The Advanced Reporting Syllabus

Advanced Reporting

Fall 2008

Dr. Michael Robertson

Office: Kalmanovitz 119

Phone: 666‑6250 (office); 510‑836‑4870 (home); robertson@usfca.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, 3:30-5:30; Wednesday, 3:30-4:30.

BOOKS: Ken Metzler's Creative Interviewing. You will be expected to own and use an AP Stylebook.

You will be expected to read regularly, and preferably subscribe to, the San Francisco Chronicle. That said, I have arranged to have the Chronicle’s electronic facsimile edition available to the class online. You also will read the Foghorn and watch the news segments of USF-TV. Articles may be assigned from various magazines and books placed on reserve in the library.

ATTENDANCE: No work missed through unexcused absence may be made up. Only absences for which a signed excuse is obtained will be considered excused. The course will meet at other sites at least once during the semester. Make arrangements as soon as possible to have free the evening of Tuesday, October 7, for the Oakland City Council meeting.

If you have any physical or emotional handicap or other problems that will affect your attendance or performance, inform the instructor by the end of the first week of classes.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Any student found to have plagiarized or fabricated work will be given a failing grade for the semester.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Stories will be accepted after deadline. However, such stories will not receive full credit unless accompanied by a medical excuse. Stories a day late will be penalized 2/3rds of a letter grade. Each subsequent day's lateness will result in a penalty of 1/3rd of a letter grade. In other words, a "B" paper turned in two days late would be lowered to a "C" grade. A story that is never turned in will be given a zero and averaged into your final grade on the basis of A/95, B/85, C/75, D/65 and F/55.

BEAT REPORTS: Starting the third week of the semester, students will be responsible for turning in a weekly beat report in addition to the assigned beat stories. The quality and consistency of those beat reports and of the final beat summary will count for 15 percent of the final grade.

*EXTRA CREDIT*: Stories printed in campus or other publications will be considered at grade time. Those stories may be assignments done for the class or other work. To obtain extra credit consideration, you must turn in a portfolio containing your published work for the semester by exam day.

BLOGS: Most of you created blogs when you had me for previous classes, so you have a head start. Every Monday you are responsible for posting on your blog a journalism-related question, statement or observation. Every class member will then vote by email in support of which question, statement or observation she/he finds most compelling. By the following Monday, every class member other than the winner of the vote will comment on that Q/S/O. Extra credit will be given to those students who do more posting on their blogs than this minimum – if it’s good work.

MULTIMEDIA: The “big story” must have a multimedia element. Any of you stories may have such an element, which means extra credit. Such work is not the focus of this class. However, I *urge* anyone in this class who is seriously interested in journalism to take the New Media course taught by David Silver and the Video Reporting course taught by Vicky Nguyen and Toan Lam, both of which will be taught next spring.

GRADES:

A

This grade is for work of clearly professional caliber. Writing is clear and concise with only minor editing required. Reporting is complete and leaves no questions unanswered. The work is turned in on or before deadline.

B

This grade is for work that could be raised to professional quality without major editing. Writing is basically grammatical and requires only routine changes but lacks the sparkle of A work. The reporting manages to focus on the main ideas of the story -- but may have a few organizational problems and a misplaced emphasis. Work is in by deadline.

C

This grade is for work that does not measure up to professional standards but could be salvaged through rewriting. Work could not be used professionally without being returned to the reporter -- or assigned to another reporter! Writing has obvious rough spots. Grammatical errors are present. Reporting leaves questions unanswered. Work is usually done by deadline -- but is occasionally late.

D

This grade is for work that is clearly unacceptable in a professional setting. The writing is confused and ungrammatical. The reporting is weak and often misses the point entirely. The work is often late.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week One: September 3

What is news? The nature of news and newswriting. Why you are here. The assignment for the first week is to produce a back-to-school story, which will be due next Monday. It must be 250-300 words. You may choose to submit a longer version. But if it is longer, it must be accompanied by an edited version of 250-300 words.

Week Two: September 8

Covering a beat. What a beat is and how it works. What makes news on a beat? Writing on deadline. How you can get it done by the time it's supposed to be done. The why's behind getting it done on time. San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Nanette Asimov will be in class on Wednesday to describe her work as a beat reporter. Read chapters 13 & 15 in Metzler.

Due Monday 9/8: Back-to-school story.

