Course overview

This course explores the fundamentals of writing for mass communications (newspaper, magazine, broadcast journalism, public relations and advertising).

Goals

To learn the principles of information gathering and delivery; to improve your non-fiction writing; to establish good work habits used in a professional journalism environment.

Attendance

Your final grade, after all other compilations from the workshop assignments and exams, will be lowered by one step for each absence after the first. For example, for the second absence, the final course grade is lowered from B to B-, for the third to C+, for the fourth to C, and so on.

Note that the policy does not distinguish between “excused” and “unexcused” absences. You do not even have to explain why you are absent; you have one allowed absence, for whatever reason. After that, the policy is enforced.

This attendance policy is based on the valid assumption that, regardless of how you perform on assignments and tests, if you have missed a number of classes you cannot have comprehended the course material in a way sufficient to warrant a grade based only on averages or total points earned. Lectures and discussions in the classroom are vital to the learning process, even if they do not appear as the subjects of exams or assignments.

Grading

Your final course grade will be determined by your performance in: the quality of your reporting and writing on various assignments; adhering to deadlines; attendance; and participation in class.

The Syllabus shows assignments (and their deadlines). These are not the only assignments you may be required to do. We will have in-class assignments. However, those in addition to the ones listed on the syllabus generally will be short and not as involved as those listed; they will be graded on a check-plus/check/check-minus/zero basis.

I reserve the right to make other assignments and to give quizzes over assigned readings.

10 assignments listed on Syllabus: @ 7 points each = 70 pts

3 quizzes @ 5 points each = 15 pts

In-class or other assignments 5 points = 5 pts

Participation & Effort: 10 points = 10 pts

TOTAL = 100 pts

Deadlines

If you do not turn in one of the assignments during the class meeting at which it is due, 3 points will automatically be deducted from the 10 available, before any other points are taken off during the editing. If you do not turn in the assignment by the end of the next class meeting, 0 points will be recorded for the assignment, regardless of quality. If you do not turn in any other assignment when it is due, it will be penalized in some way.

University Undergraduate Academic Policy provides that the following factors can be considered in determining grades:

Examinations Missing exams

Written assignments Not turning in assignments

Class discussion Academic dishonesty

Lack of attendance Disruptive classroom behavior

Text book

“Getting the Message Across” by Maria Braden

In-class teachings and discussions from other sources, including “On Reporting the News” and Poynter Institute (http://www.poynter.org/)

WEEK 1

Tuesday, May 29

Welcome and syllabus overview
** Assignment due May 31: Write a paragraph of exactly 25 words – no more and no less – describing why you like or dislike chocolate chip cookies
Readings due May 31: Chapter 1 “The Media: Writers and Roles”; Chapter 2 “The Message: Writing for the Media; familiarize yourself with AP stylebook appendix “50 common style errors” (pages 318-322)

Thursday, May 31

Guidelines for computer use and file storage
Subject-Verb-Object construction
One idea per sentence
Use nouns and verbs heavily; adverbs and adjectives lightly; avoid “very”

Parts of a story: byline, dateline, lead, body
Research before interviewing
** Assignment due June 4: A 12-inch news story based on facts given in class
Readings due June 4: Chapter 3 “The Search: Interviewing and Fact-Finding”; Chapter 4 “Introduction to News Writing”

WEEK 2

Monday, June 4

Rewriting stories in class

In-class interviewing practice; pair off and interview your classmates

Assignment due June 5: None
Readings due June 5: No new chapters; review chapters 1-4 for quiz Tuesday

Tuesday, June 5

** Quiz: Covering chapters 1-4
** Assignment due June 7: Original and researched news story; write two versions – one for early edition and one for later editions of the newspaper
Readings due June 7: Chapter 5: “Writing News for Print and Online Media”

Thursday, June 7

Copy editing
Online newspapers
Feature stories

** Assignment due June 11: Feature story – use the facts given at the end of Chapter 7 in the “Try It Yourself” area, exercise No. 4 about the frozen woman. No length requirements. Write as much or as little as you need to tell a good story.
Readings due June 11: Chapter 7: “Soft News” Developing the Feature Story”

WEEK 3

Monday, June 11

** Assignment due June 12: Clip one editorial and one column from a local newspaper. Summarize the argument in one sentence. Highlight phrases and sentences that strike you as being well crafted. Bring to class Tuesday to share with classmates and hand in.
Readings due June 12: Chapter 8: “Opinion Writing”

Tuesday, June 12

** Assignment due June 14: Write either an editorial or a column
Readings due June 14: Chapter 6: “Writing News for Broadcast Media”

Thursday, June 14

Prepare for quiz June 18
** Assignment due June 18: Suggestions from the pros No. 1 from end of chapter 6 (tape and analyze writers’ on-air work). Identify radio or TV station; date and time listened or watched and answer the eight questions.
** Assignment due June 18: Using format found on pages 146-147, convert a print story (newspaper or magazine) into a broadcast story (radio or TV). Indicate sound bites, video, background audio, times, etc. Clip original printed story to your broadcast story.
Readings due June 18: Chapter 9: “Public Relations Writing”

WEEK 4

Monday, June 18

** Quiz: Covering chapters 5-8
** Assignment due June 19: News release as assigned in class
Readings due June 19: Chapter 10: “Writing Advertising for Print Media”; Chapter 11: “Writing Advertising for Broadcast Media”

Tuesday, June 19

** Assignment due June 21: Print or broadcast (your choice) advertisement
Readings due June 21: Chapter 12: “Media Design Basics”

Thursday, June 21

** Quiz: Covering chapters 9-12
Day for wrap up, catch-up and questions