University of North Texas

Department of Journalism

Online Journalism – JOUR 3340

Semester: Spring 2009

 

Instructor: Neil Foote, Instructional Assistant Professor, GAB 109

Phone: Office: 940.369.8088; Cell: 214.448.3765

Email: neil@neilfoote.com (preferred) or foote@unt.edu

Office hours: By appointment or immediately following class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Class Meetings: Throughout the course of the semester we will meet in two difference classroom/labs: GAB 319 and GAB 101 (NewsLab). 

 

Text: Convergent Journalism: An Introduction–Writing and Producing Across Media (Paperback) by Stephen Quinn (Editor), Vincent Filak (Editor)

 

Recommended Reading: “We the Media, Grassroots Journalism for the People, By the People”, Dan Gilmour (O’Reilly Media, 334 pp)

 

Additional readings will be made available online or be held on reserve at the library.

 

Course Objectives

By the end of this class you will:

• Learn how traditional media has transformed from analog to digital
• Learn how to write for the web and understand the fundamentals of multimedia storytelling
• Understand basic concepts of how news media websites function, including understanding how to identify the elements of website design and critique functionality
• Learn how to post content – text, video and audio – on the web
• Maintain your own blog
• Publish a final website project showcasing your reporting, writing and multimedia storytelling skills

 

This class will combine lectures, discussion, in class assignments and reading assignments. This will be a hands on class where you will be using your basic journalism skills as well as learn the basics of integrating audio, photographs, graphics and video to enhance your articles. There will be regular and timely assignments where you will analyze, critique and discuss current practices of interactive tools on media websites.

 

Additionally, this course addresses nine of the ACEJMC core competencies (#1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11):

 

1.      Understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice.

2.      Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.

3.      Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications.

4.      Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.

5.      Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.

6.      Think critically, creatively and independently.

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

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

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

10.  Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.

11.  Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

  

Getting the Most Out of This Class

Since the goal of this class is to prepare you for a potential career in electronic media, you will be expected to become as knowledgeable as possible about the current media trends and issues.  At the beginning of the course, each of you will be assigned to find a multimedia story or some other interactive element from a NEWS website tied to one of the day’s top stories.  You will present your findings to the class, and write a 300 – 400 word post for your blog.

 

You may draw from any number of the recommended sites below:

 

• Local/regional media sites, e.g. dallasnews.com, startelegram.com, dentronrc.com, NTDaily.com, KRLD.com KNTU.com.
• National/international sites: cnn.com, nytimes.com, msnbc.com, BBC (bbc.co.uk), washingtonpost.com
• CyberJournalist.net: http://cyberjournalist.net
• News Voyager: http://newsvoyager.com
• NewsDirectory.com: http://newsdirectory.com
• Poynter Institute: http://poynter.org
• American Press Institute: http://www.mediacenter.org/ and http://www.mediacenter.org/convergencetracker/search/
• Editor & Publisher: http://mediainfo.com
• Wired Magazine: http://wired.com
• Media Week: http://mediaweek.com
• Broadcasting & Cable: http://broadcastingandcable.com
• MediaPost.com: http://mediapost.com
• PBS’s MediaShift (http://www.pbs.org/mediashift)

 

University Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism, in a nutshell, is using other people’s written words as your own. Some people consider the use of seven to ten words in a row, copied from another source, as plagiarism.  Be sure to include citations when using other people’s writing, because plagiarism is a serious offense in any discipline, especially journalism.  It’s a firing offense in the professional world. In the Department of Journalism and Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at UNT, students face a range of penalties for plagiarism (depending on the importance of the assignment):

 

• A grade of ‘F’ on a minor assignment;
• A request that the student drop the class;
• Withdrawal of the student form class, initiated by the professor;
• An ‘F’ for the course;
• A referral to the UNT Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities;
• A notation on the student’s transcript; and,
• Expulsion from the university.

 

A combination of these penalties may also be used.  If you need more information or have questions about plagiarism, ask your nearest journalism professor or visit the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.

 

DISABILITIES.  The Journalism Department, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If you require any such accommodation, please contact the instructor within the first three weeks of class.

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

 

January 20                  Classes start Jan 27 – Feb 2             Add/Drop **  March 12                     Mid-term @ 11am March 16 – 20             Spring Break March 26th                  Final Project Proposal Due Final Presentations     April 30th, May 5th & May 7th ** Consult with Journalism Department office or Registrar for refund details.

 (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

 Course Outline

Week 1:

Jan. 20

Introduction: Review syllabus, grading, class format.

Jan. 22

Overview: Discuss evolution, role and importance of online journalism.

Blog Assignment #1 due

   

Week 2:          Jan. 27 & 29

Create Blog /Setting up iGoogle Page

Types of Convergence/Characteristics of Online News

Writing for the Web – Part 1

 Setting up my WordPress blog:

 

READING for Class:

 

Writing for the Web

http://www.usability.gov/design/writing4web.html

Week 3:          Feb 3 & 5

Components of the Online News Story

Story Forms

Writing for the Web – Part II: Headlines, AP Style

 

Week 4:          Feb. 10 & Feb. 12

News v. Blogs: Defining the Difference. Are blogs journalism? Analysis of media blogs v. pundits. What are the elements of a blog? What makes a good blog?

