1st Story Assignment
The student perspective - has Boise State football gone overboard?
500 words
Don't forget:
Headline
Deck
Byline
Dateline
Lead
Bridge
Body
IP/5W/H
Tagline
Due end of week 3/11:59 PM Friday - post to blog.
Interview two students in class.
Q & A period during week 3 as you complete the story.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Week 3 - Class Activity
Answer the following questions (after we have discussed in lecture):
A REPORTER'S QUESTIONS
1.) Can I go along for a ride or take a walk or be at a meeting, a trial, or a funeral?
(Hint: action moves a story)
2.) Is something going to happen?
3.) Is the place important, is the action important, or is the person important?
4.) Will there be interaction between my character and others?
5.) Do I want to tell the story around one scene or five scenes?
6.) Do the characters experience epiphany?
7.) What's the big idea?
LIST THE TEN TIPS BY MARK KRAMER BELOW(and post).
A REPORTER'S QUESTIONS
1.) Can I go along for a ride or take a walk or be at a meeting, a trial, or a funeral?
(Hint: action moves a story)
2.) Is something going to happen?
3.) Is the place important, is the action important, or is the person important?
4.) Will there be interaction between my character and others?
5.) Do I want to tell the story around one scene or five scenes?
6.) Do the characters experience epiphany?
7.) What's the big idea?
LIST THE TEN TIPS BY MARK KRAMER BELOW(and post).
Week 3 - Class Notes
REPORTER’S CHECKLIST
Accidents
1.) Identification of dead, injured
2.) Time and location
3.) Type(s) of vehicle involved
4.) Cause of accident (from official sources)
5.) Identification of others involved
6.) Where dead and injured taken
7.) Extent of injuries
8.) Condition of injured
9.) Heroism, rescues
10.) Arrest(s) or citation(s)
11.) Funeral arrangements if available
12.) Damage to vehicles
13.) Speed, origin, destination of vehicles (from official sources)
14.) Unusual weather or road conditions
15.) Accounts by eyewitnesses, investigating officers
Crime
1.) Identification of victim
2.) Crime, how committed
3.) Date, time, location of crime
4.) Violent crime: official cause of death, injury; weapon used; motivation; background of victim if relevant
5.) Property crime: value of loss; method of theft or entry
6.) Arrests, suspects, clues
7.) Unusual circumstances
8.) Quotes of victim, witnesses, police
Fires
1.) Deaths, injuries
2.) Identification of victims
3.) Location, type of structure
4.) Cause (from official source)
5.) When, where started; how spread
6.) When brought under control
7.) How victims killed, injured
8.) Property loss (extent, cost of damage, insurance)
9.) Investigation? Unusual circumstances
10.) Where dead, injured taken; extent of injuries
11.) Rescue attempts
12.) Comments of neighbors, eyewitnesses
13.) Number of fire companies, firefighters
Sources:
Fire chief, marshal, inspector
Police
Hospital
Morgue, mortuary
Welfare agencies, Red Cross
City building, fire-inspection reports
Meetings
1.) Major action(s), vote, decision, agreement
2.) Vote; number for and against (names)
3.) Reason for action, votes
4.) Purpose, time, location
5.) Discussion, debate, length of meeting
6.) Quotes from witnesses, experts, audience
7.) Audience’s makeup
8.) Agenda; departures from it
9.) Consequences of action(s)
10.) Agenda for next meeting
News Conferences
1.) Major point made in announcement
2.) Name, identification of speaker(s)
3.) Background of major point
4.) Question and answer material
5.) Consequences of announcement
Obituaries
1.) Name, age, address, occupation
2.) Time, place, cause of death
3.) Birthdate, birthplace
4.) Survivors (immediate family)
5.) Funeral and burial arrangements
6.) Accomplishments
7.) Education, memberships
8.) Military service
9.) Anecdote, recollections of friends, relatives
Sources:
Mortuary
Relatives, friends
Newspaper clippings
References (Who’s Who)
Police, coroner
Hospital
Attending physician
Speeches
1.) Speaker’s main point
2.) Name, identification of speaker
3.) Quotes to support main point
4.) Purpose, time, location of speech
5.) Audience, number, makeup, reactions
6.) Additional points
7.) Background to major point
8.) Speaker’s comments before, after speech
9.) Material from question and answer period,if any
Sports: Game coverage
1.) Score
2.) Names of teams, type of sport
