Maria Burns Ortiz

Readings: All readings are to be completed for the week listed. Readings are subject to change throughout the course of the semester. All readings will be finalized no less than two weeks prior to the assigned date. The link (when piece is accessible online) can be found by clicking on the article’s title. If you want readings further in advance, please contact the instructor.

Assigned textbook readings and URLs to additional assigned articles can be accessed online through: www.mariaburnsortiz.com/syllabus/emerson102 (Bookmark this page)

Assignments: All assignments listed will be due the following class.

Week 1

Sept. 6: Introduction, review syllabus, overview and terms

Week 2

Sept. 11: What’s important? Developing news judgment, objectivity. Basic copy editing
Sept. 13: Types of news stories, 5 Ws (and H), Professional standards and ethics

Week 3

Sept. 18: NO CLASS
Sept. 20: Grammar review, AP Style

Week 4

Sept. 25: Ledes for print/Web (Part 1)
Sept. 27: Ledes for print/Web (Part 2), Information selection

Week 5

Oct. 2: Structuring a story, attribution
Oct. 4: Generating story ideas

Week 6

Oct. 9 – NO CLASS – Tue. follows Monday schedule
Oct. 11: Research and Reporting

Week 7

Oct. 16: Interviewing
Oct. 18: Man-on-the-street

Week 8

Oct. 23: Covering meetings and speeches
Oct. 25: Press freedoms and access

Week 9

Oct. 30: Beats
Nov. 1: Features

Week 10

Nov. 6: Sources
Nov. 8: Self-editing and editing

Week 11

Nov. 13: Obits
Nov. 15: Columns

Week 12

Nov. 20: Audio vs. print vs. video
Nov. 22 – NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING

Week 13

Nov. 27: Writing scripts and broadcast ledes
Nov. 29: Audio recording and interviewing basics

Week 14

Dec. 4: Video basics
Dec. 6: Video interviews

Week 15

Dec. 11: Thinking multimedia: Creating convergence and multiplatform content
Dec. 13 – Final Class (No FINAL EXAM, but class will meet): Semester wrap