California State University, Long Beach
JOURNALISM 120
Writing Across the Media
Spring Semester 2013
Instructor: Judith Frutig
Class Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12-1:50 p.m. in SSPA-206
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. and 8-8:30 p.m.; also, Fridays, 12:30-1 p.m. (Jan. 25-March 1 only); and by appointment.
Office: SSPA-026 (two doors down from the Journalism & Mass Communication Department)
E-mail: . When you e-mail me, please write this phrase on the subject line:
JOUR 120 [And put your first and last name inside these brackets]
Office Phone: 562-985-5361 (Please e-mail first)
“NEWS IS the first rough draft of history.”
~Philip Graham, publisher of the Washington Post, 1975
"NEWS IS what somebody somewhere wants to suppress. All the rest is advertising.”
~Alfred Lord Northcliffe, British newspaper pioneer who revolutionized newspaper and magazine publishing in the early twentieth century
“NEWS IS anything that will make people talk.”
~Charles Dana, editor of the New York Sun
“NEWS IS anything you can find out today that you didn’t know before.”
~Turner Catledge, editor of the New York Times
“THE BEST [NEWS] DAY IS one when I can write a [story] lede that will cause a reader at his breakfast table…to spit up his coffee, clutch at his heart and shout, ‘My God! Martha, did you read this?’”
~Edna Buchanan, legendary police reporter for the Miami Herald
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Hands-on course that introduces students to the basic skills and writing techniques they will need to succeed in print, broadcast and online media, and as public relations professionals. While new communication technologies are changing the ways we create and consume news and interact with each other, the fundamentals of traditional journalism remain the same. This course provides an introductory overview of methods to adapt time-tested storytelling techniques to fit an expanding landscape of multi-platform media convergence. The focus is on developing the ability to write accurate, easy-to-read news stories and to meet deadlines. The course includes the study of news sources and news reporting, media law and ethics, and the enhanced responsibilities of journalists in a digital age of global communication.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
This is the Journalism and Mass Communication Department’s introductory writing skills course. It is a pre-requisite for JOUR 311, and provides a solid foundation for all upper division journalism and public
relations classes. A letter grade of “C” or better is needed to successfully pass this course.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is designed to help students learn to write clear, concise and accurate news stories for a variety of media. The skills taught in this course are the foundation for success in all forms of journalism, with a special focus on the new media.
Students will be introduced to the techniques and requirements of professional news writing through the application of material from the textbook and companion Web site, from the Associated Press Stylebook, and from handouts prepared by your instructor. You will become familiar with basic journalistic objectivity, knowledgeable about the ethics and practices of news writing, and informed about libel law restraints. Along the way, you will learn the requirements effective story organization, and the skills involved in writing to deadlines.
It is sometimes said that gifted journalists are “born editors” or “born writers,” but if these people exist, your instructor has never met them. The ability to report accurately and write well comes from study and from practice, practice, practice. So a major share of this semester will be devoted to hands-on writing exercises. Our twice-a-week sessions will be divided between lectures and labs, with plenty of time to practice the craft of the news media and the art of news writing.
COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
1. Recognize the difference between news and entertainment, and know how to determine the newsworthiness of specific story elements
2. Critically evaluate the differences between print, broadcast and online news media, and the relationship of all of them to the public relations profession.
3. Organize and write effective news stories by working with the famous five W’s (Who, What, When, Where, Why) – and also, the How, What’s Next? and So What? of good news stories.
4. Write concise news ledes that are logical, relevant, useful, interesting and easy to read.
5. Work with the AP Stylebook to detect errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation, and find the best ways to correct them.
6. Demonstrate the effective use of quotes and attribution in news writing.
7. Respect deadlines and work under deadline pressures.
8. Demonstrate the effective use of multiple media platforms, including news blogs, websites, and the basics of videography, digital photography and slideshows.
