I really enjoyed this class! Professor Newton is a great lecturer and I always looked forward to going. You don't really have to do the readings if you go to class, but I wouldn't recommend skipping class and just doing the readings. The tests are in-class and simple as long as you paid attention. Definitely one of my favorite comm classes so far!

Professor Newton is one of my favorite professors. He is always eager to help. He never seems tired of answering simple questions and is willing to go the extra mile if it means the student will do better. He's the kind of guy you'd want to get a beer with. I highly recommend taking this professor.

Great Professor. I think the reason I got a B was because I'm not a comm major, so I didn't pay as much attention as I should have in lecture. Granted, I was told this was an easy A. It's not. It requires diligence and hard work, obviously. But go to his office hours. He's a great guy and will gladly talk to you if you need help.

Professor Newton is the best!! While lecture can feel long and boring sometimes if you are not interested in the subject-- have some coffee and take good notes because the exams are purely you spitting back the info of your notes with examples into the blue book! Genuinely a very nice and respectful man. Just show up, take good notes on what he says, and if you missed anything look up old lecture videos on youtube- some are from 8 years ago but he is still giving the same lectures with the same examples. Also pretty sure you can record his lecture.

Professor Newton is awesome he is great at what he does. He is engaging, his lectures have to do with what's happening today in broadcasting. I would definitely take Professor Newton again. You should be good if you attend class. His mid-term and final are questions based on lectured, no tricks.

newton is a nice guy, and the class isn't hard. if you're really interested in journalism, it's a good class because he has a lot to say and a lot of personal experience. however, i feel like he was just gloating and name dropping half the time. anyway, easy class, lecture based tests, so take good notes. If you don't go to class, make sure to do the readings for the lectures you missed. It's not hard to succeed, but I wouldn't call this class the easiest a there is in comm

This class was my first upper div comm class and I feel like it is a good class to take if you're barely starting upper divs! The work load is extremely light (midterm, final, participation) and the lectures are well organized so it is pretty clear what could be potentially on the exams. However, the class is not podcasted and there are no slides so you have to go to class and pay attention otherwise it will be more difficult!! It is very easy though if you go to class and listen/take notes.
My advice for studying would be to remember the main points from the lecture and at least one example for each (but the more the better)!
The exams are free response, he gives you around 8 and i think you choose like 5 to answer, so there's bound to be questions you can answer confidently!
I didn't use the course reader and got an A in the class.

This was one of the first classes I took at UCLA as a transfer student. Coming from a community college, I wasn't sure how I'd respond to a purely lectured class with no slides and I LOVED it. The textbook isn't necessary, but I recommend it if it's a topic that interests you. Professor Newton covers everything you have to know for your midterm and final. There won't be any questions where you ask "when did we cover this!?"

The midterm and final are similar. Both require bluebooks and you are given 8 questions. Of those 8 questions, you must answer 5. Each question needs to be about 1-1 1/2 pages long.

If you do the readings outside of the texbook, pay attention to the lecture, and are an okay writer, you should be able to get a good grade.

I absolutely love this class and especially Newton. I never thought I would be that interested in the material since I don't want to go into journalism, but he makes every lecture very interesting and engaging. So would recommend this class. It's not difficult and the exams (only a midterm and final for 45% each) are relatively easy if you go to lecture and pay attention. He's amazing. Loved it and don't even know what my grade is yet!!

Seriously one of the best Comm upper divs I've taken at UCLA. Newton is a great professor, who just genuinely wants people to learn the material without doing lots of unnecessary busywork. All you have to do is go to lecture, pay attention, and take good notes and you will get an A.
Breakdown of the class is out of 100 points total. 45 for the midterm, 45 for the final, and 10 for participation (he says first day of class all you have to do to get the full 10 points is just show up to class). Midterm and final are the same format: all writing, 8 options, choose 5. Just regurgitate your notes onto the final with an example/case study from the class and you are guaranteed an A on each. He has a textbook for the class, but you don't need it. Never opened it once during the quarter.
Overall great class, and Newton is a super nice guy in general.