SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
USC ANNENBERG SCHOOL FOR COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM
JOUR 202—Newswriting (Print)
Fall 2012
3 units
Class Day/Time: Mondays/9 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Classroom: ASC 330
Class Number: Section 21016
Professor: Sara Catania, editorial director for digital media, NBC4 Southern California
Phone:818-201-8009
Office Hours: By appointment from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Mondays
COURSE OUTCOMES
By the end of this course you should be able to report and write a basic hard news story of up to 1,500 words on deadline in a clear, concise, accurate, engaging and fair manner. You should also understand the fundamentals of journalism ethics, covering a diverse society and pitching news stories.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The goals of the Annenberg School of Journalism are to sharpen your writing, reporting, and critical thinking skills, as well as teach you about news values/judgment/ ethics, and how to accurately report and write about our diverse world on deadline. Our curriculum begins with newswriting. We believe students should begin with learning about what makes a story newsworthy, what elements should be included in basic news stories, and which multimedia elements, if any, should be included. You are expected to come to class on time, prepared (i.e., having done your readings and homework assignments), and ready to discuss various news-related topics. If you’re not a newshound, become one immediately. For those of you who want to write about sports, entertainment or features, you will probably not do so in this course. But there will be ample opportunities to cover these types of stories later.
Instructors will work hard to make sure you understand the concepts covered in class, the importance of multimedia, that assignments are logical and clear, and that we are moving at the right pace. Feel free to talk to me at any point during the semester via e-mail, by telephone, or in person. Students learn best by doing. Expect weekly in-class and homework assignments.
All homework assignments should be submitted on Blackboard by the posted deadline. I will post your return edited homework with comments entered through Track Changes within a week, and sometimes sooner.
Every student also is required to schedule a one-on-one meeting with the instructor sometime during the semester, ideally around Week 7 or 8. You’re all welcome to meet with me more often, of course. Each student is encouraged to meet at least once with the writing coach this semester.
Students this semester are expected to sign up to work at a Learning Lab such as Neon Tommy, or Annenberg Radio News. Broadcast majors are required to sign up at Annenberg TV News. Details will be provided in your broadcast Core course.
Each student is required to take two online learning modules, which will be included in your class participation grade. The first is about AP Style, and must be completed by Week 7. The second is Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP), and must be completed by Week 15. A one-hour in-class GSP test will be given on the last day of class.
Starting with our second meeting (which will come in week 3 of the semester, since our Week 2 meeting date is canceled due to the Labor Day holiday), one student will come to class prepared to discuss a current news event and lead a discussion with the class regarding that event. This presentation will count toward the class participation portion of your grade, both for the presenter and the rest of the class.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
“Inside Reporting: A Practical Guide to the Craft of Journalism,” (2012) by Tim Harrower. Third Edition. McGraw-Hill. ( 352 pages.
“Course Reader, JOUR 506, Fall 2012/Spring 2013” available in the USC bookstore. Bring this book with you to every class for the in-class assignments.
“The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law,”edited by Darrell Christian, Sally Jacobsen and David Minthorn, 2012. Bring this book with you to every class for the in-class assignments.
Dictionary: The following online dictionary will be the official reference for in-class assignments, homework, midterms, and finals: Merriam-Webster:
NEWS CONSUMPTION/OTHER RESOURCES
As journalists, it is imperative that you become news consumers. You must follow the news and be familiar with what is going on around the world, the country and in Los Angeles. For the aspiring writer/reporter, reading news stories thoroughly every day, listening to radio news, and watching television and Web newscasts are essential and strengthen your skills. Read at least one major daily newspaper or its website, as well as local and weekly news websites. Please check Blackboard regularly for any articles, messages, etc. In addition, the following websites may be useful to you when conducting research, or if you’re looking for journalism tips: News University at and the Poynter Institute at
The USC-based projects that you will likely contribute to are Neon Tommy at Intersections South LA at Annenberg Radio Newsat andAnnenberg TV News at
COURSE MATERIALS
Please consider the weekly assignment information in this syllabus as a guide to help you gauge the scope and breadth of your workload this semester. Each class is different and I will adjust the assignments each week, according to the pace and interests of the class. You MUST check Blackboard for the actual assignments each week.
