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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 221-1"
COURSE NAME: "Writing Across the Media"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: John Christopher Fiegener
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 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: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course introduces students to the various kinds of writing they will encounter in the media professions and in digital multimedia production, and prepares them for more advanced media courses in the Communications and Media Studies program. Students will also be introduced to basic legal and ethical issues, such as libel, copyright, privacy. Activities include writing for online media, press releases, strategic campaigns, and short scripts for visual and audio media as well as exercises to pitch their ideas. They will also explore issues concerning style, communicability, and effective storytelling.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course introduces students to the various kinds of writing they will encounter in the media professions and in digital multimedia production, and prepares them for more advanced media courses in the Communications and Media Studies program. Students will also be introduced to basic legal and ethical issues, such as libel, copyright, privacy. Activities include writing for online media, press releases, strategic campaigns, and short scripts for visual and audio media as well as exercises to pitch their ideas. They will also explore issues concerning style, communicability, and effective storytelling.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course introduces students to the various kinds of writing they will encounter in the media professions and in digital multimedia production, and prepares them for more advanced media courses in the Communications and Media Studies program. Students will also be introduced to basic legal and ethical issues, such as libel, copyright, privacy. Activities include writing for online media, press releases, strategic campaigns, and short scripts for visual and audio media as well as exercises to pitch their ideas. They will also explore issues concerning style, communicability, and effective storytelling.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Basics of Media Writing: A Strategic ApproachScott A. Kuehn (Author), James Andrew Lingwall (Author) CQ Press978-1506308104     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
BLOG POSTS  25%
PODCAST 25%
PSA VIDEO 25%
PRESS KIT 15%
ASSIGNMENTS 10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork 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.
BThis 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.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are 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 in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
The course introduces students to the various kinds of writing they will encounter in the media professions and in digital multimedia production, and prepares them for more advanced media courses in the Communications and Media Studies program. Students will also be introduced to basic legal and ethical issues, such as libel, copyright, privacy. Activities include writing for online media, press releases, strategic campaigns, and short scripts for visual and audio media as well as exercises to pitch their ideas. They will also explore issues concerning style, communicability, and effective storytelling.
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

Session 1: Media Overview

 

Choose WAM topic 

Knowing News Sources

Trusted references

Defining your Story

Credibility and Trust 

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Session 2: Media Overview

 

Ethical challenges

Free speech/censorship

Judgment bias

How to treat a source

How to follow a story

Social media

AI considerations

 

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Session 3: Blogging

 

Blog essentials

Topic selection

Your interest & expertise (ie health/enviro/culture/biz/entertain/sports)

 

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Session 4: Blogging

 

News curation

Producing a topic

AI Assist

 

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Session 5: Blogging

 

Objectivity/Bias

Opinion v informed analysis

Attribution/Quoting

Fact-checking

Deep dive with OSINT tools

Intro blog project

 

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Session 6: Blogging

 

Writing strategies

Producing a pitch

Producing a show/blog

Producing a script

AI Tools

 

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Session 7: Blogging

 

Headline/lead

Script treatment

Editing a script

Setting a deadline

 

Write a blog script (practical)

 

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Session 8: Blogging

 

Understanding audiences

Know who you are working for

Online blogging/live or not

AI use Ethics

 

Write a blog (practical)

 

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Session 9: Blogging

 

Discuss blog results

 

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Session 10: Blogging and Podcasting

 

Hyperlinks/sourcing

Using hashtags

Using images/sound/video

Finding your voice

Inserting images/captions/fair use/creative commons

Difference between Blog and Podcast

 

Discuss blog results

 

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Session 11: Podcasting

 

Podcast overview

Researching the market

Finding the audience

How to format

Technical considerations

 

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Session 12: Podcasting

 

Producing a podcast

Topic research/selection

Timing segments

When/how to use elements

Finding your voice

 

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Session 13: Podcasting

 

Credibility

Marketing/advertising 

Finding guests and experts

How to interview a guest

Sources/publications

AI assistance

 

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Session 14: Podcasting

 

Podcast treatment

Content types

Audio only When to use video

When/how to use AI Chatbots/AI elements

Review podcast samples

 

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Session 15: Podcasting with Video

 

Basic TV rules

Lighting

Set design/considerations

 

Produce a podcast (practical)

 

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Session 16: Podcasting with Video

 

Basic TV rules

Camera/sound

Visual and audio script cues

Writing for TV

 

Produce a podcast cont (practical)

 

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Session 17: Podcasting with video

 

When to use audio visual visual elements 

Script terms/camera move/shots/audio

 

Discuss podcast results

 

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Session 18: Podcasting with video

 

Writing for elements 

Basic editing

Hearing and seeing the story

 

Discuss podcast results

 

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Session 19: Other Media

 

General Media organizations

Democratizing voices

  Alt/social media environment

NGO/citizen journalist

1 person team/Iphone journalism

When to go Live

 

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Session 20: Other Media

 

Legal challenges in the field

Know your rights

Know the risks

Media resources

AI assistants

 

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Session 21: PSA

 

Public Service Announcement Overview

Why are you writing?

What is the Public interest?

Know your target

Psychology of mass communications

effect of Fake News/disinformation

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Session 21: PSA

 

Determining a goal

How to measure results

Titles/motto and slogans

Using video

Using celebrities

 

Design a PSA campaign (practical)

 

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Session 22: PSA

 

Public interest

Examples of successful PSA’s

Writing intro and out, formatting, type of music

 

Script a PSA (practical)

 

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Session 24: PSA and Press Kit

 

Storyboard 

Copyediting workshop for Press releases

Discuss PSA results

 

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Session 25: Press Kit

 

Press Release overview Know who you are working for/your target audience

Time sensitivity

Part of a PR strategy

Samples of success/failure

 

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Session 26: Press Kit

 

Design and plan a PR release/campaign

When and how to release

News hooks/media research

 

Script a Press Release (practical)

 

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Session 27: Press Kit

 

Discuss Press Kit results

 

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Session 28: Writing Across the Media

 

Discuss Strategic communication tips and media environment