Catalog Description
Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
Objectives
- Develop interview questions and conduct interviews
- Define and execute newsgathering strategies
- Write simple leads
- Write simple and complex/long form news articles using the inverted pyramid and other formats
- Write articles under deadline
- Apply Associated Press style to articles
- Edit own and others’ articles for proper spelling, grammar and AP Style
- Define writing differences for different platforms
Course Content
| Topics | Lec Hrs |
|---|---|
Information gathering, including live interviews | 5.00 |
Journalistic writing forms, including inverted pyramid | 5.00 |
Writing for multiple platforms, including print, online, broadcast and social media | 5.00 |
Newsgathering strategies | 4.50 |
Writing under deadline | 4.50 |
Newsgathering practice, including covering speeches, meetings and other events | 3.00 |
Introduction to Associated Press Style | 4.50 |
Introduction to Search Engine Optimization | 4.50 |
Writing leads | 2.00 |
Writing simple and complex/long form articles | 4.50 |
Legal and ethical issues in reporting | 4.50 |
Career awareness and exploration: introduction to the variety of careers available, including identifying areas of interest | 4.00 |
| Total Hours: | 51.00 |
Methods of Instruction
- Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
- Lecture
- Directed Discussion, Collaborative Analysis of News Articles, Textual Reading/Secondary Source Reading
Methods of Evaluation
- Class participation
- Written Assignments
- Midterm and Final Exams consisting of Objective Portion and Newswriting Portion, Style Quizzes, Critiques, Professional protocols (meeting deadlines, attendance, adherence to ethics)
Examples of Assignments
Your task is to evaluate a sample article by applying the following 11-part criteria. All 11 questions must be addressed.
For each section, rate the writer's work on a scale of 1-4 (1=poor and 4=exceptional work) then defend your answer with a short 150-400 word explanation using evidence from the editorial "Our Future is Uncertain or Stressful"
- Does the editorial explore a significant topic that has a current news angle and would interest readers? Why or why not?
- How effectively does the editorial demonstrate that the writer researched the topic? Provide specific evidence of the objective reporting or explain why the use of evidence is ineffectual.
- How effectively does the writer explain the issue? Does the writer remain consistently objective or do you find evidence of subjectivity?
- How well does the writer present the opposing viewpoint? Does the opposing viewpoint appear first? What evidence is provided to support the opposing viewpoint?
- How effectively is the opposing viewpoint refuted (rejected)? Does the writer support her refutation using facts, details, figures, and quotations? Explain how the writer attempts to pick apart the other side's logic.
- Does the writer concede a point of the opposition? Remember, all opinions must have some good points that can be acknowledged. Where do you see this concession? If the writer did not make this ethical move, how could the concession have been made?
- Does the writer repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea in the reader's mind? If so, where do you see this happening? If not, which ideas do you think should be reinforced?
- Does the writer offer a realistic solution(s) to the problem that goes beyond common knowledge? Paraphrase the solution or offer an example the writer could have used.
- How powerful is their conclusion? Remember, the editorial should conclude with a "punch." If not, how could she make her ending more powerful?
- How effectively does the writer control pronouns? There should be no use of I. There should be limited use of vague pronouns like "it".
- How compelling is the writer's perspective on the issue? How does the writer develop a main point as opposed to simply rambling about the topic? Paraphrase the writer's perspective or offer your own interpretation.
Read "Honor Bound" by Kathy Gannon.
In a series of short answers (200-400 words), address each of the following questions and be prepared to discuss your work with another student:
- Are journalists always expected to be “neutral and unbiased” in their work, and how should they operationalize these ideas? Use examples from Gannon's Honor Bound and other current events.
- A common tenet of journalism is to show all sides of a story. What ethical obstacles did Kathy Gannon confront? How does a journalist decide which "sides" to represent? Use examples from Gannon's work and any other article discussed this semester.
- Cultural differences played a central role in Honor Bound. Does a journalist have an obligation to translate the ethical norms of one society for readers in another? Why or why not?
- Would you have written this killer's story? Why or why not?
- How does "Honor Killer" address the "Journalism 6" (questions--who, what, where, why, when, how)? Provide specific examples from the article for each question type.
Write a polished and proofread 200-400 word news story about an on-campus event. Use the inverted pyramid and AP-style quotes and paraphrases from an interview with a participating student.
Step one: find a topic you want to write about.
- Do a little reading and research to inform yourself about that topic.
- Discussion of a secondary source is required.
Step two: interview someone that is connected to that topic.
- Use the question arc and interview etiquette!
- Interview notes are required.
Step three: write a 500-1000 word article using the structure described below.
- Focus structure as described in the course lecture is required.
Attend a local city council meeting and synthesize details from the meeting into a 500-word story showing the group’s concerns. Include opposing arguments.
Attend an on-campus event and interview a college staff member using a prepared list of questions that show prior research into the event and ethical considerations. Submit interview notes and a written article of at least 500 words.