Maria Burns Ortiz

WEEK-BY-WEEK COURSE SCHEDULE

Readings and assignments  are subject to change throughout the course of the semester. All readings and assignments  will be finalized no less than two weeks prior to the assigned date. If you want readings further in advance, please contact the instructor.

Readings: All readings are to be completed before coming to class on the date listed.

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

Week 1

Jan. 17: Introduction, review syllabus, overview and terms

Assignment: Write a news story about freshmen students beginning their second semester at Emerson. Include quotes from at least two interviews. Stories should be 300-500 words. Additionally, include a list of the interview questions you asked and a paragraph or two describing the reporting process you used.

Week 2

Jan. 22: What’s important? Developing news judgment, objectivity. Basic copy editing

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 1-2, Appendix A

Assignment: Look at each of the New York Times’ 1A stories for Sept. 12. Write a 1-2 sentence assessment as to why each piece was selected for the front page. Which element(s) of news judgment does the story reflect? Identify the nut graf for each story.

Jan. 24: Types of news stories, 5 Ws (and H)

Readings: Start reading Elements of Style (Needs to be completed by Jan. 31)

Assignment: Look through the Sunday NY Times. Find examples of a hard news story, second-day story, a trend story, a profile, a service piece and a column. List the title and page number of the piece. Briefly summarize (one paragraph/piece) how you can determine the category that best describes the story. For the hard news stories (straight news and second-day), also point out the 5 Ws (and H). Identify the nut graf for each story.

Week 3

Jan 29: Professional standards and ethics, Libel

Readings: Writing and Reporting the News: Appendix E-F

AP Stylebook, Briefing on Media Law, Chapter 1-9, 12

SPJ Code of Ethics (See course website)

Avoiding Plagiarism in Journalism (See course website)

Emerson College Policy on Plagiarism (See course website)

Assignment: Ethics and libel exercise. (Will be sent via email.)

Jan. 31: Grammar review, AP Style

Readings: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 3, Appendix B-C

Elements of Style

Assignments:

Textbook – Exercise G: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15 (Also source where you found the definition that was the basis for your rewrite/definition.)

Go back to your “Emerson freshman” news story. Revise it using the grammar review, AP style rules, other information covered in class and/or the readings.

Week 4

Feb. 5: Ledes for print/Web (Part 1)

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 4

Assignment: Lede writing exercise. (Will be sent via email.)

Feb. 7: Ledes for print/Web (Part 2), Information selection

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 5, Chapter 8

Week 5

Feb. 12: Structuring a story, attribution

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 6-7, Chapter 9-10

Feb. 14: Generating story ideas

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 13

Week 6

Feb. 19 – NO CLASS

Feb. 21 – NO CLASS – Thursday follows Monday schedule

Week 7

Feb. 26: Research and Reporting

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 12, Chapter 14

In-class: How to set up a News U account and select/complete a self-directed course.

Feb. 28: Press freedoms and access

Readings: AP Stylebook, Briefing on Media Law, Chapter 11

Online course to be completed before coming to class: Complete the “Freedom of Information” online course. (NewU course link available on class Web page.) Read each of the four sections included on the side menu. This includes items 1-11 under “How It Works,” all tips under “Writing a Request,” links under “Open Meetings” and “Public Records,” completing the FOIA scavenger hunt and each icon under “Stories you can do.” You do NOT need to “Share a story idea” or do anything related to the Discussion Forum. Email your “Course Report” to me: maria_burnsortiz@emerson.edu.

In-Class: Write a FOIA letter

SPRING BREAK

Week 8

March 12: Interviewing

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 16

Assignment: Conduct an interview. Q &A format.

March 14: Man-on-the-street, Sources

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 15

Assignment: Write a man-on-the-street piece.

Week 9

March 19: Beats

Reading: Complete the “News U — Introduction to Reporting: Beat Basics” online course. (NewU course link available on class Web page.) Unless otherwise noted here, make sure you read everything under menus/that can be expanded (i.e. The Beat Description; Finding Source)/tabs (i.e. Going off the record). Complete all Activities (exception, you can skip “Activity: List Top Five Tips from Other Journalists). Under “Beats,” select the three most interesting to you. Read all of the expanded information on those topics.

Email “Activity: Create Your Beat Description” and your “Course Report” (after completing the course) to me: maria_burnsortiz@emerson.edu

March 21: Covering meetings and speeches

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 18

Assignment: Cover a meeting.

Week 10

March 26: Features

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 22

Assignment: Write a feature.

March 28: Self-editing, editing and headlines

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Appendix D

Complete the “News U – Get Me Rewrite: The Craft of Revision” online course for Nov. 6. Email your “Course Report” to me: maria_burnsortiz@emerson.edu.

Assignment: Story revision — self editing and peer editing.

Week 11

April 2: Obits

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 15

Monday’s New York Times obituaries

Assignment: Write a 250-400 word “no-bit” on a classmate. Must include two sources (one friend, one family member). Classmate cannot provide any information about him/herself.

April 4: Columns

Assignment: Write a column.

Week 12

April 9: Audio vs. print vs. video, Writing scripts and broadcast ledes

Reading: Writing and Reporting the News: Chapter 27

April 11: Scripts, Part II

Week 13

April 16: Audio recording and interviewing basics

April 18: TV News

Week 14

April 23: Video interviews

April 25: Review

Week 15

April 30 – Final Class (No FINAL EXAM, but class will meet): Semester wrap, Final reporting assignment due.