Spring 2015
Journalism 333, section 021
Special Press: Magazine Content & Design
Heating Plant Annex, Room 302
Western Illinois University
M, W, F
1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.
Instructor:
Email:
Office:
Mailbox:
Office Hours:
Richard Moreno, 309-298-1876 (ext. 7)
R-Moreno@wiu.edu
302 Heat Plant Annex (Western Courier Offices)
Simpkins 122 (M-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Call to make an appointment
Course Description:
What goes into producing a magazine? This class is designed to explore how a
magazine is created. We will explore what elements go into creating a magazine,
determining the audience, shaping the editorial product, case studies of successful
magazines, trends in contemporary magazine publishing as well as publication
design and content. Your final for this class will be a take-home project that will
involve developing a magazine proposal, including a determination of the
marketing potential, a suggested business plan and rough design (mock up) of the
first issue.
Required Materials:
• “Magazine Cover to Cover,” Second or Third Edition, by Sammye Johnson and
Patricia Prijatel
• Creativity
Course Requirements:
• Homework/Reading/Discussion/ In-Class Assignments: This will include
reading the text chapters and class handouts, and discussing what you have read.
Completion of homework, in-class assignments and in-class discussion of
assigned reading represents 50 points of your final grade (10%).
• Quizzes: 50 points each. There will be four quizzes. Each covers three chapters
in the required text (“Magazine Cover to Cover”) so having a copy of the book is
essential. The tests may include multiple choice, true/false, fill-in blank, and short
answer essays. Quizzes will represent 200 points of your final grade (40%).
• Cover Story/Feature Store: Since you will be creating your own publication
concept, you will be asked to write a 1,200 to 1,500-word (approximate) feature
story that will serve as the cover story for the mock-up of your magazine. This
story must relate to the overall theme of the magazine you are creating. The paper
will represent 100 points of your final grade (20%).
• Final Project: Developing and Designing Your Own Magazine. This will include
preparing a 10- to 14-page mock up of your own magazine. This is your vision for
your own publication—what is its name and subject matter? What is its purpose?
What basic design ideas do you have for this publication? You must include its
logo (name of your publication), the cover, a table of contents page, a main
feature story layout and a sample department or column. The final project will
represent 125 points of your final grade (25%).
• 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. 5 points will be deducted for every unexcused absence.
• There will be a total of 500 points available for this class. 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
460 points or above
445-459
430-444
410-429
395-409
380-394
360-379
345-359
330-344
310-329
295-309
290 or below
Class Logistics
Class begins promptly at 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and will conclude at
1:50 p.m. Please be on time and be prepared. Read what has been assigned and complete
any homework reading assignments prior to class. 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 Center, SI 341
Simpkins Hall, Room 341
Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus Wednesdays 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Appointments preferred: 298-2815
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.