Sample profile

Happy snow day! If you're looking for something to read, you might find this recent New York Times Magazine profile of  Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly interesting and a good model for your own profile. It has been described as a "puff piece," which means it is pretty flattering, on the whole.  

It's a good one for journalism class, because it has some good information about the direction that mainstream TV news is taking today -- toward less reporting about government and politics, a trend that is contributing to the rise of news reporting with an ideological -- "conservative" or "liberal," for example -- perspective. 

Note the delayed/anecdote lead, which shows us Kelly in action. It gives readers who don't know who Kelly is an understanding of her personality.  In the nutgraph, the author tells us what the angle of this profile is, explaining what a "Megyn moment" is and how her style of news reporting is making her a rising star in TV news. See, too, how the author gives us a good sampling of personal, background information later in the story. 

Revised schedule in anticipation of a snow day

TUESDAY JAN 27   -- If there's a snow day, proceed with schedule below:

THURSDAY JAN 29 -- Tori and Richard present article and AP tip ( Download article and Ap tip sheet at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-8cfmG_UqRPa97jFeEuF9l65SPqXk2qFxUQhqdBM5rY/edit) 

In groups of 3-4, one student will interview another on a subject of his/her choice while a third student videotapes it using a phone or camera. Keep it around 3 minutes or under. We’ll upload them to YouTube and analyze them.

NEXT: 1) Read Chapter 16 on speeches and 2) write 400-500 words with photo on a classmate, based on your interview. The angle should be the topic your classmate talked about in the interview, but also tell your reader the basics about your classmate -- name, class, major, interests, where he or she is from. A hard copy with word count is due next class (5 percent of total grade)

TUESDAY FEB 3  Discuss how to write a speech paper, as we will be attending a speech on Thursday.

Analyze interviewing videos, FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE: 400-500 written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) 

THURSDAY FEB 5  MEET AT THE CAMPUS CENTER ROOM 162-75 at  4 pm to hear Antonia Calafat talk about chemical exposure and the effect on human health http://www.umass.edu/family/node/1980 Take good notes, interview 2-3 people after the speech about what they found interesting, surprising, instructive etc.  NEXT CLASS: bring in hard copy of 650-750 word speech paper, with word count. Be sure to   include a strong lead and nutgraph, several quotes from the speaker and at the end of the paper 2-3 direct quotes from audience members who you interview about the speech/event.

Also: Read and complete Chapters 2 & 3 worksheets (on blog, under worksheets tab) and bring in a written PROFILE pitch (a few sentences on who your profile subject is going to be, why he or she would be a good subject and a potential lead.)

TUESDAY FEB 10 SPEECH PAPER DUE (10 percent of total grade) 
PROFILE PITCH, continue analyzing interview videos.  NEXT: 1) BRING IN HARD COPY of 500 word “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s) and 2)  read and complete worksheet on Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art.

THURSDAY FEB 12   In-class, deadline writing assignment: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources. (5 percent of total grade) NEXT: Read Chap. 8 on Features.

TUESDAY FEB 17- NO CLASS/Monday scheduled followed/ work on profile first drafts

THURSDAY FEB 19  FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) PEER EDIT.  Discuss feature stories.

Interviewing tips

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10365079

Spring 2015 Schedule

SPRING 2015 Schedule

JOURN 300/CAREY

Tuesday/Thursday 4 – 6 p.m.

Integrative Learning Center S413

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 two or more students will bring in an article to discuss and share an AP Style tip. We’ll develop a schedule for this.

JAN 20 Introduction - discuss leads, effective interviewing, AP Style and (briefly) the nutgraph. Email to me at maryelizacarey@gmail.com TONIGHT 500 words about the first day of class. Should have a good lead and at least one direct quotation.

FOR NEXT CLASS: To hand in next class, a WRITTEN list of three potential speeches/presentations we can visit on campus, ASAP in the next couple of weeks preferably during class time. (We will be writing the 650-word SPEECH paper about whichever speech we attend.)  In the written list that you bring into class on Thursday, include 1) who is giving the speech and 2) the topic, where/when it is being held, a brief couple of sentences of background information about the speaker and, if possible, the topic.  We’ll pick one of the speeches you’ve identified to attend. READ: Chapter 5 on Leads and Chapter 15 on Interviewing Principles

JAN 22 - Review leads, Chapters 5 and 15, class blog; determine where and when we can go to a speech; determine which classmate you will interview on what subject and prepare questions.

JAN 27  In groups of 3-4, one student will interview another on a subject of his/her choice while a third student videotapes it using a phone or camera. Keep it around 3 minutes or under. We’ll upload them to YouTube and analyze them.

