20801271Journalism Practicum 1
Course Information
Description
Journalism Practicum 1 provides real-world journalism skills and experiences for students. Students will spend the semester working on the staff of The Clarion, which is the student media organization, consisting of its newspaper, Web platform, television news program, and outreach services (i.e. classroom presentations; volunteer events; co-sponsorship of lecture series). In Journalism Practicum 1 students will perform service hours contributing news and feature stories and photographs to The Clarion. Students of Journalism Practicum 1 will attend editorial meetings, contribute story ideas and report, write and edit news and feature stories.  Students who take Journalism Practicum 1 as a one-credit course must spend at least 36 hours working as a news reporter for The Clarion. Students who take Journalism Practicum 1 as a two-credit course must spend 72 hours working as a Clarion journalist.
Total Credits
1
Course Competencies
  1. Identify relevant news and feature stories for a specific newspaper and website audience
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Examine the role of the journalist in society
    Identify the qualities of an important news story
    Discover news story ideas
    Create your news story ideas that are later developed into stories published in The Clarion
    News story is submitted in a timely manner

  2. Communicate news story ideas to a group of peers
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral Presentation
    Criteria
    Articulate your news story ideas to peers and superiors at The Clarion
    Willingly accept feedback on news story ideas
    Submit news story ideas that are later developed into stories published in The Clarion
    Attend Clarion staff meetings on a regular basis
    Act in a professional manner during Clarion staff meetings

  3. Cultivate sources in the beginning stages of story research
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of the process of source cultivation to quality journalism
    Locate key Madison College sources for stories
    Develop news stories that are supported by key sources
    Cultivate Madison College sources who trust you as a journalist
    Develop good working relationships with Madison College sources

  4. Identify key sources to interview for timely news stories
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Identify key interviewees for news stories
    Contact key interviewees for news stories within time limit
    Write news stories published in The Clarion that consistently include key interviews

  5. Interview key sources
    Assessment Strategies
    Interview
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of good interviewing skills to the news reporting process
    Implement good interviewing skills during the research stage of news reporting
    Develop quality news and feature stories based on effective interviews

  6. Conduct background research
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of background research to the news reporting process
    Use key databases and Internet research for background research
    Use telephone communication for background research
    Use face-to-face visits and communication for background research
    Develop quality news and feature stories based on effective background research strategies

  7. Fact-check information
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of fact-checking information to the news reporting process
    Use the tools of fact checking
    Develop quality news and feature stories in which extensive fact-checking has been conducted during the news reporting process

  8. Employ observation skills on site
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of observational skills to the news reporting process
    Use tools of observation, specifically the use of senses
    Defend the importance of being “on location” during the news reporting process
    Develop quality news and feature stories that include information gathered through observation

  9. Use news writing structure
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Apply conventions of news writing structure, including the inverted pyramid format and the narration storytelling model
    Construct a news story using the inverted pyramid
    Construct a feature story using narration storytelling structure
    Develop news stories for The Clarion based on the inverted pyramid structure of news writing
    Develop feature stories for The Clarion based on the narration storytelling structure

  10. Follow associated press style
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product, Test
    Criteria
    Explain the purpose of using Associated Press Style during the news writing process
    Use the Associated Press Stylebook during the news writing process
    Develop a consistent practice of using the Associated Press Stylebook during the news writing process
    Write news and feature stories that consistently follow Associated Press Style
    Successfully complete an Associated Press test at the end of the semester

  11. Write stories according to deadline dates
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance, Test
    Criteria
    Explain the role of “deadline writing” during the news writing process
    Use good time management skills during the news writing process
    Write news stories in a timely manner
    Submit quality news and feature stories to Clarion editors before deadlines
    Complete a “timed writing” test at the end of the semester meeting minimum performance expectations as identified by the instructor

  12. Edit your own stories and stories of fellow Clarion writers
    Assessment Strategies
    Self Assessment, Written Product
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of copyediting to the news writing process
    Use effective copyediting techniques
    Edit the works of others as specified by the instructor
    Engage in effective copyediting during the news writing process of your own stories
    Engage in effective copyediting of news stories written by peers at The Clarion

  13. Follow media law during the news reporting process
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Define libel law and how and why it evolved
    Consider the boundaries of libel law when engaged in news reporting for The Clarion
    Define copyright law and how and why it evolved
    Consider the boundaries of copyright law when engaged in news reporting for The Clarion
    Define obscenity laws and how and why they evolved
    Consider the boundaries of obscenity laws when engaged in news reporting for The Clarion
    Write news and feature stories that do not violate current media laws

  14. Consider ethics and ethical situations during the news reporting process
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Describe the reporter’s need to consider ethical dilemmas during the news reporting process
    Develop a journalistic practice of reporting news stories based on ethical procedures and situations
    Write news and feature stories that are ethical

  15. Preform as a student ambassador for The Clarion organization
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral Presentation
    Criteria
    Articulate the role of a student media organization at a community college
    Give oral presentations to small and large groups at Madison College
    Give at least one oral presentation about The Clarion organization to Madison College audiences during the semester