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JRN 312, Spring 2009. A user-friendly guide. The basics. Reporting Finding out what’s going on and telling somebody about it. Journalism Giving citizens the information they need to be free and self-governing. What's this class about?. Reporting News judgment News gathering
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JRN 312, Spring 2009 A user-friendly guide
The basics • Reporting • Finding out what’s going on and telling somebody about it. • Journalism • Giving citizens the information they need to be free and self-governing
What's this class about? • Reporting • News judgment • News gathering • Writing to professional standards • Convergence
Other concerns • Media law • Open meetings, FOIA, libel, privacy • Ethics • Typical beats
Contacting me • Come to class • Drop-in office hours • 9:50-11 a.m. and 11:50-12:20 p.m. MWF • No appointment needed • Phone and email • 989-631-0644; 989-708-5199 (cell) • Japalen@aol.com
Warning • My email address is japalen@aol.com • DO NOT omit the “a” between the “j” and the “p.” • Mail sent to jpalen@aol.com goes to my nephew in Southern California. He no longer responds to it.
Deadlines • You must meet deadlines to get a full grade. • Late work gets a grade deducted (A to B etc.) up to 24 hours late. • After 24 hours, work is returned ungraded.
Format • Turn in all work in hard copy. • Double space it • Put your name and the date at top • Turn it in during class • If class is not being held, turn it in to my mailbox. Get it date and time-stamped. • Do not email work to me.
Texts and materials • Textbook: Kovach and Rosenstiel. • Style guide: AP style sheet at www.bu.edu/com/writingprgm/ap_styleguide1.pdf • The NYTimes lead story Monday through Friday every week. • Technology to save your work
Your grade • Spot quizzes make up 15 percent • Current events, reading, lectures, AP style. • Chapter summaries, in-class stories and outside stories are 75 percent. • Your blog counts for 10 percent.
In-class writing • Chapter summaries • 100 words per chapter • Summarize the main points • Pop speed days • Guest speakers TBA • A feature exercise
Chapter summary due dates • Jan. 21 -- Chapters 1-2 (100 words each) • Jan. 28 -- Chapters 3-4 (100 each) • Feb. 4 -- Chapters 5-6 (100 each) • Feb. 11 -- Chapters 7-8 (100 each) • Feb. 18 -- Chapters 9-10 (100 each)
Four outside stories • This requires your initiative • Must be chosen from options provided by me. • Check class blog daily for options • One of four must be coverage of government meetings • List of meetings is in syllabus
The fatal error rule • Work containing a misspelled proper noun or factual error receives no more than a D (revisable to a C).
Revisions • All work except quizzes can be revised for up to one higher grade (D to C, B to A). • For full revision credit, do everything I ask you to do on the original. • Turn in the original with the revision.