JOUR 4370 – Advanced Reporting – Spring 2005

Online Syllabus

The online syllabus varies in presentation (but not in content) from the printed version. The Online Syllabus contains links to other documents that expand upon or otherwise help to explain what is in the syllabus as well as other course content. The online syllabus is also subject to minor adjustments throughout the semester.

Reading | Work Requirements | Grading | Schedule

The class

Lecture: 11-11:50 a.m. M-W, MC 110, MC110 | Lab: MW 1-3:50 MC 015
Instructor: Dr. Randy Reddick | Phone 742-6500 x256 e-mail here.
Office Hours: Hours: M-W 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Tu 2-3 p.m., and by appointment – MCOM 217

This syllabus is your contract with the instructor for the course. Please read it carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear to you. Course participation signifies your acceptance of this contract. ADA statement: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor immediately so that necessary accommodations may be made.

C ourse Purpose & Description:

Prerequisite: At least a C in JOUR 3310 and JOUR 3312. JOUR 4370 is "A course in the interrelation and writing of news on social, political, and economic topics." In this class you will explore the role and uses of news and information in a democratic society. We will focus on news reporting that goes beyond events and provides meaningful context to stories. Lab assignments will provide practice gathering, evaluating, and reporting data and information from electronic sources to augment other sources.

REQUIRED TEXTS and other materials:

• Donald L. Shaw, Maxwell McCombs, and Gerry Keir, Advanced Reporting: Discovering Patterns in News Events (Waveland Press, Prospect Heights, Ill. 1997).
• Brant Houston , Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide 3 rd ed. (Bedford St. Martins: Boston , 2003).
• Course materials online through <http://webct.tltc.ttu.edu/> (you will need your eRaider login)
• A USB flash drive (aka jump drive, pen drive, USB key) to keep your files
• The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual current edition
• Regular reading of the Lubbock Avalanche Journal , The New York Times Online, Google News, BBC Online (or CNN Online) and the Austin American-Statesman online.

Strongly Recommended:

• Brant Houston, Len Bruzzese, and Steve Weinberg. The Investigative Reporter's Handbook: A Guide to Documents, Databases and Techniques . ( Bedford / St. Martin 's: Boston , 2002)
• Phil Meyer, Precision Journalism: A Reporter's Introduction to Social Science Methods 4 th ed. (Rowman and Littlefield: Lanham , Md. , 2002).
• Victor Cohn, News & Numbers: A Guide to Reporting Statistical Claims and Controversies in Health and Other Fields , (Iowa State University Press: Ames, 1989)
• Bruce Garrison, Computer-Assisted Reporting , (Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc.: Hillsdale, NJ, 1995)
• Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel. The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect . (Three Rivers Press: New York , 2001).
• Larry Makinson. Follow the Money Handbook, (Center for Responsive Politics: Washington, D.C., 1994)

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REQUIREMENTS Overview:

For this class you will produce written reports on one news event as well as four depth reports that focus on processes behind the news. You will also complete 8-10 lab exercises that focus on news research techniques and data analysis; take four exams that cover assigned reading, class discussion and lab content; and both lead and participate in class discussions on current news coverage.

• 28% Labs - These are exercises in finding vital information through paper and electronic sources as well as data analysis and background investigation using Computer Assisted Research and Reporting (CAR) techniques. Typically, 6-8 labs.
• 36% Reports - One beat assignment report (team) plus six stories written for a general audience living and working in the Lubbock area. Two of these stories (one pair averaged together, counting as one report) will be event coverage for which you write an advance prior to the event and coverage following. Four stories will be carefully researched depth stories that go beyond events, for which you will also turn in your research plan.
• 28% Exams - four in all, including lab practical
• 8% Class participation - The "lecture" portion of class generally follows a discussion format. Students are expected to participate in all discussions and will be required to lead at least one.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

Any student who plagiarizes another person's work will receive an F for that assignment, will stand in jeopardy of failing the class, and will be dealt with according to the Student Code of Conduct. All source materials must be clearly cited in your copy.

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GRADING STANDARDS:

For each story you write, the grade you receive will take into consideration both form and content of your work.
FORM considerations include spelling, grammar, punctuation, format, logical presentation, usage, diction, transitions, passive-active voice, conciseness, adherence to AP Style, clarity.
CONTENT considerations include accuracy, completeness, significance of information, reader appeal, newsworthiness, fairness, coherence, strength of verbs (especially in lead).