New assignment: You will be given a campus beat. For Monday in two pages, explain why the beat is important enough to warrant coverage. Include who you anticipate will be your primary sources and the kinds of stories you believe will come off that beat. For Wednesday: Your first beat story. Minimum length 250 words.

Week Three: September 15

Interviewing review. Review chapters 1-12 in Metzler.

Due Monday 9/15. Your beat description.

Due Wednesday 9/17. Your first beat story.

New assignment: For next Wednesday your second beat story. Minimum length 250 words.

Week Four: September 22

The meeting story. The basic outline of the meeting story. Prepare for coverage of a meeting of the Oakland City Council in two weeks. A consideration of “Civic Journalism,” its dangers and opportunities.

Due Wednesday 9/24. Your second beat story.

New assignment: For next Wednesday your third beat story. Minimum length 600 words.

Week Five: September 29

Required conference with instructor. Class will not meet Wednesday. Continue preparation for meeting of Oakland City Council.

Due Wednesday 10/1. Your third beat story.

New assignment: Tuesday October 7 we will leave USF at approximately 6 p.m. and travel to Oakland, where we will cover the weekly meeting of Oakland City Council. Class will not meet Wednesday, though I will be in the classroom available for discussion. A story covering the meeting is due Thursday 10/9 by 5 p.m.

Week Six: October 6

Tuesday evening lab, October 7. Please clear your schedule. We will attend an Oakland City Council Meeting 7:30 p.m.-? Story is due by 5 p.m. the following day. No Wednesday class.

Due Thursday 10/9. Your meeting story.

Week Seven: October 13

The business story. The basics of business. Net and gross. Reading business reports. What makes a business story. Reading the business newspapers. What stocks and bonds are. Where PR and journalism meet.

Due: Nothing.

Week Eight: October 20

The final project, a 2,000-2,500 word story on a topic of campus interest derived from your beat. Read chapters 16 & 17 in Metzler. The final project is due Friday, November xx, by 5 p.m.

Due Friday 10/24. Your business story. No minimum length.

Week Nine: October 27

Using the AP Stylebook.

Due Wednesday 10/29. Proposal for your final project.

New Assignment: For next Wednesday, your fourth beat story. Minimum length 250 words.

Week Ten: November 3

AP style test on Monday. Required conference with instructor. At those conferences you will turn in your project proposal for your Big Story, which is due Friday 12/15. Class will not meet on Wednesday.

Due Wednesday 11/5. Your fourth beat story.

Week Eleven: November 10

The science story.

Due: Nothing

New assignment: For next Friday, your science story. No minimum length.

Week Twelve: November 17

Resume preparation. Job hunting skills and what an employer looks for. Ideas about hunting for jobs.

Due Friday 11/21. Your science story.

Week Thirteen: November 24

Working on final projects.

Due: Nothing

Reminder: Big story is due Friday, 12/5. Minimum length 2,000 words.

Week Fourteen: December 1

Feature writing. The anniversary story. No minimum length. Writing in class for practice and a grade.

Due Friday 12/5. The Big Story.

New assignment: The anniversary story is due Friday, 12/12.

Week Fifteen: December 8

Last things.

Due Friday 12/12. The anniversary story.

Final assignments: Fifth beat story and the final beat summary, a description of sources that would be useful to the next person assigned the beat, are due Friday, 12/19.

The Speaker's Secret

test

You're in Good Hands with A Dysfunctional Media Studies Unit.

Enter a word for your own slogan:

Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator, for all your slogan needs. Get more A Dysfunctional Media Studies Unit slogans.

Reporting Syllabus S2008

REPORTING

0166-223

Spring 2008

Class meets Mondays in Cowell 324 and Wednesdays in Cowell 225

Dr. Michael Robertson

Office: 502 University Center

Phone: 422-6250 (office); 510-836-4870 (home)

Email: robertson@usfca.edu

Office Hours:

Monday & Wednesday 330p-430p. If you need to see me, don't hesitate to ask for a time convenient for you.

Required Texts:

“Writing and Reporting News,” Carole Rich. Associated Press, “Stylebook”

Required Reading:

Read all assignments before the due date. Consult stylebook as needed. Regularly read at least one newspaper for local and national news. Read the Foghorn for campus news. Read at least one website that you consider a reliable news source. Be alert for stories in any of these sources that illustrate excellence – or mediocrity – in writing, reporting or news judgment. Bring examples to class for credit. Be prepared to present to the class concerning what you like or dislike.

