Franklin High School
Kate Moore
Room 255, Office Hours Wednesday 2:15 to 3:15 and by appointment
503-916-5140 ext. 73593, 503-310-3178 (cell)
kmoore@pps.net
Introduction to Journalism 2 (PCC dual credit J103—Introduction to Media Writing, 4 cr.,
1 semester) 2012-2013
Course Description: Introduction to Media Writing Introduces the basic process and practice of
writing media. Discusses style and story structure for print and electronic media and the rights
and responsibilities of the public communicator. Emphasizes journalistic style and format,
accuracy and clarity in writing. Students will be able to:
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Organize researched material into journalistic format.
Understand the responsibility inherent in providing information to the public.
Apply basic techniques of journalistic writing and formats.
Additional course information and course outcomes are available at
http://www.pcc.edu/ccog/default.cfm?fa=ccog&subject=J&course=103
Course Prerequisite: Recommended: Introduction to Journalism 1 (PCC dual credit J102—
Intro to Information Gathering)
Instructional Materials: Instructor will supply a reading packet or in-class text sets of excerpts
from Scholastic Journalism, Inside Reporting, The Radical Write, and local, national, and
international newspapers and services.
Course Outline:
Week 1 (2/4)
Sportswriting—Reviewing Superbowl coverage
How is sportswriting different from Public Affairs/News reporting?
Types of sports stories
Covering scholastic sports—every team, every issue!!
Reading/lit circle assignments—See reading list for journalistic non-fiction/you can propose
books that are not on the list for approval.
Week 2 (2/11)
Guest Speaker: Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian
Sports Style review
Due: Sports Style worksheets
Due: Draft--Scholastic sports team/game stories (basketball, swimming, wrestling)
Week 3 (2/18)—No Monday class
Finding the story behind the story
Feature writing structure and purpose
Print v. Online sports reporting
Due: Sports team/game stories
Week 4 (2/25)
Profile writing/interviewing and background research
Due: Sports team online story
Due: Draft, Sports feature/profile
Week 5 (3/4)
Building a story
Story packages—News hook, feature angles, side bars, profiles, alternative media (e.g.,
tweeting the news, news shorts, writing to make “Google News” or NYT round up)
Feature Style, Story and Lead Types
Due: Final, Sports feature/profile
Week 6 (3/11)
Graphics and Photography—The story without the words
Film: War Photographer: James Nachtwey
Due: Draft, Feature Story Package/Alt media proposal
Week 7 (3/18)
Photojournalism Basics
Guest Speaker: Stephanie Yao, Staff Photographer, The Oregonian or Jeff Lee, freelance
photographer
Due: Final Feature Story
Spring Break—No classes
Week 8 (4/1)
Why we do what we do?
Responsibility in the media
Satire v. news v. opinion
Week 9 (4/8)—No Friday class
Writing to persuade/Techniques and goals
Op Ed/Commentary structure and style
Due: Mid-terms
Week 10 (4/15)
Comparing news v. Commentary
Argument/analysis v. persuasion
Week 11 (4/22)
Supporting your position
Counterargument and defense
Due: Draft Commentary
Week 12 (4/29)
Editing, Peer Review, and Journalistic Style
Week 13 (5/6)
Designing to be read
Newseum resources for design ideas
Why no one reads an ugly paper or web site
Week 14 (5/13)
Pulling it all together—Using your year’s work to design story packages for a mock front
page
Design basics for print and online media—Modular design
Chunking, page grabs
Graphics for online media
“Above the fold”
Week 15 (5/20)
Writing headlines and captions
Demonstration classes: In-Design Basics
Accessing online design resources
Week 16 (5/27)—No Monday class
Demonstration Classes: Photoshop Basics
Week 17 (6/3)
Partner work week…Get it done!!!!!
Week 18 (6/10)—Finals
Front page presentations
Due: Front page
YOU MUST ATTEND YOUR FINAL PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION OF
CLASSMATES’ PRESENTATIONS. IF YOU DO NOT, YOUR COURSE GRADE
WILL DROP A FULL LETTER GRADE. THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL AND
CANNOT BE MADE UP.
Grading Criteria:
Journalism is deadline and accuracy driven. Your grade will be based on your ability to meet
deadlines and your commitment to quality work. Assignments will be given a point value and
can be redone as many times as you wish, but initial drafts must be turned in on time or a 10
percent penalty will be assessed. Late work will not be accepted after two weeks without prior
arrangements. This policy includes tests.
Attendance and Make Up Policies: It is important that you are in class and keeping up with the
work. If you have had an excused absence (with a note), you need to come and see me to get the
work you missed and to negotiate a new deadline, generally the number of days you missed, plus
one additional day. Work missed as a result of unexcused absences is considered late and the 10
percent penalty applies. No additional days will be granted. You can also email me:
kmoore@pps.k12.or.us if you are absent and I will send you the day’s lesson, if possible.
Tracking and managing your grade and assignments is YOUR responsibility.
Some assignments that require class participation or are time sensitive (group activities, in class
simulations, reflections on guest speakers) cannot be made up. It is also difficult to make up
movies or video presentations, but in some cases students can make after school arrangements.
Final grades will be based on a percentage scale of total points with 90% and above an A, 80%
and above a B, 70% and above a C, 60% and above a D, and 59% and below an F.
Late work policy: Assignments must be turned in on time or a 10 percent penalty will be
assessed. Late work will not be accepted after two weeks without prior arrangements.
For specific information related to PCC grading guidelines, please refer to the PCC Dual Credit
Student Handbook, accessible through your high school instructor and located at:
http://www.pcc.edu/prepare/head-start/dual-credit/documants/student-handbook.pdf
Information related to Add/Drop/Withdraw deadlines is also detailed in the Student Handbook.
Code of Student Conduct
Respect yourself and others
· Assume positive intent on the part of your classmates and instructor.
· Use positive, supportive and respectful language only. Because journalism is a field in which
one’s work is often read by others, students are expected to be courteous and encouraging when
critiquing peers.
· Respect other speakers, stay on topic and take turns.
· Listen when others are talking.
Bring all materials to class
· Small spiral notebook
· Journalism notebook
· Pencils and blue or black pens…bring more than one· Brightly colored pen for editing
· All work in progress
Be in class every day, on time.
Because journalism requires students to be out and interacting in the community, I will issue hall
passes as needed to complete assignments. Abusing your hall pass will result in it being revoked
for the balance of the quarter. You will need to complete any assignments on your own outside
of class time and will be required to remain in the classroom at all times.
Follow Franklin High School Student Handbook expectations and PPS Computer Access
regulations.
You will use computers and the internet ONLY as needed to complete your assignments. You
will be allowed to use email ONLY as is necessary to communicate with sources for your
assignments. Abusing your computer privileges will result in the loss of internet and email
access. You will still be able to word process, but will not be allowed further computer access.
You will therefore need to complete all internet assignments and email contact outside of class
on your own time.
You are a reporter representing Franklin High School. Act like a professional!
Instructional ADA statement: This class will comply with ADA/IDEA policies Portland Public
Schools, which are more stringent that those of PCC. Accommodations identified in either a IEP
or 504Plan will be complied with throughout the course. If you need accommodations under
either of these plans, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can obtain a list of your
accommodations from your counselor or case manager.
Flexibility Statement: Assignment/exam calendars may be changed in response to institutional,
weather, class problems.
Academic Honesty: Degrees and grades are awarded on the basis of evidence that students have
mastered course material and met other requirements. Homework, assignments, term papers,
examinations, and other assigned work provide evidence of that mastery, as well as providing
practice for the student.
Please visit http://www.pcc.edu/pcc/abt/rights/student_rights/integrity.htm
and look at this document carefully.
The instructor reserves the right to modify course content and/or substitute assignments and
learning activities in response to institutional, weather, or class situations.