FALL 2017 -- Blog assignment

Journalism 300 blog assignment/FALL 2017
We'll do the blogs in pairs and there will be time to work on them in the computer lab. Midway through and at the end of the semester, the blog pairs will do a presentation on the blogs, projecting them on the screen in the computer room. Class members are expected to post constructive comments on the blogs.

Using Wordpress, start a blog that can function like a website with static pages, slideshow, tracking.

I) HOME PAGE

1) Should briefly describe the blog and 2) Have links or tabs to the following pages:

II) PAGES

1) List of EVENTS of interest to journalism students in the UMass area. The class may attend one or more of these, if possible. Each entry should include the following information 1) speaker/presenter 2) Topic/Title 3) Where 4) When 5) )Brief blurb about the event 6) Link to more/related info

2) EXAMPLES from work produced for the class by one or both of the blog partners A) Speech story B) Profile C) Feature D) Issue story . These should be thoroughly proofed and polished. One or more of these stories should be accompanied by a SLIDESHOW. (If your sources do not want their names published, you can use partial names AFTER completing the assignment that you turn in for a grade.

3) A blog post describing what went into CREATING THE BLOG, for instance why you decided to pick a certain template; how you decided which stories to include as examples, which one would include a slideshow and what went into getting the photos for the slideshow. The piece should also mention any interesting data you are able to gather using a service like Google Analytics or Statcounter about who is visiting the blog and why.

4) A page with topic of YOUR CHOICE.

III) SLIDESHOW should enhance/illustrate the story that accompanies it. It should include thoroughly proofed captions

IV) EMBEDDED DATA COLLECTING service like Statcounter or Google analytics

FALL 2012 SYLLABUS

JOURN 300 :NEWSWRITING and REPORTING, FALL 2012 -- M/W 3:35-5:30 p.m. -- DuBois 767

MARY CAREY maryelizacarey@gmail.com, 413-588-4274

Class blog: Journ300.blogspot.com


REQUIRED TEXT: Melvin Mencher, News Reporting and Writing (latest edition)

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READING

AP Style Guide online

Daily newspapers and news magazines. Try to scan online and in print at least one of the local newspapers including the Collegian, Daily Hampshire Gazette or Springfield Republican every day. Also be aware of what’s on the front page of, for instance, the Boston Globe and New York Times. Each class, three or four people will bring in a newspaper article and comment on some aspect of the news, news coverage, style, choice of stories or contrast between coverage. Being conversant with what is in the news is essential to writing it.


GRADES

Grades are based on timely and thoughtful completion of in-class and out-of-class writing assignments and quizzes, multi-media blog, attendance and in-class participation. Writing criteria include news judgment, clarity of writing, grammar, accuracy, organization, spelling, conciseness, use of AP style, and meeting deadlines. Although the big picture things like news judgment and solid reporting are important, misspelling names and other seemingly minor shortcomings can ruin a story and your reputation, so they will count. Numerical equivalent of grades: A=95, A-=92, A-/B+ =90, B+88 etc.


ATTENDANCE

Not making appointments or missing the action will also undermine your career and the class. You MUST tell me BEFORE class if you are going to be absent and it has to be a legitimate excuse. (I read my e-mail regularly and have a phone message machine at home.) Otherwise you will receive zeroes for the day’s assignments. Please do not be late or leave early. More than three absences and/or repeatedly being late or leaving early will result in a significantly lowered final grade, with the grade being lowered by a full half grade for each absence over three.

CELL PHONE RINGERS MUST BE TURNED OFF. NO TAPING WITHOUT PERMISSION – IT'S ILLEGAL. NO READING FACEBOOK, UMASS MEMES etc ONLINE DURING CLASS!


WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

In-class writing assignments usually won’t be longer than 2-3 typewritten pages. Most major assignments are 1,000 words or 4 pages. First drafts must be in turned in on-time for credit. Not turning in a first draft or turning in an insufficiently complete first draft will result in a zero for the first draft and a significantly lower final draft grade. Among your assignments are a profile (counts for 15 percent of final grade), feature (15 percent), coverage of a speech (10 percent), issue piece (20 percent) and review (10 percent), minor papers, including first drafts (10 percent), blog (10 percent), participation/homework, worksheets and quizzes etc (10 percent).


