THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM AND MEDIA STUDIES
DIPLOMA OF TECHNOLOGY IN JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION

DESKTOP PUBLISHING (ACJE 2105)

Course Outline

This unit is the first of two parts: Part 1 (theory) focuses on theoretical understanding of desktop
publishing and its applications in communication. Part 2 (offered in the subsequent semester) is
practical. Evolution of printing and publishing; Type and typography; Readability, page design and
layout; Page elements; Principles of design; Colour theory; Special effects; Image editing and DTP
software - Adobe Photoshop, InDesign CS; Desktop Publishing in Practice; House styles and editorial
guidelines; Digital publishing; DTP Projects in practice.

Expected Learning Outcomes

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

1) Give a brief outline of the historical development of desktop publishing

2) Understand the uses of type, fonts and typography
3) Explain the impact of printing/desktop publishing on various fields of communication
4) Describe the development of colour theory and special effects in desktop publishing
5) Explain how to manipulate computer software for image editing for various communication
projects
6) Understand how desktop publishing is employed in editorial and digital publishing for effective
communication.

Delivery mode

Attendance is mandatory for all classes. Failure to attain 25% attendance will lead to automatic
disqualification from exams. Effort will be made to comply with the Blended Approach (in-person and
online classes through the TUK Moodle platform). Circumstances may demand that a greater percentage
of classes will be in-person. Students will be informed accordingly.

Important Dates

1. Sit-in/in-person CAT: February 15th, 2021

 2. Submission of Term Paper: March 22, 2021

Course Texts:

1. Murray, P. R., & Squires, C. (2013). The Digital Publishing Communications Circuit. Book 2.0, 3(1),
3-23.
2. Ambrose, G., & Harris, P. (2011). Basics Design 02: Layout (Vol. 2). Ava Publishing.
3. Martin B, Tian XM. (2010). Books, Byes and business: the Promise of Digital Publishing.
Ashgate, London.
4. Cooke, L. (2005). A visual convergence of print, television, and the internet: charting 40 years of
design change in news presentation. New Media & Society, 7(1), 22-46.
5. Boczkowski, P. J. (2005). Digitizing the news: Innovation in online newspapers. MIT Press.
6. Raeymaeckers, K. (2004). Newspaper editors in search of young readers: content and layout
strategies to win new readers. Journalism studies, 5(2), 221-232.
7. Swann, A. (2003). How to understand and use design and layout. Adams Media.
8. Harrower, T., & Elman, J. M. (1995). The newspaper designer's handbook. WCB, Brown &
Benchmark Publishers.
9. Kleper, M. (1987). Illustrated Handbook of Desktop Publishing and Typesetting. McGraw-Hill
Professional.

Online sources/Journals:

1. Shiratuddin, Norshuhada, et al. "E-book technology and its potential applications in distance
education." Journal of Digital Information 3.4 (2006).
2. http://www.realviewdigital.com/solutions/
3. https://www.aquafadas.com/digital-publishing/indesign_authoring.php
4. http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2016/discoverability-the-new-king-of-publishing/

TERM PAPER

Explain how desktop publishing has spawned at least six major fields of communication today.

(Paper to be submitted by March 22, 2021, in hard copy, typed on 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman 12pts,
not less than 6 pages including references).

NB: Plagiarism in any form, as well “copy n’ paste” in any academic endeavor is strictly prohibited by
university rules and regulations).