What's coming up...

Feature pitches today.

Remember, a feature is like a profile in that it tries to bring something to life by describing the subject in specific detail and quoting sources talking about the subject in concrete, specific detail. The only difference is the feature is about an event/trend/group/thing etc. vs a person.

(The story, for example, by Maria Sacchetti about the two brothers who are Chilean consuls is a mini-feature. It starts with a descriptive scene of their headquarters, introduces the 76-year-old brothers and then describes how they are representative of other sometimes quirky mom-and-pop type consulates throughout the United States.)

You must include quotes from a minimum of FOUR SOURCES in the feature.

As with the profile, we'll do 1) a 200-300 word "pre-first draft," which we'll peer edit next Monday, Oct. 15; 2) a 1,000-word first draft, due Oct 29 and final draft, due Nov. 7.

Today, besides the feature, we'll briefly go over the chapters on accidents and obituaries and if we have time, we can do some work on the blogs. Ideally, you should have created your blogs by now. Don't forget to send me the addresses so I can post them on the class blog!

I'm looking forward to reading your 500-word pieces, due today, on Maria Sacchetti's visit.


Wednesday, Oct. 10 -- Feature pitch, Discuss accidents/disasters and obituaries chapters. Five hundred words on Maria Sacchetti visit due.

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 direct quotes.)

OCT 17 In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature drafts Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts."


OCT 22 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