Media Writing Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course

COMM-2311-002 Media Writing

Prerequisites

Course Description

Fundamentals of writing for the mass media. Includes instruction in professional methods and techniques for gathering, processing and delivering content.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 2 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

• Inside Reporting: A Practical Guide to the Craft of Journalism, 3rd Ed.,
by Tim Harrower (required)

• The Associated Press Stylebook (2019 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 reporter’s notebook)

2 - Voice recorder or phone recording app (not required, but will be helpful) 

Student Performance

This course is designed teach you how to write succinctly, clearly and quickly for media outlets. We will study media writing and the gathering of information and you will learn how to organize information, ask effective questions, research facts and write on deadline. Writing well is a skill and, as with any skill, the more you practice, the more you will improve. So, be prepared to write often. You will receive lots of feedback to help improve your writing. You will sharpen your writing skills and expand your knowledge of the news-gathering process. By the end of the course, you will understand mass media and how to report and write media stories appropriate for publication online, in print and, to a limited extent, for broadcast.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE (as in catalog): Fundamentals of writing for the mass media. Includes instruction in professional methods and techniques for gathering, processing and delivering content. Hours (3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 2 lab) (Texas Common Course Number: COMM 2311)

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, magazine or website. At the same time, students will learn basic newspaper operation.

 PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OBJECTIVES (minimum competencies): 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate proper media writing and editing styles.

2. Modify writing styles to fit various media platforms.

3. Demonstrate effective information gathering skills and techniques.

4. Demonstrate understanding of laws, ethics, and responsibilities of media writing

Students will also be able to:

 •   Make sound news judgments.

 •   Identify professional behavior of journalists

 •   Gather information for use in newspaper stories via traditional research methods, by conducting interviews and finding information online and from other sources.

 •   Write newspaper and magazine 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 and 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:

• 8 stories for The Ranger newspaper and website

• 1 magazine story for AC Current magazine

• 1 group multimedia project

•  In-class/online exercises, copy editing and peer editing/style quizzes and textbook quizzes both online and in person/other homework/participation in class discussions 

•  2 exams

•  

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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. Reasonable cell phone use is expected when working on stories in the journalism lab (newsroom). In addition, students are expected to comply with the Amarillo College publication Student Rights & Responsibilities.

Plagiarism is unacceptable. Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct. All written assignments presented in this class must be original work by the student. Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a failing grade for the course. Students must abide by high standards of journalistic integrity. Faking quotations, faking facts, pasting material directly from a website or other source or reporting things that did not happen will be treated as plagiarism and dealt with in the same manner as other scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating on a test shall include: 1. Copying from another student’s test paper. 2. Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test. 3. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator. 4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test. 5. The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test. 6. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test. 7. Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test. Plagiarism shall be defined the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of another person's/organization's work as one’s own written work for purposes of receiving grades in this course and/or publication in a student media outlet, regardless of whether the lifted material represents the original work in its entirety or in part. Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements. A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in Student Rights and Responsibilities in this syllabus.

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

70% of final grade = 9 stories for The Ranger,  1 multimedia project, 1 story for AC Current
Specific story topics will be assigned 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 approximately three 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 or other appropriate story formula
• at least 400 words per story; some story topics may require more
• lack of editorializing (writer’s opinion) in news or feature stories)
• meeting deadlines
• spelling, grammar and punctuation
• AP style (once you know what it is)
• story organization
• lead
• absence of legal problems

10% of final grade – Participation and Homework: engagement in class activities and discussions and various homework activities

20% of final grade – 2 exams (mid-term exam and final exam) and four AP Style Quizzes

Attendance

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Students will be required to meet with the instructor one-on-one via Zoom or in-person at least three times throughout the semester. Students are responsible for scheduling these meetings. Failure to meet with the instructor will lead to a deduction of points from the homework/participation grade.

Students are expected to complete a minimum of two hours a week in lab; however, there is not a designated time for completing this lab work. Lab time should be used to conduct interviews, write stories, consult with instructors and edit stories. . Instructors generally will be available during afternoons to help with assignments and stories; however, we highly recommend scheduling consultation/editing appointments in advance.

There will be no instructor-initiated withdrawals from this class.  Students are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from this course as necessary.  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 or editor.

Help in navigating the course website can be found at www.actx.edu and clicking on "AC Connect."

Students may use the computers located in the Mass Media Lab in Parcells Hall 214 or in The Underground in the Ware Student Center Basement or the Lynn Library on the fourth floor of Ware Student Center to access AC Connect.

Students are encouraged to follow the Matney Mass Media department and The Ranger on social media and read The Ranger at www.acranger.com.

Matney Mass Media Department on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACmassmedia
Matney Mass Media Department on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acmassmedia
The Ranger: www.acranger.com
The Ranger on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acrangerpaper
The Ranger on Twitter:https://twitter.com/acranger
The Ranger on Instagram: http://instagram.com/acranger

Department website: www.actx.edu/massmedia

AC offers many opportunities to explore the mass media.  Ask your instructor how you can become a D.J. on FM-90, can write for the College newspaper and can join the crew shooting live football video this fall.  Don’t miss your chance to take photos for the College magazine or work as a videographer, graphic artist or web designer for the College’s news website. In addition, AC mass media faculty can help you find paid positions in the local media industry.  Don’t just sit there—get involved!