Spring 2013 article and AP tip schedule

Journ 300 Schedule to bring in an article and AP tip and example of how to use it to share with class. Fill in article questions sheet (link at top-right of blog at Journ300.blogspot.com) to hand in. Bring in printed copy of article.

JAN 23 

JAN 28 Mark

JAN 30 Emily, Peter

FEB 4  Ellie

FEB 6 Araz, Diana

 
FEB 11  Aviva, Zac

FEB 13 Jeff, Alyx

FEB 18 NO CLASS/PRESIDENT'S DAY

FEB 20  Jason, Mitch

FEB 25 Shannon, Emily

FEB 27 Peter, Sofia

MARCH 4 Mark, Ellie

MARCH 6 Araz, Diana

MARCH

MARCH 13 MID-TERM QUIZ Discuss Chap. 11 and 14

*************SPRING BREAK (NO CLASSES MARCH 18 & 20)**************

MARCH 25  Aviva, Zac

MARCH 27 Jeff, Alyx

APRIL 1 Jason, Mitch

APRIL 3 Shannon, Emily

APRIL 8 NO CLASS -Veterans Day

APRIL  10 Peter, Sofia

APRIL 15 NO CLASS/PATRIOTS DAY

APRIL 17 Mark, Ellie

APRIL 22 Araz, Diana

APRIL 24 Aviva, Zac

APRIL 29 – Jeff, Alyx

MAY 1 - LAST DAY OF CLASS

SPRING 2013 SYLLABUS

JOURN 300: NEWSWRITING and REPORTING, SPRING 2013 -- M/W 3:35-5:30 p.m. -- DuBois 767

Journalism 300 is a hands-on, nuts-and-bolts news writing and reporting class in which we learn and discuss:

• What is news
• How to identify and pitch a good story
• How to report and conduct interviews
• The news story "formula," especially leads and nutgraphs
• Kinds of stories and how to tell them
• The importance of fairness, accuracy, telling the truth and serving the public good

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, one or more studentswill 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 (10 percent).

HONESTY

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

SPRING 2013 SCHEDULE

JOURN 300/CAREY/ SPRING 2013--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 one or more students will bring in an article to discuss and post an "AP Style tip" to the blog.

JAN 23 Introduction, In-class reporting assignment. NEXT: EMAIL TO ME BY TONIGHT: 500 words with LEAD and NUTGRAPH about class visit; 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.

JAN 28 Discuss Chap. 5 and speech options, in-class writing. NEXT: Read Chap. 16 on speeches, write 200-word summary for next class.

JAN 30 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.

FEB 4  **********SPEECH/EVENT PAPER ON JAMES WELLING PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT DUE********Discuss Chap 16; in-class interviewing exercise NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present Wednesday.
FEB 6 Present profile pitch. NEXT: Read Chaps. 2 and 3.

FEB 11 In-class work on Profile -- Discuss Chaps. 2 and 3
FEB 13 In-class work on profiles. NEXT: Read Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art. Write 100-200 words SHOWING something (vs TELLING) and post it on the blog

FEB 18 NO CLASS/PRESIDENT'S DAY

FEB 20 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) Discuss feature stories. Discuss Chapter 7 and SHOW v. TELL examples. In-class work on profiles. NEXT: in-class feature pitch, read Chap. 8 on Features.

FEB 25 Have read Chapter 8 on features to discuss. PEER EDIT first draft profiles. NEXT: Read Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries.

FEB 27 Discuss chapters on accidents and obituaries. NEXT: read Chapter 21 on Courts.

MARCH 4 FEATURE PITCH.

MARCH 6 In-class work on feature and blog, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts

MARCH 11 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." NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.

MARCH 13 MID-TERM QUIZ Discuss Chap. 11 and 14

*************SPRING BREAK (NO CLASSES MARCH 18 & 20)**************

MARCH 25 FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT Discuss issue paper ideas and strategy. Next: Issue pitch.

MARCH 27 Discuss issue ideas, experts. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Issue pitch

APRIL 1 Issue pitch.

APRIL 3 In-class work on Issue papers. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE.

APRIL 8 REVISION**** WE DO HAVE CLASS**********Work on Issue papers

APRIL 10 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words 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.

APRIL 15 NO CLASS/PATRIOTS DAY

APRIL 17 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27

APRIL 22 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,

APRIL 24 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.;

APRIL 29 - Watch film and write REVIEW (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.

MAY 1 LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP