JOUR 4410.001 Reporting of Public Affairs

JOUR 4410.001 Reporting of Public Affairs

Instructor: Gary Ghioto
Office: GAB 112A
Phone: 940.891.6722
E-mail:
Website:
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. and by appointment. / Semester: Fall2015
Class sessions: 3:30 p.m.-6:20 p.m. Thursday
Room: GAB 114

Course Description

A public affairs reporter is a watchdog. A public affairs reporter speaks truth to power. A public affairs reporter is an interpreter of the complicated, political and often secret business of government.

It’s a fascinating job that puts you up close to the people who make decisions that directly affect the lives of readers and viewers.

And itcan get dicey at times as forces on all sides of a contentious issue take aim at the coverage you print, broadcast and put online. Officials, community activists, public information officers and politicians will try to manipulate you to do their bidding. There’s a lot at stake.

To be effective covering government institutions, officials and politicians you have to be tenacious, independent, fearless and impeccable in your reporting. You get the facts straight. You don’t play favorites. You remember that your ultimate responsibility is to the public. And you make deadline. Always.

This semester you will be reporting and writing articles about the government institutions in the communities around you. You will also get a taste of political reporting as we are blessed with an active campaign season and general election. You will be in the field often after class hours covering meetings, chasing down sources and interviewing newsmakers.

This course will test your ability to report, write concisely and assimilate vast amounts of information in useful, relevant articles and multimedia packages.

In the classroom, you will participate in active discussions about community journalism, media ethics, the fate of the news industry and what it takes to be a great reporter.

Course Objectives

At the end of this class, you should achieve the following and be ready to go out into the journalism workforce:

• Report and write articles about public institutions
• Learn the organizational structure and basic functionality of key public institutions
• Learn how to report, research and write watchdog articles
• Learn about the depth and breadth of public documents and how to access them
• Understand how to file an open records request
• Understand the fundamental role of a free press, the role of the First Amendment and the importance of open government
• Learn the importance of fairness and ethics in covering government institutions and politicians
• Get a lot of time in the field to hone your reporting skills

Reading and Textbook Requirements

• Required: “The Elements of Journalism, What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect,” by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosentiel, (Three Rivers Press, 2007, 288 pages). Revised updated edition.
• Required: Associated Press Stylebook. Can download a mobile version or buy the book.
• Read additional articles, essays and case studies as assigned and located in The Clip File on the class website.
• Optional: The Freedom of Information Act Handbook. You can order it from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas:

Deadlines and commitments

Do not bother to ask to take a quiz that you missed due to an unexcused absence or tardiness to class. Do not bother to ask for an extension to turn in article assignments after deadline.

There are no retakes in daily journalism. Deadlines are sacred.

Treat this course as you would your first reporting job. Reporters who miss assignments, turn in sloppy work and blow off their responsibilities are quickly terminated.

Class decorum

Use of laptops and cell phones are not permitted in class unless expressly authorized by the instructor.

Eating is prohibited in the classroom. If you want to sip a beverage you may do so.

Your attention is required at all times. Expect to be called on. Be prepared.

Never be late for class. It’s not acceptable on the job and it’s downright tacky and rude. If you are going to be late, notify the instructor via email long before class has begun and have a good excuse.

Do not enter the classroom during lecture. It’s rude and interferes with the learning process. Perform assigned work with diligence.

Attendance policy

Attendance is mandatory if you want to do well in this course. You must contact the instructor via email if you are going to miss class and have a legitimate excuse in order to take a missed quiz or in-class assignment.

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 unexcused absence in the course is the limit without penalty toward your final grade, unless you have communicated with me 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 five unexcused absences.

The key is communication and I’m more likely to excuse an absence I know about in advance.

Coming to class late (after I check roll) twice will count as one absence; leaving class early twice will count as one absence; any combination of being late to class and leaving class early will count as one absence.

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.

Class website

The class website address is:

The website will contain a course calendar of assignments, postings of interest, critical journalism websites, style sheets and other information related to the course. Check it often.

Class blogs

You will create a blog to post your assignments, a perfect portfolio platform. It will also contain multimedia components for your articles (digital photographs/video).

Class assignments

You will cover a city/county/university beat where you will be responsible for generating articles for this class. You will also be out in the field covering other issues. Time management is an essential component of this class along with your journalism skills, critical thinking and creativity. In class you will view films and attend lectures that will require you to write analysis or conduct research.

