JEM 230: Media Reporting
Fall 2010, section 007, Wednesday 5:45-7:45
Dr. Caudill, 426 C&I Building
Office hours: TR 9:30-11:00 and by appointment
These are the policies and schedule for Section 007. See also the syllabus, from Dr. Stovall, for all JEM 230 sections
Grading: You will be graded on the quality of information and writing in the assigned stories, as well as performance on news and style quizzes. Both news and styles quizzes may occur at any time. So keep up on both. I drop one assignment/grade, which may be a low grade or a missed assignment. An error of fact is an automatic AF@ on any assignment.
Format of assignment: Length of stories in minutes (audio and video) or pages (print and web) will be assigned in class. Text assignments are always double spaced, 12-point type, with one-inch margins. For all assignments, provide a list of all sources, with phone number and email addresses. This is so I can check your facts, quotes, etc.
Grade appeals: You may appeal any grade on any assignment. There are a few conditions, which are imposed in order to make the appeals substantive rather than whimsical. Appeals are encouraged in order to get you thinking critically about your own work and to get you looking closely at the criticisms made of your work. The conditions:
1. Turn in the appeal by the next class period after the assignment is returned to you.
2. For print, all appeals are typed and attached to the original assignment; no e-appeals. For video, audio and web, email a link to the original story.
3. An appeal must be substantive in that it cites authoritative sources on style, grammar, news writing, or a news source that confirms your version of the facts. For example, your source may be the textbook, the News-Sentinel, WBIR.com, or other professional, credible news outlets.
Attendance: Show up. There are no make-up assignments. Deadlines will not be extended.
Meetings and events: You will have numerous off-campus assignments, which usually do not fall during regular course hours. Most of those assignments are noted in the schedule below. Others will arise in the course of the term and have yet to be scheduled or announced. Be prepared to accommodate such occasions.
Honesty/plagiarism: Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course, just as it is grounds for being fired in the news business. The rules on cheating and plagiarism are outlined in Hilltopics, the student handbook.
About the professor: I am a professor of Journalism and Electronic Media. I received my Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1986. I began teaching at the University of Tennessee=s School of Journalism in 1985. I worked for nearly 10 years as a reporter and editor at the Columbus (Ohio) Citizen-Journal, a daily newspaper, owned at that time by the Scripps-Howard Co. Media experience also includes work at the Associated Press (Raleigh, N.C.), and readership studies for newspapers in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Tentative schedule
The lecture topic of the week from Dr. Stovall is bracketed with our Wednesday class. Note the various meeting times of government entities and speakers. Make arrangements, if necessary, in the event of a schedule conflict. If a schedule conflict cannot be reconciled, then you are responsible for finding an alternative meeting, which must be approved by me. Do not submit a meeting or event story that I have not approved, and do not ask for an exemption from this rule. Note, too, news happens. So be prepared to cover unscheduled events.
8/18 [Introduction to news (first assignment: 2-3 minute audio slide show)]
What is “news”; news style; writing leads and the basic story.
[8/23, 2:00 Knox County Commission]
8/25 [Hardware and software review]
Knox County Commission story (slide show and text) due at end of class.
9/1 [Basics of reporting]
5:00 Knox County School Board. Story is due by noon Friday, 9/3.
FOR 9/8: The person for the obituary (9/8) will be assigned
9/8 [Sources: Observation]
IN CLASS: Finish obituary.
[9/14, 7:30 p.m.: Michael Steele, at Cox Auditorium, UT Alumni Building]
9/15 [Sources: Interviewing]
Michael Steele story due at end of class.
NOTE assignment for 9/22. Get the information before class on 9/22.
9/22 [Sources: Public records]
Story based on Tennessee records of campaign contributions by UT employees. Discuss using this material, its practical news values, and any ethical issues. Also consider the issues involved in interpreting such data. Story is due at the end of class.
[9/27, 2:00: Knox County Commission OR 9/28, 7:30: “The Great Porn Debate,” University Center Auditorium]
9/29 [Math for journalists]
Debate or meeting story due at end of class
10/6 [Test 1]
More math for journalists: Election polls & coverage.
10/13 [Photojournalism]
NO CLASS: Bob Edwards, 7:30, UC Auditorium.
10/20 Bob Edwards story due at end of class.
[10/25: 2:00 Knox County Commission]
10/27 Knox County Commission story due at end of class.
Guidelines for final project will be handed out.
11/3 5:00 Knox Country School Board. Story is due by noon Friday.
NOTE the assignment for 11/10. Begin work on it so you are prepared to finish it in class on 11/10.
11/10 Police and crime.
Who is in the neighborhood? Check the Tennessee sex offenders registry to find out who lives in your neighborhood, or within a mile of your residence. Interview at least two people in the neighborhood for responses to what you find. If you live without offenders nearby, then interview people on their opinions about the existence of the registry (pro or con). Due at end of class
11/17 Proposal for final story is due at the beginning of class. Provide the general story idea, the newsworthiness, audio and video components that you plan to incorporate, and web links. See the guidelines handed out on 10/27.
11/24 [Test 2]
Final project is due at the end of class.
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