Mayborn School of Journalism – Spring 2015
JOUR 2310-001 Introduction to Media Writing Spring 2015
Instructor: Christian McPhate
Cell: 817-403-3862
Email:
Class: Tu, 6:30-9:20 p.m., GAB 112
Lab: Fr, 11 a.m. -12:50 p.m., GAB 112
TA: Elvia Limon,
Course objectives: To learn the basics of writing for several media, including newspapers, the World Wide Web, broadcast news and public relations. By the end of this course you should be able to research, report and write a news story for several platforms. You will learn to write in a concise, accurate and fair manner, and to work under deadline. You also will brush up your grammar, spelling and punctuation skills, and familiarize yourself with Associated Press style and broadcast writing style.
Goals: After completing the course, you should be able to:
- Define news as it is understood by journalists and public relations professionals.
- Understand and use the AP Stylebook.
- Conduct a news interview.
- Write a news story for several media platforms under deadline pressure.
- Describe the main ethical concerns of journalists and public relations professionals.
- Describe the main legal concerns of journalists and public relations professionals.
- Learn to be sensitive about cultural, ethnic, racial and gender issues.
Reading requirements:
✓Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method, Eighth Edition, by Carole Rich
✓Writing and Reporting News Student Workbook, Eighth Edition, by Carole Rich
A digital version is available. It’s more convenient and significantly cheaper.
✓The Associated Press Stylebook, 2012 edition (I recommend the 2013 edition if available.)
✓ The Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com)
Purchase of online access is recommended.
Visit dallasnews.com and click “Subscribe” to see offers. Call to sign up and request a friends and family discount.
✓The NT Daily Stylebook (online at
✓Denton Record-Chronicle (available on campus; dentonrc.com)
✓North Texas Daily(available on campus; ntdaily.com)
Current Events:You should closely follow current events by reading a variety of news publications, especially local newspapers such as the North Texas Daily, Denton Record-Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. You can read them online or visit any reputable news website to get information. In addition, you should watch and listen to broadcast news on television and radio as part of your daily routine. Your quizzes will include major current events mentioned in the news.
Dropbox:We will use the file hosting system Dropbox to submit your stories and homework assignments on deadline. Within the first days of class, you will receive an email from Dropbox inviting you to the JOUR 2310 folder. If you already have a Dropbox account, simply join the folder.
First Class Day Attendance: Journalism instructors reserve the right to drop any student who does not attend the first class day of the semester.
Attendance Policies: Treat this class as your job. You are expected to arrive on time and to meet all deadlines. You mustattend class and lab sessions. Lab exercises comprise 30 percentof your grade. Homework prepares you for labs. Activities during lectures, such as quizzes and other in-class assignments, also represent a portion of your overall grade. Those who miss a quiz or in-class assignment will receive a zero on that activity. Labs cannot be made up without my prior approval.
If you have legitimate reasons for an absence (illness, disaster, death, family emergency, religious holiday), email me beforehand. Other situations are subject to my discretion. Plan to provide documentation, such as a physician’s note or a note from a relative explaining the emergency. Include a phone number so I may verify the note. Documentation must be turned in during the class period immediately following the absence.
One absence in the course is the limit without penalty toward your final grade, unless you have communicated with me from the beginning about an extraordinary problem. After two unexcused absences, you may lose a half a letter grade (5 points) for each unexcused absence thereafter. I reserve the right to drop you from the class after four unexcused absences. For excused absences, I will allow work to be made up but will only accept it within three days of the date it was due.
Coming to class late or leaving early may constitute an absence for that day. If you come to class late, it is your obligation to notify me at the end of class so I can correct the roll. Failure to notify me will result in your being absent without excuse. This is a seminar course, and it requires your attendance and participation each class meeting. The key here is communication and I am more likely to excuse an absence that I know about in advance.
If you miss a lab for an excused absence, it is your responsibility to contact the TA to make up any missed work. You will have three (3) days from the date of your excused absence to make up the work done during your absence. Unexcused absences in lab will result in a “0” for that day’s work.
You must have your student ID to check in and use the lab. Lab assistants will not allow lab use absent the presentation of proper student identification. A driver’s license will not do!
Attendance at the final is mandatory.
