Welcome, Syllabus, Assignments and More

Welcome to Intro to Journalism!

Now, our first lesson: See that exclamation point? Here's the rule in journalism. Use one exclamation point once every seven years and then only when you mean it. So there goes seven years' worth of exclaiming. Still, it feels worth it. Welcome.

(BTW, There are no rules with exclamation points when it comes to e-mails and tweets and most non-news blogs, so you can always get your emoting out that way.)

Our course syllabus appears below. It's also available on Blackboard. Please feel free to print a paper copy, though it's good to be green, even if it's not easy. Ask Kermit the Frog.

Please check this blog site regularly for schedule updates, assignment details, news and useful links and more. Register as a follower of this blog now -- you'll be posting responses to assignments and more throughout the semester.

Here's to a great semester. Note: I had to repress that exclamation point. Limits are limits.

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Introduction to Journalism / English Writing 0550 / CRN 54843



Professor Jakiela
208 Faculty Office Building
Office Extension: #7481 (724-836-7481)
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays Noon-1 p.m. and by appointment
E-Mail: lljakiela@gmail.com, loj@pitt.edu

Required Texts:
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual
The Associated Press Guide to News Writing
Hiroshima, John Hersey
Somebody Told Me, Rick Bragg
Vintage Didion, Joan Didion
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer

If you’re not already familiar with the on-line versions of major newspapers, you’ll want to start with www.postgazette.com, www.triblive.com and www.nytimes.com. You’ll need to register to use the Times site, but registration is free. News blogs are also good sources of information. A few you should check out include The Huffington Post, Slate , and The Atlantic's/Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish are just a few. You should also be familiar with The UPG Insider, Pitt-Greensburg’s online newspaper. Checking these sites regularly will help you with the weekly news quizzes in this course.


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When asked why he rewrote the final chapter of A Farewell to Arms 44 times, Ernest Hemingway answered: “To get the words right.”

Hemingway was a journalist before he was a great novelist. All journalists – if they’re dedicated to their craft – struggle to master the techniques and skills that became Hemingway hallmarks. The precise use of language and surprising, luminous details. Sharp, unflinching reportage. Meaningful dialogue recorded by a well-tuned ear. A clean, well-ordered story crafted by a critical and an inquisitive mind.

But how does one begin?

This class does not promise to churn out Hemingways, but it will help you to do several things you may not have been able to do before:

* You will learn the basics of journalism – the 5 Ws/1H; how to get it right, write it fast, write it well.
* You’ll learn how to use standard industry techniques – including the classic Inverted Pyramid and Associated Press Style – to shape stories.
* You’ll take a close look at the different kinds of articles that appear in newspapers and will develop critical skills that will help you both as a writer and consumer of news.
* You’ll craft basic news stories, features, and editorial pieces.
* You’ll discover how the Internet is changing the way we write and receive news, and how old media and new media are working together to change the information landscape.
* You’ll begin to understand the ethical and legal responsibilities of the profession, as well as the role of the media in American society.


One thing all serious writers agree on: you can’t be a writer if you don’t read. And so, as you can tell from the list of required texts, we’ll be doing a lot of reading in this class. Through our readings, I hope you’ll develop a sense of the history of the profession and begin to imagine your own place in it.

As for our primary textbook, The AP Guide to News Writing – consider it the drill instructor for the course. We’ll do quite a lot of writerly push-ups. The exercises should help you develop basic news writing and reporting skills. While all good writing has much in common, journalism is a very particular version of the virus, and it’s one that requires repeat exposures.

In addition to all of this, we’ll spend considerable time reading and critiquing the work of journalists in the local, national, and student press. And you will, of course, be writing, revising and editing your own work and offering feedback regarding your classmates’ work throughout the term.

Ideally, once you get the hang of things, your work will be passed to the UPG student newspaper, The Insider, for possible publication. Editors from The Insider will visit early in the semester to talk about the kinds of stories they’d be interested in, and about what they think makes for good campus news.

The Details


Deadlines
One of the primary lessons in journalism is that a deadline is sacred. Therefore, I will not accept late work.

A Few Words About Content
You need to take your work seriously. If you’re bored with what you write, your readers will be bored, too.

Care enough to go beyond mediocrity. Good journalists do not work by rote.

An important note: When you need to interview sources for your stories, do not interview friends and family members. Do not make up quotes or facts. Be precise when you quote a source. Use a tape recorder or other recording device if you can. In this class, you will be held to professional journalists’ ethical standards. Failure to uphold ethical standards in your work will result in failure in the course.

Technically Speaking
Be accurate. Observe proper formats. Consult the AP Stylebook, a composition handbook, and/or a dictionary each time you encounter problems with spelling, grammar, or style.

Assignments should be free of technical errors. Assignments containing grievous technical and/or factual errors will be returned to you unread. You will need to correct the errors and return the work to me by the next class period in order to receive credit for the assignment.

Quizzes

As beginning journalists, it is important that you keep up with the news (how’s that for obvious?). Newspapers are available free on campus and the Internet provides wide access to a variety of news sources. To ensure that you keep current, we will have news quizzes (sometimes disguised as News Jeopardy! -- more fun, same concept).

We will also have several quizzes based on the assigned readings. You’ll note that readings-quizzes usually come after a weighty reading assignment. The combined quizzes will account for 25 percent of your grade in the course.


Attendance and Participation
You must attend class and complete all written assignments. If you must miss class due to an emergency or an illness, it is your responsibility to contact me.

If you miss more than three classes during the semester, your grade will drop by one letter for each additional absence. Also, I expect you to come to class on time and to be prepared. Failure to do so will result in a recorded absence.

Your participation in class is essential, and 25 percent of your grade will depend upon it.

In short, please come to class, be prepared, speak up, and take an active interest in your own progress.

