Intermediate Reporting (COMM 3660-01), Spring 2013
The University of Utah
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:40 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.
LNCO 2940
“Until the lives of all citizens are fully and fairly represented in the staffs and content
of all newspapers, the American press has made a promise it has not yet kept.”
Robert J. Haiman, Best Practices for Newspaper Journalists
Professor
Dr. K. Mangun
Office: LNCO 2854
Office hours: Thursdays 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment
Email: Kim.Mangun@utah.edu (During the week, I try to return messages within 24 hours. I check email
only sporadically during the weekend. Also note that sending me email through Canvas is not reliable.)
Phone: 585-9935 (email is a better way to contact me)
Course description (CW, CEL):
This rigorous, hands-on course is designed to build on the writing and reporting skills you learned in
COMM 1610, Introduction to News Writing. This class will focus on beat reporting and multimedia
storytelling, which will enable you to develop yourself as a reporter/communicator by shaping your
interviewing and research skills.
COMM 3660 is also a community-engaged learning course. CEL is a method of teaching and learning
that gives students an experience that is connected to course content while meeting the needs of the
community. This action-oriented learning helps students better understand course material and discover
how the classroom experience is relevant and applicable to the real world. An important component in all
community-engaged classes is reflection, which is “the intentional consideration of an experience in light
of particular learning objectives.” The reflection process helps students integrate readings, class
discussions, and new concepts with their observations and experiences in the community.
Course objectives and goals:
This class has been redesigned to give you opportunities to focus on excellence in journalism, practice
reporting a diverse beat, incorporate multimedia storytelling into your reporting, publish your work, brand
yourself as a professional communicator and prepare a professional portfolio. The goal is to make you as
marketable as possible in today’s media market. By the end of the semester, you should see a marked
improvement in your reporting, interviewing and writing skills.
This semester we will cover the following beat: the African American community.
Required texts and material:
•
Carl Sessions Stepp, Writing as Craft and Magic, 2d ed.
•
Readings online and posted on Canvas
•
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, 2010 or newer
•
USB portable storage drive; earbuds
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 1
Strongly recommended if you plan to continue in the communication field:
•
Webster’s New World College Dictionary
•
Brian S. Brooks, et al., Working with Words: A Handbook for Media Writers and Editors, 7th ed.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009
•
William Strunk Jr., The Elements of Style.
•
Jay Stevenson, The Pocket Idiot’s Guide To Grammar & Punctuation. New York: Alpha, 2005
•
C. Edward Good, Whose Grammar Book Is This Anyway? All the Grammar You Need to
Succeed in Life. New York: MJF Books, 2002
Canvas support:
If you need technical assistance or training on Canvas, see the new-user orientation course at
https://utah.instructure.com/courses/166837. For additional information or troubleshooting, your best
option is the TACC center in the Marriott Library (Room 1705, 585-5959, tacchelpdesk@utah.edu or
classhelp@utah.edu). Outside normal working hours, contact the Campus Help Desk at 581-4000, Option
1, or helpdesk@utah.edu.
Department policies:
Attendance: The Department of Communication requires that you attend the first two class meetings. If
you are absent during the first week, you will be asked to withdraw from the course. Attendance is
mandatory during the remainder of the term. This is a skills course so you will learn how to be a
professional communicator by completing hands-on exercises and assignments, many of which are done
on deadline in class. Participation in class discussions also is very important. Thus, absences and late
arrivals/early departures will affect your final course grade. If you have a documented emergency, must
attend a university-sanctioned event, or have some other extenuating circumstance, notify me
immediately.
Prerequisite: COMM 1610, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite for this class. Individuals who have not met
the requirement will be asked to withdraw from the class or receive a failing grade.
University policies:
Plagiarism: Academic integrity is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment. All students
enrolled in university courses are expected to complete coursework with fairness and honesty. Failure to
do so by seeking unfair advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else’s work as your own
(plagiarizing) can result in disciplinary action including dismissal from the course and a failing grade or
dismissal from the university. For more information, consult me and/or read Section I (General Provisions
and Definitions) of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (“Student Code”) at
http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html
Academic misconduct: Academic integrity also entails doing unique work for each class. According to
Policy 6-400: Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (“Student Code”), Section I, Part B:
“Misrepresenting one’s work includes, but is not limited to, representing material prepared by another as
one’s own work, or submitting the same work in more than one course without prior permission of both
faculty members.” For more information, consult me and/or the Student Code at
http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html
The Americans with Disabilities Act: The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its
programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you need accommodations in this class,
please contact me as soon as possible. Also notify the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 2
Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and me to make arrangements for
accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with
prior notification to the CDS.
Withdrawal: According to the Office of the Registrar, withdrawing from a course and other registration
matters are your responsibility. See the following link for more information about the Withdrawal Policy:
http://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/withdrawal.php
Grade Disputes: According to university policy, a student who wishes to dispute a grade must try to
resolve the matter first with the instructor. The instructor has 10 business days to respond to the student.
