JAMS 204 | NEWS WRITING AND TECHNOLOGY | Spring 2012
Tues,Thurs 8–9:15 a.m. | Meet in Holton 180 unless otherwise instructed | Facebook
Lecturer: Jane Hampden DaleyOffice:133 Johnston Hall
Office Hours:
Mon & Wed 10-noon (or by appointment – let me know when you can meet)
Contact:
EMAIL:
Cell:414-962-0776
Office:414-229-4885 / Lecturer: Tess Gallun
Office: 110b Johnston Hall
Office Hours:
Tues. & Thurs. 10-noon
Contact:
EMAIL:
Office: 414-229-3548
DESCRIPTION
204 News Writing and Technologycovers the basics of writing and digital news gathering for journalism. We’ll focus onquality media writing with an emphasis on grammar, sentence structure and clarity. We’ll learn what makes stories newsworthy and how to tell those stories clearly, simply and compellingly for web, print and audio journalism.
We’ll learn the basics of digital storytelling using still photos, Soundslides photo and audio slideshows, and Soundbooth digital audio editing software. Throughout the course, we’ll highlight the demand for innovation in journalism as we observe traditional and non-traditional news organizations presenting stories in ever-changing digital formats. We’ll see how multimedia storytelling techniques can be used for a variety of purposes and audiences.
To begin mastering news writing and digital editing, students write and produce practice stories for print, online and audio, learning the difference between writing for the eye and ear. The overarching theme of the course is that, no matter the venue or technology, great writing is at the heart of all storytelling.
OBJECTIVES
-understand the style, conventions and purpose of objective news writing for various media
-follow current events and analyze how journalists cover news for varous media
-appreciate the power and joy of great storytelling
-identify and follow rules of grammar, sentence structure and punctuation
-write clearly, simply and vividly using AP Style
-understand traditional news values and how they guide media writing and reporting
-identify and write various types of print story leads, identify print story parts and formats
-write basic print news stories including interted pyramid and simple feature stories
-identify and write audio stories (reader, SOT, package, interview-only)
-learn guidelines for taking active and effective still photos for journalism
-create engaging photo and audio slideshows with captions to tell a focused story
-learn the basics of digital audio recording and editing
COURSE ORGANIZATION
Communication on D2L:Check the class D2L news and content pagesfirst for updated information on deadlines and class assignments. Jane and Tess will post updates, assignment sheets, readings and other documents after every class. Always check the D2L site first if you have a question, and feel free to contact either instructor for clarification.
Team teaching: To give students the benefit of expertise in a variety of news media, two instructors team-teach 204 News Writing and Technology. Your instructor of record is the instructor of the section in which you’ve enrolled, but both Jane and Tess are available to answer questions and help with assignments.
Equipment and lab use: The class requires strict organizationand timely communication. When writing and producing stories, you must work well in advance on both the editorial and technical aspects. When questions or issues arise, you must contact your instructors in a prompt and professional manner.
Students will use the JAMS computer and radio labs/classrooms to check out digital recorders, log audio recordings, and edit. JAMSopen lab schedules are posted on D2L and onlab doors (Merrill 214, Johnston G23, G24 and the Audio Lab, G31). Always work ahead on assignments and plan for open lab time - this will result in stronger stories and better grades.
Audio recorders and can be checked out after class and must be returned by the next scheduled class period unless the instructor approves alternate arrangements.
Our equipment (like equipment in any newsroom) can break down or work imperfectly. In addition, all reporters make technical mistakes that cause aggravation and lost time. Avoid these hassles by planning ahead.
All students must sign an equipment use contract. Read the terms carefully. Understand that you are responsible for the replacement cost of equipment that is lost or damaged. Failure to return JAMS equipment on time can result in delayed posting of your final grade and/or loss of credit for “adherence to class rules.” See grade breakdown below.
REQUIRED TEXTS & MATERIALS
News Reporting and Writing, 10th edition,The Missouri Group. ISBN-10: 0-312-61811-5 (also used for the next course in the journalism sequence, JAMS 320)
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, Associated Press. Note: Older editions are fine.
Access to a digital camera (no cell phones; 10 megapixels or greater; .jpg format)
A flash drive, 16 gigs minimum
WEEKLY QUIZ
Most weeks, there will be a D2L quiz on the week’s assigned readings. Completion of all assigned readings is essential to understanding basic principles in 204. Assignments will be graded based on use of grammar and writing principles outlined in class and in required texts. Quiz questions can cover the texts, class discussion, or any of the week’s readings.
Quizzes may also include questions on current events. Journalists must be well-informed. Get in the habit of reading newspapers, watching television news, listening to radio news, and reading news online. Current events quiz questions can cover campus, local, state, national and international news stories.
You must complete the quiz before 7:30 a.m.on class days to get credit. No exceptions. Quizzes will be posted on D2L at least 24 hours before the due date & time. Start the quiz early, do not use a wireless Internet connection, and save each answer to avoid D2L quiz problems. Unless there is a documented, system-wide D2L failure, we cannot offer quiz re-takes.
MANDATORY ATTENDANCE
Students are required to sign an attendance sheet during every class. With advance notice of an excused absence, instructors may offer to review material or assignments with students, but this is at the discretion of the instructors. Lectures offer information and equipment instruction that is vital to success in the class. Doctors’ notes or links to obituary notices are required for excused absences due to illness or a death in the family.
