JOUR 3190 Syllabus Spring 2020

Reporting and Writing Across Platforms

11:15 a.m. + 12:20 p.m. MWF Journalism Room 241

André Gallant | gallant@uga.edu | @andrejgallant

COURSE OVERVIEW

Students will report, write and edit a variety of journalistic story types that are appropriate for delivery in multiple platforms and that adhere to professional and ethical standards of journalism.

Students will meet with sources to practice interviewing and newsgathering. Students will learn to write for digital news, as well as audio and video broadcast.

To become journalists, public relations practitioners or communication professionals, students must consume copious amounts of news. You will gain an understanding of and appreciation for how stories are written, edited, produced and presented across various platforms. You will begin to understand the differences between good and bad writing, and complete and incomplete stories as you read and watch news posted online and published in print.

You also will study how news is treated across social media platforms by both the producers and consumers of news. You will report and write extensively, with all work adhering to AP Style. With me serving as your editor, you will receive written and verbal feedback in a variety of ways.

OFFICE HOURS

Mondays, 10–12 p.m., PAF, or by appointment

COMMUNICATION

Email. Email. Email. I will respond within 12 hours or less to any email sent to my UGA account, Monday through Friday. Weekend communication will be slower. Please write to me with a clear purpose in your subject line. If an emergency arises, include a phone number at which I can reach you.

*You will be expected to check your email for correspondence about the class from me daily. There will be no excuse for not having checked or read an email that I sent.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

“Dynamics of News Reporting & Writing,” Vincent E. Filak, (Sage/CQ Press (2019)

AP Stylebook Online subscription (apstylebook.com): You must have an account by Jan. 17 or points will be deducted from participation.

Grady Newsource Local Style Guide

Laptop and digital recording device (smartphone allowed). See Grady specs about equipment.

REQUIRED NEWS READING:

You will be required to be current on the following news sites and newsletters for class discussion and assignments.

New York Times: Sign up for the Daily Briefing and any other newsletters relevant to you.

Washington Post: Sign up for Today’s Headlines and any other newsletters relevant to your interests.

Georgia 10X10: Sign up here for an aggregated newsletter about statewide news.

Red&Black Newsletter: Sign up here.

REQUIRED ONLINE ACCOUNTS

Google Drive

Medium: where we post our work from class

Twitter: for consuming news and as a reporting tool

Slack: for in and out of class communication

Possible other social accounts: Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat

YOU WILL LEARN TO:

*Report and write a variety of story types across platforms, including print, web and video.

*Generate story ideas.

*Determine newsworthiness.

*Demonstrate competence in fact checking and AP style.

*Develop stories for particular audiences.

*Make ethical judgments.

*Demonstrate competency as writers by meeting deadlines, citing sources and paying attention to details and factual information.

*Adapt to a fast-changing industry through skills such as flexibility and entrepreneurial thinking.

*Build a professional digital portfolio.

WE ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS BY:

*Analyzing excellent stories and packages.

*Discussing the process of researching and reporting stories.

*Discussing how to find sources.

*Interviewing — and more interviewing.

*Covering a beat and a variety of stories.

*Studying how the news is covered on social media.

*Viewing and discussing multimedia projects with audio, video and photos.

*Writing and rewriting, using tools such as the AP Stylebook.

*Sharing dilemmas with your peers and professor.

CORE CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

Further instructions will be provided during the semester about requirements, such as length, sources, format and deadline. If you fail to meet the minimum requirements (ex: number of sources/length/etc.), you will not earn higher than a 70.

You are NOT allowed to interview friends, classmates, relatives or employers, or to write about events/people/places of which you have a connection. This class requires you to practice journalism and those are conflicts of interest. Be prepared for me to check with your sources and to do online research to determine if you have a relationship with your sources. If so, you will not make higher than a C on an assignment.

Keep all notes, photos, videos and other material collected for non-graded and graded assignments. At times, we will use them for other assignments. Multimedia elements can be uploaded to YouTube, Google Drive or your digital portfolio, but it must be marked public or I must receive access to view it when you send me the link (if not, points will be deducted).

