20801245Introduction to Journalism
Course Information
Description
This introductory course in journalism provides students with a better understanding of the unique role and responsibility of the journalist working in a democratic society. The course covers the problems and techniques of the news reporter and provides practical experience in news gathering, editing, interviewing and copyrighting through lab work and submission to the student newspaper. Students focus on "Level 1" journalism: spot news reporting, such as crime, politics, and community gatherings such as sports and music events.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Analyze the role of the meeting in our society
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a 750-word meeting story
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    Criteria
    you explore the different types of media in our society
    you explore how these different types of media have evolved in our society
    you conclude how these media have shaped our society in the past and the present
    you enter into class discussions about politics and political meetings in a community
    you offer questions and comments during class about politics and political meetings in a community
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing the media
    you explore how journalists consider audience and purpose when developing news articles
    you distinguish between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 reporting
    meeting story includes objective reporting
    meeting story follows news writing structure
    meeting story is timely and newsworthy
    meeting story is original
    meeting story is accurate
    meeting story is ethical and fair
    meeting story is interesting
    meeting story is complete and well developed
    meeting story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists

  2. Develop writing skills needed by an entry-level journalist
    Assessment Strategies
    by participating in and successfully completing timed writing assignments
    by developing various news reporting assignments
    by participating in classroom and online discussions
    by meeting instructor criteria for assignments, quizzes, and exams
    by successfully completing in-class and online writing assignments
    Criteria
    you write a good direct lead within a 15-minute period
    you write a good delayed lead within a 20-minute period
    timed writing includes an interesting and well written 750-word human interest story within a four-hour period
    you write a well-organized 500-word "Level 1" news story within a two-hour period
    you are an active and regular classroom participant, engaging in class discussions through informed questions and comments
    you participate in all the lab workshops that will train you to write a well-written Level 1 news or feature story in a "real-world" newsroom situation

  3. Develop a speech article based on the student journalist's coverage of a speaker
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a 750-word speech story
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    by meeting instructor criteria for assignments, quizzes, and exams
    Criteria
    you incorporate the concepts of speech news theory into your own speech articles
    you determine why a public speaker may or may not make for a newsworthy speech article
    you participate in face-to-face and online speech article development workshops
    you enter into class discussions about speech news writing
    you offer questions and comments during class about speech news writing
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing speech news writing
    speech story includes objective reporting
    speech story follows news writing structure
    speech story is timely and newsworthy
    speech story is original
    speech story is accurate
    speech story is ethical and fair
    speech story is complete and well developed
    speech story is interesting
    speech story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists

  4. Develop a news article revealing the important points of a local government meeting
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a 750-word local government story
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    by meeting instructor criteria for assignments, quizzes, and exams
    Criteria
    you incorporate the concepts of local government reporting into your own local government news story
    you determine why a specific government meeting may or may not make for a newsworthy news article
    you participate in face-to-face and online workshops aimed at training students how to become local government reporters
    you enter into class discussions about political news writing
    you offer questions and comments during class about political news writing
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing political news writing
    political news story includes objective reporting
    political news story follows news writing structure
    political news story is timely and newsworthy
    political news story is original
    political news story is accurate
    political news story is ethical and fair
    political news story is complete and well developed
    political news story is interesting
    political news story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists

  5. Develop a news article revealing the significance of a crime
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a 750-word police story
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    by meeting instructor criteria for assignments, quizzes, and exams
    Criteria
    you incorporate the concepts of police reporting into your own police story
    you determine why a specific police story may or may not make for a newsworthy article
    you participate in face-to-face and online workshops aimed at training students how to become police reporters
    you enter into class discussions about police news writing
    you offer questions and comments during class about police news writing
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing police news writing
    police news story includes objective reporting
    police news story follows news writing structure
    police news story is timely and newsworthy
    police news story is original
    police news story is accurate
    police news story is ethical and fair
    police news story is complete and well developed
    police news story is interesting
    police news story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists

  6. Develop a feature article for a community newspaper
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a 750-word police feature story
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    by meeting instructor criteria for assignments, quizzes, and exams
    Criteria
    you incorporate the concepts of feature writing into your own feature story
    you determine why a particular "person, place or thing" story may or may not make for an interesting feature story
    you participate in face-to-face and online workshops aimed at training students how to become feature writers
    you enter into class discussions about feature writing
    you offer questions and comments during class about feature writing
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing feature writing
    feature story includes objective reporting
    feature story follows news writing structure
    feature story is timely and newsworthy
    feature story is original
    feature story is accurate
    feature story is ethical and fair
    feature story is complete and well developed
    police news story is interesting
    police news story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists

  7. Develop a local reaction news story to a national event or issue
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a 750-word local news reaction story that is fair, accurate, insightful, and interesting
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    by meeting instructor criteria for assignments, quizzes, and exams
    Criteria
    you incorporate the concepts of local reaction stories into your own local news reactions to national events story
    you determine why a specific national event or issue may or may not make for an local reaction story
    you participate in face-to-face and online workshops aimed at training students how to write local reactions to national events
    you enter into class discussions about local news reactions to national events
    you offer questions and comments during class about local news reactions to national events
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing local news reactions to national events
    local news reactions to national events story includes objective reporting
    local news reactions to national events story follows news writing structure
    local news reactions to national events story is timely and newsworthy
    local news reactions to national events story is original
    local news reactions to national events story is accurate
    local news reactions to national events story is ethical and fair
    local news reactions to national events story is complete and well developed
    local news reactions to national events story is interesting
    local news reactions to national events story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists

  8. Demonstrate sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing news stories that are fair, accurate, and respectful of the rights of individuals
    by participating in small and large group discussions and workshops
    Criteria
    you demonstrate a sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and law when developing news assignments for class
    you participate in face-to-face and online workshops aimed at training students how to develop stories that are ethical, moral according to community standards, and legal
    you enter into class discussions about ethics, morality, and the law in journalism
    you offer questions and comments during class about ethics, morality, and the law in journalism
    you engage in the electronic learning forum
    you make questions or comments via e-mail
    you attend class regularly
    you use terminology when discussing ethics, morality, and the law in journalism
    news and/or feature story includes objective reporting
    news and/or feature story is ethical and fair
    local news reactions to national events storyis complete and well developed
    local news reactions to national events story demonstrates sensitivity to issues of ethics, morality and the law relating to the conduct and work of journalists