Writing for New and Traditional Media
Become a better communicator and media writer in this self-paced online course focused on professional writing in real-world contexts— from news stories and press releases to interviews and multimedia assignments.
| Course Title | COMM 200: Writing for New and Traditional Media |
|---|---|
| Credits | 3 undergraduate credits |
| Format | Online - Self-Paced Enroll Anytime |
| Cost |
Tuition is $384.88 per credit. Note: on July 19, 2025, the undergraduate tuition rate will increase to $407.97 per credit following a university-wide tuition rate change. Visit the Costs & Aid page for more information. |
What You'll Learn in Writing for New and Traditional Media
COMM 200: Writing for New and Traditional Media is a hands-on, self-paced online course that prepares you to write effectively for journalism, public relations, advertising, social media, and more. You’ll gain practical experience drafting news stories, press releases, interviews, and other media writing formats, while sharpening your grammar, editing, and AP style skills. Whether you're pursuing a communication-related career or simply want to become a more confident writer, this course offers real-world writing practice with no exams and full flexibility.
Course Organization
Lesson 1: Introduction to Media Writing & AP Style
Lesson 2: News Judgment, Story Types & Writing Basics
Lesson 3: Headlines, Ledes, and the Inverted Pyramid
Lesson 4: Interviewing and Profile Writing
Lesson 5: Writing with Numbers and Data
Lesson 6: Event Coverage
Lesson 7: Public Relations and Press Releases
Lesson 8: Broadcast and Podcast Writing
Lesson 9: Social Media Writing
Lesson 10: Issue and Solutions-Based Journalism
Lesson 11: Editing, Revising, and Adapting for Different Audiences
Lesson 12: Final Portfolio and Course Reflection
You can submit up to 3 items per week, taking a maximum of 9 months to complete the course. Allow an additional 7-10 business days to process registration, and 3-5 days for the final grade to appear on your transcript.
Course Materials
All readings and content are provided in the Blackboard Ultra course. There is no textbook required for this course.
How will the course appear on my transcript?
You may enroll at any time and have up to 9 months to complete this online course.
The credits earned will be recorded on your UND transcript based on the date you registered
for the course. It will appear on your transcript in the same way as a course taken
during a regular semester. There is no indication that the course was taken online
or that you completed it at your own pace.
Consult the table on our How Enroll Anytime Courses Work page for a current listing of Enroll Anytime Registration Dates and the semester
information that will appear on a UND transcript.
Why Take Online Classes at UND?
Here are a few reasons why you should take an online enroll anytime course at UND:
- Great customer service – Our registration team is ready to answer questions quickly so you can focus on your coursework.
- Affordable – UND's enroll anytime courses are priced at North Dakota's affordable, in-state tuition rate.
- Accredited – UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Easily transfer credits – Transferring credits is always at the discretion of the institution to which the credits are being transferred. In general, credits from schools/universities that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission transfer to other regionally accredited institutions. UND's online courses appear on your UND transcript in the same way as other courses.
Flexible 100% Online Course
You'll take this online course at your own pace. Some students thrive in this environment, while other students may struggle with setting their own deadlines. If you have successfully taken an independent study or correspondence course previously, UND’s enroll anytime courses may be right for you. Still not sure? Take our online quiz to help determine if online enroll anytime courses are right for you.
Course information including tuition, technology requirements, textbooks, lessons and exams is subject to change without notice.