3.) Where, when game took place
4.) Key play, strategy, turning point of game
5.) Outstanding player(s)
6.) Effect on standings, rankings, individual records
7.) Scoring
8.) Streaks, records involved by team, player
9.) Postgame comments
10.) Crowd size, behavior (if relevant)
11.) Injuries
12.) Duration of game
13.) Statistics
Accidents
1.) Identification of dead, injured
2.) Time and location
3.) Type(s) of vehicle involved
4.) Cause of accident (from official sources)
5.) Identification of others involved
6.) Where dead and injured taken
7.) Extent of injuries
8.) Condition of injured
9.) Heroism, rescues
10.) Arrest(s) or citation(s)
11.) Funeral arrangements if available
12.) Damage to vehicles
13.) Speed, origin, destination of vehicles (from official sources)
14.) Unusual weather or road conditions
15.) Accounts by eyewitnesses, investigating officers
Crime
1.) Identification of victim
2.) Crime, how committed
3.) Date, time, location of crime
4.) Violent crime: official cause of death, injury; weapon used; motivation; background of victim if relevant
5.) Property crime: value of loss; method of theft or entry
6.) Arrests, suspects, clues
7.) Unusual circumstances
8.) Quotes of victim, witnesses, police
Fires
1.) Deaths, injuries
2.) Identification of victims
3.) Location, type of structure
4.) Cause (from official source)
5.) When, where started; how spread
6.) When brought under control
7.) How victims killed, injured
8.) Property loss (extent, cost of damage, insurance)
9.) Investigation? Unusual circumstances
10.) Where dead, injured taken; extent of injuries
11.) Rescue attempts
12.) Comments of neighbors, eyewitnesses
13.) Number of fire companies, firefighters
Sources:
Fire chief, marshal, inspector
Police
Hospital
Morgue, mortuary
Welfare agencies, Red Cross
City building, fire-inspection reports
Meetings
1.) Major action(s), vote, decision, agreement
2.) Vote; number for and against (names)
3.) Reason for action, votes
4.) Purpose, time, location
5.) Discussion, debate, length of meeting
6.) Quotes from witnesses, experts, audience
7.) Audience’s makeup
8.) Agenda; departures from it
9.) Consequences of action(s)
10.) Agenda for next meeting
News Conferences
1.) Major point made in announcement
2.) Name, identification of speaker(s)
3.) Background of major point
4.) Question and answer material
5.) Consequences of announcement
Obituaries
1.) Name, age, address, occupation
2.) Time, place, cause of death
3.) Birthdate, birthplace
4.) Survivors (immediate family)
5.) Funeral and burial arrangements
6.) Accomplishments
7.) Education, memberships
8.) Military service
9.) Anecdote, recollections of friends, relatives
Sources:
Mortuary
Relatives, friends
Newspaper clippings
References (Who’s Who)
Police, coroner
Hospital
Attending physician
Speeches
1.) Speaker’s main point
2.) Name, identification of speaker
3.) Quotes to support main point
4.) Purpose, time, location of speech
5.) Audience, number, makeup, reactions
6.) Additional points
7.) Background to major point
8.) Speaker’s comments before, after speech
9.) Material from question and answer period,if any
Sports: Game coverage
1.) Score
2.) Names of teams, type of sport
3.) Where, when game took place
4.) Key play, strategy, turning point of game
5.) Outstanding player(s)
6.) Effect on standings, rankings, individual records
7.) Scoring
8.) Streaks, records involved by team, player
9.) Postgame comments
10.) Crowd size, behavior (if relevant)
11.) Injuries
12.) Duration of game
13.) Statistics
Monday, January 24, 2011
Week 2 - Class Notes II
MODELS OF NEWS
1.) Quantum theory
You can think of “news” as whenever one atom bumps another and starts a chain reaction that changes everything in existence. You can’t report on it because it is so vast, and by reporting alone you change things. You look for bigger things to report on. You have to have a net or a template to choose which of the infinite number of things going on we ARE going to report on. The kind of news values we used in the exercise above are the kinds of tools or templates reporters use. They aren’t always used by hobbiests producing Web sites. Journalism goes through fact checkers and editors. Consumers expect a minimum level of accuracy and believability. As long as consumers care about that—and maybe they don’t much anymore—we will need reporters or editors.
