COURSE TITLE: Digital Photography and Visual Storytelling

Course Code: JM 115 Credit Value: 3 Credits

Contact Hours

• Lectures: 2 hours/week

• Practical / Studio & Field Sessions: 2 hours/week

Duration: 15 Weeks (One Semester) Prerequisite: JM 111 – Introduction to Journalism, Media and Mass Communication

1. Course Description

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of digital photography and visual storytelling for journalism, media, and communication. Students develop technical competence in camera operation, photographic composition, lighting, exposure, digital image editing, and visual narrative construction while applying ethical and professional standards in visual journalism.

The course explores photography as a powerful communication medium, emphasising the use of images to inform, educate, persuade, and document events. Students learn how photographs complement written and broadcast journalism, enhance multimedia storytelling, and communicate messages across print, broadcast, online, and social media platforms.

Practical studio and field sessions provide hands-on experience in photojournalism, documentary photography, portraiture, event coverage, and multimedia photo essays using professional digital cameras and image-editing software.

The course prepares students for advanced studies in photojournalism, multimedia journalism, television production, documentary production, digital media, and visual communication.

2. Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the principles of digital photography and visual communication.

2. Operate digital cameras using appropriate manual and automatic settings.

3. Apply photographic composition and lighting techniques to produce high-quality images.

4. Produce visual stories that communicate information accurately and effectively.

5. Apply ethical and legal standards in photojournalism and visual media.

6. Edit and optimise digital photographs using industry-standard software.

7. Produce photo essays and multimedia visual stories.

8. Demonstrate professional practices in visual journalism.

3. Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

• Explain the role of photography in journalism and mass communication.

• Operate digital cameras using appropriate exposure and focus settings.

• Apply composition, framing, lighting, and perspective to create effective visual content.

• Produce photographs suitable for news, documentary, and feature reporting.

• Edit and enhance digital images while preserving journalistic integrity.

• Develop coherent visual stories using photographs and captions.

• Apply ethical principles relating to image manipulation, privacy, and consent.

• Present a professional photography portfolio.