9. Understand the importance of accuracy, integrity, objectivity and fairness in the news process.
10. Make informed news judgments based on legal and ethical considerations.
11. Understand why media organizations are for-profit businesses protected by the First Amendment.
12. Recognize the role of diversity in the practice of journalism, and the importance of including multiple viewpoints in every story, whenever possible.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND READING MATERIAL
I have two books and one newspaper in mind:
1. Tim Harrower, Inside Reporting: A Practical Guide to the Craft of Journalism, 3rd edition. (NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010). ISBN: 978-0-07-352617-1
2. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, current edition, preferably spiral-bound (New York, N.Y.: The Associated Press).
4. A one-semester student-rate subscription to the Los Angeles Times.
[You must be informed and knowledgeable about current news events and you are required to read the L.A. Times every day. On weekends, you should pay special attention to the Sunday edition, where editors often place their most important stories. I hope you will use this course to develop news-reading habits that will serve you for a lifetime – no matter what direction your career takes.]
RECOMMENDED READING AND NEWS SOURCES
1. William Strunk and E. B. White, Elements of Style, 4th edition (1995). ISBN-13: 9780205309023
2. Rene Cappon, The Associated Press Guide to Punctuation (2003). ISBN-13: 9780738207858
3. Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th edition. (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2004).
ISBN 978-0-7645-7125-1
4. On-line national editions of the New York Times (www.nytimes.com), San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfgate.com),Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com), USA Today (www.usatoday.com)
5. On-line regional editions for the Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com), Long Beach Press-Telegram (www.presstelegram.com) and Orange County Register (www.ocregister.com).
6. Pay attention to television and radio news. Whatever outlet you choose, it’s up to you.
7. Six good Web sites to check out the current state of the news media: for Southern California, www.LAObserved.com; for the national media, Jim Romenesko’s media blog at www.poynter.org/medianews; for the political media, www.slate.com, www.politico.com, www.huffingtonpost.com and www.dailybeast.com.
WEB ACCESS, E-MAILING YOUR INSTRUCTOR, AND IMPORTANT INTERNET SITES
1. Web access: You will need frequent online access over the course of the semester, and it is a good idea to check our class Website between sessions. If you do not have Internet access at home, make sure you allow enough time to check for new announcements and other postings on Beachboard, and to complete your assignments on campus.
2. E-mail: I am frequently online (everyday except Sunday) and my policy is to respond to student e-mails on the same day they are received. If you don’t hear from me by the next morning, please resend your message and note that it is your second attempt. These exchanges are best for quick clarifications or to schedule a meeting. I do not discuss grade scores on-line or over the phone but you are always welcome to talk to me before or after class, during office hours or by appointment. E-mails should not be used to inquire into what you missed if you were not in class. If your absence is excused, I will help you catch up. However, if your absence is unexcused, you must get any information you missed from a classmate.
3. Internet sites: The following sites are designed to advance your learning process:
https://bbcsulb.desire2learn.com: The log-in page for our class Website. Please get into the habit of checking it between classes. This site contains important announcements, assignments, class documents, lecture notes, and your running grade scores.
www.mhhe.com/harrower3e: The companion Web site to our textbook. It offers workbook exercises, interactive quizzes, grammar quizzes, web links, and key newsroom vocabulary terms. Used with the textbook, this material is the foundation for our lectures and labs – and a good study guide for our quizzes and exams.
LEARNING ASSESSMENT AND GRADING CRITERIA
1. Two Examinations (100 points each): A Midterm and a Final Exam will be administered. The content of both exams will be objective (multiple-choice and true/false) and subjective (copy editing, short answers and fill-in-the-blanks). There will be no comprehensive final, but each exam will address the material covered during the weeks leading into it. These exams must be taken on the scheduled date. Arrangements will be made only for unavoidable emergencies or conflicts. You will need a Scantron (882-E) answer sheet and a #2 pencil for both of them.
2. Weekly Quizzes: Up to ten quizzes (20 points apiece) on five subjects, and including current events from the L.A. Times; spelling; newsroom vocabulary; AP writing style, grammar, and copy editing; and the current reading assignment from Harrower.