Lttr	Pts	Typical Characteristics
A+ A A-	14 13 12	Outstanding writing! Exceptional prose. Thorough research and understanding of topic shown by clear expression of uncommon contextual insight. Solid 3D Reporting. Free of mechanical errors.
B+ B B-	11 10 9	Good work, clearly above average. Free of serious mechanical error. Accurately reports issues/events in appropriate, meaningful context. Thoughts clearly expressed. Needs only minor editing.
C+ C C-	8 7 6	Fulfills the assignment but lacks contextual insight and/or clarity. Work largely sound and accurate, but may be missing important detail and perspective. Only simple grammar or spelling errors. Needs revision
D+ D D-	5 4 3	Has fundamental, often multiple, problems. Missing important information, lacking details. Marred by multiple (or serious) errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Expression often ambiguous, unclear.
F+ F	2 1	Unacceptable work. Typically marred by multiple errors in mechanics and  thought content. Often contains factual errors.

FACT ERRORS , including misspelling of names of any kind will result in an automatic F on the assignment. Serious, multiple errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, or AP style will result in an F.

LATE WORK / DEADLINES: Late work will not be accepted. Labs are due at 4 p.m. on the day of the lab. Depth stories are due at midnight Wednesday of week assigned. Event coverage is due three hours after the event.

EXTRA CREDIT points, may be awarded for quality pieces entered in contests sponsored by SPJ, the Hearst Foundation, or others.

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GENERAL SCHEDULE: (subject to minor revisions)

Weeks 1-4 Jan. 12, 19, 24, 26, 31 Feb. 2, 7, 9	Course Overview & Introduction. Class Mechanics: Syllabus content. Copy submission format, style, common mechanical errors. Review of news writing and reporting principles. Defining news and journalism. News values. News reporting, citizenship and society. Equal time, good guys and bad guys versus meaningful context and fairness. Traditional news methods versus advanced reporting and analytical journalism. What is advanced reporting, anyway? Events vs. Processes. Kinds of stories. Core questions. Context. Interview with Instructor. Reading : AR Ch. 1-2. CAR 1. WebCT Module 1. EXAM 1
Weeks 4-5 Jan. 31 Feb. 7, 9	NOTE: Student-led team reports on beats begin week 4 and continue through week 11. Your due date is your responsibility. Specialists vs. generalists, the "expert" reporter. Perspectives and context. 3D reporting. Research strategies and research plans. Mining libraries and online information sources The CAR landscape. Evaluating online sources and information. Stephen Miller's Internet Data Integrity System and other net evaluators. Event stories due. Reading : AR Ch. 3-4. CAR 2. WebCT Module 2.
Weeks 6-7 Feb. 14, 16, 21, 23	News beyond & behind events. Beats 1: Public Affairs. More on providing context. More on CAR. Data sets and sources. Online alert services, personal news and news feeds. Other tools and sources. Interviews. Quotes & Attribution. Careers in news 1. First Research Plan due. Reading : AR Ch. 5-6. CAR Ch. 3-4. WebCT Module 3.
Weeks 8-9 Feb. 28 March 2, 7, 9	Beats 2: Science, Medicine & Health, Business & Economics. Surveys, polls, risk analysis. Non profits. Numbers and math in the news. Being skeptical. Core questions 2. First depth piece due. Reading : AR Ch. 7-9 CAR Ch. 5-6 . EXAM 2
Weeks 10-11 March 21, 23, 30	Agency budgets, development projects and other math and statistics in the news. Documents, paper trails, data analysis, precision journalism, projects. Second depth piece due. Reading : AR Ch. 10-12. CAR 7-8.
Weeks 12-13 April 4, 6, 11, 13	Experts & where to find them. Earning and keeping trust. More on data analysis, field experiments, planning projects, writing & revising. Third depth piece due. Reading: AR Ch. 13-15. CAR 9-10 EXAM 3 .
Weeks 14-15 April 18, 20, 25, 27	Loose ends. Journalism values, ethics, professional issues and organizations. Evaluating data and information. Last depth piece due Dec. 2. Careers in news 2. Interview with Instructor. Reading : Review
Week 16 May 2	FINAL EXAM Friday, May 6, 7:30 a.m.- 10 a.m.

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NOTES:

• For examples of depth stories, see NPR's "Morning Edition," and "All Things Considered," The Wall Street Journal, Jim Lehrer's NewsHour on PBS and 60 Minutes on CBS. Typically, your depth stories will be about 800-1,000 words. All your stories must be clearly grounded in local issues & events. On this last point, a good exercise might be to listen to 60 Minutes, taking notes. Notice how each of their stories is given a careful tie to things in the news recently and usually to a current issue on the public agenda.
• This is NOT a class in features or opinion writing; don't treat your stories as if they are editorials or features. Do not write first person accounts or opinionated observations. Resist placing "cutesy" or moralistic tags at the end of your copy.
• You are expected to integrate text reading, lab work, current events, and class lecture and discussion into your knowledge, understanding, and practice of the reporting process as you complete assignments for this class.