20801272Journalism Practicum 2
Course Information
Description
Journalism Practicum 2 is a follow-up to Journalism Practicum 1. It provides real-world journalism skills and experiences for students. Students will spend the semester working on the staff of The Clarion. In Journalism Practicum 2 students will perform service hours engaged in issue-based journalism for The Clarion media organization. These students will develop enterprise and investigative news and feature stories for The Clarion; they will also copy, edit and fact check these longer, issue-based news stories. Students of Journalism Practicum 2 will attend editorial meetings, contribute story ideas and then develop these story ideas according to the deadlines.   Students who take Journalism Practicum 2 as a one-credit course must spend at least 36 hours working as a news reporter for The Clarion. Students who take Journalism Practicum 2 as a two-credit course must spend 72 hours working as a Clarion journalist.
Total Credits
1
Course Competencies
  1. Identify relevant investigative story ideas for a specific newspaper and website audience
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Examine the role of the investigative reporter in society
    Identify the qualities of an investigative news story
    Discover investigative story ideas
    Create investigative story ideas that are later developed into stories published in The Clarion
    Investigative story is submitted in a timely manner

  2. Communicate investigative story ideas to a group of peers
    Assessment Strategies
    Oral Presentation
    Criteria
    Articulate your investigative story ideas to peers and superiors at The Clarion
    Willingly accept feedback on investigative story ideas
    Submit investigative 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 investigative story research
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of the process of source cultivation to quality journalism
    Locate key Madison College sources for investigative stories
    Develop investigative 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 investigative stories
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Identify key interviewees for investigative stories
    Contact key interviewees for investigative stories within the time limit
    Write investigative stories published in The Clarion that consistently include key interviews

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

  6. Conduct background research for investigative stories
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of background research to the investigative 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 investigative stories based on effective background research strategies

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

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

  9. Use computer-assisted reporting tools for investigative stories
    Assessment Strategies
    Performance
    Criteria
    Use computer-assisted reporting tools
    Develop investigative stories for which computer-assisted reporting has been used

  10. Use long-form news stucture
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Apply conventions of long-form journalism, specifically the inverted pyramid format and the narration storytelling model
    Construct an investigative story using narration storytelling structure
    Develop investigative stories for The Clarion based on the narration storytelling structure

  11. Follow associated press style
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product, Test
    Criteria
    Explain the importance 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 investigative stories that consistently follow Associated Press Style
    Successfully complete an Associated Press test at the end of the semester

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

  13. Edit your own stories and stories of fellow Clarion writers
    Assessment Strategies
    Self Assessment, Written Product
    Criteria
    Relate the importance of copyediting to the investigative 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 investigative stories
    Engage in effective copyediting of news stories written by peers at The Clarion

  14. 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
    Describe state “shield laws"
    Describe sunshine laws in Wisconsin and around the nation
    Use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain government documents
    Write investigative stories that do not violate current media laws
    Write a Freedom of Information Act application letter

  15. 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 investigative stories that are ethical

  16. 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 two oral presentations about The Clarion organization to Madison College audiences during the semester