Spring 2015
Journalism 330, Section 021
Magazine and Feature Writing
Heating Plant Annex, Third Floor (Western Courier offices)
M, W, F
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Instructor:
Email:
Office:
Mailbox:
Office Hours:
Richard Moreno, 309-298-1876 (ext. 7)
R-Moreno@wiu.edu
305 Heat Plant Annex (Western Courier Offices)
Simpkins 122 (M-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Call to make an appointment – 298-1876, ext. 7
Course Description:
Not all journalism stories must adhere to the famed inverted pyramid theory—which
states that a news story must begin with its most important elements followed by less
essential aspects. An exception to this rule is feature writing in newspapers and
magazines. Feature writing is, basically, a newspaper or magazine article that takes an
original angle on a subject and often uses descriptive writing and fiction techniques to tell
the story in an original way. That doesn’t mean it isn’t journalism—a feature story must
still follow all the rules of accuracy and truthfulness that apply to a news story. But a
feature story is different in that the writer can be more creative and less formulaic in
crafting his or her article.
While this class is primarily designed as a writing workshop—and there will be
weekly writing assignments—there will also be regular reading assignments from the
text. I’d like to leave you with some advice from Janet Fullwood, former travel editor of
the Sacramento Bee: “Read, read, read. Write, write, write—on any topic. Most people
have to get a lot of mediocre articles under their belt before they can start paying
attention to theme, technique and style.”
Required:
• “Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines,” (5th, 6th or 7th Edition), by
Edward Jay Friedlander and John Lee.
• A good dictionary (and use it!)
• A willingness to meet regular deadlines and turn in weekly assignments on time
COURSE OVERVIEW
Goals and Objectives:
This course is designed to give students an understanding of the concepts and
practices of feature writing. Course reading and lectures will provide an overview
of the basics of writing a newspaper or magazine feature story. Students will be
asked to write using different styles and techniques on a wide variety of subjects.
Course Requirements:
• Reading/Discussion of Reading/Attendance: This will include reading the text
chapters and any class handouts, and discussing what you have read. Completion
and discussion of assigned reading represents about 20% of your final grade. (75
points)
• Papers: Encompasses regular writing assignments that will be due nearly every
week. Completion of assigned writing projects on deadline represents about 50%
of your final grade. (200 points)
• Final Paper: This final paper should be a polished, ready-for-publication
magazine article of 1,200 to 1,500 words. This final paper represents about 30%
your final grade. (125 points)
• Attendance and Class Participation: It will be extremely difficult to pass this
course if you do not attend the classes and participate. Role will be taken
regularly. If you miss more than 5 class sessions without an approved excuse,
your grade will be reduced by a full letter grade.
• Grades will be calculated by percentage using the following scale:
These components total 400 points. Grades will be calculated by percentage using the
following scale:
A 92 percent or above
A- 89-91 percent
B+ 86-88 percent
B 82-85 percent
B- 79-81 percent
C+ 76-78 percent
C 72-75 percent
C- 69-71 percent
D+ 66-68 percent
D 62-65 percent
D- 59-61 percent
F 58 percent or less
368 points or above
356-367
344-355
328-354
316-327
304-315
360-379
276-303
264-275
248-263
236-247
235 or below
Class Logistics
Class begins promptly at 9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will conclude at
9:50 a.m. Please be on time and be prepared. Read what has been assigned and complete
any homework assignments prior to its due date. Please remember to turn-off your cell
phones during class.
Additionally:
1. Attendance–Attend class. Attendance will be recorded and it can affect your grade. To
have an excused absence, you must provide me with an explanation in writing (or via
email) within one week of the missed class.
2. Assignments—Late assignments will not be accepted. If a scheduled competition or
performance conflicts with a class deadline, it is your responsibility to turn in your work
before—not after—the due date. If you contact me after missing an assignment, do not
expect to receive credit for the assignment. Only prompt written explanations signed by
valid authorities will be considered valid.
3. Decorum—Students will respect each other (constructive criticism and enthusiasm are
fine but rudeness and antagonism are unacceptable). Use respectful classroom etiquette
toward both the instructor and your classmates.
4. Cheating and Plagiarism—Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Any
student caught plagiarizing will receive an automatic “0” on that assignment. Plagiarism
is defined as the use of another’s ideas, data, and statements with little or no
acknowledgement. Additionally, it is not acceptable to turn-in an assignment completed
for another course. For more details, please read the “Academic Integrity” policy at
www.wiu.edu/provost/student.
Other Useful Resources:
University Writing Centers:
Malpass Library
3rd Floor, West Side
Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Walk-ins Welcome)
309-298-2815
mwcenter@wiu.edu
Simpkins Hall, Room 25
Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Walk-ins Welcome)
309-298-3512
Assistance
Students with special learning needs requiring pedagogical accommodation should let me
know as soon as possible. The University’s policy is that, in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, academic accommodations may be made for any student
who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. It is imperative that the
student takes the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he is not
legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may
require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should
contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an
emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.
Web address for student rights & responsibilities:
(http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php)
Web address for Academic Integrity Policy:
(http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php)
About the Instructor
I am the Adviser to the Western Courier and Director of Student Publications. If you’re a
Journalism major/minor (or even if you’re not), you should think seriously about writing
for the Courier. I also serve as the Adviser to Western Illinois Magazine, a student-run
twice-annual general interest magazine. You should be working for one or the other if
you are serious about writing.
Prior to coming to Western in 2006, I worked for more than 14 years as the
Publisher/Editor of Nevada Magazine, a bimonthly travel and tourism publication. From
2004 to 2006, I taught Travel Writing at the Donald Reynolds School of Journalism at the
University of Nevada, Reno.
Additional Background:
• I am the author of thirteen non-fiction travel and/or history books including “The
Roadside History of Nevada,” “Myths and Mysteries of Illinois” and “Illinois
Curiosities.” My next book, “A Short History of Reno, Nevada,” will be published in the
fall of 2015.
• In 2007, I was honored with the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame “Silver Pen Award.”
• From 1985 to 1992, I was Director of Advertising and Public Relations for the Nevada
Commission on Tourism and created the “I Survived Highway 50, the Loneliest Road in
America” promotion, which was awarded best state tourism public relations campaign by
the National Council of State Travel Directors.
• From 1980 to 1985, I worked as a reporter at several newspapers including the Reno
Gazette-Journal, the Davis Enterprise and the Montclarion in Oakland. Calif. I also
wrote a travel-history column for more than two decades for several Nevada newspapers.
• I have a master’s degree (M.S). in journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate
School of Journalism in New York and an undergraduate degree in political science from
the University of California at Davis.