In-Class Assignments (25%): A series of individual and group assignments over the course of the semester intended to offer experience in interviewing, reporting and writing. The majority of work on these assignments will take place in class, with some polishing and research outside of class. Assignments include: classmate Q&A, headline and dek writing, lede writing, broadcast script writing, how to report and write anecdotes, explainers and aggregated content.

Event Coverage (10%): You will cover a public event, such as a speech/lecture, meeting, festival. You must attend the event, interview participants and organizers, gather images and video for social media, as well as audio from interviews that will be transcribed and turned in. This article will demonstrate your ability to interview and to use newswriting format and AP style.

AP Style Test (10%): The average of two open-book AP Style tests taken over the course of the semester.

News Conference Story (10%): Together with classmates, you will participate in a news conference with a representative from the UGA Police Department (or other public official, should interruptions occur) and write a story that includes quotes from the session and data/documents from research.

Multimedia Stories (10%): This grade consists of two assignments: a short, multimedia vignette about an interesting place and the people who use that place; and a script and extra credit audio recording version of the news conference assignment.

Digital Presence (10%): Consists of two elements. You will create an online portfolio showcasing your work, your resume and how potential employers can contact you. You will also earn points for your use of social media, which is a valuable tool for researching, reporting and promoting stories. You will demonstrate knowledge of how to use Twitter and other platforms to reach your audience; to report your beat; to keep track of media trends; and to promote your classmates’ work.

Deadline Writing Test (10%): You will write a short article in class based on information and quotes provided. The article will be graded on use of quotes and attribution, use of inverted pyramid format and use of correct AP Style (AP Stylebook is allowed). There will be two tests over the course of the semester. The average will be counted.

Quizzes (10%): Throughout the semester, students will be quizzed on current events and fact checking.

Participation (5%) : You will need to fully complete multiple in-class and book exercises and participate in class discussion to earn a good participation grade.

ATTENDANCE

Attending class is the best way to learn and to prepare for assignments. I use discussion and collaborative editing. Attendance will be recorded for each class period. You are allowed three absences, no matter the excuse. I do not accept doctor’s notes. An absence the first day counts as one of your three absences. Absences for UGA-sponsored or sanctioned events in which you are required to participate will not count against your absences. Don’t assume every event is excused; talk to me ahead of time and documentation is required. You must determine the material missed and keep pace with assignments. In-class exercises and tests cannot be made up (for unexcused absences). After three absences, your final grade will be dropped one grading spot for each additional absence.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

*Arrive on time and stay until dismissed.

Place cell phones in silent mode; no texting or phone calls. If you must accept an emergency call or text, please exit the class as quickly and quietly as possible. Violations will result in deductions from the participation grade.

*Devices should be used for discussion and assignments only. Turn off ALL notifications while in class. Violations will result in deductions from the participation grade.

*Talking in class should be pertinent to the discussion and addressed to me or the classroom at large.

*Treat your peers and instructor with respect. *Discussions could involve subject matter that some may find controversial. All points of view are welcome in any discussion.

PROFESSIONALISM

As a journalist, you will be expected to represent your employer or the publication/website that has hired you. You are representing the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and I will expect you to use respect in class, with your peers and while in contact with sources.

PLAGIARISM AND FABRICATION

Plagiarism is stealing someone’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Fabrication is making stuff up. Both strike at the heart of the journalistic process, where proper attribution and fact checking are paramount. We will deal with plagiarism and fabrication in the harshest manner possible, including referral to the honors council.

PRIVACY

I will not discuss your work with anyone other than administrators and the registrar’s office for the purpose of submitting grades. This is federal law and university policy. This specifically means I will not discuss your work with family members.

HONESTY

As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty policy, “A Culture of Honesty,” and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the

standards described in “A Culture of Honesty”

found at honesty.uga.edu/academic-honesty-policy/student-honor-code. Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Program 911 and 706–542–2200 into your phones for campus emergencies. Check that your emergency contact information is correct at ugaalert.uga.edu and program 706–542–0111 into your phone as “UGAAlert.” If the fire alarm sounds, we will evacuate the building and reassemble outside of the Grady College to make sure everyone exited; quickly move away from the entrances so as not to hinder first responders. If there is a tornado warning, we will move to the first floor and account for everyone. In the event of a medical emergency, I will ask one of you to meet EMS responders and bring them to our classroom. If you have concerns about other emergencies or if you have special circumstances that I need to know about in case of an emergency, please let me know.

