A study and practice of reporting and writing news stories, this course helps students develop the ability to read, think, and write critically as they research and write about newsworthy issues. Students are introduced to the historic and evolving roles of journalism in modern culture, with an overview of journalism history and issues in journalism law and ethics.
Students read and view models of excellence in news reporting.
The course focuses on determining what is news, writing leads, organizing news stories, reporting and interviewing techniques, and conventions of journalistic writing. Prerequisite for all other journalism classes. Students discuss narrative forms for newswriting in light of the changing nature of print journalism and how the changing nature of news affects how journalists can best tell stories. Students read and view models of excellent narrative journalism from newspapers, magazines, web sites, and television. This course focuses on the publication process, with emphasis on copy editing.