Therefore, it is imperative that you check Blackboard for weekly assignments and announcements. Your final must be posted to Blackboard. I often communicate with the class via email, using your USC address. Make sure you check that address regularly or have those emails automatically forwarded to whatever address you prefer.
All complete stories must be posted on Blackboard by the deadline date and time. To log into Blackboard:
1. Go to: 2. You must use your USC login and password on Blackboard 3. Click on your section of this course.
GRADING CRITERIA
All assignments will be edited on a professional basis. Each story will be returned with written comments and explanations of any editing. Our style guide will be “The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.”
Your copy should not contain any errors in spelling, style, grammar and facts. There should not be any omissions, either. In fact, any misspelled proper noun (even if it’s due to a typographical error) or any inaccuracy, will result in an automatic “F” on that assignment. Any factual error also will result in an automatic “F” on the assignment. Accuracy is the first law of journalism. Professional journalists are expected to get their facts right, to spell and punctuate correctly, and to respect grammar and syntax. In case of doubt, check your facts, consult the AP Stylebook or a dictionary. It only takes a minute or two to avoid mistakes.
Typing skills are essential in this course. You must be able to use a computer, type fast, and use Word. When working on a computer, save often, make a back-up copy of your work, and print it out at various stages of the writing process. Always keep a hard copy for yourself. Claims that “the computer lost it” will not be accepted as an excuse.
Don’t be discouraged if your writing receives low grades at the beginning of the semester. Your grades will improve. Newswriting and reporting is hard work, but the only way to get better is to keep writing, regardless of the difficulties. Instructors are more concerned with where you are in the final weeks of the course than how you do in the first weeks of the course. In fact,your lowestgrade for the semester will be dropped before your final grade is computed (this excludes assignments that are not completed). In other words, if you miss an assignment, that grade of “F” will remain. In addition, letter grades will not even be given during the first few weeks of class, although each assignment will be carefully edited.
Your final project, which is due during finals week, will be a news story or news feature that must be pitched to and approved by your instructor(s). It must be at least 1,500-2,000 words long.
Traditional grades and grade point averages are assigned as follows:
“A” stories are accurate, clear, comprehensive stories that are well written and require only minor editing.
“B” stories require more than minor editing, and have a few style or minor spelling errors or an error of omission.
“C” stories are stories that need considerable editing or rewriting and/or have many minor spelling and style errors.
“D” stories require excessive rewriting; have numerous minor spelling and style errors, and should not have been submitted.
“F” stories have at least one proper name misspelled, and/or one factual error.
Your grade will drop for:
*AP Style, Punctuation, and minor spelling errors
Lack of clarity, organization
longer stories.
Omissions of major facts, background
Misspellings (of proper names) and/or factual errors = Automatic "F" on the assignment.
•If your stories have too many stylebook, punctuation and/or spelling errors, you will be asked to rewrite the assignment and return it to your instructor within 24 hours before it is edited/graded.
COURSE GRADES
Your course grade will be determined as follows:
Weekly writing assignments/story pitches55 percent
Class participation (including online modules)10 percent
Midterm15 percent
Final20 percent
Total100 percent
HONESTY/PLAGIARISM/ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
1. USC Statement on Academic Integrity
USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. SCampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located at Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The review process can be found at
2. School of Journalism Plagiarism/Academic Integrity Policy
Plagiarism is defined as taking ideas or content from another and presenting them as one’s own. The following is the School of Journalism's policy on academic integrity as published in the University catalogue: “Since its founding, the USC School of Journalism has maintained a commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic excellence. Any student found plagiarizing, fabricating, cheating on examinations, and/or purchasing papers or other assignments faces sanctions ranging from an ‘F’ on the assignment to dismissal from the School of Journalism.”Allacademic integrity violations will be reported to the office of Student Judicial Affairs & Community Standards (SJACS), as per university policy, as well as journalism school administrators and the school’s academic integrity committee. In addition, it is assumed that the work you submit for this course is work you have produced entirely by yourself, and has not been previously produced by you for submission in another course or Learning Lab, without approval of the instructor.