2.) Funnel
Using these tools to determine what is needed by our readers, we pick from the infinite number of things happening to decide what goes in the paper or on the 10 o’clock news. The structural limitations of the medium determine how much we can use.
a.)) After advertising, comics, columns and features, how many column inches does the Statesman have each day for international, national, regional and local news? How many reporters and wire services do they have to gather this information. Why can they fit more news in Wednesdays and Sundays than Saturdays and Mondays?
b.)) Using news values and available space to fill, we pick from the items available. At the bottom of the funnel comes the days’ news. Or think of the media as a meat grinder. You stuff in the beef or liver and at the other end comes out uniform, digestible pellets.
c.))What are examples of structural limitations?
Channel 7 is the biggest, richest local station. How many film crews do they have? Given the time it takes to do an assignment, how many stories could all the teams get on a shift?
d.)) How long is the 6 p.m. news? 30 minutes?
Subtract commercials.
How much time is left?
Subtract sports.
How much time is left?
Subtract weather.
How much time is left?
Subtract happy talk among the anchors.
How much time is left.
Subtract the non news-worthy feature, such as the oft-repeated Pumpkin Man at Halloween. How much time is left?
Subtract the international and national news you can get on cable or online e. How much time is left for local news?
How long does an average long news story and short news story run? How many do we have room for in the minutes remaining?
How many column inches does that equate to for local news?
How many column inches does the Statesman devote to local news on the days with the largest, and the smallest news holes?
How many reporters does the Statesman have covering local and state news?
3.) What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of each medium?
Magazines. In-depth, length of stories, but not timely. Portable.
Newspapers. Not timely, but better than magazines. Longer stories than other media. More background. More room for more stories and pictures. Portable.
Television. Comes out three times a day. More timely. Sound. Moving pictures. More impact. Color, but magazines and newspapers have that, too. More likely to play up something with good visual, like a fire, than a newspaper would. Becoming more portable. Cell phone news services, expecially. Is that really “television”? Cells are tied to the proximity of cell towers.
Radio. Even more timely. News on the hour. More likely to break into programming with breaking news than television. Sound. Doesn’t have the visuals of television or even newspapers. Stories are often shorter than television, except for BSU Radio features. More portable than television.
Satellite Radio. Very portable. You don’t depend on magazine or newspaper delivery services or proximity of radio or television transmitters. What’s on it, anyway?
The Web. Interactivity. Hypertext links. Interactive multi-media. More volume of info than you can imagine. Great for reference, if you are a good judge of authenticity. Tied to availability of a Web connection and the speed of that connection. Cell company Wi-Fi cards are making adequate wireless speed available in more and more cities. Wi-Fi offers flexibility. You don’t have to be in a fixed location. Especially in big cities that are making free, strong Wi-Fi available everywhere in the city limits.
4.) What ARE the values journalists use for rating news? What does each of
a.) Proximity
b.) Magnitude, etc.
c.) How does that connect to what we put into a basic news story? What are the “Five W’s”?
Who, what, when, where, why, how.
1.) Quantum theory
You can think of “news” as whenever one atom bumps another and starts a chain reaction that changes everything in existence. You can’t report on it because it is so vast, and by reporting alone you change things. You look for bigger things to report on. You have to have a net or a template to choose which of the infinite number of things going on we ARE going to report on. The kind of news values we used in the exercise above are the kinds of tools or templates reporters use. They aren’t always used by hobbiests producing Web sites. Journalism goes through fact checkers and editors. Consumers expect a minimum level of accuracy and believability. As long as consumers care about that—and maybe they don’t much anymore—we will need reporters or editors.
2.) Funnel
Using these tools to determine what is needed by our readers, we pick from the infinite number of things happening to decide what goes in the paper or on the 10 o’clock news. The structural limitations of the medium determine how much we can use.
a.)) After advertising, comics, columns and features, how many column inches does the Statesman have each day for international, national, regional and local news? How many reporters and wire services do they have to gather this information. Why can they fit more news in Wednesdays and Sundays than Saturdays and Mondays?
b.)) Using news values and available space to fill, we pick from the items available. At the bottom of the funnel comes the days’ news. Or think of the media as a meat grinder. You stuff in the beef or liver and at the other end comes out uniform, digestible pellets.
c.))What are examples of structural limitations?
