JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DJRN 221-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to News Reporting and Writing"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Macias Gutierrez
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: THT 1:30 PM 2:45 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:
The course focuses on the essential elements of storytelling in first-hand reporting journalism with a critical approach.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
...
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Journalism: Principles and Practice Tony HarcupSAGE978-1526497895 4th Edition   
The Online Journalism Handbook Skills to Survive and Thrive in the Digital AgePaul BradshawRoutledge 9781317864110 3rd Edition   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Moodle ParticipationWeekly and daily activities are a preparation for consecutive sessions and workshops. They are necessary to move forward in the course.15%
WorkshopsIn-class individual and group activities on each module and topic. Absence to one of them equals to zero points, but this can compensated via Moodle activities.15%
Journalism Assessments (seven worth 5% each)(1) News values & pitching stories (2) Ethics (3) Language and style (4) Interviewing (5) Attribution & Quoting (6) Headines, leads, (7) Images, embedding, captions, hyperlinking35%
Research FilesContext, fact checking, further reading15%
News story written exam with Public Relations Module (open book)Simulation of first-hand reporting - comprehensive questionnaire. Differences between writing journalism and for public relations.20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A:Work of this quality directly addresses the question 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 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.
B:This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C:This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D:This 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.
F:This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
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.
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

Our journalism experience consists of 27 sessions across 14 weeks. Moodle is the main and mandatory platform of the course.  

 

Course material: handouts, manuals, script templates and numerous Internet resources including an ethics course. You are expected to read and used all material.

Please refer to our Moodle course for a detailed bi-weekly breakdown of each session, with resources, activities and assignments and other course material.  Each in-class session requires both preparation and follow up (homework).  

 

COURSE BOOOK: For further reference of instructor’s classes the recommended books are:  Journalism: Principles and Practice by Tony Harcup, 2020/ The Online Journalism Handbook: Skills to Survive and Thrive in the Digital Age by Paul Bradshaw, 2017 / Buying these book is not mandatory but HIGHLY ENCOURAGEDl. See Moodle for Google docs link.

Sessions: Each session covers a different topic.  If you miss one session you miss important content and are expected to catch up from the respective Moodle week asap. 

Homework: You are expected to work outside the sessions on each project on a daily/weekly basis according to weekly material on Moodle.

 

Electronic equipment policy-  With the exception for learning accommodations or a class activity, the use of electronic equipment such as laptops, tablets, or phones is not allowed during class unless notified. Save battery and engage with your classmates and instructor.

 

Late submission policy- Late submissions will incur in a penalty of 3 percentage points per calendar day. 

 

 
 

Week
 
 

Session
 
 

Date
 
 

Topic
 
 

Activity
 
 

Homework
 
 

Deadlines
 
 
 
 

One
 
 

1
 
 

T / Sept. 5
 
 

 

What’s NEWS

 

5 W’s + How+ Why

So What?

 

News values

Storytelling

Myths and narratives

A “new objectivity”
 
 

 

Lecture

 

Media bias charts

 

Identifying news values according to the Ws

 

 
 
 

 

Headlines forum


Fact, Analysis, Opinion online activity

 
 
 


Moodle welcome

 

Read syllabus
 
 
 
 

One
 
 

2
 
 

TH / Sept. 7
 
 

 

NEWS dissection

 

Your “type” of BEAT

 

hard and soft news

 

Are features, opinion, and analysis “news”?

 

Types of journalism

 
 
 

Lecture

 

 

Reading stories

Research
 
 

 

Readings:

Breaking news Pulitzer

 

Feature story

 

Analysis article (why + so what)

 

Opinion NYT video

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Two
 
 

3
 
 

T / Sept. 12
 
 

Where do stories come from?

 

Common sources

And strategies
 
 

RESEARCH

WORKSHOP
 
 

 

Resources andactivities to prepare for news pitch
 
 
 
 
 
 

Two
 
 

4
 
 

TH / Sept. 14
 
 

Story’s:

 

Timeliness (when)

Prominence (who)

Importance (what)

Location (where)
 
 

 

Pitching potential stories according to news values

Newsroom session

 
 
 

Finding your story 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Two

 

MAKE UP
 
 

5
 
 

F / Sept. 15
 
 

 

Newsroom session- COVERAGE PLAN

 
 
 

 

Strategizing for a successful pitch and story

 
 
 

Preparing for news pitch
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Three
 
 

6
 
 

T / Sept. 19
 
 

 

THE NEWS PITCH

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

Discussing pitches for approval

 
 