COURSEWORK
Quizzes:
You will have a series of open-book quizzes on AP style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and closed-book quizzes on news events and textbook readings. Current events items in quizzes will be based on dallasnews.com, star-telegram.com and npr.org.
Lab assignments:
Each week you will be assigned exercises due by the end of the lab period. You will be allowed to use your AP stylebook and textbook, so bring them to class and to lab. Always type and double-space lab assignments unless otherwise instructed. Again, you must present your student ID card to attend lab sessions.
Class assignments:
You will have numerous homework assignments, two out-of-class news stories, five major assignments and a number of in-class exercises throughout the semester. All final drafts and homework assignments, and Major assignments must be posted in Dropbox on the date due. Unexcused late assignments will be penalized five (5) points for every day they are late, with none accepted after three days. You will be expected to turn in publishable work on the two out-of class news story assignments.
Be prepared:For class discussions, each week you should read the assigned chapters in your textbook and any handouts provided in class. You also must read:
- The North Texas Daily (online version) and The Denton Record Chronicle, both available free.
- The Dallas Morning News and/or the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, available online.
- Also, check out The New York Times(nytimes.com) for examples of excellent reporting and writing. The local alternative weeklies, the Dallas Observer and Fort Worth Weekly, also will help you develop story ideas and make you a better writer and reporter.
Grading:
The majority of your grade will be determined by lab writing exercises and your two out-of-class story assignments (see YOUR GRADE). However, if you demonstrate exceptional improvement and effort during the semester, I will consider raising a borderline grade to the next highest level, as long as all assignments were completed throughout the semester.
Source sheets:
For stories that involve interviews, attach a page listing each source, the date you interviewed each person and his or her contact information (preferably both phone numbers and email addresses). Stories without source sheets will not be accepted and will be penalized one grade letter for each class session they are late. I will contact sources to verify information in your stories.
Guest speakers:
Professional journalists and other relevant speakers may be invited to class during the semester. A one-page summary of the speaker’s presentation may be due at the start of the next class.
Cell phone and computer policy:
Cell phones should NEVER be used in class. Computers should NEVER be used in class unless part of a class assignment.
Note:Computer technicians can see anything on your computer screen.
YOUR GRADE:Attendance: 5 %
Homework: 5 %
Lab: 30%
News story: 10%
Major Assignments: 10%
Profile: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Midterm: 10%
Final exam: 10%
Saving your work:
You cannot save material on the computers in the lab. Make copies of all your work on a CD or thumb drive, or by emailing finished assignments to yourself. Save all graded copies of your work so you can resolve any potential discrepancy between the grade you receive and your own calculations.
A note to advertising students:
Being able to recognize big issues then thinking and writing about them are valuable for all areas of journalism, including advertising. Here’s a testimonial from a big-time advertising professional: Eric Schnabel, Vice President/Account Director at Leo Burnett in Chicago, believes the best thing that ever happened to him “was being a journalism major and learning about Associated Press-style writing. You’re forced to think about what’s the biggest, most important thing, what’s the lead in my story here, then go from the lead to the supporting facts that are perhaps less broadly important” (Robbs and Morrison, 2008, p. 97). This class will help you think and write better, and the advertising faculty members believe that’s important, no matter what area of advertising you find yourself in — account management, media, research or creative.
JOURNALISM REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
For journalism majors, not minors: This is a foundational class. Once you have completed all foundational requirements you will have access to upper-level journalism courses after visiting the Office of Student Advising. If you have questions about what your foundational requirements are, please see an advisor.
JOURNALISM COURSE REGISTRATION
- Registration will begin on the dates noted in the schedule of classes each semester. The system is a live, first come/first serve program.
- By registering for this course, you are stating that you have taken the required prerequisites according to your catalog year and major/minor status. If the instructor later determines that you haven’t taken and passed these requirements, then you may be dropped at any point in the semester. If you have questions about your prerequisites, please see an advisor.
- A journalism major enrolled in any restricted 3000 and 4000 level classes must have taken and passed the GSP test, all foundational courses, and Math 1680/1681. Students must earn and maintain a 2.5 UNT and/or overall GPA (depending upon catalog year) to be eligible for major-level courses.
RE-TAKING FAILED JOURNALISM CLASSES
Students will not be allowed to automatically take a failed journalism course more than two times. Once you have failed a journalism course twice, you will not be allowed to enroll in that course for 12 months. Once you have waited 12 months after failing a course twice, you may make an appeal to the professor teaching the course to be allowed to enroll a third time.