Channel 7 is the biggest, richest local station. How many film crews do they have? Given the time it takes to do an assignment, how many stories could all the teams get on a shift?
d.)) How long is the 6 p.m. news? 30 minutes?
Subtract commercials.
How much time is left?
Subtract sports.
How much time is left?
Subtract weather.
How much time is left?
Subtract happy talk among the anchors.
How much time is left.
Subtract the non news-worthy feature, such as the oft-repeated Pumpkin Man at Halloween. How much time is left?
Subtract the international and national news you can get on cable or online e. How much time is left for local news?
How long does an average long news story and short news story run? How many do we have room for in the minutes remaining?
How many column inches does that equate to for local news?
How many column inches does the Statesman devote to local news on the days with the largest, and the smallest news holes?
How many reporters does the Statesman have covering local and state news?
3.) What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of each medium?
Magazines. In-depth, length of stories, but not timely. Portable.
Newspapers. Not timely, but better than magazines. Longer stories than other media. More background. More room for more stories and pictures. Portable.
Television. Comes out three times a day. More timely. Sound. Moving pictures. More impact. Color, but magazines and newspapers have that, too. More likely to play up something with good visual, like a fire, than a newspaper would. Becoming more portable. Cell phone news services, expecially. Is that really “television”? Cells are tied to the proximity of cell towers.
Radio. Even more timely. News on the hour. More likely to break into programming with breaking news than television. Sound. Doesn’t have the visuals of television or even newspapers. Stories are often shorter than television, except for BSU Radio features. More portable than television.
Satellite Radio. Very portable. You don’t depend on magazine or newspaper delivery services or proximity of radio or television transmitters. What’s on it, anyway?
The Web. Interactivity. Hypertext links. Interactive multi-media. More volume of info than you can imagine. Great for reference, if you are a good judge of authenticity. Tied to availability of a Web connection and the speed of that connection. Cell company Wi-Fi cards are making adequate wireless speed available in more and more cities. Wi-Fi offers flexibility. You don’t have to be in a fixed location. Especially in big cities that are making free, strong Wi-Fi available everywhere in the city limits.
4.) What ARE the values journalists use for rating news? What does each of
a.) Proximity
b.) Magnitude, etc.
c.) How does that connect to what we put into a basic news story? What are the “Five W’s”?
Who, what, when, where, why, how.
Week 2 - Reading Assignment
Week 2 - Homework (Reading Assignment)
Readings:
Harrower - Chapters 2 & 3
Harvard - Chapter 2
Readings:
Harrower - Chapters 2 & 3
Harvard - Chapter 2
Week 2 - Class Notes I
Class Notes (Week 2)
What is news?
Continental Air Lines crash in Denver 20 years ago.
I ask:
A plane crashes. You’re a Statesman editor deciding whether to put it in the next day’s paper, and if so, where? What questions would you ask? What would you do, given the answers?
1.)) Where did it crash?
On the Flying Y.
At the Denver international airport.
New Delhi international airport.
Which would go on the top of the front page? On the bottom of the front page? Inside? Not at all?
2.)) When did it happen?
Rush hour
3 a.m.
20 years ago
3.)) How big a plane was it?
Piper cub
737
747
4.)) How many people were killed?
None
2
175
420
5.)) Where were most of the passengers from?
Boise
Boise and the Pacific Northwest
Mostly from Asia
6.)) Who was killed
Little-known passengers
Mayor of Boise
President of the United States
7.)) What impact will this have on Boise?
If the mayor, obvious.
If the entire executive level of Trugreen Lawn care, that’s a particular impact.
For many years, Continental stopped flying out of Boise.
So this, and other questions, can illustrate the news values of proximity, timeliness, magnitude, celebrity and impact.
What other values can you think of?
What is news?
Continental Air Lines crash in Denver 20 years ago.
I ask:
A plane crashes. You’re a Statesman editor deciding whether to put it in the next day’s paper, and if so, where? What questions would you ask? What would you do, given the answers?
1.)) Where did it crash?
On the Flying Y.
At the Denver international airport.
New Delhi international airport.
Which would go on the top of the front page? On the bottom of the front page? Inside? Not at all?
2.)) When did it happen?
Rush hour
3 a.m.