Quizzes:

News quizzes may be given without prior notice. Points earned will be averaged into the grade for the course. Unscheduled quizzes concerning assigned reading, style, copy format, copy editing symbols, newsroom jargon and like may be given sporadically during the term.

Your Personal Blog:

Each student is responsible for creating a personal blog on which you will post in accordance with class assignments. (See handout for additional details.) Several websites provide free space for blogging. Blogger.com is a popular one.

Late Assignments:

You do not need to ask my permission to turn in an out‑of‑class assignment after deadline. However, unless you have a medical excuse, you will be penalized for turning in a late story. Your mark will be lowered 2/3rds of a letter grade for each day of lateness. For example, a "B-minus" story turned in two days late would be reduced to a "C" grade. If you miss an assignment because of illness, it is your responsibility to present me with an acceptable medical excuse, find an alternative assignment and clear it with me.

Attendance:

Regular class attendance is also expected. Two unexcused absences are allowed, but in‑class work missed through absence may not be made up although it may be excused. If you miss class for any reason, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what future class assignments are. If in-class writing for a grade is announced ahead of time and you miss class without a medical excuse, you will be penalized. Excused assignments will not be averaged into your grade; unexcused assignments will be -- as a zero. Excessive absences will factor into the class participation portion of your grade.

Reminder:

Under the current policies of the Media Studies Department, a student will not get credit in the major for any course in which he or she receives a grade of less than C; that is, a grade of C-minus or lower means you must retake the course. Last semester the average grade in this class was B. Usually the average is B-minus.

Academic misconduct:

Instances of source fabrication or plagiarism will result in the most severe sanctions possible.

Deadlines:

If you have any handicap or any other physical, emotional or personal problem that will interfere with your performance, you should discuss it with the professor by the end of the first week of the course or as soon as the problem arises. Every effort will be made to accommodate legitimate problems if they are discussed in a timely fashion. Some chronic problems may receive a sympathetic hearing but result in no adjustment to expectations for performance. A semester's-end revelation of personal problems will not improve your grade.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completing this course, a student should be able:

1. To write clear, brief, accurate news stories using correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and syntax.

2. To explain the decision‑making process for making news judgments.

3. To apply news judgment to sets of facts and synthesize those facts into effective, concise leads and coherent, logically organized news stories.

4. To know when information must be attributed to a source to avoid editorializing and how to handle attribution smoothly in a story.

5. To understand the general sources for news (observation, interview, written reports), the necessity of skepticism in dealing with these sources; to master the process of verifying information; to exhibit that understanding in your stories. You will supply me with a mailing address and/or telephone number and/or email address for each person quoted in your stories. At least once during the semester, I will send a copy of your story to those used as sources to get their judgment of your accuracy and professionalism.

6. To use basic AP style rules in the stories written.

7. To prepare copy so that it is clean and conforms to standard copy preparation rules. (For instance, always double space.)

8. To create and maintain a personal blog.

Grades:

Your final grade will be determined by the average of in‑class writing, out‑of‑class writing, and final exam (70 percent); class participation (10 percent); quizzes (10 percent); blog (10 percent). Additional credit MAY be given for work done for the news side of the Foghorn, and less credit will be given for reviews and op-ed pieces.

A Student: Has either a gift for writing or works very hard at clean, clear and concise prose. Has grammar and stylistic skills resulting in copy that requires little editing. Misses no deadlines and completes all assignments. Participates in class discussions but does not dominate those discussions or divert them from the subject at hand. By the course's end, this student could perform the basic newsroom functions (see goals) for a moderate size daily newspaper with no supervision. Your basic star cub reporter with an understanding of what news is and what it takes to get it. A=100-95.

B Student: Writes basically correct English with flashes of style. May have some grammar and syntax problems, but problems can be corrected without major editing. May blow a few assignments but is basically a contributing member of the class. By the course's end, this student could perform basic newsroom functions without close supervision. Your basic bright journalism student who is still learning. Has some idea of what news is and thinks he or she knows how to get at it. B= 94-85.

C Student: Has problems with the English language that appear to be correctable with effort by both student and teacher in future courses. May have problems with accuracy and attention to detail. May have problems under deadline pressure. Able to perform basic newsroom functions if closely supervised. May think he or she deserves a B because he or she "tried." C=84-75.