News Websites: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly / Analyzing/Critiquing websites

Blog Assignment #2 due

 

Week 5:          Feb. 17 & Feb 19

Reporting for Web: Crowdsourcing, Content Aggregation

GUEST SPEAKER

Blog Assignment: #3 due

 

Week 6:          Feb. 24 & Feb 26

Online Layout/Elements of Website Design/HTML 101

Storyboarding/Story Structure

Creating a Slide Show

 

Blog Assignment: #4 due

 

Week 7:          March 3 & March 5

Defining the Audience: Who’s Reading/Viewing/Clicking?

Hooking Your Readers/Viewers/Social Bookmarking/RSS Feeds

Final Project Discussion

 

 

Week 8:          March 10 & March 12

March 12  - Mid-Term Exam

 

March 16 – 20: SPRING BREAK

 

Week 9:          March 24

Defining/Discussing Digital Storytelling

Tools of the Digital Journalist

 

March 26: User-Generated News: Blogs, Twitter, Podcasts, Facebook, Myspace, NING

DUE March 26: FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL

GUEST SPEAKER

 

Week 10:       March 31 & April 2

Adding Dimension to Online News; Using Graphics and Links/Cool sites & tools; maps, timelines, polls

Blog Assignment: #5 due

 

Week 11:       April 7 & April 9

Politics & the Web: Impact of the 2008 Presidential Election

Nontraditional News Websites

 

Week 12:       April 14 & April 16

Ethics: Doing the Right Thing

Legal/Copyright: Knowing What’s Right

GUEST SPEAKER

 

Week 13:       April 21 & April 23

Future Trends: What’s New, What’s Next

Innovation & Ideas – Mobile Technology

Blog Assignment: #6 due

 

Week 14:       April 28   

Final Project Workshop

 

APRIL 30^th – Final class presentations Begin

 

Week 15:       May 5 & May 7

Final Class presentations

 

GRADING:

There are several components of this class that contribute to your grade:

 

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – 25%

BLOG ENTRIES – 15%

MID-TERM EXAM – 20%

FINAL PROJECT – 30%

TEACHER EVALUATION – 10%

TOTAL POSSIBLE …………………………..100%

 

FINAL GRADE SCALE:

100 – 90 = A

  89 – 80 = B

  79 – 70 = C

  69 – 60 = D

  59 – Below = F

 

NOTE:  The work you do in this class must be original and may not be turned in for any other class. You are allowed to use equipment assigned to this class and, with approval from the professor, other equipment as long as it is similar to the equipment accessible from the University.  

 

You must follow all rules and guidelines related to checking out any audio/visual equipment.  Any violation of those guidelines will limit or completely restrict your usage of the equipment.  You also are responsible for all costs related to any damage to the equipment.

 

WRITING ASSIGMENTS

Your in-class and homework assignments include writing from wire copy, newspaper/magazine/e-zine articles, notes, tapes/CDs, lectures, your own interviews and textbooks.  Since this class is preparing you for a real-life journalism experience, you must follow the rules accuracy, clarity, conciseness, spelling, usage, grammar. You are expected to know and understand AP Style for print or broadcast. You must meet all deadlines. You can not make up in-class writing assignments.

 

BLOG  ENTRIES

Part of your experience of becoming a journalist of the 21s Century is that you constantly practice the craft. During the first week of class, we will set up your course-related blog at WordPress.com.  On this site, you must write a weekly item that discusses any issue related to electronic media, which may discuss and/or analyze topics we discuss in class or items you find in the news or on media websites.  You will be given a specific assignment that will be tied to a certain aspect we are currently studying in class. Your weekly posting must be made BEFORE the Thursday class at 11am.  

 

At least once during the class, you will be responsible for posting an analysis of an interactive tool based on daily news.  This posting will be due BEFORE the class you are making the presentation.

 

MID-TERM EXAM

This exam will include questions over the text, lectures, notes, speakers, writing assignments, exercises, handouts, speakers, and class discussions.

 

FINAL PROJECT

This project is going to reflect a culmination of all your coursework. Your final project is designed to: (1) Take our class readings, discussions and analysis and put them into practice; (2) Tap into your skill as a journalist and novice at understanding how the internet works, particularly how content can be presented on the Internet; and (3) Allow you to create a blog that could serve as an important component of your portfolio. Your final grade for this project will be based on your thoroughness in reporting and writing; use of interactivity (e.g. use of related links, photos, slideshows, audio and video), your creativity and your 10-minute in-class presentation. You are not expected or required to hire a web designer or a programmer. All the tools you need are readily available for free on the web, and do not require any sophisticated technical knowledge.

 

TEACHER EVALUATION:

You will be judged throughout the semester on your attendance participation, creativity, energy, ideas and overall improvement.