Instructor: TOM
DAVIS (http://www.tom-davis.net)
Period 1, Mondays and Thursdays, 8:10 to 9:30 a.m.
H:
732-548-3656
Legacy
of Madness (http://www.legacyofmadness.com)
Rutgers
Reporter (http://www.rutgersreporter.com)
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
Sept. 8/chapters 1, 2 and 9; stylebook A-E
Sept. 15/chapters 5, 6 and 10; stylebook F-N
Sept. 22/stylebook O-Z
Sept. 29/chapters 4 and 15
Oct. 6/chapters 21 and 22
Oct. 20/chapters 12, 13 and 17
Nov. 3/chapter 16
Nov. 10/chapter 11
Nov. 17/chapters 8 and 14 and municipal meeting reading
Assignments (500
to 800 words):
(First half
– count once)
Due date/assignment
Sept. 8/Bio
Sept. 12/Interview your neighbor story
Sept. 26/Workbook pages 52 to 55, handout (no rewrite)
Sept. 29/Interview your neighbor story – rewrite
Oct. 3/Class-created story
Oct. 17 /News briefs
Oct. 20/Class-created story – rewrite
Nov. 3/News briefs - rewrites
(Second-half
– count twice)
Oct. 31/Bill Borden-assigned story
Nov. 7/Guest speaker story
Nov. 10/Bill Borden-assigned story – rewrite
Nov. 21/”Live” story
Nov. 28/Guest speaker story – rewrite
Dec. 5/Meeting story
Dec. 8/“Live” story – rewrite
(Final –
counts four times)
Dec. 11 (at noon)/Rough draft for final assignment
Dec. 12/Final assignment
Conferences:
Oct. 13, 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.