JOUR 5206: Reporting Methods

1. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Pressjim.bronskill@thecanadianpress.comDavid McKie, CBC newsdavid.mckie@cbc.ca JOUR 5206: Reporting Methods

2. Course syllabus http://www.davidmckie.com

3. JOUR 5206: Goals • 1) Obtain a thorough grounding in journalistic research methods. • 2) Acquire skills, such as computer-assisted or data-journalism reporting techniques, needed to make sense of the information gathered. • 3) Develop the ability to shape the information into accurate and compelling stories. • In short: become a critical thinker

4. Textbook

5. Optional textbook

6. Readings • * Assigned readings are listed on the syllabus for relevant weeks • * With the obvious exception of this week, please read chapters before class to help prepare

7. Assignments • * Four assignments, each worth 20 per cent of overall grade • * Stories involving business, access-to-information records, an event from the past, databases • * Final 20 per cent of grade based on presence, punctuality, participation, professionalism

8. Elements of evaluation • Each assignment has three components, all of which will figure in the grade: • A. Copies of the actual records (documents, data, etc.) compiled / gathered • B. A description of how the records were obtained, and why they were useful • C. The resulting story • Please use Canadian Press style

9. The “good story” test • * If your story reads easily, chances are it is A-level work • * If we must read your story two or three times to make sense of it, chances are it is B- or C-level work at best • * Tip: have a friend read your story to gauge flow and readability, and to see if there are obvious holes

10. Time management • * We are giving you as much time as the short term will allow to complete your stories • * However, in order to succeed in this course, you must work progressively at each story, sometimes tending to two or even three in the same week • * This is good practice for the newsroom, where work on different stories often overlaps

11. Ledes / Drafts • * We want to see a proposed lede (one or two opening sentences) of each story early in the process to ensure you have a viable idea • * We also require drafts of your stories. See the syllabus for due dates. • * Ledes / drafts will not be evaluated in detail but we will provide general guidance and direction

12. What we expect * Think of class as news meeting * Regular attendance * Inform us in advance if cannot attend * Punctuality * Participation * Breaks only during break time * No cell phones or emailing in class * Please help us learn your names

13. Contacting us * Contact information on syllabus: click on our names * email is best * Please avoid contacting us late in the afternoon on weekdays * Phone calls / meetings: by appointment

14. Emails • * Please use your Carleton account for all correspondence with us. It is a school rule. • * cc: the other instructor • * Please acknowledge our replies to your questions and comments. It lets us know you received our message.

15. Apprenticeships * No more than one week of class time * If two weeks, one week must be a break week * Please inform us in advance

16. Iceberg theory of journalism