We are committed to infusing the curriculum with the latest trending topics and emerging media. By incorporating insights from industry experts, we ensure our students are prepared for the ever-evolving landscape of journalism and mass communications—check out our latest special topics and pop-up courses.
Spring 2027
Pop-up Classes
Pop-up classes are short, one-credit-hour courses designed to allow students to dive into emerging industry trends and gain skills to prepare them for future careers. Pop-up classes are open to all UNL students and are Pass/No Pass.
JOMC 492/892.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Branding Yourself in Today's Market
ONLINE | 1/11-1/29
This online asynchronous pop-up course will explore strategies in better understanding how to brand yourself in today's ever-changing market. One of the best ways to articulate your skills, experience, knowledge, and overall worth in today’s competitive job market is to create a personal brand that helps you stand out in the crowd. Learn how to formulate your own value proposition and convey your knowledge, skills, and abilities to prospective employers. This course will leverage relevant social media platforms and other online portfolio tools to help you reframe how you approach your personal brand.
Faculty: Frauke Hachtmann
JOMC 492/892.952 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Hudl Sports Tech Creative Campaign
In Person | 1/22-2/5 | F 4-7:30 p.m. & S 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
The world of sports technology moves fast and requires innovative thinking and creative problem solving. In this class, you'll first learn how to identify what problem needs to be solved and then how to generate a "big idea". After covering some "how to's" and best practices around creative concepting, we'll work on a real-world problem that Hudl might face where you can apply what you've learned. We'll cover all the basics as part of the "creative process". Problem identification. Project brief. Key Insights. Creative Strategy. Then it's up to you and your team to pull it all together in one week before your final pitch in front of a panel of Hudl judges.
Faculty: Trevor Meyer
JOMC 292.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
The Super Bowl of Advertising
online | 1/25-2/21
In this class, we will take a look at the history of Super Bowl advertising, examine the game-changing ads that became part of the cultural zeitgeist, and discuss many of the hits, misses and buzz-generating campaigns throughout the years. Because the class takes place during Super Bowl LX, we’ll also stay on top of the industry hype leading up to the game, do a post-game analysis of the winners and losers, and try to answer the question, “Is it really worth $8 million for just 30-seconds or is it nothing more than a flex on the part of clients and agencies with big budgets and even bigger egos?”
Faculty: Brian Hubbard
JOUR 348.951 | 1 credit | p/np
Real World I
IN PERSON | W 5:30-8:20 | 2/3-3/3
This course offers an inside look at the news reporting business as students engage in a news-gathering project led by working journalists at the Omaha World-Herald. Thanks to a partnership between the Omaha World-Herald and the CoJMC, the news organization’s editors, reporters and photographers will share their expertise and perspectives about a timely and relevant topic of the editorial team’s choice. This course is also an opportunity for students to apply knowledge and practice skills they are learning concurrently in JOUR 200B, Fundamentals of Editing & Reporting II. The Spring 2027 project will focus on the midterm elections.
Faculty: Leslie Klein
JOMC 392.792 | 1 credit | P/np
Sports Crisis Case Studies
online | 2/8-3/12
From Callaway to FIFA to the NBA, there is plenty of controversy in sport. Deconstruct famous sport crisis case studies and learn crisis communication practices to prevent and overcome crisis situations.
Faculty: Betsy Emmons
JOMC 292.792 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
Travel Writing
online | 3/1-4/2
Have you ever wanted to travel for a living? What if you could do it for free? Learn how to pitch, write and publish travel stories to print and online publications, plus the ins and outs of working with tourism bureaus and PR companies to schedule FAM trips. Course will include instruction on both writing and networking within the industry.
Faculty: Nora Tarte
JOMC 392.791 | 1 CREDIT | P/NP
The “Reel” Deal-Instagram for Storytelling
online | 3/22-4/23
1 billion people use Instagram across the globe each and every month, spending an average of 30 minutes per day. 500 million people use Instagram stories every day and nearly 50% of people have visited a website to make a purchase after seeing a product or service. In the U.S., 26% of people aged 18 to 24 have recently used Instagram specifically to access coronavirus news. The platform provides countless opportunities for brands, businesses and organizations, from non-profits and for profits to large news organizations to tell stories and connect a message with a consumer. In this course, students will take a deep dive into the Instagram platform researching best practices, ethics and learning the ins and out of how to create and measure content. Students will learn and create content for the grid, stories, IGTV, reels, Instagram live and eCommerce to best leverage the platform to accomplish strategic communication goals.
Faculty: Tyler Thomas
JOMC 292.951 | 1 credit | p/np
Studio & Flash Lighting for Beginners
in person | 3/30-4/27 | T 5:30-8:20 p.m.
Master the art of studio lighting and flash photography through hands-on instruction in lighting setups, light modifiers, off-camera flash, and studio hot lights for both portrait and product photography. Build a professional portfolio of stunning portrait and product images while gaining the practical skills photographers need to shoot with confidence in any studio setting.
Faculty: Shoun Hill
Special Topics Classes
Special topic classes are new or emerging classes offered for three credit hours during a regular academic session - fall, spring or summer semesters.
JOMC 391.002 | 3 CREDITS
Copyright, NIL and Commercial Speech
IN PERSON | TR 3:30pm-4:45 p.m.
Any individual or company wishing to prosper with their creative and business endeavors will need to manage their intellectual property, advertising, and name, image and likeness (NIL) rights effectively. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the different types of intellectual property and the legal boundaries of commercial speech, whether you work in media, advertising, entertainment or public relations.
Faculty: Michael Park
ADPR 491/891.001 | 3 CREDITS
Digital Motion Graphics
In person | R 5:30 pm-8:20 p.m.
Creating digital motion graphics and animation using compositing and animation software. Covers project creation, techniques, workflow management, and related post-production work.
*This section is for ADPR/SPMC/JOUR majors only. BRDC majors should enroll in BRDC 433/833.001
**Suggested prerequisites: JOMC 131-134, all core courses required within your CoJMC major(s)
JOMC 391.001 | 3 credits
Healthy Notions or Fakery Potions Health Topics in the Media
in person | TR 9:30am-10:45 a.m.
Develop communication (health and practical), critical thinking, and critical observation skills while advancing research techniques of health topics found in mass media through lenses of inclusion, globalization of mass media, and varying platforms of mass media.
Faculty: Sharon Baldinelli
SPMC 491.001 | 3 credits
Broadcast Performance
in person | TR 5:30-6:45 p.m.
A cumulation of all skills acquired in previous broadcasting classes. Gain experience reporting in front of a live camera. Tapings and critiques.
JOUR 491/891.001 | 3 credits
Investigative Depth Reporting
in person | MW 3:30-4:45 pm
An energetic team of passionate storytellers that include videographers, photographers, audio producers/podcasters, and writers will research, analyze and dig into the chosen topic to report on stories about those impacted by the issue. Students will learn to elevate their stories, hold public officials accountable, through a trauma informed reporting lens to explain the crisis.
Faculty: Linda White
JOMC 491/891.791 | 3 Credits
Crisis Response Advertising
online | 3/8-5/7
Explore how leading brands have responded to major crises—from historical events to the COVID-19 pandemic—and discover strategies for building resilient, socially responsible advertising in an increasingly unpredictable marketplace. Through real-world case studies and the Complex Crisis Response Advertising model, you will develop a practical crisis response playbook and actionable strategies to help organizations prepare for, respond to, and emerge stronger from future disruptions.
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