JOUR 1010 Media Writing Fall 2012: MWF 9 a.m. 9:50 a.m.

Georgia State University

Instructor Katherine Tippins One Park Place #1057 Email: Please email me through uLearn or ktippins1@gsu.edu. Office Hours: By appointment. Course description This is a basic course designed to introduce you to the principles and techniques of news writing and reporting in a multimedia context. Assignments are designed to provide practical, real-world experience and insights into professional journalism practice. The material covered in this course will apply to print, broadcast and online journalism. Course objectives: Upon completion of this course, you should have attained the knowledge and understanding of the following areas of journalism: Fundamental principles and techniques of journalistic reporting and writing, including story components, structure, origination and forms as they relate to print, broadcast and electronic news media. Accurate detection of problems in style, attribution, grammar, spelling, news judgment, editing, fairness, storytelling and libel/ethics. Effective writing under time constraints. Students completing this course with a passing grade should possess the news writing skills necessary for the more advanced studies in journalistic writing. Required Texts: Writing and Reporting the News by Jerry Lanson and Mitchell Stephens The Associated Press Stylebook (latest edition) In addition, youll be expected to keep abreast of current events in the world at large either by reading a newspaper or a credible news site. Course requirements News stories (3 @ 100 points) Tests (1 @100 points) AP style quizzes (5 @ 40 points apiece) In-class and homework (20 @ 20 points apiece) 300 points 100 points 200 points 400 points 1,000 points

Grading Because editing and rewriting are an essential part of routine daily journalism, you will have opportunities to improve your work by rewrite. I do not give partial credit; grades will always be reflected in whole numbers. Rewrites are required for those stories that receive less than a grade of B (below 80 points). Final grades for stories will be the average of the first submission and the rewrite. If you do not turn in a required rewrite, your final grade for the story will be the average of the first submission's grade and a zero.

Special note on earning an A: Practicing good mechanical fundamentals is an essential professional skill and the mark of a disciplined writer. A written assignment that contains even a single mechanical error (defined as an error in spelling, AP style, punctuation or grammar) is not eligible for an A (though the assignment may be upgraded to an A on a rewrite). Special note on failing grades: Consistent with assignment policies specified below, there are only four ways to fail an assignment in this class: 1. You miss the deadline for the assignment (this includes not doing in-class work or not getting a homework assignment). 2. You dont turn in a rewrite as required. 3. You spell a name wrong. 4. You get a fact wrong. Grades: The final grades for the course will be cumulative points earned as follows Point Total 970-1,000 940-969 900-939 870-899 840-869 800-839 770-799 740-769 700-739 600-699 0-599 Withdraw Statement on academic honesty The Georgia State University policy on academic honesty is incorporated by reference into this syllabus. The claiming of another persons work as ones own will not be tolerated. It is unprofessional and dishonest. At most media outlets, it will get you fired. And it will result in an F for the course. Stealing someone elses written work in whole or in part is plagiarism and will result in an F for the course. Assignment policies GENERAL: The AP style quizzes will be done in-class using the AP Stylebook. Other homework and in-class exercises will use other resources. You must be in class to receive these assignments. Unless you are on a university-sponsored absence or have a verifiable emergency, you will not be permitted to make up an in-class assignment or a missed homework assignment. FORMATS: Unless otherwise specified, ALL assignments must be written on a computer in Times Roman 12point type, double spaced, one-inch margins all around. Paragraphs should be indented and there should not be an extra space between paragraphs. All stories should be at least 500 words long; I will deduct 10 points from stories that are less than 500 words. The word count is for the story itself and does not include byline or pagination requirements. uLearn submissions MUST be Microsoft Word attachments. Letter Grade A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD F WF

STORY SLUGS: In journalism, a storys file name is called a slug. In order for me to keep track of all the ULearn submissions, your assignments MUST have a slug that identifies you and the assignment. This format will work: <your last name>_<assignment name>.doc BYLINES and PAGINATION: For all assignment, type your byline at the beginning: <your name> 1010 Staff Writer In addition, put the following notations at the bottom of each page of the assignment: If the assignment continues to another page, type MORE. On the last page of the assignment, type either -30- or # # #. All story topics must be approved by the instructor. Not following the format, slug or byline/pagination guidelines will result in a 1/2 letter grade deduction for EACH instance. Submitting a file in something other than Microsoft Word will result in no credit for the assignment. You are required to provide proof of your contact with sources. At least TWO sources are required per story (three is better). On the last page of your story, please provide full names, titles, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of your sources. Be careful to ensure that this information is accurate; it is part of your assignment and therefore subject to cause failure from a misspelled name or erroneous phone number. Use the GSU directory located at the top right corner of the homepage (www.gsu.edu) to locate contact information for GSU sources. You are welcome to use sources outside of GSU if their contribution is relevant to your story. However, I require the correct contact information of non-GSU sources as well. DEADLINES: As they are in professional practice, deadlines in this class are absolute. Unless otherwise specified, all assignments are due on in uLearn at the specified time on the day theyre due. Not meeting a deadline means you fail the assignment. The only exception is if you arrange an alternative with me beforehand or, in the case of emergency, as soon as possible afterward. Note that emergency is strictly defined and doesnt include things like having to work, hangovers, missing a flight or comforting your roommate because she caught her boyfriend cheating. Again. Please note that computer problems DO NOT constitute a valid reason for missing a deadline. Make sure you have everything in order for uLearn to work properly on your computer. Make an alternate plan and use it if your computer crashes, your Internet goes down or your software becomes corrupted. Here's Plan B: If uLearn is truly malfunctioning, take a screenshot of the error and sent it, along with the assignment, to ktippins.gsu@gmail.com. I will not accept assignments through Gmail without the screenshot. If you do not know how to take a screenshot (PC or Mac) see me and I'll be happy to show you. If uLearn malfunctions, the deadline still stands. If your screenshot shows a timestamp that's past the deadline, I will not accept the assignment. If you email me the assignment and screenshot AFTER the deadline, I will not accept the assignment. So, begin the process of turning in your assignment with enough time allotted to use Plan B if needed. Miscellaneous policies The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time. Attendance: Attendance in this course is crucial. You can miss three class periods without penalty, but any more than that and youre subject to a one-half letter grade deduction for each absence thereafter. That penalty generally wont be enforced for excused absences (defined here as those related to health or child care that may cause you to miss class). You must be present for the entire class to receive attendance credit. Leaving midway through the period means, for attendance purposes, that you were not here at all. Also, students are not permitted to leave the classroom during tests or quizzes. Students may leave after the test or quiz is completed and turned in.

Make up work: If you are absent on the date of an in-class assignment, I can arrange a makeup if you let me know of a conflict beforehand. A written document showing a valid excuse for missing the assignment automobile accident, death in the family, etc. Classroom computer use: Do not use computers yours or the workstations during class for any reason unless directed to do so. Youll get one warning. After that, each occurrence will mean one third of a letter grade deducted from your final grade. Classroom policies: In order to create a collaborative, safe and effective learning environment, and to prepare you for professional life, the following classroom policies will be in effect throughout the semester: Turn off or silence all cell phones, pagers and text messaging devices; DO NOT eat or drink at your workstation. Tentative Schedule The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course, which is subject to change at short notice. Monday, Aug. 20 Introduction and course overview; basics of good journalism Introduction to Associated Press Style The writing process; clear writing The language of news o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 3 Wednesday, Aug. 29 News judgment o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 1 o Assignment Friday, Aug. 31 News judgment continued o Reading: AP Stylebook, Statement of News Values o Assignment HW 2 (Exercise 1A, p. 16) Via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 8/30 HW 1 (Exercise 3A, p. 43) via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 8/28

