographs. You will also produce a variety of photojournalistic images for an entry-level portfolio.

You can provide your own camera or borrow one from the journalism school equipment room after purchasing insurance: more information can be found here. Digital cameras are preferred. If you have not used a camera with an adjustable aperture and shutter speed, there are a number of resources available through LinkedIn Learning to watch before class begins. These are available through NYU Home and include the online course Introduction to Photography.

Notes: Counts as an elective for the journalism major and both journalism minors.

Students enrolled in this course may need to obtain special audio-visual equipment which requires that they purchase insurance. For more information, please review the Undergraduate Multimedia Equipment Guide.

Questions? Email undergraduate.journalism@nyu.edu.