COMM 224: NEWSWRITING

FALL 2008  w  SECTION 1

 

MEETING TIME: MW, 3 – 4:15 p.m.

MEETING PLACE: STT 464

 

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Matthew M. Reavy

OFFICE: 4126 Communication Wing, St. Thomas Hall

OFFICE HOURS: MWF, 11-11:50 a.m.

OFFICE PHONE: (570) 941-6186

E-MAIL: mreavy@epix.net

 

 

Catalog Description:

 

Evaluating news, reporting, and writing stories. Newsroom organization. Style and usage. Interviewing. Feature writing. Students work at computer terminals. Typing ability needed.

 

 

Required Text(s):

 

Associated Press Stylebook & Libel Manual

 

Daily reading of the J-Student blog at http://jscranton.wordpress.com

 

 

Student Evaluation:

 

Quizzes, Exams, Etc.                                                  Writing Assignments

Current Events Quizzes             5 percent                      Lead Writing                5 percent

Style Quizzes                            5 percent                      Press Release               5 percent

Pass/Fail Assignments               5 percent                      Obituary                       5 percent

Midterm Examination                10 percent                    Speech Article              10 percent

Final Examination                      10 percent                    Meeting Article             15 percent

Class Participation                    10 percent                    Personality Profile         15 percent

 

 

 

Current Events Quizzes

 

Current events quizzes cover whatever might be happening in the news – people, places and events in the news nationally and internationally. You must read either a local or online newspaper every day.  Quizzes may also include material from required readings on the jscranton blog (designated with an “N” at the top of each article).

 

AP Style Quizzes

 

Each style quiz will involve reading sections of the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. Read the listed section, as well as the entries for all bolded words in the section.

 

SQ #1: Abbreviations and Acronyms

 

SQ #2: Capitalization

 

SQ #3: Numerals

 

SQ #4: Punctuation (see chapter/guide at end of the book)

 

SQ #5: Sweeney’s list of entries worth extra attention

            http://www.usu.edu/journalism/faculty/sweeney/resources/ap.htm

 

 

Class Participation

 

Class participation is based on participation within the classroom environment as well as in the comment portion of the jscranton blog. Students should register an account with wordpress.com so that they can post on the blog. Participation is evaluated on the basis of both quality and quantity. It is not enough to participate frequently. One must also participate well.

 

 

Graded Assignments

 

#1: Leadwriting

Based on information given to you in class. Write leads that conform to basic newspaper style. (Letter Grade)

 

#2: Obituary

Based on information given to you in class. Write a 5-7 paragraph obituary. (Letter Grade)

 

#3: News Release

Based on a press release given to you in class. Write a 4-6 paragraph hard news story. (Letter Grade)

 

#4: Out-of-class Speech Story

Speech article based on a speech covered outside of class. You will be required to cover a public speech, either on campus or in the Lackawanna County area.  Length: 750 - 1,000 words. (Letter Grade)

 

 

#5: Out-of-class Meeting Story

You will be required to cover a meeting of either the Scranton City Council or the Scranton School Board the week of Nov. 10. This gives you plenty of notice to ensure that you can clear your schedule in order to cover this meeting. You must attend this meeting, not simply watch it on television later. If you have a serious conflict with covering this meeting, you should see the instructor prior to the midterm in order to arrange for another meeting to cover in Lackawanna County. You will then write an article that describes the meeting in detail. Length: 750 - 1,000 words.  (Letter Grade)

 

#6: Out-of-class Personality Profile

You will be required to write a “personality profile,” a biographical feature article, dealing with an individual in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Opportunities abound, from public officials to grocery store owners to people with unusual hobbies. The key is to choose a subject that will be interesting to your readers. Note that a well written personality profile has the potential to be published in The Aquinas (if it deals with someone connected to the university) or another publication. Certain individuals should not be subjects of the personality profile. These include family members, roommates and house mates. Length: 1,000 – 2,000 words (Letter Grade)

 

 

Grade Changes:

 

If you believe a mistake has been made in a grade, you must see me within one week after the paper or exam has been returned to you.