JAN 29  Analyze interviewing videos, FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE: 400-500 written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) NEXT: READ: Chapter 16 on speeches.

FEB 3  Analyze interview videos. Discuss Speech chapter. Depending on which speech we attend, 650-750 word speech story may be due (10 percent of total grade)  NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present to class.

FEB 5  Profile pitch. NEXT: Read and complete Chapters 2 & 3 worksheets (on blog, under worksheets tab) WRITE and BRING IN TO PEER EDIT A HARD COPY of 500 word “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s).

FEB 10 Turn in pre-first drafts. Peer edit. NEXT: read and complete worksheet on Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art.

FEB 12   In-class, deadline writing assignment #6: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources. (5 percent of total grade) NEXT: Read Chap. 8 on Features.

FEB 17- NO CLASS/Monday scheduled followed

FEB 19  FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) PEER EDIT.  Discuss feature stories.

NEXT: Read and complete worksheets for Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries. Write Feature Pitch for next class.

FEB 24     FEATURE PITCH  If time, work on blogs. NEXT:  write 500-word feature PRE-first draft to peer edit next class. Read Chapter 21 on Courts

FEB 26   Peer edit PRE-first draft Feature stories. Discuss chapters on accidents, obituaries and courts.

MARCH 3  In-class deadline assignment/obituary writing exercise (5 percent of total grade) Next: Read Chaps. 11 on  layered reporting and 14 on sources.

MARCH 5 FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT, 10 percent of total grade) Discuss Chapters 11 and 14.  In-class work on features.

MARCH 10  Review for MID-TERM QUIZ.  Discuss potential  Issue paper topics & interviews with 2-3 "experts."

MARCH 12  ***MID-TERM QUIZ *** If time, work on features and blogs

MARCH 17-19 SPRING BREAK

MARCH 24    In-class work on features and blogs.

MARCH 26    FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE (1,000) words. Firm up issue story ideas. NEXT: Write issue pitch to present next class. Read and complete worksheets for  Chap 20 on police, Chap 24 on Government  and 25 on Reporters and the Law. Review Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

MARCH 31  Issue pitch. Discuss chapters. WRITE: 500-word Issue PRE-First Draft to peer edit next class.

APRIL 2  Peer edit Issue pre-first drafts. Final FEATURE DUE (1,000 words, include word count, worth 15 percent of total grade)

APRIL 7  FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due. Discuss chapters, Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. NEXT: Read and complete worksheets on Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

APRIL 9  Discuss Chapters 26 & 27; in-class work on issue paper, blogs

APRIL 14  In-class work on Issue paper; continue chapters discussion.

APRIL 16  FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words; include word count, 20  percent of total grade) Review for FINAL QUIZ.

APRIL 21 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ  Discuss summary/analysis writing.

APRIL 23  - In-class deadline assignment: Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.

APRIL 28 – RECAP, final work on blogs

APRIL 30 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/ Final blog presentations

How the final grade is calculated:

Articles/AP tips/worksheets/blogs 5 percent

Interviews with your classmate (video and written) 5 percent

Speech paper – 10 percent

Feb. 12 deadline assignment – 5 percent

Obituary/deadline assignment – 5 percent

Profile – 10 percent

Midterm – 5 percent

Feature – 15 percent

Issue – 20 percent

Film Analysis/deadline assignment – 10 percent

Final – 10 percent

Spring 2015 syllabus

JOURN 300: NEWSWRITING and REPORTING, SPRING 2015   Tuesday/Thursday 4-6 p.m. Integrative Learning Center S413

Open to sophomore, junior and senior journalism majors. Required for major. Fulfills junior year writing requirement.

Description and Learning objectives:  Journalism 300 is a hands-on, nuts-and-bolts news writing and reporting class. Upon completion, you should be able to :

• Determine what is news

• Identify and pitch a good story

• Report and conduct interviews

• Use the news story "formula," especially leads and nutgraphs

• Have an understanding of the kinds of stories there are and how to tell them

• Uphold  journalistic principles of fairness, accuracy, telling the truth and serving the public good

Email me anytime at maryelizacarey@gmail.com, 413-588-4274 (cell)

Syllabus, schedule and assignments are posted on the class blog: Journ300.blogspot.com

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READING

AP Style Guide online, assigned readings TBA and 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 students 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.  Explanation of how grades are calculated is in the course schedule/calendar.

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 for a legitimate reason. (I read my e-mail regularly and you can call my cell anytime.) 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 ASKING FIRST. 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)  analysis on deadline and deadline writing assignments (20 percent), blog (10 percent), minor assignments, quizzes, participation (10 percent).

HONESTY

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