20 years ago
3.)) How big a plane was it?
Piper cub
737
747
4.)) How many people were killed?
None
2
175
420
5.)) Where were most of the passengers from?
Boise
Boise and the Pacific Northwest
Mostly from Asia
6.)) Who was killed
Little-known passengers
Mayor of Boise
President of the United States
7.)) What impact will this have on Boise?
If the mayor, obvious.
If the entire executive level of Trugreen Lawn care, that’s a particular impact.
For many years, Continental stopped flying out of Boise.
So this, and other questions, can illustrate the news values of proximity, timeliness, magnitude, celebrity and impact.
What other values can you think of?
Week 2 - Lab Activity - Parts of a Story
Define the following (from lab activity - please do not complete this until after lab instruction, then post your answers).
Teaser:
Refer:
Wire Story:
Centerpiece (who has the biggest cat in Boise):
Index:
Cutline:
Headline:
Byline:
Dateline:
Deck:
Infographic:
Lead:
Quote:
Attribution:
Headline:
Photo:
Photo Credit:
Liftout Quote:
Tagline:
Jump Line:
Teaser:
Refer:
Wire Story:
Centerpiece (who has the biggest cat in Boise):
Index:
Cutline:
Headline:
Byline:
Dateline:
Deck:
Infographic:
Lead:
Quote:
Attribution:
Headline:
Photo:
Photo Credit:
Liftout Quote:
Tagline:
Jump Line:
Friday, January 14, 2011
Week 1 - Welcome to Reporting and News Writing (Comm 273)
REPORTING AND NEWS WRITING
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY 273
BOISE, IDAHO
SPRING 2011
Instructor: White, Ph.D.
Telephone: 426-3320
Office Hours: By appointment, before and after class
Class Web Site: http://bsu273.blogspot.com
Mission Statement:
Students will learn the fundamentals of news judgment, reporting and writing and of the Associated Press style. While these skills are directly applicable for work in newspapers, they also apply to careers in broadcast and other electronic and converged media, public information and public relations.
Required Text:
Harrower, Inside Reporting, A practical guide to the craft of reporting. ISBN: 978-0-07-352614-0
Kramer, Telling True Stories, Harvard University. ISBN: 978-0-07-337891-6
*** PLEASE BRING YOUR AP STYLEBOOKS WITH YOU TO EVERY CLASS ***
Associated Press Stylebook & Briefing on Media Law. ISBN: 978-0-465-01262-6
Associated Press Guide to Punctuation. ISBN: 978-0-7382-0785-8
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of E102 (English Composition) or the equivalent. This is a news reporting class – and to that end, you will learn to absorb and organize “facts” and to present them in written form on a deadline. You must have adequate typing or word processing skills for this course.
Attendance:
Attendance is a critical part of the course – missing excessive classes will result in an “F” grade. You are responsible for your own attendance. Many assignments will be “in-class” and cannot be made up. I realize emergencies do arise – and I will work with you should you have to miss class. I carefully watch the attendance records – and if it becomes an issue please know your grade will be reduced significantly and in some cases you may fail the course. Make-up work must be completed within one week.
Cell phones:
Turn off all cell phones and pagers while in class. NO TEXT MESSAGING in class. Your grade can be compromised if you text message or use your cell phone while in class.
WWW Links:
Frontline
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/
Nieman Foundation
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/NiemanFoundation.aspx
Pulitzer
http://www.pulitzer.org/
Society of Professional Journalists
http://www.spj.org/
Idaho Press Club
http://www.idahopressclub.org/
Tool Box:
Idaho Judicial Repository
https://www.idcourts.us/repository/start.do
Idaho Secretary of State
http://www.sos.idaho.gov/
Ada County Assessor
http://www.adacountyassessor.org/propsys/
* * * Other public databases, USDA, et al.* * *
Field Trip:
We will take at least one field trip over the course of the semester.
New Media: * * * TBD * * *
On-line publications, starting your own “virtual” journalism.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE
Essay Assignments:
Each week you are expected to read the Idaho Statesman and The Arbiter by Tuesday’s class. Every Friday you will turn in an essay (250 words) outlining the highlights of the week’s international, national, state, and local news.
10%
Quizzes:
There will be “open-book” quizzes over the AP style guide.