 

 

Late Assignments:

 

Communication professionals must be reliable. Missing assignments can cost you your job. Class attendance is not mandatory. However, if you miss a class, you are likely to miss a graded assignment, which will adversely affect your final grade.

 

The instructor will determine whether to allow you to make up work you missed because of an absence. In general, makeup work will only be permitted if the instructor is notified of an absence prior to the day on which class will be missed. You should have a compelling reason for any absence.

 

Late assignments will not be accepted for a grade without prior approval by the instructor. You may turn in a late assignment for the instructor's review. It will be corrected and returned to you; however, the grade received for that assignment will be an "F."

 

 

Students With Disabilities:

 

In order to receive appropriate accommodations, students with disabilities must register with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and provide relevant documentation. Students should contact Mary Ellen Pichiarello (Extension 4039) or Jim Muniz (Extension 4218), 5th floor, St. Thomas Hall, for an appointment.

 

 

Academic Honesty:

 

Communication professionals are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards. Any instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the provost's office. Students should be familiar with the contents of the University of Scranton’s Web site on academic integrity:

http://academic.scranton.edu/department/wml/academicintegrity.html

 

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

L Plagiarism (copying work written or published by others).

L  Inappropriate eye movements during quizzes or exams.

L  Looking at or copying another student's work, or allowing another student to look at  or copy your work.

L  Talking or otherwise communicating with another student during quizzes or writing assignments, unless instructed to do so.

L  Removing test materials or attempting to remove them from an examination room without permission.

 

These rules apply to all in-class and outside-class assignments.  Failure to meet these standards will result in zero points for the assignment. You also risk failing the course. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the appropriate university officials.

 

 

 

Course Schedule:

 

The course schedule is tentative and subject to change as the semester progresses.

 

Week              Assignment

 

Aug 25             Intro to News, Writing and Reporting

Reading:

1. “Sneaking up on a journalism career one step at a time”

http://www.freep.com/legacy/jobspage/high/hsguide.htm

2. “What is news?”

http://media.www.cerritosjournalism.com/media/storage/paper360/

news/2002/05/15/101Newswriting/L.What.Is.News-357730.shtml

 

 

Sep 2               Newswriting Basics: Leadwriting

                        Reading:

                        1. “Newswriting Basics”

                        http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0073526142/363043/Chapter3a.pdf

                        2. “Lead Writing: The All Important First Paragraph”

                        http://coolschool.k12.or.us/courses/190200/lessons/lesson7/

                        3. “Lead writing”

                        http://taje.org/fortaje/PDF/melton/lead_writing.pdf

                        4. “Writing the Summary Lead”

                        http://www.freep.com/legacy/jobspage/high/hsleads.htm

                        Wednesday: Style Quiz #1

 

Sep 8               Leadwriting/AP Style

                        Reading:

                        1. “What is AP Style?”

                        http://www.arcticllama.com/blog/writing-tips/what-is-ap-style

                        2. “Experience in AP Style or AP Style Required”

                        http://www.arcticllama.com/blog/beingafreelancer/experience-in-ap-style-or-ap-style-required

                        3. “AP Style: Standard or Passé?”

                        http://markcarpenter.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/ap-style-standard-or-passe/

                        4. “Associated Press Style Guide: The Basics”

                        http://www.scribd.com/doc/2664713/Associated-Press-AP-Style-Guide-the-basics

                        Monday: Style Quiz #2

                        Wednesday: Assignment  #1 (In Class) Letter Grade

 

Sep 15             Introduction to Obituary Writing

                        Readings:

                        1. “How to Write an Obituary: Tips and Ideas”

                        http://www.obituaryguide.com/

                        2. Obituary breakdown by paragraph

                        http://www.lippertfuneralhome.com/owg.htm

                        Wednesday: Assignment  #2 (In Class) Letter Grade

 

