JOUR 2310-001 Introduction to Media Writing Summer II, 2014

JOUR 2310-001 Introduction to Media Writing Summer II, 2014

Instructor: Christian McPhate

Email:

Class: M-TH, 10 -11:50 a.m., GAB 112

Lab: TU, 2-4:50 p.m., GAB 112

TA: Lucinda Lopez,

Course objectives: To learn the basics of writing for several media, including newspapers, the World Wide Web, broadcast news and public relations. By the end of this course you should be able to research, report and write a news story for several platforms. You will learn to write in a concise, accurate and fair manner, and to work under deadline. You also will brush up your grammar, spelling and punctuation skills, and familiarize yourself with Associated Press style and broadcast writing style.

Goals: After completing the course, you should be able to:

• Define news as it is understood by journalists and public

relations professionals.

* Understand and use the AP Stylebook.

* Conduct a news interview.

* Write a news story for several media platforms under deadline pressure.

* Describe the main ethical concerns of journalists and public relations professionals.

* Describe the main legal concerns of journalists and public relations professionals.

* Learn to be sensitive about cultural, ethnic, racial and gender issues.

Reading requirements:

Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method, Seventh Edition, by Carole Rich

Writing and Reporting News Student Workbook, Seventh Edition, by Carole Rich

A digital version is available. It’s more convenient and significantly cheaper.

The Associated Press Stylebook, 2012 edition (I recommend the 2013 edition if available.)

The Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com)

Purchase of online access is recommended.

Visit dallasnews.com and click “Subscribe” to see offers. Call to sign up and request a friends and family discount.

The NT Daily Stylebook (online at

Denton Record-Chronicle (available on campus; dentonrc.com)

North Texas Daily(available on campus; ntdaily.com)

Current Events: You should closely follow current events by reading a variety of news publications, especially local newspapers such as the North Texas Daily, Denton Record-Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. You can read them online or visit any reputable news website to get information. In addition, you should watch and listen to broadcast news on television and radio as part of your daily routine. Your quizzes will include major current events mentioned in the news.

Dropbox:We will use the file hosting system Dropbox to submit your stories and homework assignments on deadline. Within the first days of class, you will receive an email from Dropbox inviting you to the JOUR 2310 folder. If you already have a Dropbox account, simply join the folder.

First Class Day Attendance: Journalism instructors reserve the right to drop any student who does not attend the first class day of the semester.

Attendance Policies: Treat this class as your job. You are expected to arrive on time and to meet all deadlines. You must attend class and lab sessions. Lab exercises comprise 30 percent of your grade. Homework prepares you for labs. Activities during lectures, such as quizzes and other in-class assignments, also represent a portion of your overall grade. Those who miss a quiz or in-class assignment will receive a zero on that activity. Labs cannot be made up without my prior approval.

If you have legitimate reasons for an absence (illness, disaster, death, family emergency, religious holiday), email me beforehand. Other situations are subject to my discretion. Plan to provide documentation, such as a physician’s note or a note from a relative explaining the emergency. Include a phone number so I may verify the note. Documentation must be turned in during the class period immediately following the absence.

One absence in the course is the limit without penalty toward your final grade, unless you have communicated with me from the beginning about an extraordinary problem. After two unexcused absences, you may lose a half a letter grade (5 points) for each unexcused absence thereafter. I reserve the right to drop you from the class after four unexcused absences. For excused absences, I will allow work to be made up but will only accept it within three days of the date it was due.

Coming to class late or leaving early may constitute an absence for that day. If you come to class late, it is your obligation to notify me at the end of class so I can correct the roll. Failure to notify me will result in your being absent without excuse. This is a seminar course, and it requires your attendance and participation each class meeting. The key here is communication and I am more likely to excuse an absence that I know about in advance.

If you miss a lab for an excused absence, it is your responsibility to contact the TA to make up any missed work. You will have three (3) days from the date of your excused absence to make up the work done during your absence. Unexcused absences in lab will result in a “0” for that day’s work.

You must have your student ID to check in and use the lab. Lab assistants will not allow lab use absent the presentation of proper student identification. A driver’s license will not do!

Attendance at the final is mandatory.

COURSEWORK

Quizzes:You will have a series of open-book quizzes on AP style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and closed-book quizzes on news events and textbook readings. Current events items in quizzes will be based on dallasnews.com, star-telegram.com and npr.org.

Lab assignments: Each week you will be assigned exercises due by the end of the lab period. You will be allowed to use your AP stylebook and textbook, so bring them to class and to lab. Always type and double-space lab assignments unless otherwise instructed. Again, you must present your student ID card to attend lab sessions.

Class assignments:You will have numerous homework assignments, two out-of-class news stories, five major assignments and a number of in-class exercises throughout the semester. All final drafts and homework assignments, and Major assignments must be posted in Dropbox on the date due. Unexcused late assignments will be penalized five (5) points for every day they are late, with none accepted after three days. You will be expected to turn in publishable work on the two out-of class news story assignments.

