INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALISM
ENG 204 Fall 2009
MONDAYS 4 p.m.-6:30 GUILFORD 323
Lecturer: Stuart Warner

 Office hours: Guilford 318
Mondays & Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m.
and by appointment

E-Mail: warnercorn@msn.com

Web page: www.thewritecoachonline.com

office phone:  216-368-2371

COURSE OUTLINE

Journalism is changing as rapidly as I write this syllabus. A newspaper closes. A hundred new bloggers began reporting the news. This course will not focus on the traditional platforms of presenting the news, i.e., newspapers, radio, TV, magazines. Instead, the focus will be on journalism, why what it was and what it might be. The goal of the class to to help students begin developing tools that journalists will need — good reporting and writing, objectivity, ethics – no matter what the medium. The heaviest emphasis will be on writing skills. Maybe more importantly, by the end of the semesters, students should become better-informed consumers of news. To that end, students will be quizzed every class either on current events or on reading assignments. Students who miss class without a doctor’s excuse must arrange for make-up quizzes. More than two unexcused absences will result in a lowered grade. Class participation will also factor heavily in grades. Journalists, whatever medium, must be curious and learn to ask direct questions.

READINGS (PARTIAL LIST)
 

Elements of Style, Strunk and White
Journalism: Who What When Where Why and How, James Stovall
A Writer’s Coach, Jack Hart
Sunday New York Times (subscription or online)
Other assigned readings

GRADING
Grades will generally be based on the following scale
Final story (1,500 words) – 25 percent
Other assigned writings – 35 percent
Quizzes – 20 percent
Elements of Style test – 10 percent
Class participation – 10 percent

RULES OF THE CLASS
Deadlines cannot be compromised. Assignments turned in late without a doctor’s excuse will not be accepted. Students will be held to professional standards with regard to spelling and factual errors, both of which will result in grade reductions. Students will also be expected to adhere to the grammatical rules outlined in Elements of Style. Plagiarism, fabrication or any other egregious ethical breach of professional standards shall be dealt with most severely.

SCHOOL POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
All forms of academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and obstruction are violations of academic integrity standards. Cheating includes copying from another’s work, falsifying problem solutions or laboratory reports, or using unauthorized sources, notes or computer programs. Plagiarism includes the presentation, without proper attribution, of another’s words or ideas from printed or electronic sources. It is also plagiarism to submit, without the instructor’s consent, an assignment in one class previously submitted in another. Misrepresentation includes forgery of official academic documents, the presentation of altered or falsified documents or testimony to a university office or official, taking an exam for another student, or lying about personal circumstances to postpone tests or assignments. Obstruction occurs when a student engages in unreasonable conduct that interferes with another’s ability to conduct scholarly activity. Destroying a student’s computer file, stealing a student’s notebook, and stealing a book on reserve in the library are examples of obstruction.

OVERVIEW
This is a rough outline of the topics will be covered and subject to change. We may take a trip to a traditional and non-traditional news rooms, based on availability. Individual reading assignments will be updated weekly . And once again, there will be a current events or reading quiz at every class. Unannounced quizzes on reading assignments will also be given.

Week 1 – Introduction: Does journalism matter anymore?
Week 2 – The day we were all news consumers: Discussion with reporter who got inside the police barriers at 9-11 plus discussion of first three chapters of Stovall.
Week 3 – (after holiday) The history of journalism. How we got here.
Week 4 – Two case studies (subject to availability of speaker). First writing assignment due.
Week 5 – Test on Elements of Style; Discussion of Ethics and Standards
Week 6 – Begin discussion of Jack Hart’s book: A Writer’s Coach;
Week 7 — Reporting/Interviewing
Week 7 – Organizing/Finding Focus; Deadline writing test
Week 8 – (after fall break) Writing the draft: seminar on writing the lead
Week 9 – Twitter writing assignment due; Polishing: 10 steps to being your own coach
Week 10 – Tentative … visiting news rooms new and old
Week 11 — New directions: How will the news be presented. Outline for final paper due.
Week 12 – Opinion writing, blog writing, guest speakers
Week 13 – Drafts of final paper due … will schedule individual review sessions
Week 14 – Final papers due