 
 


 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Three
 
 

7
 
 

TH / Sept. 21
 
  PITCH FORUM

 

 
 
 

Research

and contacts

strategies
 
 

 

 

Poynter course

 
 
 

 PITCHING


 
 
 
 
 

Four
 
 

8
 
 

T / Sept. 26
 
 

Strategizing

COVERAGE: Mapping types of SOURCES

 

 
 
 

Lecture

 

Q & A

 
 
 


Read codes of conduct / public interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Four
 
 

9
 
 

TH/ Sept. 28
 
 

 

Media Ethics:

 

journalist’s code of conduct

 
 
 

Lecture

 
 
 

Ethics Poynter Course: case studies

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Five
 
 

10
 
 

T / Oct. 3
 
 

 

NEWS REPORTING

 

Types of interview

Methodology, protocol, etiquette

 
 
 

Consent

 

On and off the record

 
 
 


Map sources
 
 
 
 
 
 

Five
 
 

11
 
 

TH / Oct. 5
 
 

News story research: backround, precedents,

interviewees
 
 

Workshop
 
 

 

Research sources

news / background

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Six
 
 

12
 
 

T / Oct. 10
 
 

Interviewing

techniques
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

Six
 
 

13
 
 

TH / Oct. 12
 
 

 

Interviewing

Techniques /

Post interviewing steps

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Seven
 
 

14
 
 

T / Oct. 17
 
 

On-site coverage

Audio and video, name collecting

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Seven
 
 

15
 
 

TH / Oct. 19
 
 

NEWS WRITING

 
 
 

Story organization

 
 
 

Inverted pyramid activity
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eight

 


 
 

16
 
 

T / Oct. 24
 
 

News writing

 
 
 

 

Associated Press Style (AP)

 
 
 

AP activity
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eight


 
 
 

17
 
 

TH / Oct. 26
 
 

 

News writing

 

 

 
 
 

Attribution and quoting

 
 
 

A/Q activity

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nine
 
 

18
 
   

T / Oct. 31
 
 

Types of quoting and attribution in news writing

 
 
 

 

Attribution and quoting

 

 
 
 

Drafting
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

NO

CLASS
 
 

TH / Nov. 2
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Nine
 
 


19
 
 

T /

Nov. 7
 
 

News writing
 
 

VisualsCaptions

 

Copyright

 
 
 

Activity

 
 
 


Writing
 
 
 
 

Ten
 
 

20
 
 

TH / Nov. 9
 
 

 

News writing
 
 

Leads & Headlines
 
 

Activity
 
 


Writing
 
 
 
 

Ten
 
 

21
 
 

T /

Nov. 14
 
 

News writing

 
 
 

 

Leads & Headlines

 
 
 


Drafting
 
 



)

 
 
 
 
 

Eleven
 
 

22
 
 

TH /

Nov. 16
 
 
 

 
 
 


Fact Checking

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eleven
 
 

23
 
 

TH /

Nov. 21
 
 
 
 
 


Fact Checking

 

 

 
 
 

Workshop
 
 
 
 
 
 

Twelve

NO CLASS

 
 
 

 
 
 

T / Nov. 23
 
 

News writing/

Cleaning copy
 
 

 

Hyperlink/ Embedding

Captions

 
 
 

Drafting
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Twelve

REMOTE CLASS
 
 24
 
 
 

TH /

Nov. 28
 
 

Digital copy
 
 

 

 


 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 

Thirteen
 
 

25
 
 

T /

Nov. 30
 
 

 

Media Criticism: 

gatekeeping, agenda-setting, news framing and priming, firts-impression bias, mean-world syndrome, hypodermic needle theory

 


 

 
 
 

Lecture
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Thirteen
 
 

26
 
 

TH /

Dec. 5
 
 

Media Criticism

A New Objectivity

 

Independent journalism, investigative journalism citizen journalism, advocacy jouranlism

 
 
 

Lecture

 
 
 


Readings

 
 
 
   Fourteen             
 
 

27
 
 

TH/ Dec. 7
 
 

 

Political economy of Mass Media: Public Relations and the poltics of mass media, Manufacturing consent,               

              CHURNALISM, 

 
 
 

Lecture

 
 
Documentary
 
 

LAST

SESSION
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Public Relations: history

 

The other side of the news

Bernay's propaganda

 
 
 

Lecture

 

 
 
 


Discussion
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

First Amendment,Censorship, Hate SpeechPublic Interest Torts (Privacy, Defamation, Copyright) 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exam Date TBA