Instructor: TOM
DAVIS (http://www.tom-davis.net)
Period
1, Mondays and Thursdays, 8:10 to 9:30 a.m.
O: 201-646-4524/H:
732-548-3656
Coping with Life (http://www.coping-with-life.com)
Rutgers
Reporter (http://www.rutgersreporter.com)
Announcements:
See
changes in schedule due to snow days
Objectives:
ACCURACY,
CLARITY, FOCUS
Teaching how to gather and write news for print
media.
Mastering
the principles of organizing and writing a story.
Identifying
story ideas and useful information.
Understanding
the principles of digital media
Rules:
DEADLINES,
DEADLINES, DEADLINES
Homework
that’s late – but not more than 24 hours late – gets a
half-grade deduction.
Homework
that’s more than 24 hours late is not accepted, and receives an F.
Thorough
stories must be submitted with source attribution, objectivity and style.
A
complete understanding of English grammar and spelling is expected.
Homework must be submitted either in-person or via email, as a typed, double-spaced document.
Attendance is required – failure to attend without a legitimate excuse could affect your class participation grade.
Your work will appear on the Rutgers Reporter web site. We will learn the basics of digital media composition.
Grades:
Homework: 70 percent
Class Participation: 25 percent
Quizzes: 5 percent
Deadlines for News Reporting and Writing and Associated Press stylebook readings:
Due date/assignment
Jan. 28/chapters 1, 2 and 7; stylebook A-E
Feb. 4/chapters 4, 5 and 8; stylebook F-N
Feb. 11/stylebook O-Z
Feb. 18/chapters 3 and 12
Feb. 25/chapters 22 and 23
March 11/chapters 15, 19 and 20
April 1/chapter 13
April 8/chapter 9
April 15/chapters 6 and 14 and municipal meeting reading
Assignments (500 to
800 words):
(First half –
count once)
Due date/assignment
Feb. 1/Interview your neighbor story
Feb. 15/Workbook pages 52 to 55, handout (no rewrite)
Feb. 18/Interview your neighbor story – rewrite
Feb. 22/Class-created story
March 8 /News briefs
March 11/Class-created story – rewrite
April 1/News briefs - rewrites
(Second-half
– count twice)
March 29/Bill Borden-assigned story
April 5/Guest speaker story
April 8/Bill Borden-assigned story – rewrite
April 19/”Live” story
April 22/Guest speaker story – rewrite
April 29/Meeting story
May 3/“Live” story – rewrite
(Final –
counts four times)
May 2 (at noon)/Rough draft for final assignment
May 3/Final assignment
Conferences:
March 4, Room 336
Extra credit:
1. Write up to two OBJECTIVE news stories on ANY topic (no reviews or opinion pieces).
Students will receive a half-grade higher on a regular homework assignment for each story that is considered B-level quality.
2. Get at least one byline in ANY section of The Daily Targum (can include reviews or opinion pieces). Students receive a half-grade higher on a homework assignment if they can present a story with a byline.