D Student: Has problems with the language that may not be correctable -- ever. Has basic grammar and syntax errors still appearing in assignments at course's end. Could not perform basic newsroom functions. Does severe damage to the English language. I will give people who "try" a D. If they don't, I will fail them. D=74-65.

You may turn work in by email or by hard copy. In either case, it is your responsibility to have a second copy of the story in your possession until I return the graded original.

Week One: January 23

Objective: An introduction to the reporter’s job. Test your news nose.

Out of Class: Read Rich 1-42. Write: a "news" story about USF that would be appropriate for the Foghorn (1). You will decide what an appropriate length is. Remember: I want facts from sources, not your opinions, though having an opinion may be the reason you pursue the story. You may discover your opinion is contradicted by what you discover as you report. The story is due in class Monday.

Week Two: January 28

Objective: Writing leads.

In Class: Write leads for practice and a grade.

Out of Class: Read Rich pages 46-61, 152-185. In your favorite news sources, find three good leads. For Wednesday, write a brief explanation of why you like those leads. Bring to class and turn in. Also for Wednesday, write the first 50 words of a news story based on the information given in Exercise 1 in Rich and do Exercise 5 in Rich, pages 43-45. For next Monday, do Exercises 8 and 12 in Rich, pages 60-61.

Week Three: February 4

Objective: Listening and note-taking.

In Class: Press conference; write story in class (2).

Out of Class: Read Rich, pages 121-147. For Wednesday, do Exercises 1 and 2, Rich, pages 147-148. Check out speeches that will be given on campus next week and no later than Friday email me your recommendations about which the class should attend.

Friday, February 8, is Census Date, the last day to drop classes with a refund.

Week Four: February 11

Objectives: Making it right, verification

Style, attribution, finding facts

In Class: Exercises

Out of Class: Read Rich 107-119, 363-377. Speech story. Do a background paragraph concerning the speaker and the topic for the speech story (3) and turn it in before we cover the speech. You will be responsible for arranging to be free to cover that speech. It probably will be an evening assignment due the next morning.

Week Five: February 18 (No class on Monday)

Objectives: Observation and note-taking for the speech story. Correct attribution.

In class: Writing for a grade (4) from materials I will give you.

Out of class: Rich 309-322.

Week Six: February 25

Objectives: Short personality profile. You will interview someone on this campus about his or her “war” experiences. No relatives or hometown friends.

In Class: Practicing interviewing techniques. How to write about people. Proposals for the “war” profile are due Monday, accompanied by a rationale explaining why Foghorn readers would be interested in this person, plus the first five questions you will ask her/him.

Out of Class: Read Rich 253-273. Arrange an interview time with your profile subject.

Week Seven: March 3

Objective: Midterm Evaluation

Conferences with teacher.

Out of class: Profile (5) due by 5 p.m. March 7.

Week Eight: March 10

Objective: Cover meeting, probably student senate.

In Class: Review agenda of assigned meeting

Out of Class: Cover student government meeting. The story (6) will be due 24 hours later.

Spring Recess

Nine: March 24

Objectives: Creating the project memo. Organizing the multiple-source story. Some tips on investigative reporting.

In Class: Project organization and time management. Idea development. Telling a story.

Out of Class: Rich 507-521. Project memo due in class March 26.

Week Ten: March 31

Objectives: Police beat stories. Discuss progress on project

In Class: How to cover the police beat.

Out of Class: Read Rich 401-427 and begin interviews for project

story. Do a USF crime story (7).

Week Eleven: April 7 (Last day to drop class without penalty)

Objectives: Work on multiple-source story; the art of the feature story

In Class: Consult on multiple-source story; practice feature techniques.

Out of Class: Work on multiple-source story.

Week Twelve: April 14

Objective: Finish multiple-source story

In Class: Consult on multiple source stories.

Out of Class: Multiple-source story (7) 1500-2500 words in length due at end of class April 23.

Week Thirteen: April 21

Objectives: Beats. Between editor and reporter

In Class: You will do a “beat” story based on contacts you make or leads you develop during reporting for your multiple-source story. The art of being edited.

Out of Class: Begin work on your beat story (8), which is due April 28.

Week Fourteen: April 28

Objectives: Newsroom survival. Working your beat.

In Class: How to get through the first six months. Office

politics. Either write a story (9) in class from assigned materials or out of class from in-class speaker.

Out of Class: Read Rich 485-500.

Week Fifteen: May 5

Objectives: Final Evaluation

There will be a final exam.