Journalism 220 | Magazine Editing |
Fall 2013
Class: Tuesday 12:45-2:50 p.m. and Thursday from 12:45-3:55 p.m.
Instructors:
Jill Connelly conneljp@piercecollege.edu, Village 8000
Jeff Favre jjfavre@gmail.com, Village 8212
Office hours: Before class or other times by appointment.
Required Textbook:
The Magazine from Cover to Cover by Sammye Johnson
and Patricia Prijatel, second edition, Oxford University Press.
Recommended:
Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual (you can get this as
an app also). It is recommended that you read additional books in your area of interest
(magazine writing, editing, photography, design, production).
Course Description:
Introduction to magazine journalism including planning and
producing a magazine, the industry and jobs in the profession. Students will be
responsible for the overall design, content and production of the publication. Students
will produce an issue the campus magazine, The Bull as the final product of the class.
Students will also produce content for The Bull online.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students successfully completing the course
will:
• Understand the basics of magazine production (print and online) and the magazine
industry • Apply current convergence techniques utilizing text, visual imagery and audio
to tell journalistic stories
• Demonstrate the teamwork required to produce a magazine and integrate the different
areas of editorial and production
Course objectives:
Students will create The Bull magazine from concept to
production using the following skills:
• Report and write stories suitable for publication • Learn the process of planning and
developing a magazine and story proposals • Recognize, compose and select quality
photographs for publication • Learn basic magazine layout and design techniques and
software • Learn multimedia techniques such as audio and video editing and produce an
online issue of the magazine
Attendance:
The college’s guidelines on attendance will be strictly followed.
Attendance is necessary and required. Students will create the magazine, and
participation
is necessary to do this. It is your responsibility to notify the instructor if you arrive after
attendance has been taken. It is also your responsibility to drop the class if you decide to
do so. Your grade will be lowered for more than two absences, and three tardies equals
one absence.
Assignments:
All assignments need to be turned in on the due date. Journalism is
a deadline business. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. Students who miss deadline
will get an F for that story/photo/layout. Work must be turned in to instructors and the
Bull editor by assigned deadlines for grading purposes. All assignments must be turned
in on Moodle for grading. Assignments not turned in via Moodle on time will not be
graded. TURNING IN WORK TO EDITORS/ADVISERS, OR LEAVING ON A COMPUTER
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Academic Integrity:
All work must be your own. All assignments must be
original work, done specifically for the magazine. No recycling. Anyone cheating or
plagiarizing will
fail the class and may incur institutional discipline. You are required to uphold the ethical
standards of the Society of Professional Journalists, Society for News Design and National
Press Photographer’s Association.
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you
are encouraged to contact both your instructor(s) and the office of Special Services in the
new Student Services Building, #4800. The phone number is (818) 719-6430.
Class lectures
will introduce students to the following topics:
• General overview of producing a magazine
• Researching story ideas for writing and photography
• Theory and practice of magazine writing, editing and photography
• Basics of art direction, design, use of color and typography
• Copyediting and story rewrites
• Selection of photographs, illustrations and design materials
• Preparation of materials for printing
• Production Schedule and other aspects of printing
• Production of multimedia, podcasts, blogs and interactives for magazines
In addition to lectures, class will include lab work, tests, slide shows, a guest speaker and
possibly a field trip.
Important Dates: The last day to drop class without incurring fees and without a “W”
is Sept. 8. The last day to drop online with a “W” is Nov. 17. The Final is Dec. 12.
Class Schedule
• Week 1
(Aug. 27/29) Introduction to magazine, staff members, responsibilities and
discussion of theme. Lecture: Idea proposals; Reading In text Ch. 7 Staff organization.
Assignment - Work on story proposal. Work on story ideas. Prepare draft proposal for
your editor. Include photographic vision and multimedia possibilities.
In-class assignment - Create a Bull email address at gmail. Example: Student Name:
Jeremy Nation Email: jeremymnation@gmail.com. Homework: Review:
www.thebullmag.com
Homework: Set up blog
• Week 2
(Sept. 3/5) Research and interviewing techniques. Photo Basics. Using audio
equipment during your interviews. Working with editor on draft proposal. Assignment –
“Mini Profile” assignment. Homework: Blog entry.