Final Portfolios
You’ll need to save the original copies of all the stories you do this term. At the end of the semester, you’ll return these pieces to me, along with at least one dramatic revision of a piece of your choice.

(Note: I may ask you to revise any piece at any time. This revision would be mandatory, and would be included as part of your portfolio. It would not, however, replace your final revision.)

Your final portfolio, along with successful completion of your initial drafts and completed written exercises, will account for the remaining 50 percent of your grade in the course.


Conferences
We will meet in conferences once during the term. The conference will give us a chance to talk one-on-one about your work. The conferences are mandatory. Time-permitting, I will cancel our regular classes during a conference week. Failure to attend your conference will be recorded as a class absence.

Office Hours
Please stop by my office during office hours, or schedule an appointment for another time. I’m happy to meet with you to discuss your work at any time during the term.

Written Work
Once again, your written work will account for 50 percent of your grade in this course. Although the following list is subject to change at any time, here’s roughly what your workload will be:

Exercises and short assignments: 10
Analysis Piece/Short Critique: 2
Articles: One or more of each of the following (subject to change)--

Event/speech/meeting coverage
Obituary
Simple news story
Complex news story
Profile
Commentary and/or Gonzo piece

Total of seven pieces at approximately 300-800 words each


Students with Disabilities
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Lou Ann Sears in the Learning Resources Center located on the first floor of the Faculty Office Building. You should do this as early as possible in the term. The LRC will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.

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Tentative Schedule of Assignments for the first month – This will change.


Tuesday, Aug. 31
Course Introduction/review of syllabus

Assignments:
1. Read Chapter 1 and Chapter 2/Guide to News Writing

2. Find one example of good writing (according to the guidelines in your text and according to you as a consumer of news/words) and one example of awful writing. Clip and bring to class. Be prepared to discuss. (Save examples for your portfolio.)

3. Remember to register for nytimes.com and, if you still subscribe or regularly read print news, bring a newspaper to class.


Thursday, Sept. 2
News and readings quiz
Lecture: What makes writing good?
Introduction to using the AP Stylebook (make sure you bring your stylebooks to class for every class meeting)
Small group work – Writing samples

Assignments:

1. Read Chapter 3/Guide to News Writing (Leads)

2. Find two examples (you guessed it). One great lead. One cruddy lead. Bring both to class and be ready to discuss. (Save examples for your portfolio.)

3. Also, practice writing a lead of your own. Choose an event from the UPG Campus Calendar as the subject for your lead. Follow the guidelines in the AP text. Try to answer as many of the 5 Ws/1 H in your lead as necessary (that’s Who, What, When, Where, Why, How/How Much). Have fun and don’t worry – you can make mistakes.

4. Post your lead to this blog by 2 p.m. Sunday. We'll review select leads in class.


Tuesday, Sept. 7
Leads
Small group work: More leads
Assignments:

1. Read Chapter 4/Guide to News Writing (Periods).

2. Now, write your first news story. This story will be about an upcoming event on campus. Choose an event that interests you. You can find events and details on the campus calendar (www.pitt.edu/~upg). Before you try to write the story, be sure you have all the necessary information (5Ws/1H). Be sure to contact and interview two relevant sources. Be sure to identify the sources, quote them directly in your story, and provide contact information (phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses) for fact-checking purposes.

3. Again, you can bobble around a bit and make mistakes, but I do expect you to write in the English language. Grammar and common-sense elements count. 300- 500 words. E-mail your story to me by 2 p.m. on Sunday. Email to: lljakiela@gmail.com

Also, bring a hard copy of your story to class on Tuesday. I’ll bring in copies of select stories.


Thursday, Sept. 9
News and readings quiz
Lecture and discussion: Writing that first news story
Assignments:

1. Read Chapter 5/Guide to News Writing (Journalese).

2. Continue to work on your first news story. Remember, your story is due via e-mail by 2 p.m. on Sunday. Don’t miss your deadline.


Tuesday, Sept. 14
Review first news stories/workshop
Assignments:

1. Read Chapter 6 and Chapter 7/Guide to News Writing (Tone/Attributions)
2. Begin revising your first news stories based on readings and class discussions.
3. Begin reading Hiroshima


Thursday, Sept. 17
Continue discussion and workshop of first news stories
Assignments:

1. Continue reading Hiroshima
2. Finish revising your first news story. E-mail your revisions to me by 2 p.m. on Sunday. E-mail to lljakiela@gmail.com. Bring your finished draft to class on Tuesday. I’ll bring in a few select revisions for discussion.


Tuesday, Sept. 21
News story revisions
Lecture: Background on Hiroshima
Assignments:

1. Finish reading Hiroshima
2. Read Chapter 8/Guide to News Writing (Quotes: Your Words or Mine?) and be ready to discuss Hersey’s use of quotes in Hiroshima

Thursday, Sept. 23
Quiz on Hiroshima and news
Discussion of Hiroshima
Assignments:

1. Read Chapter 9 and Chapter 10/Guide to News Writing (Color and Pseudo-Color)

3. Find two examples (again): one that reveals the power of vivid, luminous writing and the other that reveals the flaccid nature of clichés. Clip and bring to class. Be ready to discuss.

Tuesday, Sept. 28
Color vs. Pseudo-color/Lecture and Discussion
Assignments:
1. Attend an event and cover it. 500 words. E-mail your story to me by 2 p.m. next Sunday. Your focus should be on vivid quotes, color/luminous details and description (as well as the usual 5Ws/1H).

2. Begin reading selections from Somebody Told Me.

October Preview: Begin Beat Coverage. Each of you will be part of a team of reporters assigned a beat for one month. Beats will include campus events, SGA, administration, faculty, student life, sports and more.