Newswriting is an introductory writing and reporting course. You will learn to research, organize and write news and feature stories for the mass media. The course will emphasize all aspects of good writing and reporting - grammar, spelling, punctuation, organization, accuracy, completeness, taste, and readability. Your goal will be to write with clarity and accuracy under deadline pressure.

Textbooks/Supplies:

Reporting for the Print Media by Fred Fedler (Bring to each class)
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual (Bring to each class)
A box of High Density IBM-compatible computer disks to save work (Label each disk with your name and local phone number.)

Course format:
We will begin the semester with some lecture/discussion classes, but the majority of the semester will be spent in the computer lab learning to write news style. Because a major portion of your grade will be based on in-class work, attendance is mandatory. As a once-a-week class, you will be automatically failed in the course if you have 3 unexcused absences. Please call and leave voice mail to explain absences or bring a health center/doctor's note to the next class. If any personal or health problems occur during the semester, see me about arranging extra help before getting behind on assignments. Persons with physical, mental, or learning disabilities should see the instructor about any extra accommodations necessary and must be registered with Disability Support Services (ext. 2638). Remember: Deadline writing assignments and quizzes cannot be made up. Complete the reading assignments before the class day for which they are assigned. You will be expected to read The Baltimore Sun daily for current events quizzes. AP style quizzes will be given as well. The quizzes will be within the first 10 minutes of class, so latecomers will receive a zero.  

Grading:
Outside projects: 40 percent
In-class lab work and quizzes: 40 percent
Midterm and final: 20 percent
Note: In-class leads will not be given a grade but will checked and corrected. Those leads not
completed will receive a zero. You must do rewrites on any in-class assignment in which errors
are found. Failure to do an any assignment will result in a zero.

Grading criteria:

90 - 100 ("A" & "A-")) Publishable work. It is a story that is clear, interesting, and well-written. It has good organization, effective quotes, smooth transitions and no spelling, grammar, or accuracy errors.

80 - 89 ("B+", "B", & "B-") Publishable with some editing. It may have some minor spelling or grammatical errors. The lead is effective. The body is cohesive and well-organized.

70 - 79 ("C+" & "C") Requires extensive editing to publish. Several sections must be rewritten. The lead may be buried or fail to focus on the most important aspects of the story. The body of the story is disorganized and contains many minor errors.

60 - 69 ("D") Needs a complete rewrite to be published. The facts are presented ineffectively. The story contains an unacceptable number of spelling, grammar, or accuracy errors.

Below 60 ("F") Contains major factual error(s). Names are misspelled. The facts are so distorted that they could not be rewritten and published.

("FX")* This is an administrative failure for non-attendance or failure to withdraw. If you do not withdraw from the course by Towson's preset deadlines for the semester and stop attending the class, this is the grade you will receive.

("I") Incomplete. At Towson University, students may only receive an Incomplete with "verifiable medical reasons or documented circumstances beyond their control" (Towson University Undergraduate Catalog, p. 24).

* If you receive an F or FX, you may only repeat the course once. After repeating the course, students will only receive credit for the course once and the highest of the grades will be calculated. The lower grade will remain on the transcript with an "R" before it to indicate the course was repeated. For the transcript to reflect the repeated course, students MUST submit a Repeated Course Form to the Records Office. Transcript adjustments are NOT automatic (Towson University Undergraduate Catalog, p. 24).  

Form/content:

On the major writing assignments, two grades will be given, one for form and one for content. This enables students to see specific areas where they may need more improvement. Also, it allows students to be rewarded for good story ideas or interviews, although they have not mastered all the technical skills of form. Form refers to spelling, grammar, punctuation, readability, order of information, general accuracy, etc. Content refers to topic selection, organization, use of quotes, completeness, good transition, appropriate sources, effective lead, accuracy, etc.

Rewrites:

You can do one rewrite on most writing assignments. Rewrites are due up to one week after the class period when the assignment was returned. They will NOT be accepted after that. The original MUST be turned in again with the rewrite. Up to 5 points can be added to the original grade for a well-done rewrite. Be prepared to revise an assignment several times before turning it in the first time. Also, if you are experiencing any difficulties with any assignments, please make an appointment with me. I always have time for someone who makes an effort.

* Make sure you submit a source list with each story assignment.
* Do not plagiarize, fabricate, or submit work you have done for another class.
* No late assignments will be accepted AFTER the last day of classes, i.e. during finals week.
* Stories must be typed, double-spaced, in correct form and style and should contain your name, the date, and the assignment topic in the upper left-hand corner.
* Proofread and correctly copy edit your copy! All spelling. punctuation, grammar, AP style, and factual errors will cause you to lose grade points.

Participation:

If you regularly contribute to discussions, you receive 90-100 points for the 10% participation part of the grade. If you moderately contribute, you receive 70-89 points. And if you never or rarely contribute or have numerous absences, you will receive a 69 or below. Prolonged serious illnesses or hospitalization will be considered individually.

