Someone was asking for the Spring syllubus for this course, well here it is:
ADVANCED WRITING JOURNALISM

Clark Richardson - Instructor

SYLLABUS SPRING:

At the beginning of each class review new items posted on the class blog for discussion and further research. http://cybercats.blogspot.com/

First Class: Introduction to the class and format and review of syllabus content. Set up student blog accounts. What are the responsibilities of the press in a free country? What about a repressive country (Fifth column). Newspapers and wire services, Unit 1 “Journalism English Today”. Key Vocabulary: News Media Words. News writing. What is news (definitions) what are the readers interested in and what should they be interested in? Time sensitive, hot news. Background research stories. Future news: business forecasts, weather, and horoscopes. Small markets versus big markets. Assignment: Write and e-mail me a hot news item for campus market.

Second Class: What makes a story news. The structure of a news story, Unit 4 Journalism English Today. Disasters and Accidents the good news and the bad news, which do you, want first? News Video introduction. Key vocabulary: The Economy and the Stock Markets. Local, National and International news. What is she? Who is she? What did she do? Campus walk – looking for a story. Find it research it and write it. Distribute blog address to students. Introduce the class blog.

Third Class: Broadcast News. Broadcasting words. Unit 9 in Journalism English Today. The difference between Published media and broadcast media. Talking heads and doorknobs. Radio assignment – Podcasting and sound files. News Writing Video (No. 1-5). Video: “Up Close and Personal” first 15 minutes.

Fourth Class: Pros and cons of T.V., radio, newspapers, magazines, internet sources, news blogs and the on-line press. What’s a lead and what is a lead story? Past, present (time loaded) and future. Obituary story. News Writing Video. Second part of “Up Close and Personal”. Reserve video cameras from Media Center. Show students videotape to buy.

Fifth Class: Review blog postings. What makes a powerful video story? Third part of “Up Close and Personal”. Video assignment. Video groups assignment. News Writing Video.

Sixth Class: How to pick the story. How to research the story (News Writing Video). Sources and how they should be treated. How to tell the story (Vocabulary for print and broadcast news). Unit 9 Broadcast News “Journalism English Today” Continue video assignment media editing in Media center.

Seventh Class: Internet news and papers in other countries. International Organizations. Key vocabulary Unit 11 “Journalism English Today”. E-news , blogs and the filter function of conventional media. Who picks and who decides on what is news. Different in big and small markets, different in media type. News Writing Video. Forth part of ‘Up Close and Personal.

Eighth Class: Headlines and headline words – Thesaurus. Headlining your story. Media leads for your story. Unit 5 English in Headlines “Journalism English Today”. KILL in the paper press. Last section “Up Close and Personal”. Interview techniques first worksheet and classroom practice.

Ninth Class: Class review of student’s news videos. Class review of student audio files. Compare and critique. Critical art, music, movie review.

Tenth Class: Culture and sports. How are they different in structure and vocabulary? News Writing Video. Assignment – Sports story. Kiss and tell.

Eleventh Class: Writing and reporting –coaching the writer, focus the reporter. News Writing Video. Reporting the same story for different media, Units 12 – 13 Journalism English Today. A science story assignment.

Twelfth Class: A news nose and fire engine chasing. Asking all the questions and then what to do with the answers. Respecting and protecting sources.