GRADING CRITERIA
- Writing assignments 35 percent
- Tech assignments 35 percent
- Weekly quizzes 25 percent
- Attendance, participation & adherence to class rules 5 percent
100-93=A
92-93=A-
91-92=B+
85-91=B
84-85=B-
83-84=C+
77-83=C / 76-77=C-
75-76=D+
69-75=D
68-69=D-
0-68=F
JAMS JOURNALISM/DOCUMENTARY POLICIES
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism can result in an F for the assignment or the class, and/or referral to the university system for academic misconduct. Copying the words of others from the Internet or any source is plagiarism. If you have a question about use of any material, contact the instructor. Don’t risk the consequences of stealing words or ideas belonging to someone else.
University policy on plagiarism and academic misconduct:
Re-using material:
Re-using stories or assignments from other classes and representing them as original work for JAMS 204 can result in an F for the assignment or the class.
Sources/Interviews/Accuracy:
Faking or misrepresenting sources can result in an F for the assignment or the class, and/or referral to the university system for academic misconduct.
Anonymous sources: use only with prior instructor approval and under extraordinary circumstances.
Family members or friends as sources: only with prior instructor approval.
Phone/email interviews: identify as such in story i.e. “County Supervisor Charlie Jones said in an email…” “…Wendy Smith said in a phone interview.”The best way to obtain an interview is to talk with your source in person.
Quoting other news media or using quotes from other media is unacceptable in news writing and can result in an F for the assignment.
Transparency: tell all sources you are a student reporter for the multimedia news site Media Milwaukee, and that your story could be published on the Internet.
Incorrect titles or facts: can result in an F for the assignment.
Photo credits:
Take your own photos.
Failure to credit stock photos or photos from any source other than your camera can result in an F for the assignment.
Media Milwaukee:
High-quality student work may be eligible for posting on the award-winning JAMS multimedia news site Media Milwaukee (usually stories with grades above 90%). Content posted to Media Milwaukee can be used as “clips” or work samples for internship and job applications. Stories will be considered for publication when all suggested edits are complete and all print, photo, audio and video elements are formatted correctly (see formatting requirements below). All elements must be of professional quality. All elements must be clearly labeled and left in the Media Milwaukee dropbox or class folder per instructor guidelines.
Assignment format:
At the top of every assignment include name, class, assignment, date – failure to include this information can result in an F for the assignment.
Page format: spacing, type, indentation:
Times New Roman
12-point
single space
double space between paragraphs
paragraph spacing, indentation = 0
Use .doc or .docx formats – wrong documents, blank documents, un-openable documents or late documents will get grades of 0.
Photo format for Media Milwaukee:
Photos sized to 370 pixels wide x 220 pixels high
Author photos (photo of you) sized to 60 x 60 or 75 x 75 pixels
Student technology requirements & responsibilities:
Never use department equipment or technology for personal projects or for any purpose other than JAMS 204 assignments
Do not use cell phones to take photos or video for assignments
Gain access to a digital camera that meets JAMS criteria (add link here)
Learn and follow rules for creating and saving material to JAMS class folders (add link here)
Learn SoundSlides photo and audio slideshow software
Learn Adobe SoundBooth audio editing software
Learn basics of digital still camera functions and file management
Understand principles of HD digital video camera functions
Understand principles of on-camera interviewing
Professionalism:
Inappropriate/abusive emails or other unprofessional communication will result in a referral to the department chair.
Distractions:
Use of the Internet, smart phones and cell phones is prohibited unless related to in-class assignments and can result in a 0 for the day’s attendance.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
University policies overview:
1.Studentswith disabilities. Accommodations for students with disabilities:
2.Religious observances.Accommodations for absences due to religious observance:
3.Students called to active military duty.Accommodations for absences due to call-up
of reserves to active military duty:
Students:
Employees:
4.Incompletes.A notation of"incomplete" may be given in lieu of a final grade to a
student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who,
because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond the student's
control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete
some limited amount of term work:
5.Discriminatoryconduct (such assexual harassment).Discriminatory conductwill
not be tolerated by theUniversity.Itpoisons the work and learning environmentof the
University and threatens the careers, educationalexperience, and well-being of
students, faculty, and staff:
6.Academicmisconduct.Cheating on exams or plagiarism are violations of the
academic honor code and carry severe sanctions, including failing a course or even
suspension or dismissal from the University:
7.Complaint procedures.Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic
unit or department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates
a specific university policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or
academic unit in which the complaint occurred or to the appropriate university office
responsible for enforcing the policy:
8.Grade appeal procedures:
9.Final exam requirements & dates:
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
Jane Hampdenhas more than 20 years’ experience in broadcast journalism. For five years, she hosted the Lake Effectinterview program on WUWM, Milwaukee Public Radio. Before pursuing a career in public radio, Hampden worked for 15 years as a television news anchor and reporter in Denver and Milwaukee, most recently as five o’clock anchor for WISN Channel 12. She has received many awards for broadcast writing and reporting, including three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her work at WUWM. Hampden is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Website:
Tess Gallun is award-winning documentary veteran who owns Root River Films. Sheis passionate about creating socially relevant work and building loyal relationships among peers, story subjects, and the audiences she reaches. With over twenty years of long-form nonfiction experience, Gallun’s professional credits include innovative community service and public awareness campaigns, documentaries for national PBS outlets, a thirteen part series for the Discovery Channel, and rich historical video projects for museums. The subjects she’s covered include lgbtq homelessness, war photography, community advocacy, wildlife conservation, gun violence, racism, and world religions. Gallun earned her BA and Masters from UW-Milwaukee’s Journalism and Mass Communication department.
JAMS 204 | News Writing and Technology |University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee