JOUR A125: Student Newspaper II
| 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 |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
Course Description
Assist in all aspects of newspaper planning and writing. Requires writing news and feature stories on deadline, along with commentaries, sports and arts and culture stories and reviews. Students will continue to practice basic newswriting and feature writing skills while expanding background to include sports and arts stories. PREREQUISITE: JOUR A115. Transfer Credit: CSU.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Write for every section of the newspaper.
- Understand newspaper production systems.
- Demonstrate ability to shoot photos for stories.
- Develop in-depth story ideas important to the OCC community.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the AP Stylebook and CR Stylebook.
Course Objectives
- 1. Develop a strong sense of what is news.
- 2. Exhibit a proficiency at conceptualizing and pitching stories for every edition of the paper.
- 3. Demonstrate an ability to write a news, feature, commentary, entertainment and sports story.
- 4. Demonstrate skill interviewing students, faculty, and administrators and using quotes from them.
- 5. Analyze the importance of checking with sources and verifying facts.
- 6. Demonstrate ability to use the Associated Press Stylebook and Coast Report Stylebook.
- 7. Demonstrate knowledge of newspaper design and design software.
- 8. Demonstrate knowledge of using photographs or graphics to illustrate stories.
- 9. Develop skills to properly assign photos or graphics to accompany stories.
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. Re-introduction to the Coast Report a. Discuss papers sections and deadlines. b. Students are expected to pitch stories for the first issue. c. Ensure students have computer log-ons and know the systems. d. Assign photos for stories or students shoot their own. II. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper. 2. Repeat instructions for student stories. a. Repeat importance of accuracy. b. Reaffirm the importance of deadlines. c. Work one on one with students after submitting first stories. nbd. Discuss editing of first stories.III. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper. 2. Discussions a. Instruct students on adding suggested headlines to stories. b. Work on meeting deadlines. c. Work on developing story ideas for news features, features and entertainment stories. d. First Associated Press Stylebook and the Coast Report Stylebook quiz.IV. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper. 2. Critique required suggested headlines on stories. 3. Reaffirm the requirement of interviewing at least three sources for every story. a. Balance b. AccuracyV. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper 2. Discussion of libel a. Lecture on libel and how to avoid it. b. How do you protect yourself - taking notes or taping interviews.VI. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper. 2. Commentaries a. How are they different from editorials 3. Students pitch an appropriate commentary. 4. Students pitch column ideas.VII. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper 2. Students pitch an entertainment story a. On campus event advance or review b. LengthVIII. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper 2. Students pitch a sports story. a. How to gather information for a sports story. s p; b. Who to interview and when. c. Sports features versus sports game stories.IX. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper. 2. Students pitch a feature story. a. How to find a feature story and how to report it. b. Length and use of quotes in a feature story. c. Assign photos for the feature page.X. 1. Post Mortem of previous weeks paper. 2. Photos a. Basic instruction on news and feature photography. b. Assign photo essays with deadlines. c. How to write a cutline.XI. 1. Post Mortem on previous weeks paper. 2. Production - i dentify students interested in becoming editors for J-135 and J-145. a. Practice page layout/dummies. b. Practice page design. c. Philosophy of a well designed page.XII. 1. Post Mortem on previous weeks paper. 2. Editing specifics for prospective editors a. How and when to change stories. b. How to edit without changing writers voice. c. When to call a writer. d. How to double check facts. e. Using the AP Stylebook and Coast Report Stylebook correctly.XIII. 1. Post Mortem on previous weeks paper. 2. Work one on one with individual writersXIV. 1. b Post Mortem on previous weeks paper. 2. In-depth instruction in InDesign or similar software for those planning to become editors. a. Operating the program. b. Practice designing a page. c. Placing copy onto the page from word processing programs. d. Placing photos on the page from PhotoShop. e. How to write cut lines. f. Remembering photo credits, bylines.XV. 1. Post Mortem on previous weeks paper. 2. Page design. a. Detailed instruction in rules of design. b. Experience designing inside pages. c. Preparing photos for placement on pages.XVI. Semester post mortem
Lab Content
I. Deadlines II. Stylebook III. Basic instruction IV. Inverted pyramid V. 5 Ws VI. News writing VII. Using quotations VIII. Grammar and punctuation review IX. Assigning photos X. Entertainment writing XI. Sports writing XII. Feature writing
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 realisitic background in newspaper deadlines, story assignments and follow through.
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. A variety of story types will be expected. (2 hour a week)
Out-of-class Assignments
Weekly interviews for assigned stories and writing for publication will be expected. (2 hour a week)
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
By conducting a series of interviews and analysing information gathered to complete a written news, feature, or other story, students will demonstrate critical thinking ability.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Students will be evaluated on effort along with the quantity and quality of stories produced. Contributions to weekly newspaper production will also be considered.
Eligible Disciplines
Journalism: Masters degree in journalism or communication with a specialization in journalism OR bachelors degree in either of the above AND masters degree in English, history, communication, literature, composition, comparative literature, any social science, business, business administration, marketing, graphics, or photography OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Goldstein, N.. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, ed. New York: Perseus Publishing , 2013 Rationale: . 2. Required Ballinger, M. Billingsley, M.. The Coast Report Stylebook, ed. Self-published, 2011