• Week 3
(Sept. 10/12) Lecture: Magazine writing. Reading CH. 8 Magazine Content.
DUE: FULL PROPOSAL beginning of class (a resubmission will be allowed by the end
of class, but it’s due before class begins) and “Mini Profile” piece due at the end of
class Thursday. Homework: Blog entry
• Week 4
(Sept. 17/19 Lecture: multimedia; Reading Ch. 9 Design. Assignment –
Deadline Assignment—REVIEW. Guest speaker. At this point you should have at least 2
of your interviews for your article done and transcribed. Homework: Blog entry.
• Week 5
(Sept.24/26) Lecture: Rewriting and editing. Photography lecture. Quiz on
magazine design. DUE: DEADLINE ASSIGNMENT (RESTAURANT OR OTHER REVIEW)—
due at the beginning of class. DUE: FIRST DRAFT OF STORIES, due Thursday.
Homework: Blog entry.
• Week 6
(Oct. 1/3) Lecture: In-design basics. Work on page designs in class. Practice
Dummies. Homework: Blog entry.
• Week 7
(Oct. 8/10) Final edit on stories. Work on online edition. Group editing, fact
checking. Work on layouts for print and online. DUE: SECOND DRAFTS; Reading Ch. 10The Production Process. Homework: Blog entry.
• Week 8-(Oct. 15/17 DUE: ELEMENTS FOR MULTIMEDIA PIECE. Homework: Blog
entry.
• Week 9
(Oct. 22/24) )- FINAL DRAFT DUE TUESDAY. PAGE DESIGN INDESIGN due
Thursday for all pages including photo essays. PRODUCTION DAY. Review print edition
proof. Homework: Blog entry.
• Week 10
(Oct. 29/31) Lecture: Video editing. Review print edition proof. Homework:
Blog entry.
• Week 11
(Nov. 5/7) Critique work. Feedback.
• Week 12
(Nov. 12/14) Work on online edition.
• Week 13
(Nov. 19/21 Work on online edition.
• Week 14
(Nov. 26 Thanksgiving No class Thursday) Work on online edition. DUE:
MULTIMEDIA PIECE.
• Week 16
(Dec. 3/5) Lecture: Legalities and Ethics. Ch. 11 Legalities and Ch. 12 Ethics.
• FINAL EXAM, Dec. 12, 12:30 p.m.
Grades:
Grades for the course are based on completing the assignments and
producing the final product. Both the quantity and quality of work produced will be
factored into the grade. In addition attendance, classroom participation will be
considered. The magazine editors will be consulted by the advisors for input when
assigning individual grades. It is recommended that students keep all graded work on file
until they receive their final grade. Late work is not accepted.
100-90%=A; 89-80%= B; 79-70%=C; 69-60%=D; 59-0%=F.
Grades will be given for:
• Research/proposal – 10 percent
• Reporting/writing/photography for magazine - 25 percent
- One main lengthy, in depth news feature/feature story OR two photo essays.
• Mini Profile assignment – 10 percent
• “Deadline” assignment – Review – 10 percent
• Weekly Blog entries – 10 percent
• Multimedia assignment – 20 percent (Can be related to your story or a new idea.)
Can be a video, audio slideshow or multimedia graphic (for example a timeline.)
• Production (print) – 10 percent - Designing your spread, copy editing
• Exams & Quizzes – 5 percent
Class participation will also be factored in and if you miss your deadlines expect an F.
EXTRA CREDIT MAY BE OFFERED FOR ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS UP TO 5 percent OF
YOUR GRADE.
Teamwork:
Students should realize this is a TEAM effort. Do not expect to work on
only your story. Expect to work together, help each other, proof other pages, offer ideas,
feedback, etc. Because we publish only one issue, you have one opportunity to get it
right, to produce a magazine you can all be proud of and to include in your portfolio as
an example of the quality of work typical of you and your program.
Journalism is a dynamic business. The above schedule is subject to changes.