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Introduction to the course


Reading: Writing for the Mass Media, chapters 1, 2 and 3

Welcome to JEM 200.

This course is about journalism.

Journalism begins with reporting and writing.

This course is about reporting – gather information. Not just any information but information that can be processed into something we call “news.”

This course is about writing -- first and foremost, how to write well in a professional environment. Secondly, it’s about how learning how to write in the major forms of writing for various mass media.

This course is important -- possibly one of the most important that you will take. Why?
• Journalism begins with reporting.
• Reporting is a skill that reaches beyond journalism.
• Writing is central to all media industries.
• Writing is the mark of a well educated person.
• Writing is a powerful activity. The ability to control and articulate ideas and information gives you power over what other people know and think about.

What’s different?

This course is different from all other writing course that you have had in two important ways:

First, we emphasize information. The major purpose of writing for the mass media is to present information.

This information should be
-- recent
-- verifiable
-- medium specific

Second, one of the purposes of this course is to teach you how to report and write in a professional environment. That is, we want you to understand what the demands of professionalism are and what you will need to meet those demands.

Third, writing in a media environment usually means writing for a mass audience. Chances are, a lot of people are going to read or hear or see what you write (not just your English professor). Understanding that audience is a big part of learning to write for the mass media.

Finally, there is the concept of modesty. By that we mean that good writing for the mass media puts the writer in the background and emphasizes instead the content of the writing. An audience doesn’t care what you think or how you feel about what you are writing. The audience wants information, and it wants that information presented accurately, completely, efficiently and precisely.

Writing that is modest
-- doesn't call attention to itself
-- doesn't call attention to the writer
-- emphasizes the content
-- is generally free of opinion

Four characteristics of media writing

Accuracy is the chief requirement of a writer for the mass media. This is not just a journalist’s requirement. All writers are expected to present information accurately and to take some pains in doing so. Many of the procedures for writing for the mass media are set up to ensure accuracy.

Clarity means that you should present your information using commonly understood words and phrases and in a context so that it can be easily understood by a mass audience. Your writing should answer all of the questions that could be expected by the audience. (Not all of the questions that could be asked, but all those that it takes to understand the information.)

Efficiency is one of the most prized writing characteristics. Efficiency means using the fewest words to present you information accurately and clearly. Efficiency is difficult to achieve because

* most of us write inefficiently, especially on first draft
* most of use do not do a good job in editing our writing
* the world is filled with inefficient writing, and we often fall victim to it.

Precision means that as a writer, you take special care with the language. You know good grammar and practice it. You use words for precisely what they mean. You develop a love for the language.

How do we learn to exhibit these characteristics in our writing?

First, we pay attention to the basics.


Basic tools of writing

Grammar, spelling, punctuation

How many of you have said one of these things:

  • These were all invented by sadistic junior high school English teachers to terrorize students and confuse adults.
  • No one can learn all those rules and terms, and besides, it doesn’t do anybody any good anyway.
  • I can write. I’m just not very good at grammar and spelling.
  • People who know all the rules for using commas are weird -- and dorks.

These are a few of the things you hear about grammar, spelling and punctuation. Maybe they even reflect some of your thoughts.

For media writers, people who make their living in this profession, however, the rules of grammar, spelling, punctuation and style are essential. Knowing those rules and being able to apply them consciously to your writing is the mark of a professional. What you don’t know about these things, you should try to learn as quickly as possible.

First a few principles

  • The rules of grammar are important. Standardization allows us to communicate more effectively and efficiently.

  • Knowledge of those rules makes us a better writer. We have more confidence in the way that we are saying things.

  • People who work with the language -- people like you -- should care about it. They should take an active interest in its development.

  • The “rules” -- grammar, spelling, punctuation –– are dynamic rather than stagnant. They change often. Knowing grammar is not just knowing a set of rule. Rather, it is understanding how the language works and how it is used.

Media writers must keep up with the language and the way in which people are using it.

Knowledge of the rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling and style are important to your professional reputation

Most common errors

Students beginning JEM 200 make some common Level I errors. These errors can be overcome if they pay attention and apply some basic rules. They need to begin to get out of some of the bad habits they have developed in writing.

Here are some of those errors:

Run-on sentence and commas splice. A run-on sentence connects two complete sentences with no punctuation or coordinating conjunction.

The computer screen began flashing it would not stop.

A comma splice is where the writer might use a comma to separate the two sentences.

The computer screen began flashing, it would not stop.

This sentence is still incorrect. To proper separate two complete sentences within a sentence, you should use a comma AND a coordinating conjunction, such as “and” or “but.”

* The computer screen began flashing, and it would not stop.

Pronoun-antecedent agreement. This may be the most common error in writing because it is the most common error in our speaking. We often use a plural pronoun to refer to a singular antecedent in our speech. This is acceptable when we speak, but it is not acceptable when we write.

Singular antecedents require singular pronouns.
The Supreme Court announced its decision today.
Not
The Supreme Court announced their decision today.

Essential and non-essential clauses. Look up this entry in your AP Stylebook and study it carefully. Understand how an essential clause differs from a non-essential clause. In many constructions, essential clauses are introduced with the word “that” and are not separated from the rest of the sentence with commas. Non-essential clauses are introduced with the word “which” and are separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.