10%
Attendance:
20%
Assignments:
Assignments must be turned in on deadline. Assignments will not be accepted after deadline. Late assignments have missed the press run – they are old and useless. The following is a partial list of assignments we will complete:
Feature
Profile
Movie
Food
Music
Investigative
Breaking
Political
Editorial
Quality:
Be very careful to not misspell a name or proper noun – give yourself time before deadline to proofread and pencil in corrections on your work.
The “coaching” approach is used in the class – and to that end I am here to help you be successful in this course. If you have any questions, need any help – please seek out my help – and during lab I am more than happy to work with you and answer any questions that you may have.
Stories will fall into the following grading categories:
Category A – practice, non-graded
Category B – Pass/Fall
Category C – Letter grade
* * * If rewrites are allowed, they are due the next class date * * *
40%
Final/Portfolio:
In lieu of a final exam – there will be a significant investigative story. It will be akin to breaking a major “above the fold” story. More details on the length and specifics will be provided as we approach the end of the term.
20%
TOTAL 100%
CLASS SCHEDULE
* * * subject to revision * * *
Week 1 Introduction to the course
Review AP
Harrower Assignment 1-3
The story of journalism
What is “professional journalism” vs. amateur journalism, et al.
How newsrooms work, what is news, et al.
Your job as a fact finder
Week 2 Inverted pyramid
Five W’s
News basics
Week 3 Public Records
Prep for AP quiz
Week 4 Note taking, fact finding
On-line resources
Investigative reporting/basic news story
The courthouse – what you need to know
AP Test
Week 5 Lab exercise – basic news story
Harrower Chapter 4
Lecture
Week 6 Harrower Chapter 5
Fact finding
Note taking
Interviewing
Week 7 Harrower Chapter 6
Note taking
Interviewing (part II)
Hand writing versus electronic
Week 8 Covering speeches and public meetings
Politicians
Harrower Chapter 7
Fire, accident, and disaster stories
Week 9 Harrower Chapter 8
Writing opinion
Breaking news
Week 10 Harrower Chapter 9
Law and ethics
Week 11 Editing
Copy Editing
“Editor-in-Chief”
Advertising versus editorial – “the war stories”
Revenue analysis
Week 12 AP
Harrower 10
Broadcast media writing
The feature story
Week 13 Above the fold news
Writing for public relations
The press release
“Puff” – what is it – and where did it come from?
Week 14 Tool Box
TV/RADIO
Week 15 Sports writing
Where is media evolving?
Electronic versus print
Evals
How much journalists make
Week 16 Media futures, et al
Closure of the course
FINALS Please do not make travel arrangements over the final class date – it is very important that you are able to make the final class date.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY INTEGRITY POLICY
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense. Please make it a point to review the Boise State University Student Handbook regulations on academic dishonesty. Do your best to practice integrity in your pursuit of knowledge in this class. If you are unsure about some procedure and think it may constitute academic dishonesty please see me before submitting the work.
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office as early as possible so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY 273
BOISE, IDAHO
SPRING 2011
Instructor: White, Ph.D.
Telephone: 426-3320
Office Hours: By appointment, before and after class
Class Web Site: http://bsu273.blogspot.com
Mission Statement:
Students will learn the fundamentals of news judgment, reporting and writing and of the Associated Press style. While these skills are directly applicable for work in newspapers, they also apply to careers in broadcast and other electronic and converged media, public information and public relations.
Required Text:
Harrower, Inside Reporting, A practical guide to the craft of reporting. ISBN: 978-0-07-352614-0
Kramer, Telling True Stories, Harvard University. ISBN: 978-0-07-337891-6
*** PLEASE BRING YOUR AP STYLEBOOKS WITH YOU TO EVERY CLASS ***
Associated Press Stylebook & Briefing on Media Law. ISBN: 978-0-465-01262-6
Associated Press Guide to Punctuation. ISBN: 978-0-7382-0785-8
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of E102 (English Composition) or the equivalent. This is a news reporting class – and to that end, you will learn to absorb and organize “facts” and to present them in written form on a deadline. You must have adequate typing or word processing skills for this course.
Attendance:
Attendance is a critical part of the course – missing excessive classes will result in an “F” grade. You are responsible for your own attendance. Many assignments will be “in-class” and cannot be made up. I realize emergencies do arise – and I will work with you should you have to miss class. I carefully watch the attendance records – and if it becomes an issue please know your grade will be reduced significantly and in some cases you may fail the course. Make-up work must be completed within one week.