OBSERVANCE OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Absences for religious reasons do not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence. Students who miss classes, quizzes or other assignments as a part of their religious observance will be provided with a fair opportunity to complete their academic responsibilities. However, students must provide the instructor with a week’s notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they plan to be absent.

DISABILITIES

Students with a documented disability who need academic adjustments are requested to speak with the Disability Resource Center (dissvcs.uga.edu)and the instructor by the end of the first week of classes. All discussions will remain confidential. Students who train or use service animals should review UGA policy (eoo.uga.edu).

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

In accordance with University policy, I do not engage in, nor do I tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. In addition, I do not discriminate on the basis of political creed, class or income.

ACEJMC CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications requires that, irrespective of their particular specialization, all graduates should be aware of certain core values and competencies and be able to:

*Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances.

*Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications.

*Demonstrate an understanding of professional principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.

*Think critically, creatively and independently.

*Conduct research and evaluate information by methods. appropriate to the communications professions in which they work

*Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.

*Critically evaluate their work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.

*Apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work, and to understand the digital world.

CORE CLASS EXPECTATIONS

Ethics

You must tell the truth. You must disclose conflicts of interest. Your reporting must be original to this class, i.e. no “double-dipping.” No stories about your friends, your clubs, or your Greek life. Do work that will stand up to scrutiny and that could be published for a mass audience.

Accuracy

Journalistic credibility relies on getting the facts right. Every assignment will be spot-checked for accuracy. Fact errors will result in a failing grade (59) on a graded assignment. Fact errors include the improper spelling of the names of people, places, organizations, companies, and using the correct dates and details that a reader could point out as incorrect. It’s unprofessional and embarrassing when this happens to you on the job. Begin a life-long obsession with accuracy now.

Diversity

Our country and our profession are having long-needed discussions about diversity, inclusion and representation in newsrooms and news stories. Our classroom will host that discussion whenever possible. We will discuss “writing across difference,” moving past stereotypes, journalistic privilege and doing no harm in our reporting. Samples of professional work read or watched for class will feature diverse journalists and often address how media reports on race, gender, sexual orientation and other related issues.

Deadlines

You know this already. Do not miss deadlines. Making deadline is one of the primary skills of our profession. In this day and age, technology should not be an excuse for lost stories or other elements. Late work results in a penalty of losing one letter grade for the assignment. Missing elements of the assignment (lack of sources, missing multimedia components, short of word count) results in a late assignment. Extensions are allowed for real emergencies, with proper documentation. Emergencies do not include you missing a last-minute interview. Planning ahead will prepare you to never miss deadline.

WRITING AND ACADEMIC RESOURCES

For extra guidance with journalistic writing, Nick Chiles, a Pulitzer Prize winner, serves as Grady College’s writing coach for the fall semester. Chiles has distinguished himself as one of the nation’s foremost chroniclers of African-American life, culture and celebrity — both as a bestselling author and an award-winning journalist. He is the author or co-author of 14 books and has served as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer, and magazine and website editor-in-chief. A link will be provided to sign up for a session with Chiles; you also can reach out via gradywritinglab@uga.edu.

Academic coaching is available through the Office of Academic Enhancement (dae.uga.edu).

Your mental health is important. Counseling and Psychiatric Services (uhs.uga.edu/caps/welcome) is a free resource for students.

Grady has a number of student organizations to help you get plugged in, learn and network. I’m happy to answer questions.

Grady College partners with the UGA Career Center to provide comprehensive career development and support to Grady students, including Career Drop-In Hours in Grady every 1–3 p. m. Tuesday and Wednesday in Journalism 309-D, Grady Job Leads Listserv and Handshake Job & Internship Search.