Its, it’s. Repeat after me:

It is a singular pronoun.
Its is the possessive of it.
It’s is a contraction for “it is.”
Its’ does not exist.

Commas. The comma can be a very powerful instrument for expression.


God save the Queen.
God, save the Queen.
God save the Queen?
God save the Queen!
God. Save the Queen.

There aren’t many rules for using commas, but they are very important.

Pay particular attention when you use a direct quotation and attribution. That’s something we do a lot of in media writing. A comma should be inside the quotation mark to separate the quote from the attribution, as the examples below:

“I ran to the store,” he said.

A period should not be put after the word “store.” It should be a comma. Don’t make the silly mistake of writing:

WRONG: “I ran to the store.” he said.

In grading writing assignments, I have seen many students use this construction. Students who do that this semester are likely to fail outright.

Take a look at JPROF's one-page set of rules for using commas.

Words. Use words precisely – for exactly what they mean. (Study Appendix C in the text.)

Don’t use reticient when you mean reluctant,
imply when you mean infer,
don’t shoot off a canon,
don’t sentence someone to be hung for a crime,
and above all,
don’t stand on your principals.

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

Mark Twain

Forming plurals. Do not use an apostrophe to form the plural of a word.

Forming possessives

Style and the stylebook

All media writing is governed by the rules of a stylebook. The most wide-ranging stylebook is the AP Stylebook and Libel Manual, a book that is required for this course. That’s the stylebook that governs journalism, public relations and much of advertising.

Like grammar, style rules weren’t cooked up just to make life miserable for college freshmen and sophomores. They have some important uses. They:

• help bring a consistency to writing
• help draw attention away from the writing and toward the content
• help make writing easier for the writer

Here are a few basic style rules that may help you learn the stylebook:

Every word has one and only one spelling.

Avoid unnecessary capitalization.
Proper nouns and names: exceptions: Popular names (South Side, East Tennessee, the Series); Derivatives (English, Christian, but not biblical or french fries)
Learn the difference between capital and Capitol

Avoid excessive abbreviation.
A name and an abbreviation in parentheses immediately after it is usually not necessary.
Memorize abbreviations for months and states.
In most cases, capitals and periods are not necessary for an abbreviation.
ABC, not A.B.C.; but always U.S., never US
Some abbreviations are appropriate on all references: FBI for Federal Bureau of Investigation

Punctuate according to generally accepted rules of punctuation.
Major exception:
Items in a series: AP style says not to put a comma between the next-to-last item and the conjunction.

The flag is red, white and blue.

In general, spell out zero through nine.
Many exceptions and contingencies to this rule.
Look up “numerals” entry in the stylebook.
Pay attention and memorize.

Knowledge and use of style is a way of showing that you care about your writing and that you have the discipline to improve it. Consistency in writing is almost always a virtue.
Grammar terms

Knowing the terms of grammar is important for the knowledgeable writer. You can learn some of these terms at this page on JPROF.

Specifically, you should be familiar with verbal, noun, present tense, active voice, coordinating conjunction.


Get into good habits by applying AP style rules to everything you write, even your emails.

The world in which we report

The major fact about journalism these days in the development of digital media. The environment in which journalism is practiced and produced is changing radically from what it was five or 10 years ago. This change may not be as apparent to you as it is to those who are 30 years old and older, but it is palpable and important.

So how do we understand this change?

One way is by comparing the web (and its mobile descendents) to what is now termed the traditional media (newspapers, magazines, radio and television, etc.). Here are some of the characteristics of the web as a news medium that we must understand:

The world of journalism is changing as we speak. No one has a good handle of what it will be like a year or three years from now. One of the people who thinks a lot about these things is Clay Shirky, who teaches journalism at New York University. Take a look at what he has to say in this eight-minute video:


About this course

As an JEM200 student, you are required to attend the Thursday evening lecture as well as a writing section that meets twice a week. Attendance at both are extremely important to your success in this course.

Every student has three responsibilities: prepare, attend, engage.

In the lecture, you are expected to be an active listener. Questions and comments are welcome at any time, but chances are that you are not going to say much. Still, you should listen closely, take notes and participate in other ways when asked.

Rules of civil behavior that we observe in lecture include

* if I am talking, you should listen; if you start talking, I will stop and listen
* sleeping and reading a newspaper are rude behaviors that will not be tolerated
* if you cannot avoid being late, come in and seat yourself quietly
* don’t pack up to leave before the lecture is finished

Attendance

Attendance is an important part of this course. Part of becoming a professional -- which begins with this course -- is regular and dependable attendance. Students who do not attend will find they get very little sympathy from lab instructors or the professor. More students fail the course for lack of attendance than for any other reason.

Here are the rules:

Finally . . .

That’s most of the necessary stuff. Let’s have a good semester.

Possible writing lab activities for next week

-- Review lecture points as necessary; comments, questions?
-- Review general principles of good writing
-- In-class writing exercises from chapters 1, 2, and 3

Possible news quiz questions for this week's lecture session.


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