COMM 3301 - WRITING AND REPORTING FOR NEWSPAPERS I

FALL 2002

 

Class days/times:              M, W – 2-3:15 p.m.

Location:                    TLC 1106

Instructor:                  Lisa Littlefield

Phone:             (770) 836-4567

E-mail:                        llittlef@westga.edu

Office Hours:             HU 152, M, W, F – 10-11 a.m., 1-2 p.m., F – 2- 4 p.m. 

Other times by appointment.  Please schedule appointments in advance when possible.

 

Required Text:  News Reporting and Writing, 8th ed., Melvin Mencher.  The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, 2000 ed. (neon orange cover).  Assignments will also require that you have regular access to the Atlanta Journal Constitution and/or the Times-Georgian and The West Georgian campus newspaper.

 

Course Goals:  The goal of this course is to introduce students to news reporting concepts, ethics, professional standards and writing techniques.  Students will learn how to develop story ideas, copyedit, use the Associated Press style guide, conduct interviews and write stories using a variety of structures.  Students successfully completing this course will have a working knowledge of the field of journalism and the skills necessary to report and write basic news stories. 

 

Course Overview:  Lectures and in-class discussions will focus on trends in the news industry, comparisons and contrasts of news coverage, writing and reporting techniques, photojournalism, the role of public relations in news, and the ethics and standards of journalism.  Students will be required to report and write six news stories to be submitted to the campus newspaper for publication.  Additionally, students will complete in-class exercises, assigned readings and outside writing/reporting assignments.

 

Learning Outcomes: 

  1. to develop an understanding the of the news industry
  2. to develop news judgment in identifying and developing story ideas
  3. to be able to write and report basic news stories using professional, ethical and legal standards

 

Integrated Portfolio:  In this course, students are expected to complete at least one major assignment that is appropriate for submission in an integrated portfolio.  The integrated portfolio is a graduate requirement for Mass Communications majors.  Examples of outstanding work in this course suitable for the portfolio include completed news stories along with clips of any work that is published in the university newspaper.

 

 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Assignments                                                               Percent of Final Grade

News Stories (6 total)                                                            60 %

Midterm Exam                                                  10 %

Homework Assignments                                         10 %

Quizzes/In-Class Assignments                             10 %

Final Exam                                                                   10 %

 

Grading Policies:  Journalism is a profession that does not tolerate missed deadlines.  All assignments must be turned in by the assigned deadline.  Late assignments will automatically receive at least one letter grade lower than they would have received had the work been turned in on time.   These standards will only be relaxed in extreme cases and for documented circumstances such as illness or emergency.  It is very important that students consult with the instructor beforehand (when possible) if there is a problem meeting a deadline or making an examination date.

 

All papers must be typed, double-spaced, use 12 point font, with once inch margins.  Assignments that are not typed will not be accepted.  Do not type news stories in column format.  Stories will be graded on the student’s demonstrated understanding and application of journalism principles/writing techniques as well as spelling and grammar.  Assignments may be emailed to the instructor as well as turned in during class sessions.

 

Grading Scale:

A = Excellent (90-100)

B = Above Average (80-89)

C = Average (70-79)

D = Below Average (60-69)

F = (0-59)

 

Attendance:  Since much of the learning for this class takes place in the classroom, attendance is crucial.  Students are responsible for the material taught in each and every class.  Students can miss up to two classes without penalty.  There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences, regardless of the reason for the missed class, participation points will be lowered after two absences.  Students may also lose points for in-class assignments they are not able to complete during class time.  Please carefully consider your options before missing a class.

 

Academic Honesty:  Plagiarism or other forms of cheating will not be tolerated.  Students caught cheating will automatically receive a failing grade for the course. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Syllabus:  (Subject to adjustment)

 

Note:  In addition to the items below, most classes will involve some discussion of current news and news issues.  Topics may vary depending on the news of the day.

 

News stories are due on Mondays during the class period. 

 

                                    Topic                                       Reading/Assignments                     

Week 1            Introduction to course/syllabus            Intro. & Ch. 1

Week 2            Concepts of Journalism             Ch. 2 & 3

Week 3            Writing the Story & AP Style                 Ch. 4

Week 4            Story Structure                                  Ch. 5  - 1st News Story Due

Week 5            The Lead, Show – Don’t Tell                     Ch. 6 & 7

Week 6            Layers of Reporting & Observation            Ch. 10 & 11

Week 7            7 Basic Stories                                      Ch. 16 – 2nd News Story Due

Week 8            Midterm Exam

Week 9            Sources & Interviewing                  Ch. 13 & 14

Week 10            Media Law, Ethics                              Ch. 25, 26 – 3rd News Story Due

Week 11            Good Taste, Police & Courts              Ch. 27, 18       

Week 12            Police & Courts (cont.)              Ch. 20 & 21 – 4th News Story Due

Week 13            Government                                         Ch. 24                         

Week 13            Feature Writing                                     Ch. 8 – 5th News Story Due

Week 14            Obits, Business                                   Ch. 19 & 23

Week 15            Sports Writing                                     Ch. 22

Week 16            Final Exam                                        6th News Story Due