Cell phones:
Turn off all cell phones and pagers while in class. NO TEXT MESSAGING in class. Your grade can be compromised if you text message or use your cell phone while in class.
WWW Links:
Frontline
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/
Nieman Foundation
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/NiemanFoundation.aspx
Pulitzer
http://www.pulitzer.org/
Society of Professional Journalists
http://www.spj.org/
Idaho Press Club
http://www.idahopressclub.org/
Tool Box:
Idaho Judicial Repository
https://www.idcourts.us/repository/start.do
Idaho Secretary of State
http://www.sos.idaho.gov/
Ada County Assessor
http://www.adacountyassessor.org/propsys/
* * * Other public databases, USDA, et al.* * *
Field Trip:
We will take at least one field trip over the course of the semester.
New Media: * * * TBD * * *
On-line publications, starting your own “virtual” journalism.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE
Essay Assignments:
Each week you are expected to read the Idaho Statesman and The Arbiter by Tuesday’s class. Every Friday you will turn in an essay (250 words) outlining the highlights of the week’s international, national, state, and local news.
10%
Quizzes:
There will be “open-book” quizzes over the AP style guide.
10%
Attendance:
20%
Assignments:
Assignments must be turned in on deadline. Assignments will not be accepted after deadline. Late assignments have missed the press run – they are old and useless. The following is a partial list of assignments we will complete:
Feature
Profile
Movie
Food
Music
Investigative
Breaking
Political
Editorial
Quality:
Be very careful to not misspell a name or proper noun – give yourself time before deadline to proofread and pencil in corrections on your work.
The “coaching” approach is used in the class – and to that end I am here to help you be successful in this course. If you have any questions, need any help – please seek out my help – and during lab I am more than happy to work with you and answer any questions that you may have.
Stories will fall into the following grading categories:
Category A – practice, non-graded
Category B – Pass/Fall
Category C – Letter grade
* * * If rewrites are allowed, they are due the next class date * * *
40%
Final/Portfolio:
In lieu of a final exam – there will be a significant investigative story. It will be akin to breaking a major “above the fold” story. More details on the length and specifics will be provided as we approach the end of the term.
20%
TOTAL 100%
CLASS SCHEDULE
* * * subject to revision * * *
Week 1 Introduction to the course
Review AP
Harrower Assignment 1-3
The story of journalism
What is “professional journalism” vs. amateur journalism, et al.
How newsrooms work, what is news, et al.
Your job as a fact finder
Week 2 Inverted pyramid
Five W’s
News basics
Week 3 Public Records
Prep for AP quiz
Week 4 Note taking, fact finding
On-line resources
Investigative reporting/basic news story
The courthouse – what you need to know
AP Test
Week 5 Lab exercise – basic news story
Harrower Chapter 4
Lecture
Week 6 Harrower Chapter 5
Fact finding
Note taking
Interviewing
Week 7 Harrower Chapter 6
Note taking
Interviewing (part II)
Hand writing versus electronic
Week 8 Covering speeches and public meetings
Politicians
Harrower Chapter 7
Fire, accident, and disaster stories
Week 9 Harrower Chapter 8
Writing opinion
Breaking news
Week 10 Harrower Chapter 9
Law and ethics
Week 11 Editing
Copy Editing
“Editor-in-Chief”
Advertising versus editorial – “the war stories”
Revenue analysis
Week 12 AP
Harrower 10
Broadcast media writing
The feature story
Week 13 Above the fold news
Writing for public relations
The press release
“Puff” – what is it – and where did it come from?
Week 14 Tool Box
TV/RADIO
Week 15 Sports writing
Where is media evolving?
Electronic versus print
Evals
How much journalists make
Week 16 Media futures, et al
Closure of the course
FINALS Please do not make travel arrangements over the final class date – it is very important that you are able to make the final class date.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY INTEGRITY POLICY
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense. Please make it a point to review the Boise State University Student Handbook regulations on academic dishonesty. Do your best to practice integrity in your pursuit of knowledge in this class. If you are unsure about some procedure and think it may constitute academic dishonesty please see me before submitting the work.
If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office as early as possible so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.
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