Be prepared:For class discussions, each week you should read the assigned chapters in your textbook and any handouts provided in class. You also must read:

• The North Texas Daily(online version) and The Denton Record Chronicle, both available free.
• The Dallas Morning News and/or the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, available online.
• Also, check out The New York Times(nytimes.com) for examples of excellent reporting and writing. The local alternative weeklies, the Dallas Observer and Fort Worth Weekly, also will help you develop story ideas and make you a better writer and reporter.

Grading: The majority of your grade will be determined by lab writing exercises and your two out-of-class story assignments (see YOUR GRADE). However, if you demonstrate exceptional improvement and effort during the semester, I will consider raising a borderline grade to the next highest level, as long as all assignments were completed throughout the semester.

Source sheets: For stories that involve interviews, attach a page listing each source, the date you interviewed each person and his or her contact information (preferably both phone numbers and email addresses). Stories without source sheets will not be accepted and will be penalized one grade letter for each class session they are late. I will contact sources to verify information in your stories.

Guest speakers: Professional journalists and other relevant speakers may be invited to class during the semester. A one-page summary of the speaker’s presentation may be due at the start of the next class.

Cell phone and computer policy: Cell phones should NEVER be used in class. Computers should NEVER be used in class unless part of a class assignment.

Note: Computer technicians can see anything on your computer screen.

YOUR GRADE:
Attendance: 5 %
Homework: 5 %
Lab: 30%
News story: 10%
Major Assignments: 10%
Profile: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Midterm: 10%
Final exam: 10%

Saving your work: You cannot save material on the computers in the lab. Make copies of all your work on a CD or thumb drive, or by emailing finished assignments to yourself. Save all graded copies of your work so you can resolve any potential discrepancy between the grade you receive and your own calculations.

A note to advertising students: Being able to recognize big issues then thinking and writing about them are valuable for all areas of journalism, including advertising. Here’s a testimonial from a big-time advertising professional: Eric Schnabel, Vice President/Account Director at Leo Burnett in Chicago, believes the best thing that ever happened to him “was being a journalism major and learning about Associated Press-style writing. You’re forced to think about what’s the biggest, most important thing, what’s the lead in my story here, then go from the lead to the supporting facts that are perhaps less broadly important” (Robbs and Morrison, 2008, p. 97). This class will help you think and write better, and the advertising faculty members believe that’s important, no matter what area of advertising you find yourself in — account management, media, research or creative.

JOUR 2310 Tentative Class Schedule

I expect you to read the scheduled chapters (from Writing and Reporting News), as well as any assigned essays, articles and handouts, before you come to class. Lectures and quizzes will cover these and other materials.

WEEK 1 (July 8-11)

• M (July 8) Course Introduction; What is News? Newsworthiness, news judgment, News values/qualities.

Read Chapter 1: Changing Concepts of News

• TU (July 9)More on News Values/qualities, newsworthiness; Basic News Story-- Inverted Pyramid; Introduction to AP style.

Read Chapter 2 pp. 23-37: The Basic News Story

Lab 1&2: 2-4:50 p.m.

• W (July 10) Leads and Nut Graphs; More on AP Style

Read Chapter 7: Leads and Nut Graphs

• TH (July 11) More on Leads and Nut Graphs; Quotes and Attribution

Read Chapter 2, pp. 38-43

WEEK 2 (July 15- 18)

• M (July 15) Story Ideas—how and where to find them; The curious mind—a boon to journalists. More on AP style.

Read and Review: Handouts

• TU (July 16) Story Forms—Inverted Pyramid, Wall Street Journal, Hourglass; More AP style; Discussion on Profile and News Assignments

Read Chapter 9: Story Forms

Lab 3&4

• W (July 17) Human Sources, Anonymous Sources, Beat Reporting, Interviewing Techniques—Best Practices in Note Taking, Taping, Email interviews, Phone interviews. In-class exercise.

Read Chapter 5, pp.76-86: Sources and Online Research

Read Chapter 6: Interviewing Techniques

• TH (July 18) Sourcing and Online Research; Computer Assisted Reporting, Documents as Sources, Open Meetings and Open Records Laws. Guest Speaker: UNT Librarian Doug Campbell,

Read Chapter 5, pp. 86-93

Major Assignment 1 due in Dropbox at the start of class: News Event Advance

WEEK 3 (July 22-25)

• M (July 22)Writing Profiles and Obituaries

Read Chapter 17:Profiles and Obituaries

• TU (July 23)Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings; More on AP style

Read Chapter 18Speeches, News Conferences and Meetings

Lab 5&6

• W (July 24)Story Organization—the writing process, beginnings, middles and ends; writing tips; Mid-term Review

Read Chapter 8: Story Organization

Major Assignment 2 due in Dropbox at start of class: profile story proposal.