TEXTBOOK POLICY
The Mayborn School of Journalism doesn’t require students to purchase textbooks from the University Bookstore. Many are available through other bookstores or online.
OFFICE HOURS
I’m available to meet in the adjunct office from 2 to 3:20 a.m. Mondays, and 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays; other office hours are available by appointment. My virtual office is always open; just email me, and I promise to respond within 24 hours, except on weekends.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Undergraduates
A student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to receive financial aid. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in addition to successfully completing a required number of credit hours based on total registered hours per semester. Students cannot exceed attempted credit hours above 150% of their required degree plan. If a student does not maintain the required standards, the student may lose financial aid eligibility.
If at any point you consider dropping this or any other course, please be advised that the decision to do so has the potential to affect your current and future financial aid eligibility. Please visit aid.unt.edu/satisfactory-academic progress-requirements for more information about financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. It may be wise for you to schedule a meeting with your MSOJ academic advisor or visit the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office to discuss dropping a course before doing so.
ACADEMIC ADVISING
All first-time-in-college students at UNT are required to schedule an appointment with their Academic Advisor and receive an advising code to register for classes both fall and spring semesters of the first year in college. ALL students should meet with their Academic Advisor at least one time per long semester (Fall & Spring). It is important to update your degree plan on a regular basis to ensure that you are on track for a timely graduation.
It is imperative that students have paid for all enrolled classes. Please check your online schedule daily through late registration to ensure you have not been dropped for non-payment of any amount. Students unknowingly have been dropped from classes for various reasons such as financial aid, schedule change fees, parking fees, etc. MSOJ will not be able to reinstate students for any reason after late registration, regardless of situation. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all payments have been made.
IMPORTANT SPRING 2015 DATES
Date / DeadlineJanuary 20 / Classes Begin.
February 2 / Census.
February 3 / Beginning this date a student who wishes to drop a course must first receive written consent of the instructor.
March 2 / Last day for student to receive automatic grade of W for nonattendance.
Last day for change in pass/no pass status.
Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the semester with a grade of W for courses that the student is not passing. After this date, a grade of WF may be recorded.
March 3 / Beginning this date instructors may drop students with a grade of WF for nonattendance.
April 7 / Last day to drop with either W or WF.
Last day for a student to drop a course with consent of the instructor.
April 20 / Beginning this date, a student who qualifies may request an Incomplete, with a grade of I.
April 24 / Last day to Withdraw (drop all classes).
Last day for an instructor to drop a student with a grade of WF for nonattendance.
May 8 / Reading Day (no classes).
May 9 - May 15 / Final Exams.
May 15 / Last Class Day.
ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Understanding the academic organizational structure and appropriate Chain of Command is important when resolving class-related or advising issues. When you need problems resolved, please follow the step outlined below:
Director, Mayborn School of Journalism
Dean, Mayborn School of Journalism
OFFICE OF DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
The University of North Texas and the Mayborn School of Journalism make reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. Students are strongly encouraged to deliver letters of accommodation during faculty office hours or by appointment. Faculty members have the authority to ask students to discuss such letters during their designated office hours to protect the privacy of the student. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.
COURSE SAFETY STATEMENTS
Students in the Mayborn School of Journalism are urged to use proper safety procedures and guidelines. While working in laboratory sessions, students are expected and required to identify and use property safety guidelines in all activities requiring lifting, climbing, walking on slippery surfaces, using equipment and tools, handling chemical solutions and hot and cold products. Students should be aware that the University of North Texas is not liable for injuries incurred while students are participating in class activities. All students are encouraged to secure adequate insurance coverage in the event of accidental injury. Students who do not have insurance coverage should consider obtaining Student Health Insurance for this insurance program. Brochures for this insurance are available in the UNT Health and Wellness Center on campus. Students who are injured during class activities may seek medial attention at the UNT Health and Wellness Center at rates that are reduced compared to other medical facilities. If you have an insurance plan other than Student Health Insurance at UNT, please be sure that your plan covers treatment at this facility. If you choose not to go to the UNT Health and Wellness Center, you may be transported to an emergency room at a local hospital. You are responsible for expenses incurred there.