JRN 200 Introduction to Journalism

Transcription

1 Spring 2015 Tuesday/Thursday 9:25-10:40 a.m. 214 Willard Hall (journalism lab) Prof. Mary D Ambrosio (office) (mobile) mary.dambrosio@ccsu.edu Office: DiLoreto Office hours: Monday 4:30 7:30 p.m. Tuesday 10:45 11:45 a.m. Wednesday 12:15 1:15 p.m. and by appointment JRN 200 Introduction to Journalism Class materials: Blackboard Learn blackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dcourse%26id%3d_151505_1%26url %3D You must join Professor D Ambrosio s Reads and Resources, a Facebook reading and discussion group for all of my students. While most of the readings, writing tips and job and internship leads posted here are for optional consumption, I ll occasionally post a required reading. Plus, you ll network, and have fun Prereq: ENG 110 This course will introduce you to the journalism field. Journalism takes many forms, but all require an understanding of journalism s responsibility to provide truthful, fact-based information in the public interest. Journalists must have a strong foundation in writing and appreciation for language, and an interest in what is going on in the world around them. They need persistence, in order to dig for facts and, increasingly, a willingness to find creative ways to bring together text, sound and images to tell the important stories of the day. This course will explore journalism s traditions, and its newer iterations as well. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: Write a clear, accurate news article, with an appropriate and compelling lede. Conduct basic interviews and some database and Internet research. Prepare a news article for print or online media. Identify different requirements of print versus broadcast media. Discuss the importance of the First Amendment to journalism and society. Discuss the moral dimensions of journalism.

2 Required Course Materials: Inside Reporting, 3 nd edition By Tim Harrower Twitter account (Follow all of your professors. I m the journalism program is Recommended: A good reference book such as The Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, though the various handbooks used in Freshman Comp will suffice. The AP stylebook and Libel Manuel (any recent edition) Major Assignments You will do much writing, both in and out of class. Assignments done completely outside of class and with longer deadlines typically count for more than those done partially or wholly in class. A number of smaller assignments, such as a photo story, press conference, or the news quizzes, fall under categories such as in-class assignments or quizzes. Key assignments Due Value Media spotlight as assigned 5% Neighborhood news story 2/02 5% Storify coverage 2/24 10% Cover a speech, meeting or event 3/03 5% Everybody has a story (profile) 3/17 10% Movie review 4/14 10% Researched essay on a journalism issue 4/21 15% Drawing on at least six sources, write an essay of about 1,000 words that makes an argument about one of the following journalism issues: 1. The effects of print journalism's move online 2. The relative objectivity or bias of a local or national newscast 3. The effects of citizen journalism, in which ordinary citizens voluntarily assume journalistic functions 4. The collapse of advertising support for general interest journalism 5. The ethics of reporting undercover 6. The ethics of using unnamed sources 7. How social media is changing journalism In-class writing/photo assignments and news quizzes 20% Final exam 4/26-4/28 20% Grading:

3 A= Excellence; the work is publishable with only minor changes. A-/B+ = Well-written with appropriate use of facts. The article may have a hole or need some additional material, but it is free of factual errors and has no more than one or two grammar or punctuation errors. B = Generally good work. The writing is solid, but the lead needs more work. More factual detail is usually needed. A few (errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling. B-/C+ = Awkward phrasing, syntax, grammar, and punctuation have derailed the piece, distracting from the strengths. More reporting may be needed. C = Average. Several organizational, writing and/or reporting problems. Contains factual errors or insufficient factual information Many spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. C-/D+ = Generally indicates careless work: Factual errors, grammar and punctuation mistakes; word usage problems. Needs more research. D/D- =Poor work. Many things have gone wrong. Please meet with me. F= Please meet with me to discuss the work and set up a plan for improvement. A late assignment will cost one letter grade on that assignment. Missing the deadline by more than a week will mean an automatic F (zero) for the assignment. Attendance Policy: We ll do some of our most important work during class, so attendance is key. A death in the immediate family or a severe illness (doctor s note required) are the only excuses accepted for absences. If you miss a class for any other reason, you ll be assigned an F for the day. If you miss more than two classes, your final grade will drop by one letter. Deadline Policy: No Late Papers Accepted Missing deadline is a grave offense in daily journalism; a closely-researched, beautifully-written story is of no value if it lands on the editor s desk as the paper is being loaded on to the delivery trucks, or arrives in her inbox after the website goes live. Likewise, assignments for this class must be filed on deadline. Late assignments will not be accepted. Complete deadline assignments to the best of your ability within the assigned time frame. This is difficult at first, but gets easier with practice. Formatting: Please type your writing assignment, and indent paragraphs. At the top left corner of each page, type the slug, the story s identifying word or phrase, followed by your name and the date, e.g.:

4 Obama Speech-Jane Smith-9/9/14 And at the end of a story, type the centered number -30- These newsroom marks and codes to let editors know they ve received the whole story. How to Submit Assignments Unless otherwise noted, please post all completed assignments to our class Blackboard Learn site. I will return your work, with comments and grades, on the same interface. Please do not me your assignments. Using Blackboard Learn Ample training resources have been made available to help you learn to use Blackboard Learn. In-person training: The Instructional Design and Technology Resource Center, on the ground floor of Emma Willard Hall, offers regular training sessions Online written and video tutorials: Academic Misconduct: Disruptive classroom behavior, cheating, and plagiarism can jeopardize your standing in this class. Plagiarism, the use of work (ideas, words, images, tables, code, and mathematical formulas) other than your own without appropriate attribution, will result in an automatic F for the course, and possibly further disciplinary action. Do your own work. Ignorance of the rules is not justification for plagiarism. Make sure you understand how to attribute work for printed and online sources. In journalism courses, interviewing family and friends for assignments is also off-limits. Disability Issues: Please contact me privately if you believe you need course accommodations based on the impact of a disability or medical condition, or if you have emergency medical information to share. I will need a copy of an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services (located in Copernicus 241). Student Disability Services maintains the confidential documentation of your disability, and will help you arrange appropriate accommodation for your studies. Provisional Schedule We ll generally follow the program below. However, since news by nature is unpredictable, and we ll sometimes amend, to address news events or to accommodate class speakers. Do not be flummoxed by change!

5 Week 1: Jan : Introductions and overview. The journalism revolution. Dealing with surplus information: managing the information flow. It s never been easier to get information; it s never been easy to get misinformation. The disappearance of traditional gatekeepers, and the reader as the new gatekeeper. Assignment: Harrower, read chapters 1 and 2 for Jan. 15 Week 2: Jan : Finding the News in the Deluge Media Spotlight: The Courant Finding the news in the deluge / The news story I Assignment: Harrower, read chapters 3 and 4 for Jan. 27 Week 3: Jan : What is News? Show My Blackberry is not working Media Spotlight: The New York Times Basic principles: What is news? Finding the news and the lede The news story II. AP stylebook highlights In class writing: Lede writing. Assignment: Neighborhood news story, due Feb. 2 Week 4: Feb. 3-5: Journalism that Changed the World Media Spotlight: A local TV news station Journalism that changed the world / why people are willing to kill and die over the news Iran, Turkey, China, Italy. U.S. journalism and the First Amendment. Week 5: Feb. 10-Feb. 12: Research and Interviewing Media Spotlight: The New Britain Herald Research and interviewing. Sourcing and attribution. In class writing: Interview a classmate on a life-changing incident. Week 6: Feb : Covering Speeches and Meetings Media Spotlight: All Things Considered Covering speeches and meetings. Assignment: Harrower, read Chapter 8 for Feb. 24 Assignment: Cover a speech, meeting or event due March 3 Week 7 Feb : The Online Journalism Revolution Media Spotlight: Salon Online journalism, and its effect on readers and traditional media. Working with Storify Assignment: Generate a story with Storify in class/tonight Feb. 24 Assignment: Harrower, read Chapter 6 for March 3

6 Week 8 March 3-5: Introduction to Feature Writing Media Spotlight: The New Yorker Intro to feature writing / discuss, and learn to fashion, feature leads The New York Times and Portraits of Grief Assignment: Profile/everybody has a story due March 17 Week 9 March 10-12: News Beats Media Spotlight: The Wall Street Journal Traditional beats: politics, cops, education Week 10 MARCH SPRING BREAK NO CLASS Week 11 March 24-26: Introduction to Photojournalism Media Spotlight: Where We Live Working with images/intro to photojournalism. In-class photo scavenger hunt. Assignment: Read Chapter 9 for March 24 Week 12 March 31-April 2: Broadcast Journalism Basics Media Spotlight: This American Life Broadcast journalism/broadcast journalism basics Propose and assign essay topics Assignment: Harrower, read Chapter 7 for March 31 Week 13 April 7-9: Investigate Reporting and the Watergate Effect Public service and investigative traditions: Watergate, My Lai and the investigation of Standard Oil Movie screening: All the President s Men (138 minutes) Assignment: 300-word movie review, citing main issues raised by ATPM. Due April 14 Week 14: April 14-16: Media Ethics and Law Media Spotlight: ProPublica Moral dimensions of journalism: Intro to ethics and law. The Shattered Glass, Journatic and man killed by subway train cases. Assignment: Researched essay on a journalism issue -- due April 21 Week 15: April Final Exam Review Media Spotlight: Columbia Journalism Review Review for final exam Week 16: April Final Exam Part I (April 28) : Multiple choice exam. Part II (April 30): Write a basic news story on deadline. -30-