• TH (July 25) Midterm Exam

WEEK 4 (July 29- Aug. 1)

• M (July 29) Public Relations Writing-- Differences between news writing and public relations writing, corporate PR and nonprofit PR, the news story and the news release. Crisis Management; More on AP style; Possible Guest Speaker

Read Chapter 13: Public Relations Writing

Final Draft News Story due in Dropbox at the start of class.

• TU (July 30)Broadcast Writing--Differences between print and broadcast writing. Broadcast story structure, emphasis on the visual. Broadcast news jargon.

Read Chapter 11Broadcast News Writing

Lab 7&8

• W (July 31) Media Ethics

Read Chapter 15Media Ethics

Major Assignment 3 due in Dropbox at start of class: Broadcast News Writing

• TH (Aug. 1) “Shattered Glass” Movie

WEEK 5 (Aug. 5- 9)

• M(Aug. 5) Media Law-- Libel, public vs. private figures, accuracy, corrections, reporter privilege, invasion of privacy, online legal issues.

Read Chapter 14Media Law

Major Assignment 4 due in Dropbox at start of class: Shattered Glass Essay

• TU (Aug 6) Online Journalism—reporting and writing for the Web; Social Media; Possible guest speaker.

Read Chapter 3 Convergent Media Writing

Read Chapter 4 Social Media

Read Chapter 12: Online journalism

Major Assignment 5 due in Dropbox at start of class: Profile Story Draft

Lab 9 & 10

• W (Aug 7) Workshop for Profile Stories-- Bring an original and three copies of profile draft for student workshopping.

• TH (Aug 8) Multicultural Sensitivity; Course mop up, Odds and Ends; Final Review

Read Chapter 16Multicultural Sensitivity

Final Draft of Profile due in Dropbox at the start of class

• F (Aug 9) Final Exam (given during regular class time)

Mayborn School Of Journalism Requirements & Guidelines

1. Textbook policy: The Mayborn School of Journalism doesn’t require students to purchase textbooks from the University Bookstore. Many are available through other bookstores or online.

2.For journalism majors, not minors: This is a pre-major class. Enrollment in this class means that you are in pre-major status, not major status. When you have completed this course and others in your pre-major, then you must apply to become a major and therefore have access to upper-level journalism courses. If you have questions about what counts in your pre-major, please see an advisor.

3.Journalism Course Registration

a. The Mayborn School of Journalism, in conjunction with the Registrar's Office, has eliminated the need for individual class codes for the majority of journalism courses. Registration will begin on the dates noted in the schedule of classes each semester. The system is a live, first come/first serve program; thus, we are unable to maintain the traditional waiting list as has been done previously.

b. By registering for this course, you are stating that you have taken the required prerequisites according to your catalog year and major/minor status. If the instructor later determines that you haven’t taken and passed these requirements, then you may be dropped at any point in the semester. If you have questions about your prerequisites, please see an advisor.

c. A journalism major enrolled in any restricted 3000 and 4000 level classes must have taken and passed the GSP test, all pre-major courses, and Math 1680 and also have applied for major status. Students must earn and maintain a 2.5 UNT and/or overall GPA (depending upon catalog year) to be eligible for major-level courses. Pre-majors must file a formal application for major status in the final semester of pre-major status to be eligible for early registration of major-level classes in the following semester.

4. Re-taking Failed Courses:Students will not be allowed to automatically take a failed journalism course more than two times. Once you have failed a journalism course twice, you will not be allowed to enroll in that course for 12 months. Once you have waited 12 months after failing a course twice, you may make an appeal to the professor teaching the course to be allowed to enroll a third time.

5. SETE: The Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) is a university-wide online evaluation and a requirement for all UNT classes. The Mayborn School of Journalism needs your input to improve our teaching and curriculum. This short survey will be available at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class is taught. Prompt completion of the SETE will mean earlier access to final semester grades. You’re a critical part of our growth and success. We look forward to your input through SETE.

6.. Academic Honesty

When you submit work for this class, that is the same as making a statement that you have produced the work yourself, in its entirety. Plagiarism, fabrication, copyright infringement, and similar uses of other people's work are unacceptable.

Plagiarism, in a nutshell, is using other people’s written words as your own. Some people consider the use of 7 to 10 words in a row, copied from another source, as plagiarism. Be sure to include citations when using other people’s writing, because plagiarism is a serious offense in any discipline, especially in journalism. It is a firing offense in the professional world.

7. Mayborn School of Journalism Academic Integrity Policy

The codes of ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists, American Advertising Federation and Public Relations Society of America address truth and honesty. The Mayborn School of Journalism embraces these tenets and believes that academic dishonesty of any kind – including plagiarism and fabrication – is incongruent with all areas of journalism. The school’s policy aligns with UNT Policy 18.1.16 and requires reporting any act of academic dishonesty to the Office for Academic Integrity for investigation. If the student has a previous confirmed offense (whether the first offense was in the journalism school or another university department) and the student is found to have committed another offense, the department will request the additional sanction of removing the student from the Mayborn School of Journalism. The student may appeal to the Office for Academic Integrity, which ensures due process and allows the student to remain in class pending the appeal.