JOUR 3321-002 News Reporting, Writing and Editing Fall 2014 Instructor: Mark Donald Class: Tu/Th, 9:30-10:50 a.m. GAB 112 Lab: Tu/Th, 2:30-4:20 p.m. GAB 112 TA/Mentors: TBA Staci Parks Email: staciparks@my.unt.edu Phone: 318-267-7067 2. Luci Lopez Email: luncidalopez@unt.edu Cell: 956-683-5066 Books and required reading: Writing and Reporting News, Carole Rich, Seventh Edition. When Words Collide: A Media Writer’s Guide to Grammar and Style, Eighth Edition, by Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald When Words Collide Exercise Book, (same as above) North Texas Daily (at ntdaily.com) AP Stylebook. Always have this with you. Dallas Morning News e-edition North Texas Daily stylebook (available at www.ntdstaff.com) A book of your choice to review (list provided first week of class) Textbook policy: The Mayborn School of Journalism doesn’t require students to purchase textbooks from the University Bookstore. Many are available through other bookstores or online. Course design: The design of this course is the brainchild of UNT journalism professor Kathie Hinnen, and with her permission, I am adopting and adapting much of its structure, format and syllabus. Objective 1: In this practical class, you work as a beat reporter for UNT’s student newspaper, the North Texas Daily and/or its online version ntdaily.com. You will further develop the reporting and writing skills you learned in Journalism 2310 (or its equivalent), applying these by finding, reporting and writing your own news and feature stories for the Daily. Part of this class is learning how to work with others, an important component of the professional world. Working closely with an assigned mentor/editor, you will write stories incorporating various reporting techniques, sources, databases, state and federal open records laws, journalism ethics and legal issues, multiculturalism and diversity, multi-platform and explanatory journalism, specialty and investigative reporting, and feature writing. You will develop your critical thinking skills by: Learning to evaluate the credibility of sources
may appeal to the Office for Academic Integrity, which ensures due process and allows the student to remain in class pending the appeal. CLASSROOM POLICIES Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’ opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom, and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student’s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The University’s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classrooms, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at . The Mayborn School of Journalism requires that students respect and maintain all university property. Students will be held accountable through disciplinary action for any intentional damages they cause in classrooms. (e.g., writing on tables). Disruptive behavior is not tolerated (e.g., arriving late, leaving early, sleeping, talking on the phone, texting or game playing, making inappropriate comments, ringing cellular phones/beepers, dressing inappropriately). Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) The Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness ) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available at the end of the semester to provide students a chance to comment on how this class is taught. Student feedback is important and an essential part of participation in this course. FINAL EXAM POLICY Final exams will be administered at the designated times during the final week of each long semester and during the specified day of each summer term. Please check the course calendar early in the semester to avoid any schedule conflicts. ACCESS TO INFORMATION As you know, your access point for business and academic services at UNT occurs within the my.unt.edu site www.my.unt.edu. If you do not regularly check EagleConnect or link it to your favorite e-mail account, please so do, as this is where you learn about job and internship opportunities, MSOJ events, scholarships, and other important information. The website that explains Eagle Connect and how to forward your email: http://eagleconnect.unt.edu/ Courses in a Box