News Reporting and Writing I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Instructor Information
Instructor
John Haynes (Curriculum Vitae)Phone
8063715293Office Location
204-L Parcells Hall
Office Hours
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; call for appointment.
(Other office hours are available upon request.)
(If instructor isn’t in his office, check 214 Parcells Hall.)
Course Information
Recording Policy
Disability Statement
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc
Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:
Administrative Drop Policy
N/A
Student Withdrawal Procedures
N/A
Privacy Statement
The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students. If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .
Course
COMM-2311-001 News Reporting and Writing I
Prerequisites
Course Description
Gathering and writing news with special attention to leads, organization and types of ordinary news stories; work on campus newspaper.
Student Resources Student Resources Website
Department Expectations
\N
Occupational License Disclaimer
Hours
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 2 lab)
Class Type
On Campus Course
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
|
• Inside Reporting: A Practical Guide to the Craft of Journalism, 3rd Ed., • The Associated Press Stylebook (2012 edition or later) (required) • The Associated Press Guide to News Writing, by Rene J. Cappon (suggested) |
Supplies
\ Notebook and pen (instructor will provide a notebook)
\\ Voice recorder (not required, but will be helpful)
Student Performance
\ CLASS PARTICIPATION–
\\ Students are encouraged to ask questions and to participate in class discussions in the spirit of sharing and gaining knowledge. Class work includes analysis of newspaper story styles and writing exercises. Thorough, well-organized class notes will prove extremely helpful in preparing for future writing assignments. Each student must accumulate 2 hours of lab time weekly for assigned stories. After first two labs, students will use lab time to work on assigned stories and for scheduled side-by-side editing.
\\ Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact ACcessibility Services (SSC 125, telephone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
\\ DESCRIPTION OF COURSE(as in catalog): Gathering and writing news with special attention to leads, organization and types of ordinary news stories, work on campus newspaper and magazine (3 sem hours; 3 lec, 2 lab)
\\ OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF COURSE: Students will learn to gather accurate information, order the information into a cohesive news story and process the story using computers and software for possible publication in a general interest newspaper and magazine. At the same time, students will learn basic newspaper operation.
\\ PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OBJECTIVES (minimum competencies): After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program:
\\ • Make sound news judgments.
\\ • Identify professional behavior of journalists
\\ • Gather information for use in newspaper stories via traditional research methods, by conducting interviews and by using computer-assisted reporting techniques.
\\ • Write newspaper stories using standard journalistic style using word processing software.
\\ • Recognize and write summary and other types of news leads.
\\ • Recognize and write news stories following inverted pyramid and feature formats.
\\ • Recognize and write columns and reviews.
\\ • Recognize similarities and differences in writing for public relations, broadcast news, or online publications.
\\ • Identify potential news photo opportunities, understand the use of digital cameras, understand good photo composition and understand professional behavior of news photographers.
\\ • Define the ethical and legal areas that govern the day-to-day conduct of a journalist.
\\ BASIC ASSIGNMENTS:
\- \
- \ In-class exercises \
- \ 6 stories for The Ranger weekly print newspaper \
- \ 4 stories for The Ranger online newspaper \
- \ 1 magazine story for AC Current magazine \
- \ 2 side-by-side editing sessions with Ranger editor (part of lab requirement) \
- \ Possible copy editing/style quizzes \
- \ 2 exams \
\
\\
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog in using the AC Connect Portal
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
Expected Student Behavior
\ Cell phones should be silenced or turned off during the scheduled classroom lecture time. In addition, students are expected to comply with the Amarillo College publication Student Rights & Responsibilities.
\\ Plagiarism is unacceptable. Read about it in Student Rights & Responsibilities.
Grading Criteria
\ REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS: Two exams (equally weighted) can be anticipated. Open-book AP style quizzes also may be expected.
\\ EVALUATIONS:
\\ A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 59 or below
\\
50%of final grade – 10 stories for The Ranger, 1 story forAC Current (Ranger stories = 40% of final grade; AC Current story = 10% of final grade)
\
Specific story topics will assigned by The Ranger editor no less than 1 week before the deadline as posted in the Virtual Newsroom, which is available in AC Connect/Blackboard. Magazine stories will be assigned by the AC Current editor no less than 3 weeks before the due date.
\ Stories will be graded for time spent gathering information and organizing the material and for good journalism practices, which include:
\\ • sources and quotes (at least three “live” sources per story)
\\ • simple story formula
\\ • at least 14 column inches (about 400 words) per story; some story topics may require more
\\ • lack of editorializing (writer’s opinion in news or feature stories)
\\ • making deadlines
\\ • spelling, grammar and punctuation
\\ • AP style (once you know what it is)
\\ • story organization
\\ • lead
\\ • lack of legal problems
\\ 10% of final grade – attendance and participation in revising stories
\\ 15% of final grade – open-book quizzes, writing assignments as required for concept mastery, e-portfolio, class assignments, class participation
\\ 25% of final grade – 2 exams (mid-term exam and final exam).
\\
Attendance
\ Regular attendance in class and lab is required if the student is to do well in the course. Roll will be taken at each class meeting. Students must meet lab requirements as described above to receive credit for 2 hours of lab attendance each week a story is due. The instructor reserves the right to lower the final course grade in light of poor classroom/lab attendance. Unless the instructor approves a legitimate reason, more than three missed classes will result in lowering the student’s final course grade by one letter grade.
\\ There will be no instructor-initiated withdrawals from this class. Students are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from this course as necessary. When a student veteran stops attending class (the equivalent of one week of absences), the Registrar’s Office and the veteran’s counselor will be notified. No official warnings will be given students when excessive absences jeopardize their successful completion of the course.
Calendar
Semester Schedule – News Reporting and Writing 1
\ \(Schedule is tentative and subject to change by the instructor.)