3. Writing and Style Exercises: You will be given writing and test preparation exercises almost every week. Most writing will be done in class. We also will work on numerous exercises that will be turned in as homework assignments.
4. Classroom Presentations: Every student will make at least two major presentations:
News of the Day (20 points): You are responsible for a 15-minute presentation of the News of the Day (NOD) as reported by the L.A. Times, one time during the semester. (More details in a handout posted on Beachboard.)
Group Blog (40 points): You will be assigned to a BLOG team that will analyze the news coverage of a specific topic from three pre-assigned publications. All team members are responsible for a separate three-day posting period. During that period you will monitor the news, create daily summaries, and upload your findings to your on-line group journal. At the end of each three-day writing window, a team member will make a 15-minute presentation to the class. These blogs are indexed on Google and available to readers around the globe. At the end of the semester, when the postings are complete, every member of this class will be a published author. (More details in a handout posted on Beachboard.)
5. Capstone Story (40 points): You will write news ledes and short news stories over the course of the semester. At the end of the semester, you will write a longer news story that captures all of the elements we have studied and practiced.
6. Extra Credit: (maximum of 25 points): You may earn extra points for news and sports stories published under your byline in the Daily 49er, Dig Magazine and the Union Weekly To earn extra points, you must start by getting the permission from your instructor. When you finish your story, turn in the following package: 1) a print-out of the original story draft as you submitted it to the publication, and stapled to 2) a tear sheet of your published story.
7. Discussion Meeting (10 bonus points): Every student is invited to meet with me at least once during the semester outside class time. This will give you the opportunity to discuss your progress in the course and in your major, and ask any questions you may have. This office visit must be completed before the Midterm Exam.
GRADING
Your grade scores will be based on your performance as a student journalist. This means you must be accurate, thorough, objective and fair in what you write - and clear and compelling in the way you say it. You will not lose points for including too much information in a story, but overlooking important facts can – and will - cost you. Errors in style, grammar, spelling, punctuation and excessive typos will affect the grade scores for all papers and examinations. Any story or exercise containing a material error – for example, misquoting or misidentifying a source – will receive a zero. It should be noted that the text- and e-mail message style of writing is unacceptable in a news story and will receive a zero.
Your work will be scored on the following basis:
ASSIGNMENTS / PERCENTWeekly Quizzes / 20
Lab Exercises and Homework / 15
News of the Day (NOD) / 5
Group Blog / 10
Capstone Story / 10
Midterm Exam / 15
Final Exam / 15
Attendance and Participation / 10
Final grades will be based on the total score that each student obtains over the course of the semester. Because this is a required skills class, you will not be graded on a curve. This university does not use a plus/minus grading system. Students receiving 100-90% of the total possible points will receive an A;
89-80% will receive a B; 79-70% will receive a C; 69-60% will receive a D; 59% and lower receive an F.
Journalism majors are required to earn a grade of C or higher to pass this course. To receive an A or B, you must complete everything on this syllabus, participate in all of our sessions, turn in your assignments on time, and work to the best of your ability.
CLASS STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURES
Reading and Homework Assignments: All reading and homework assignments must be completed before class.
Class time: Our sessions will feature lectures, discussions, presentations and lab work. Tuesdays, typically, will be lecture days. Thursdays are lab days, and they will simulate the experience of a professional newsroom. As much lab work as possible will be done in the classroom, and you will hand in your work at the end of the session. What we can’t do or complete in class will be assigned as homework.
Attendance and Participation: On-time daily attendance is mandatory and your participation is encouraged. Most of you hold down part time or full time jobs, and you should treat class time in the same responsible way you treat your work time. When the session starts, it’s your job to be here, to be prepared - and ready to participate. At the beginning of each class, I will pass a daily attendance sheet around the class, and it is your responsibility to make sure your signature and student ID number appear on it. Your presence is important because new material will be introduced at every session that is essential to your progress as college students in whatever area of the media that is of interest to you.