Academic Catalogs

JOUR A115: Student Newspaper I

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/06/2023
Top Code 060200 - Journalism
Units 4 Total Units 
Hours 108 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54; Lab Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Open Entry/Open Exit No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)

Course Description

Assist in all aspects of newspaper planning, writing, design and production. Requires writing news and feature stories on deadline, commentary, writing headlines, designing pages, editing, and layout techniques. Students will use state-of-the-art computer design, graphics, and word processing software in a professional setting. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000; and JOUR A110 or concurrent enrollment. Transfer Credit: CSU. C-ID: JOUR 130.C-ID: JOUR 130.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Write and edit the Coast Report, OCCs weekly newspaper.
  2. Write a news story using the inverted pyramid and style.
  3. Analyze proper spelling, grammar, and style.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of AP style.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Develop a strong sense of what is news.
  • 2. Exhibit a proficiency at putting together a complete news story.
  • 3. Demonstrate an ability to write a feature story.
  • 4. Demonstrate skill interviewing students, faculty, and administrators
  • 5. Analyze the importance of checking with sources and verifying facts.
  • 6. Demonstrate a knowledge of the Associated Press Style-book and newspaper style.
  • 7. Demonstrate ability to assist in newspaper layout, design, and production.
  • 8. Analyze the difference between a news or feature story when compared against an opinion story.

Lecture Content

Students will get a complete understanding of writing, editing, and producing a weekly newspaper through experience at the Coast Report as follows:I. 1. Post Mortem of first week s paper-- Discussions on what was done well and what could be improved. 2. Introduction to the Coast Report a. Deadlines for sections b. Appointment of section editors c. Assignment of stories d. Computer log-ons and familiarity e. Discussion of photo needs.II. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper. 2. Instruction for individual writers. a. Discuss importance of accuracy. b. Discuss what is news and what is of news value c. Reaffirm the importance of deadlines. ; d. Discuss editingIII. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper. 2. Discussions a. Discussion of libel and newspaper responsibility in reporting the news. b. Work on meeting deadlines. c. Instruct new writers on how to develop story ideas and story length.IV. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper. 2. Headline Writing 3. Importance of gathering information from more than one source. a. Balance b. AccuracyV. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper 2. Discussion of libel a. What is libel b. How is someone libeled ; c. How do you protect yourself d. What is a newspaper s responsibility.VI. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper. 2. Commentaries a. How are they different from editorials b. Who sets editorial policy 3. Writing instruction a. Attribution b. Deadlines c. What is newsVII. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper 2. Discuss entertainment writing and reporting a. What to cover b. Length c. Design optionsVIII. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper 2. Sports a. How to cover sports b. When to cover sports/what s newsworthy. c. Sports page deadlines and design.IX. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper. 2. Features a. Feature deadlines b. Design options for features page c. Discuss use of photos on the feature page.X. 1. Post Mortem of previous week s paper. 2. Photos a. When and why photos are used in the paper. b. Assign photo essays with deadlinesXII. 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Production a. Page layout/dummies b. Page design Placing stories based on importance c. Page paste-up d. Beginning photo sizing.XII. 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Editing specifics a. How and when to change stories. b. How to show that a story has been edited. c. When to call a writer or editor d. How to double check facts. e. How to use reference materials including AP Stylebook and others.XIII. 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Work one on one with individual writers 3. Introduction to Photoshop or similar software.XIV. p; 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Instruction in PageMaker or similar software for those planning to continue in class. a. How to operate program. b. How to design a page. c. How to place copy from word processing programs. d. How to write cut lines. e. Remembering photo credits, bylines.XV. 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Paste-up and photo sizing. a. Detailed instruction in photo sizing b. Paste-up experience on inside pages. c. Photo sizing on inside pages.XVI. 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Discussion and instruction on in-depth news stories/analysis. n bsp; a. When to write an in-depth story. b. How to write an in-depth story. c. How to write a news analysis and when one is needed.XVII. 1. Post Mortem on previous week s paper. 2. Discussion and instruction of investigative reporting. a. Background on what investigative reporting is. b. Woodward and Bernstein/Watergate. c. Advances in investigative reporting/computer assisted reporting. d. Things to be cautious about. e. Guest lecturer from local paper.XVII. Semester post mortem

Lab Content

To be defined by faculty

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • Lab (04)
  • DE Live Online Lab (04S)

Instructional Techniques

Producing the Coast Report newspaper to give students a realistic background in newspaper deadlines, story assignments and follow through, layout, design, and production.

Reading Assignments

Reading of a daily newspaper and the Coast Report will be expected. (1 hour/week)

Writing Assignments

Knowledge of journalistic style and improvement will be expected through weekly writing assignments and publication in the Coast Report. (2.5 hours a week)

Out-of-class Assignments

Weekly interviews for assigned stories and writing for publication will be expected. Knowledge of journalistic style and improvement will be expected through weekly writing assignments and publication in the Coast Report. (1 hour a week)

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students will be evaluated on effort along with the quantity and quality of stories produced. Contributions to weekly newspaper production will also be considered.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Knowledge of journalistic style and improvement will be expected through weekly writing assignments and publication in the Coast Report.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Goldstein, Norm. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, ed. New York: Perseus Publishing , 2007 Rationale: .