HONESTY

Any instance of plagiarism or any other form of cheating is ground for course failure.

FALL 2012 SCHEDULE

JOURN 300/CAREY/ FALL 2012--M/W 3:35-5:30 p.m.-Dubois 767


This is a tentative schedule of topics subject to revision to accommodate the news, campus goings-on that we’ll attend and classroom visitors. Check the blog (Journ300.blogspot.com) for updates and changes. Note: Each day 3-4 people will bring in an article to discuss and post an "AP Style tip" to the blog.

SEPT 5 Introduction, In-class writing assignment. NEXT: read Chap. 5; write 300-word summary for next class. Bring three or more ideas of speeches/events to attend, ideally during class time, at UMass or nearby in the coming days.


SEPT 10 Discuss Chap. 5 and speech options, in-class exercise on leads. NEXT: Read Chap. 16 on speeches, write 200-word summary for next class.
SEPT 12 Discuss chapter on speeches, how to write a speech story. In-class work on blog. NEXT: Read Read Chap 15 on Interviewing Principles to discuss. Write 6 "bullet points" based on information in chapter.

REVISED:
Monday, Sept. 17 (today) -- 1) Write a mini-profile (300-400 words or so) about someone in the class. See instructions below.
2) Start a blog with one person or two people in the class. (Instructions on right-hand side of this blog.) Send me the address of your blog.

Wednesday, Sept. 19 -- NO CLASS. Meet me at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center Auditorium for pizza and the conference "It's Your Call." Write 500 words about it -- remember, it should have a great lead and several quotes from people who attend it, in addition to the basic who, what, where, why, when and how many people were there.
NEXT: read chapters 2 and 3 and a four-sentence profile "pitch," in which you explain who you plan to write your 1,000-word profile about and briefly what makes this person a good subject of a profile.

Monday, Sept. 24  -- Pitch your profile to the class. Discuss chapters 2 and 3.
NEXT: For Wednesday, bring in a "pre-first draft" of your profile, consisting of a potential lead, nutgraph and some quotes from your subject.

Wednesday, Sept. 26 -- Peer edit the profile pre-first drafts.
NEXT: Read Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art. Write 100-200 words SHOWING (vs. telling) something (would be good if it is for your profile) and post it on the class blog.

Monday, Oct. 1 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) Peer edit. Discuss feature stories, Chapter 7 and SHOW (vs. tell) examples.  Discuss Maria Sacchetti stories; generate questions for her. Feature pitch postponed till OCT 10.

Wednesday, Oct. 3 -- Class visitor Maria Sacchetti, a UMass alumna and immigration reporter for the Boston Globe. Take notes and write 500 words about her visit. Due Wednesday, Oct. 10.
NEXT: Read Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries.

Monday, Oct. 8-- No class

Wednesday, Oct. 10 -- Five hundred words on Maria Sacchetti visit due. Feature pitch, Discuss accidents/disasters and obituaries chapters. NEXT: Read Chapter 21 on Courts. Bring in written 250 words pre-first draft feature with potential lead, nutgraph and direct quotes.

Back to original schedule:
OCT 15  Peer edit pre-first draft Feature drafts. (lead, nutgraph and direcct quotes.)
OCT 17 FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts.


OCT 22 In-class work on feature drafts Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts." NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.
OCT 24 MID-TERM QUIZ (on terms, concepts and AP tips discussed in class as well as Chapters 2,3, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21) Discuss Chap. 11 and 14 and covering elections


OCT 29 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Next: Issue pitch.
OCT 31 Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch


NOV 5 Issue pitch. (Interview voters at polls on Election Day. Write 600 words.)
NOV 7 In-class work on Issue papers. Discuss Election Day interviews. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.


NOV 12 NO CLASS -Veterans Day
NOV 14 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.


NOV 19 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27
NOV 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving is NOV 22

NOV 26 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,
NOV 28 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; review writing. ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;


DEC 3 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.
DEC 5 LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP

UMass Spring 2012 calendar