Online Journalism JOUR 3340 Syllabus – Fall 2008 – UNT
University of North Texas
Department of Journalism
Online Journalism – JOUR 3340
Semester: Fall 2008
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
The purpose of this class is help you strengthen your reporting, writing and editing stories to produce stories for the web, and enable you to combine your traditional journalism skills with the digital media tools of the 21st Century. 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. You will be required to post at least weekly entries on current issues in electronic media issues on your blog, and your final course project will include creating a news blog.
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. To help you get the most out of this class, there are several websites throughout the course of the semester to which I will be referring and you are encouraged to review on a regular basis. Here are several of the major ones. Others will be identified throughout the course of the semester:
- 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
- CyberJournalists.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
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
|
August 26 Classes start August 25 – 29 Add/Drop ** October 14 Mid-term @ 11am Thanksgiving Break Spring Break Oct. 13 Final Project Proposal Due Final Presentations Nov. 25, Dec. 2 & Dec. 4 Dec. 1 – Dec 5 Dead Week ** 3PM deadline for add/drop on Sept. 1 You may still withdraw the class until Sept. 22 with a refund.
|
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Course Outline
Week 1: Aug. 26 and 28
Introduction: Review syllabus, grading, class format.
Overview: Discuss evolution, role and importance of online journalism.
Week 2: Sept. 2 & 4
Create Blog
Types of Convergence/Characteristics of Online News
Blog Assignment #1 due – Click on class notes to get assignment
Week 3: Sept 9 & 11
Writing for the Web – Part II — CLICK Here for Class Notes
Components of the Online News Story
Week 4: Sept. 16 & Sept. 18
Defining the Audience: Who’s Reading/Viewing/Clicking?
News Websites: The Good,The Bad & The Ugly
Blog Assignment #2 due
Week 5: Sept. 23 & Sept 25
Engaging Readers/Viewers
Click HERE for Class notes
Blog Assignment: #3 due
Week 6: Sept. 30 & Oct. 2
Developing Sources & Interactivity
Click HERE for class notes.
Blog Assignment: #4 due
Week 7: Oct. 7 & Oct. 9
Defining/Discussing Digital Storytelling
Tools of the Digital Journalist
Click HERE for class notes.
ELECTIONS PROJECT – Click HERE for details.
Week 8: Oct. 14 & Oct. 16
Oct. 14 - Mid-Term Exam
Oct. 16 - Final Project Discussion Adding Dimension to Online News: Photos & Videos
Using Graphics and Links/Cool sites & tools
Week 9: Oct. 21 & Oct. 23
DUE Oct. 21: GUEST SPEAKER
Oct. 23rd: FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL
User-Generated News: Blogs, Podcasts, Facebook, Myspace
Week 10: Oct. 28 & Oct. 30
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?
Week 11: Nov. 4 & Nov 6
Politics & the Web
Blog Assignment: #5 due
Week 12: Nov. 11 & Nov. 13
Ethics: Doing the Right Thing
Legal/Copyright: Knowing What’s Right
GUEST SPEAKER
Week 13: Nov. 18 & Nov. 20
Innovation & Ideas – Mobile Technology
Final Project Workshop
Blog Assignment: #6 due
Week 14: Nov. 25
Final class presentations
Week 15: April 22nd & May 1st
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.
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.
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 further develop your blog into a credible site that – if you so desire – can continue to maintain beyond this class. 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.