Wednesday, Aug. 22 Friday, Aug. 24 Monday, Aug. 27

Monday, Sept. 3 Labor Day Holiday - No Class

Wednesday, Sept. 5 Fairness o Reading: Lanson /Stephens, Ch. 2 o Assignment Friday, Sept. 7 Verb tenses and usage; phrases and clauses; commas o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, pages 494-497; AP Stylebook, Guide to Punctuation o Assignment Monday, Sept. 10 Lede writing; interviewing o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 4 o Assignments Wednesday, Sept. 12 More lede writing; interviewing Friday, Sept. 14 More lede writing; interviewing o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 16 Monday, Sept. 17 Attribution o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch 6 o Assignment Wednesday, Sept. 19 Quoting o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch 7 o Assignments Interviewing/Quoting exercises (in class) 9 HW 7 (Exercise 7A, p. 114) due via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/18 HW 6 (Exercise 6A, p. 100) due via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/16 Lede 6 (Exercise B-1, p. 66) via uLearn by 11:45 p.m., 9/13 Lede 1 through Lede 5 (in-class) HW 5 (Exercise 4A, p. 65) via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/9 HW 4 (Exercise CB, p. 499) Via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/6 HW 3 (Exercise 2A, p. 27) Via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/4

Friday, Sept. 21 Story organization o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 8 & 9 o Assignments Monday, Sept. 24 Facts o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 12 o Assignments Wednesday, Sept. 26 Story origination o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 13 o Assignments Friday, Sept. 28 Research o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 14 o Assignments Monday, Oct. 1 Sources o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, Ch. 15 o Assignments Wednesday, Oct. 3 Ethics o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, pages 511-514 o Assignments In class exercise In class exercise HW 11 (Exercise 14B, p. 229) due via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/27 HW 10 (Exercise 13B, p. 212) due via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/25 HW 9 (Exercise 12B, p. 196) due via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/23 HW 8 (Exercise 9B, p. 147) due via uLearn by 11:45 p.m. 9/20

Friday, Oct. 5 Law o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, pages 515-519, AP Stylebook, Briefing on Media Law o Assignments Monday, Oct. 8 AP Style o Reading: Lanson/Stephens, pages 486-491 o Assignments Wednesday, Oct. 10 AP Style o Reading: TBA o Assignments Friday, Oct. 12 AP Style o Reading: TBA o Assignments Monday, Oct. 15 AP Style Quiz 1 Review of Quiz 1 In class writing day - Story 1: MEET ONLINE STORY 1 due via uLearn by 8:50 a.m. AP Style Quiz 2 Story 1 rewrites due by 11:45 p.m.: MEET ONLINE Wednesday, Oct. 17 Friday, Oct. 19 Monday, Oct. 22 Wednesday, Oct. 24 Friday, Oct. 26 In class exercise In class exercise HW 12 (Exercise BA, p. 492) due via ULearn by 11:45 p.m. 10/7 In class exercise

Monday, Oct. 29 Review of Quiz 2 AP Style Quiz 3 In class writing day - Story 2: MEET ONLINE STORY 2 due via uLearn by 8:50 a.m.: MEET ONLINE Review of Quiz 3 Story 2 rewrites due by 11:45 p.m. AP Style Quiz 4 Review of Quiz 4 In class writing day - Story 3: MEET ONLINE Wednesday, Oct. 31 Friday, Nov. 2 Monday, Nov. 5 Wednesday, Nov. 7 Friday, Nov. 9 Monday, Nov. 12 Wednesday, Nov. 14 Friday, Nov. 16

Monday, Nov. 19 Friday, Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Holiday - No Class Monday, Nov. 26 STORY 3 due via uLearn by 8:50 a.m. AP Style Quiz 5 Story 3 rewrites due by 11:45 p.m.: MEET ONLINE Review of Quiz 5 Review for final Wednesday, Nov. 28 Friday, Nov. 30 Monday, Dec. 3

EXAM Friday, Dec. 7 at 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.