News Reporting and Writing I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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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.

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Department Expectations

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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.,
by Tim Harrower (required)

• The Associated Press Stylebook (2012 edition or later) (required)

• The Associated Press Guide to News Writing, by Rene J. Cappon (suggested)

Supplies

1 - Notebook and pen (instructor will provide a notebook)

2 - 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 disAbility Services (130 Student Service Center, telephone 806-345-5639) 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 traditional and digital reporting techniques.

      •   Write newspaper stories in standard journalistic style using Microsoft Word or similar 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, print and online publications.  

      •   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
•             1 side-by-side editing session with Ranger editor (part of lab requirement)
•             Possible copy editing/style quizzes
•             2 exams

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log 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. Phones or other digital devices should be used in class only for class purposes. 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 for AC Current (Ranger stories = 40% of final grade; AC Current story = 10% of final grade).
Specific story topics will be 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 when appropriate

      • 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

Additional Information

COURSE WEBSITE and EMAIL:

(1) Each student should check two online sites on a regular basis: (1) the course website for Announcements and occasional course material and (2) the Virtual Newsroom site for story assignments, posting stories and other Student Media information.

(2) 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."