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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DJRN 221"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to News Reporting and Writing"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Deanna Lee
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 11:10-1:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces writing and reporting techniques for the mass media. It focuses on the essential elements of writing for the print, online and broadcast media. The course also covers media criticism, ethics in media, and the formats and styles of public relations.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

In this course, we will delve into the exciting and critical field of journalism today. We will see how, through history, journalists have impacted society, politics and public policy, and lives—right up to, for example, the #MeToo movement, spurred by investigative news reporting. 

 

Writing and reporting as a journalist means taking on a responsibility for informing, and encouraging educated debate and discussion amongst, our citizenry. This requires fundamental skills of research and interviewing, working with sources, presenting a multi-sided story with clarity, asking and answering the right questions, and fact-checking. Students will be introduced to these basics and how they are evolving in today’s multimedia online landscape. Coursework will also cover the importance of these skills in the context of today’s “wild west” of alternative and “fake” media.

 

Students will be responsible for writing three articles of between 500 and 900 words, some of which may be published in a class column.

 

Students will also be expected to take part in discussions of news of the day related to what we are studying.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course students will be able to

 

·      Identify news and newsworthiness

·      Structure a news story from pitch to final story

·      Employ a range of interview techniques, by phone, in person and on camera

·      Understand basics of media ethics, and journalism standards and practices

·      Understand basics of identifying and establishing oneself as a trusted source

·      Employ writing techniques for various media including blogs and video reporting

·      Employ techniques of writing for today’s “advocacy journalism” public relations
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Elements of Journalism, What People Should Know and the Public Should Expect - Revised and Updated 3rd EditionBill Kovach and Tom RosenstielThree Rivers Press978-0-8041-3678-5     
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law 2017Associated PressThe Associated PressISBN-13: 978-0465093045      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Paper 1Write an article of between 600-900 words on a pre-approved current events topic that incorporates two interviews and research. 25%
Paper 2Write a feature article or profile of between 500-800 words on a pre-approved subject. At least one interview should be conducted; a profile could be an extended interview. 20%
Paper 3Write a column, article, or op-ed of 500-800 words in the public relations vein. Topic to be pre-approved. 25%
Attendance/ParticipationActive participation is required. Students must take part in and contribute stories found in the media for news-of-day discussions. More than three unexcused absences will result in loss of a letter grade. 10%
   
Final ExamThe final exam will be given which covers basic journalistic terminology and principles of using sources, fact-checking and adhering to standards and practices. 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question, challenge, or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate and incorporate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question, challenge, or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions and writing reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and represents work that is clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised. Most of the material in the work is irrelevant to the assignment.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1:  The Tradition and Principles of Journalistic Reporting and Writing

 

An introduction to what constitutes strong, impactful journalism, with examples of effective reporting, interviews, “explainers,” and more. We’ll examine news stories of the day, with an eye to what works and what doesn’t according to journalistic standards.

 

Week 2:  Investigation Journalism and Ethics in Journalism

 

Good investigative journalism has changed lives in every field, in every age.  Using select case studies, we will dissect intensive investigative pieces to examine how different points of view and follow-up reporting are conducted, how to work with sources, reporting on background, fact-checking, data analysis, and adherence to standards and practices,

 

Week 3:  The Trusted Source in Today’s Fake News World

 

What is media literary and its relation to civic responsibility?  We’ll cover the importance of recognizing not just badly reported but “cloaked news” with hidden agendas and the goal of misleading rather than impartially informing, and what that means for those conducting responsible journalism—vitally needed trusted sources.

 

Week 4:  Reporting and Writing for Multimedia

 

All journalism must be online-ready. This means being able to write not just for the web, blogs, forums, and more—but also being adroit in engaging people with your work through multimedia and social channels of and for a news organization.   We will also study leading multimedia, transmedia, multi- and non-linear news storytelling.

 

Week 4 continued:  Feature Writing and Profiles

 

Writing feature stories requires the same strong journalistic basics, with the ability to address what makes a story newsworthy and relevant, and how you can take it to the next level. We will also look at profile writing and how to tell stories as multi-faceted as our subjects, and as multi-sided as people’s truths can be.

 

Week 5:  Public Relations Writing

 

Public relations is an exciting field for journalists, now that organizations can tell their own stories through so many channels—stories that are often sought by, and cross over into, traditional journalism. In studying advocacy journalism, we will learn the basic skills of op-ed and column writing.