Students with Disabilities:

If you are registered with Disability Support Services, please see your instructor during the first two weeks of class to arrange your specific accommodations. If you believe you may need accommodation and have not registered with DSS, please do so by calling ext. 2638.

Student Athletes:

You must have a letter from the coach explaining your place on the team and a schedule of any away games or competitions during the semester. You must take any tests and prepare any assignments that conflict with this schedule before the test or due date, not after.
 
 

Clips of your published works will make you more marketable in the "real world." I, therefore, give much reward to published stories. You can receive up to 10 points added to your final grade for news or feature stories published during the semester (1 point per clip typically). The articles must be a feature story, NOT a letter to the editor, opinion piece, or entertainment review. Your published clips should follow the criteria of news or feature stories presented in this class. (i.e. it should not be a rewrite of a press release or a rehash of another publication's story.) Clips are due by the last day of classes. You may publish any assignments you do for this class and receive the extra credit.

I DO NOT tolerate plagiarism or fabrication of any kind. Journalists value their integrity and strive to present the truth to their audiences to the best of their ability. You will be asked to live up to these standards as well. You should adhere to Towson's policy on cheating and plagiarism. If you are caught breaking this policy, you will prosecuted to the full extent that the policy allows.

* Not citing the source of information used in a story.
* Using other people's reporting notes. (You may, however, double check the accuracy of your facts and quotes with other reporters who attended the same interview or event.)
* Using sentences or paragraphs from other people's stories or writings without giving credit.
* Turning in someone else's story and pretending it is yours.

* Making up direct or indirect quotes in stories. Quoted material should be what a real person actually said.
* Making up people, events, or facts in a story.
* Making up an entire story from an event that never happened.
* Making up a story from an event or interview you attended in the past. You must represent the information in a story accurately.
* Making up a story from other people's notes or other people's accounts of an event.

* The penalty for plagiarism and/or fabrication of any assignment in this class is an automatic F in the course. If there is any dispute about whether the offense occurred, the case will be referred to a disciplinary hearing. The penalty for these offenses in stiff in journalism because if you commit these in a most media workplaces, you would be fired.
 
 

REPORT ON JOE GOULD'S SECRET - This book describes the "behind the scenes" of a journalist writing about a somewhat unique profile story subject. It is extremely accurate about the personal conflicts a journalist sometimes faces. It has some significant things to say about journalism ethics. It's also an enjoyable way to read about a journalist digging into a person's story. Your focus for this short paper should be on the ethical dilemmas played out in the book. For example, explain what the problems and implications are of Joseph Mitchell getting so involved with Joe Gould. Did he cross a line with his compassion? Does he care too much? Should he have been more distant from his source or was his involvement what made the story so detailed and compelling? Discuss these issues in the context of the ethics of journalism (Chapter 21 in Fedler) and explain their significance. Also, give your own personal reaction to a journalist's life. (750-1000 words).

INTERVIEW STORY - An interview has been arranged on a topic selected by your instructor. More details will be announced later. (If you miss this interview, you should drop the class because this is a mandatory assignment.)You will be given a copy of the interview subject's resume and should prepare a list of 20 questions before the interview. During the interview, you should ask good questions, take good notes, and then write a good story. You may make this a profile story or an issue story. We will discuss the best approach to the story. Your story should be of publishable quality. You may discuss questions and the writing process with each other, but you should not exchange notes from the interview. Take your own notes and write your own story. (1000-1500 words) Remember this assignment has 4 components:
* 20 questions
* Interview notes and supporting materials
* The completed story
* Accuracy check of your facts by the interview subject

SPEECH STORY - You should cover a public speech or press conference, either on campus or
off. Turn in a publishable story. Be sure to include background on the speaker(s) and reaction
quotes from some audience members. That means you should interview audience members about their reactions or questions about the talk. (To make above a B on this assignment, you must have more sources than just the speaker.) Don't delay this assignment. It may take several days to find a speech or press conference to attend. Fliers posted around campus are a good source of speech ideas. (1000 -1500 words).

This assignment has 5 components:

* 20 questions on the speech topic
* The completed story
* Any supporting materials, handouts, fliers from the speech etc.
* A source list with phone numbers
* Your notes from the assignment

FEATURE STORY - It should be based on at least three human interviews and should focus on
material developed by your questioning of the interview subjects. For example, if you decided to
interview a campus sports figure for your story, you could also interview his/her coach, friends,
family, press critics, or fans. Feature stories can also focus on societal trends such fad diets or
body piercing, for example. For feature stories, you should NOT interview your own relatives or
friends unless you clear it with your instructor. You must submit a feature story proposal for me to approve before starting this assignment. (1200+ words)

This assignment has 6 components:
* Feature story proposal
* 20 questions on the feature topic
* The completed story
* Any supporting materials, handouts, fliers, press releases about the topic etc.
* A source list with phone numbers
* Your notes from the assignment