There will be quizzes on the reading and lecture material.

Grading breakdown for final grade

Class Project = 30 percent

Essays, blog postings, quizzes, in-class assignments = 20percent

Role of a journalist = 5 percent

Speech article= 8 percent

Storify Twitter Assignment = 5 percent

City/county/school/university beat setup= 5 percent

Meeting article= 10 percent

Meeting article= 10 percent

Issues in Journalism presentation= 7 percent

Note: Assignments may be changed/dropped/substituted depending on the news flow this semester.

Grades: You will be graded on your ability to turn in your assignments on deadline. They must be accurate, clear, use AP style correctly, employ interviews with sources, and must be fairly reported. All of the above components will be part of determining your grade. You may view your grades on Blackboard.

Saving your work:You are responsible for saving all copies of all of your work. You may want to print out or save as a file any graded papers, since you won’t have access to this class on Blackboard beyond this semester.

Class schedule

Week 1 (Aug. 27)

Course introduction/syllabus

Diagnostic, discussion and ethics.

• Reading due next week: Read Chapters 1-2 in “The Elements of Journalism.”
• Read the selections in The Clip File that will be posted Sunday, Aug. 30.
• Assignment: City/county/school/university beat setup due Sept. 3

Week 2 (Sept. 3)

Quiz Chapters 1-2 in “The Elements of Journalism” and The Clip File.

Lecture: Preparing to cover a public affairs reporting beat.

DUE Next week:

• Read Chapters 3-4- in the “Elements of Journalism”
• Write an essay on therole of the journalist:Minimum 500 words, maximum 750 words, on what is a journalist’s role in American society. You must integrate specific examples/references from the reading. Avoid using “I,” “I think,” “I believe” – write this as if it was going to be published on the Op-Ed page.

Your essay will be graded on the following rubric:

-Ability to write clearly and in an organized manner.

-Proper use of grammar, punctuation, spelling and AP style.

-Direct references to the reading material. Academic citations are not required, but you shouldmake in-text references to key themes you to support your argument.

Typeset and bring to class Thursday, Sept. 10

About your instructor:

My name is Gary Ghioto.

I have been employed as a reporter, bureau chief, editor and correspondent for daily newspapers including The Boston Globe and the Arizona Daily Sun. On the wire service side, I have been employed by United Press International and Reuters as a news editor and reporter.

Before coming to the Mayborn School of Journalism, I was the chief content editor of the Pensacola News Journal.

My broadcast experience includes three years as news director at New Hampshire Public Radio and two years as a reporter for commercial and public television stations.

I covered the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and also reported extensively on national and New Hampshire politics.

One of my favorite jobs was covering the environment for a daily newspaper in northern Arizona. Based in Flagstaff, I covered forest fires, the California condor and Mexican gray wolf reintroduction programs, and issues involving the Colorado River and Grand Canyon National Park. My beat also included coverage of the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation.

My freelance reporting credits include the New York Times, National Public Radio, E Environmental Magazine, Pensacola News Journal and the Rothenberg Political Report.

Please feel free to use me as a resource concerning journalism jobs and internships. I will also try to answer any questions you may have about a career in journalism.

**

JOURNALISM REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

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.

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 FALL 2015 DATES

FALL 2015

August 24 2015 / First Class Day
September 7, 2015 / Labor Day
September 8, 2015 / Beginning this date, a student may drop a course only with written consent of instructor.
October 2, 2015 / 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 university with a grade of W for courses a student is not passing. After this date a grade of WF may be recorded.
October 3, 2015 / Beginning this date, instructors may drop students with a grade of WF for nonattendance.
November 2, 2015 / Last day to drop with either W or WF.
Last day for a student to drop a course with consent of the instructor.
November 9, 2015 / Beginning this date a student who qualifies may request an Incomplete, with a grade of I.
November 26 – 29, 2015 / Thanksgiving Break (no classes; university closed).
December 3, 2015 / Last Class Day
December 4, 2015 / Reading Day (no classes).
December 5 – 11, 2015 / Final Exams.

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:

Individual Faculty Member/Advisor
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 medical 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.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

When you submit work for this class, that is the same as making a statement that you have produced the work yourself, in its entirety. Plagiarism, fabrication, copyright infringement, and similar uses of other people's work are unacceptable.