\ \When textbook reading material is listed, please read the material before these scheduled classes. (Other reading material also will be handed out or placed on the course website.)
\ \Labs are in 214 Parcells Hall. The newsroom (214 Parcells Hall) is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Feel free to use the lab anytime it’s open.
\ \Tuesday, Jan. 21 - First class:
\ \Introduction, review of syllabus, discussion of first writing assignments for The Ranger, Simple Story Formula (Virtual Newsroom), Anatomy of a News Story (Virtual Newsroom)
\ \Guest: Amanda Castro-Crist, Ranger editor
\ \Lab, 1:30 p.m.: Introduction to journalism lab (newsroom) computers, mailboxes, story posting procedures
\ \Thursday, Jan. 23 - Second class:
\ \5 Ws and H (St. Tim 3, p. 38), inverted pyramid (St. Tim 3, p. 40), interviewing, taking notes, deadlines
\ \Tuesday, Jan. 28 - Third class:
\ \Deadline Checklist (St. Tim 3, p. 59), leads (St. Tim 3, p. 42), taking notes (St. Tim 3, p. 76), interviewing (St. Tim 3, pp. 78-81)
\ \Lab, 1:30 p.m.: Continue work on first story
\ \(First story due midnight Wednesday, Jan. 29)
\ \Thursday, Jan. 30 - Fourth class:
\ \Concepts covered: Discuss first stories; common Ranger errors
\ \Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Fifth class:
\ \Textbook: How newsrooms work
\ \Concepts covered: Objectivity, 5Ws & H, inverted pyramid, direct leads, AP style
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, Feb. 6 - Sixth class:
\ \Textbook: Covering speeches
\ \Concepts covered: Covering speeches/What’s your JQ?
\ \(First print Ranger on newsstands.)
\ \Tuesday, Feb. 11 - Seventh class:
\ \Discuss magazine story assignments
\ \Analyze magazine story from Rolling Stone
\ \Guest: Bailie Myers, AC Current editor
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, Feb. 13 - Eighth class:
\ \Textbook: Features, feature story structure, profiles
\ \Concepts covered: Storytelling and transitions
\ \Tuesday, Feb. 18 - Ninth class:
\ \Concepts covered: Magazine story assignments; writing for magazines
\ \Guest: Vanessa Garcia, AC Current editor
\ \Video: "Development and Organization of a Story" (Annenberg)
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, Feb. 20 - 10th class:
\ \Textbook: Covering meetings
\ \Concepts covered: Covering meetings/Student Journalists’ News Attitude Survey
\ \Tuesday, Feb. 25 - 11th class:
\ \Concepts covered: Qualities of a journalist – role, responsibilities
\ \Open Book Style Quiz based on online Student Publications Style Manual
\ \Video: "News Writing Language and Style" (Annenberg)
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, Feb. 27 - 12th class:
\ \Textbook: Media law
\ \Concepts covered: The dangers of libel
\ \Tuesday, March 4 - 13th class:
\ \Textbook: Media law
\ \Concepts covered: Invasion of privacy
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, March 6 - 14th class:
\ \Textbook: Media ethics and taste
\ \Magazine stories due, midnight March 6 (tentative deadline)
\ \SPRING BREAK
\ \Tuesday, March 18 - 15th class:
\ \Global Experience report: Munich to Prague
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, March 20 - 16th class:
\ \Newswriting video
\ \Concepts covered: Leads that succeed, story structure, rewriting, editing
\ \Tuesday, March 25 - 17th class:
\ \Concepts covered: Associated Press style
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, March 27 - 18th class:
\ \Concepts covered: Quotes, attribution, “lonesome said,” parentheses within quotes
\ \Tuesday, April 1 - 19th class:
\ \Review for Test 1.
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, April 3 - 20th class:
\ \Test 1
\ \Tuesday, April 8 - 21st class:
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, April 10 - 22nd class:
\ \No class - TIPA weekend
\ \Textbook: Story types, writing editorials and columns
\ \Tuesday, April 15 - 23nd class:
\ \Textbook: Writing reviews
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, April 17 - 24th class:
\ \Textbook: features, package planning, short-form alternatives
\ \Tuesday, April 22 - 25th class:
\ \Continued
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Thursday, April 24 - 26th class:
\ \Textbook: Writing for broadcast
\ \Concepts covered: Broadcast writing
\ \Lab: Work on story
\ \Tuesday, April 29 - 27th class:
\ \Concepts covered: Public relations writing (Video: Public Relations Writing)
\ \(Last Ranger story due, midnight Wednesday, April 30)
\ \Thursday, May 1 - 28th class:
\ \Tour of Amarillo Globe-News - Go to AGN, 9th and Harrison, instead of to classroom
\ \Textbook: Public Relations
\ \Concepts covered: Public relations vs. journalism, PR strategies, news releases, media manipulation
\ \Lab: Work on e-portfolios; due 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, May 13. Post in Virtual Newsroom.
\ \Tuesday, May 6 - 29th class:
\ \Concepts covered: e-portfolios (pressfolios.com)
\ \Textbook: Online reporting
\ \Concepts covered: Media convergence, computer-assisted reporting, future of news
\ \Thursday, May 8 - 30th class:
\ \Continue e-portfolios.
\ \Tuesday, May 13:
\ \Final Exam, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
\ \\ \
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\ \
\ \
Additional Information
\ COURSE WEBSITE and EMAIL:
\\ Each student should check the course website on a regular basis for Announcements and occasional course material. Each student also should check his or her Amarillo College Gmail account on a regular basis for possible emails from the instructor.
\\ Help in navigating the course website can be found at www.actx.edu and clicking on "AC Connect."
\\
Syllabus Created on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
Last Edited on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM