Public Affairs Reporting

Contact Information

Website: www.uis.edu/par
Email: par@uis.edu
Office Phone: (217) 206-7494
Office Location: PAC 480

Master of Arts

The Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) master's degree is designed for the student who wishes to specialize in news coverage of government and politics. A primary goal is for graduates to become professional journalists who can report and interpret governmental activity and public policy for news consumers. The 10-month program aims to develop news reporters able to understand public affairs and communicate those concepts with the clarity, accuracy and speed demanded of professional journalists of the highest rank. The centerpiece of the program is a six-month internship as a Statehouse reporting correspondent working for a professional news organization. Program faculty expect each graduate, whatever the skill level upon entering the program, to be proficient in reporting, writing and editing at graduation.

The Master's Degree

Advising

The program director serves as principal academic advisor for PAR students, although special advising requests may be referred to other faculty members with particular expertise. After students are accepted into the program, they should contact their academic advisors for an appointment before initial registration.

Grading Policy

PAR students must receive a grade of B or better in any required PAR course to receive credit toward the degree (grades of B- or lower will not be accepted). Students also must maintain a B average overall each semester.

Students also should refer to the campus policy on Grades Acceptable Toward Master’s Degrees, in the Academic Information for Master’s Degree Students section of this catalog.

Program Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are important components for all academic programs at the University of Illinois Springfield and are required by the Higher Learning Commission. Questions related to the learning outcomes for this program should be addressed to the applicable department/school.

Requirements

The M.A. in Public Affairs Reporting requires 40 hours of graduate-level course work. In the fall semester, students enroll in two required courses: PAR 501 (six hours), and PAR 510 (four hours). Students choose two other graduate-level elective courses after consultation with their academic advisor.

During the spring semester, students begin an internship, PAR 504 (12 hours), with an experienced professional journalist covering state government and the Illinois General Assembly. PAR 503 (two hours) is also required during this semester. After consultation with an academic advisor, the student registers for one other graduate-level elective course to maintain a full course load.

Students participate in the final phase of the internship, PAR 505, during the summer term (until July 1). This internship period is considerably more intense, as it coincides with the conclusion of the legislative session. During the six-month internship, students receive a tuition waiver and university stipends.

Required Courses
PAR 501	Advanced Public Affairs Reporting	6
PAR 503	Legislative Issues	2
PAR 504	Internship I	12
PAR 505	Internship II/Closure	4
PAR 510	Developing Public Policy in Illinois	4
Electives ¹		12
Total Hours		40

¹: One elective should come from the Political Science Department and one should come from the Communication Department. The third elective is the student’s choice, but restricted to Political Science or Communications. Students can file a petition to enroll in electives outside of Communication and Political Science. Contact your adviser for more information.

Master Closure

As part of PAR 505 students must complete a professional portfolio that demonstrates mastery of public affairs journalism. The portfolio will include a variety of spot news, in-depth and feature stories the student has reported and written and that have been published or aired by a professional media outlet, along with project memos detailing the news judgments involved in reporting and writing the longer pieces.

Students who do not complete the portfolio by the end of the summer term must register for the PAR 506 (zero credit hours, one billable hour) in all subsequent fall and spring semesters until the portfolio is submitted and approved.

EHS HDC Admissions
Degree Program	Program Type	Dept Application Materials and Admission Criteria	Prerequisite Course Requirements	Department ADM Review	Dept Conditional Admits	Dept Appeal Process
Public Affairs Reporting	MA	Candidates must complete the PAR application, which includes: Samples of written work Narrative statement on qualifications and interest in the program Three reference letters from those who can assess candidates’ journalism/communication and/or academic skills Through the application, candidates must demonstrate: Writing ability Interest in government and public affairs Potential for a career in journalism *An academic record indicating a likelihood for success in graduate school Finalists must complete a news writing test. Applicants will be evaluated and admissions will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis until a cohort reaches capacity.	N/A	PAR Program Director screens files for minimum requirements, reviews application materials of finalists, and makes admission decisions.	Yes	No; however, viable applicants who lack professional experience are encouraged to seek additional journalism training and to reapply later

Courses

PAR 404. Media Law And Ethics. 4 Hours.

Examines media law and ethical decision-making from the standpoint of media producers, critics, and users. Case studies include obscenity and indecency, libel, privacy, advertising, conflict of interest, and rights of access. Lectures and discussions examine social and cultural contexts in which laws and ethical principles develop. Optional course for PAR majors. Course Information: Same as COM 404 and LES 408. Not intended for Freshmen or Sophomores.

PAR 501. Advanced Public Affairs Reporting. 6 Hours.

Advanced newswriting and reporting techniques, with a focus on covering government and public affairs news for audiences on digital, print and broadcast platforms. Strong emphasis placed on the structure and operations of state government in Illinois to prepare students for a news reporting internship during the spring semester. Course Information: Prerequisites: Admission to the PAR program.

PAR 503. Legislative Issues. 2 Hours.

Weekly in-class discussions with experts about key issues before the state legislature. Outside of class for at least 4 hours per week, students (a) utilize the discussions to inform their news reporting assignments at the Statehouse, (b) follow one legislative issue and produce a paper and presentation, and (c) produce a resume/cover letter to be critiqued in preparation for post-PAR employment. Course Information: Prerequisite: Admission to the PAR Program.

PAR 504. Internship I. 12 Hours.

Practical experience in reporting public affairs. Each student is assigned to full-time work with an experienced journalist at the State Capitol. Students receive monthly stipend. Weekly seminar. Course Information: Prerequisites: Admission to PAR program.

PAR 505. Internship II/Closure. 4 Hours.

Continuation of PAR 504, but more intense in conjunction with the conclusion of the legislative session. Work supervised by media outlet manager and PAR director. Culminates with submission of portfolio closure exercise. Students not completing PAR 505 must enroll in PAR 506 (zero credit hours, one billable hour) each subsequent fall and spring semester until requirements are met. Course Information: Prerequisites: Admission to PAR program.

PAR 506. Closure - Continuing Enrollment. 0 Hours.

If the closure exercise required in PAR 505 is not completed by the end of the initial four-hour enrollment, students must register for PAR 506 for zero credits (one billable hour) in all subsequent fall and spring semesters until the exercise is completed. Course Information: May be repeated. Prerequisites: Admission to the PAR program.

PAR 510. Developing Public Policy in Illinois. 4 Hours.

Intensive study of the factors affecting the development of public policy at the state level in Illinois. Major topics include constitutional framework, historical influence, demographics, political culture, role of parties, and interest groups, role of the media, legislative process, role of the executive budgetary process.