Course Overview
In this pre-college summer course, modeled after Syracuse University’s COM 117: Multimedia Storytelling, high school students will learn to be a Multimedia Journalist (MMJ). They will shoot, edit, produce, write, and voice their own broadcast/online news stories. Classes will have an open environment that creates curiosity, an informative heart, and a (potentially) happy ending. Students will learn the difference between covering a story and storytelling – storytelling that connects the viewer to the subject. Stories that matter more to them because they are emotionally invested in the content, the characters, and how it affects their lives.
Students will also be doing the same for a public service announcement(s), where they will work with actors to make a 60-second “commercial” for the public good. These will help “sell” an idea for a charitable or social cause. Examples include: “Don’t Text and Drive,” “Vaping Kills, or “Be Kind to Each Other.” The message will be truthful and compelling. Guest speakers will help with scriptwriting, voice, interviews, and more.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will know how to:
- To turn students into storytellers of broadcast journalism.
- Explore why journalism matters now more than ever.
- Tell a story through writing, video, sound, and heart.
- Learn Adobe Premiere and use smartphones to record news video and sound.
- Learn techniques for a great interview, which makes for a great story.
- Explore what constitutes a story: how to find it, how to produce it, and how to complete it.
- Learn how to build emotional impact and “gold coin” rewards for the viewer along the way.
- Most of all, students will learn the profound difference between covering a story and storytelling.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: SCN 073
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior status – or a 2025 high school graduate.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
Cost:
- Residential: $4,295
- Commuter: $3,318
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session I: Sunday, July 6 – Friday, July 18, 2025 | MTWThF; 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
There are no required supplies at this time!
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
When class is over, and on weekends, students can look forward to various Summer College – On Campus activities to meet and connect with other students! Check out our On Campus Experience page for more information!
Faculty Bios
Les Rose – Professor of Practice: Broadcast & Digital Journalism
Keith Kobland
Les Rose’s 38-year career in broadcast journalism included 22 years with CBS National News Network as a photojournalist and field producer. He spent seven years working with CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman on the series ‘Everybody Has a Story’. Rose has been honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award and five Emmy Awards. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Keith Kobland is a professor of Broadcast and Digital Journalism (BDJ) at Newhouse, teaching classes in broadcast news, journalistic ethics, and a morning news class known by students as MOTH (BDJ 560, Mornings on the Hill). His current role also involves university communications where Keith works with a variety of media including student media, along with local, regional, and national print and broadcast news reporters and content producers. Before his time at Syracuse U, Keith served as a long-time award-winning local news producer, anchor, and reporter at WTVH (now CNY Central) and WSYR TV.