Sep 22             Rewriting the News Release

                        Readings:

                        1. Basic news release overview

                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_release

                        2. “Editing Press Releases: A Beginner’s Guide”

                        http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum44/1705.htm

                        3. “Press Release Journalism”

                        http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/press_release_journalism.php

 

Sep 29             Rewriting the News Release

                        Reading: Chapter 10

                        Monday: Style Quiz #3

                        Wednesday: Assignment #3 (In Class) Letter Grade

                       

Oct 6               MIDTERM EXAM

 

Oct 13             FALL BREAK

 

Oct 20             Covering a Speech

                        1.”Covering Speech”

                        http://morforu.wikidot.com/covering-speech

                        2. “Speeches and Meeting Basics”

                        http://www.thenewsmanual.net/Manuals%20Volume%201/volume1_19.htm

                        3. “Reporting Speeches and Meetings”

                        http://www.thenewsmanual.net/Manuals%20Volume%201/volume1_20.htm          

                        4. “Covering a Speech”

                       

                        Monday: Style Quiz #4

 

Oct 27             Interviews and Quotes

                        1. “Interviewing 101”

                        http://www.freep.com/legacy/jobspage/academy/interv.htm

                        2. “Developing and cultivating sources”

                        http://www.copydesk.org/words/sources.htm

                        3. Loosening Lips: The Art of the Interview”

                        http://home.earthlink.net/~cassidyny/naldertip.htm              

 

                        Monday: Style Quiz #5

 

Nov 3              Covering Government

                        1. “Top Ten Hints for Covering Government”

                        http://knightpoliticalreporting.syr.edu/teachingfiles/Top%20Ten%20Hints%20for%20Covering%20Government%209-25-03.pdf    

                        2. “City Hall Investigations”

                        http://www.freep.com/legacy/jobspage/academy/cityhall.htm

                        3. “10 Tips to Help Reporters With Stealthy Government”

                        http://www.spj.org/rrr.asp?ref=27&t=foia

                        4. “Powers of the (Scranton) City Government”

                        http://www.scrantonpa.gov/home_rule_charter.html#ARTICLE%20II

                        5. “(Scranton) Council”

                        http://www.scrantonpa.gov/home_rule_charter.html#ARTICLE%20III

                        6. “Operations and Procedures of City Council”

                        http://www.scrantonpa.gov/home_rule_charter.html#ARTICLE%20IV

                       

 

                        7. “Ordinances and Resolutions”

                        http://www.scrantonpa.gov/home_rule_charter.html#ARTICLE%20V                                

                        Monday: Assignment #4 (Out of Class) Letter Grade

 

Nov 10            Writing the Personality Profile

                        1. “Newspaper Profiles”

                        http://www.freep.com/legacy/jobspage/academy/profiles.htm

                        2. “Writing Profiles”

                        http://brainstorm-services.com/wcu-2005/profile-05.html

                        3. “Writing the Personality Profile”

                        http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3065/is_n4_v18/ai_7488537

 

Nov. 17           Media Law

                        1. College Journalism Law FAQ

                        http://splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=2

                        2. “SPLC Legal Brief: Libel Law”

                        http://splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=27        

                        3. “SPLC Legal Brief: Invasion of Privacy law”

                        http://splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=29

                        4. “The Student Media Guide to Copyright Law”

                        http://splc.org/legalresearch.asp?id=32                    

                        Monday: Assignment #5 (Out of Class) Letter Grade

 

Nov 24            THANKSGIVING

 

Dec. 1              Media Ethics

                        1. “Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics”

                        http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

                        2. “An Evolving Guidebook for Online Journalism”

                        http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=117347

                        3. Idaho Falls Post Register’s Interactive Ethics Walkthrough

                        http://www.postregister.com/ethics/walkthrough.php

 

Dec. 8              Monday: Assignment #6 (Out of Class) Letter Grade

 

Dec. 9-13        Final Exam Week