DIVERSITY
In addition to being ethical in developing and writing your stories, it is important that you consider diversity. When looking at your work, you should consider who is involved and how it will impact others. Is your work fair and does it represent all stakeholders in a balanced manner? This class will help you learn how to write in a manner that includes diverse viewpoints. The class will discuss socioeconomic, racial, religious, gender, geographical and sexual orientation issues in the context of current events.
WEB AGGREGATION
Aggregation is the term for doing on the Web what newspapers and broadcasters have done for decades -- taking content from a variety of clearly labeled sources and packaging it into a unique news product. It is unlikely that you will be aggregating for the Web in the text and audio-visual courses this Fall. In any case,you will certainly be aggregating in other courses and/or Learning Labs. So here are the rules: Anything that you do not report or produce yourself must be attributed and/or linked to the original source. In an aggregated story, summarize the story in your own words, and use only a few quotes. The goal is to encourage readers to link to the full story.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is required for all classes. If you expect to miss class due to a family emergency, a medical problem, or a religious holiday, please contact me beforehand (either send me an e-mail or give me a call). Tardiness is unacceptable.
If you miss a class, please get the notes from another student. I cannot hold separate “catch-up” sessions or send you my notes. In-class assignments cannot be made up. Although each J-202 syllabus is similar, the classes themselves are different and move at varying paces. You can’t make up a class by going to another one in the same sequence.
DISABILITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
Any students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me when classes begin. DSP is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The office is located in the Student Union room 301 and their phone number is (213) 740-0776.
CLASS PROTOCOL
This is aprofessional degree program. As such, students are expected to deal with each other and with their instructors in a collegial manner. That means you should immediately talk to your instructor if you have any concerns about the course, grading, fellow students, the length of time it takes to get back graded assignments, etc. If an issue has not been resolved, please contact J-School Associate Director Laura Castaneda at .
For purposes of this class, you are a bona fide member of the working press. You should expect to be treated with all of the normal courtesies and privileges afforded to the news media. In return, you are expected to represent the profession in a dignified and appropriate manner. If you do not take yourself seriously, be advised that no one else will.
DRESS APPROPRIATELY
If you want to be taken seriously in the field then you need to dress like a professional, not a college student. Business casual is best: women should wear skirts or dresses of an appropriate length and pants that are not jeans; men should wear button-down shirts and pants that are not jeans. No skimpy or tight clothing, shorts, wrinkled t-shirts or flip flops. Avoid clothing with any sort of logo, including USC logos.
LAPTOP POLICY
Information communication technologies are a part of the modern education landscape.
You are welcome to use laptop computers prior to class and during in-class writing exercises.
However, out of consideration for the learning environment and fellow classmates, we respectfully ask that you refrain from using your electronic devices during class (other than for in-class writing assignments). Of course there should be no extraneous activities such instant messaging, gaming or other online services on your phone or laptop.
INTERNSHIPS
This is going to be an extremely busy semester and I would discourage you from taking on the added responsibility of an internship.
That said, the value of professional internships as part of the overall educational experience of our students has long been recognized by the School of Journalism. Accordingly, while internships are not required for successful completion of this course, any student enrolled in this course that undertakes and completes an approved, non-paid internship during this semester shall earn academic extra credit herein of an amount equal to one percent of the total available semester points for this course.
To receive instructor approval, a student must request an internship letter from the Annenberg Career Development Office and bring it to the instructor to sign by the end of the third week of classes. The student must submit the signed letter to the media organization, along with the evaluation form provided by the Career Development Office. The form should be filled out by the intern supervisor and returned to the instructor at the end of the semester. No credit will be given if an evaluation form is not turned in to the instructor by the last day of class. Note: The internship must be unpaid and can only be applied to one journalism class
STRESS AND ANGST
We are all under a lot of pressure. As a student learning to manage the challenges and demands of a rigorous college program, life can get very stressful very quickly. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, get help sooner rather than later. A good place to start is the USC Student Counseling Services office at 213-740-7711. The service is confidential, and there is no charge.