If the student and instructor cannot resolve the matter, the student may dispute the grade with the
department chair. The student must prove the grade is “arbitrary and capricious.” See Section IV (Student
Academic Performance) of the Student Code: http://www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.html
Accommodation: I will not make accommodations in class content, requirements or expectations.
Other guidelines, policies, and expectations:
•
Because we can all learn from each other’s experiences, questions, and suggestions, regular
classroom participation is expected and will factor into your grade for this course. You are
expected to have read and reflected on class readings in order to ensure the relevance and
thoughtfulness of your contributions to the course.
•
Bring your Stylebook, pencils/pens, memory stick, and other items you find helpful for your craft
to each class. Other items may be required during the term. If so, they will be announced.
•
Class will begin promptly at 9:40 a.m. so please be on time, just as you would for a job. We’ve
all been in classes where students arrive late, and pack up their things early. This is disruptive to
everyone in the class and affects the learning environment that we are trying to create.
•
To get the most out of this class, there is absolutely no emailing, surfing, instant messaging,
etc. during class, and turn cell phones — or ringers — off. Computer images can and will be
displayed if monitors are used at inappropriate times. If you must be “on call” for some
reason, please inform me before class.
•
Do not consume food or beverages in the computer lab. You may take a break at any time during
class, as long as you complete your work and/or make deadline.
•
When contacting sources for a story, always represent yourself as a student-journalist who is
working on a story that will be published on Voices of Utah and possibly also in the West View.
•
Never promise a source that his or her name will be withheld from publication.
•
Dress appropriately (professionally) when gathering information outside of class.
•
Familiarize yourself — if you haven’t already done so — with copy-editing symbols and use
them when editing your work or stories by your peers. If you need an example, see
http://creativeservices.iu.edu/resources/guide/marks.shtml
•
Continue to familiarize yourself with the Stylebook, the way it is formatted, and subject headings.
Pay particular attention to the following sections: abbreviations; acronyms; addresses; ages;
because/since; datelines; dimensions; essential and non-essential clauses; months; newspaper
names; numerals; plurals; possessives; state names; time element; titles; years.
•
Disruptive students will be asked to leave the class and/or withdraw from the course.
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 3
Assignments, grading policies and procedures:
Assignment Overview:
•
In-class writing assignments, exercises and activities (45 points; participation/attendance
factor into the total score): During the semester you will complete a variety of exercises and
activities designed to help you become better writers and communication professionals.
•
Learning Abroad Fair (60 points): You will cover the annual Learning Abroad Fair in the
Union Ballroom on Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. (during our regular class time).
Your story, 350-450 words in length, should include a good lead and kicker, sufficient
background information to place the fair in context and at least two interviews with a range of
people. Due by email (kim.mangun@utah.edu) by midnight, Jan. 29. Your notes are due at
the start of class on Thursday, Jan. 31.
•
Live tweeting (20 points): This semester, you’ll experiment with live tweeting during MLK
Week. You will cover an event and send between 10 and 15 tweets (correct grammar, spelling,
AP style, etc.). Details will be discussed in class and posted on Canvas.
•
Outside story 1 (100 points; up to 20 points for final revising and polishing; 10 points for
photo): You will write an 850-word, three-source (minimum) piece resulting from your in-class
interview on Jan. 31. You also will need to shoot at least one photo to accompany your story (see
Multimedia Storytelling, below). (Draft due Tuesday, Feb. 12; final story due Thursday, Feb.
21; begin publishing your revised, polished story and asset(s) on Voices of Utah on Tuesday,
March 5.) You’ll also tweet your story upon publication.
•
Outside story 2 (100 points; up to 20 points for final revising and polishing; 20 points for
photos): You will write a second 850-word, three-source (minimum) piece resulting from your
in-class interview on Feb. 14. You will need to shoot at least two photos to accompany your story
(see Multimedia Storytelling, below). (Draft due Tuesday, Feb. 26; final story due Thursday,
March 7; begin publishing your revised, polished story and assets on Voices of Utah by
Thursday, March 21.) You’ll also tweet your story upon publication.
•
Enterprise memo (20 points): You will prepare and submit a memo describing two enterprise
ideas related to your beat to share with your peers and me. (Due Thursday, Feb. 28)
•
Enterprise story (150 points; up to 25 points for final revising and polishing; up to 50 points
for slideshow): A longer (1200 words), multisource/multimedia enterprise story about a person,
issue or organization related to your beat. You need to interview at least three individuals; you
may also find it helpful to use documentary sources for context or background information. See
the multimedia storytelling requirements, below. (Oral progress report due Thursday,
March 7; drafts due Tuesday, March 19, and Tuesday, March 26; final story due Tuesday,
April 2; begin publishing your revised, polished story and multimedia assets on Voices of
Utah by Tuesday, April 9.) Remember to tweet your story once it’s published.
•
Multimedia storytelling (80 points total): During the semester, you will use multimedia
journalism to enhance your stories. You must submit at least one jpg photo (100kb or less) you
have taken to accompany your outside story 1 (10 points) and at least two jpg photos you have
taken (100kb or less) to accompany your outside story 2 (20 points). You must prepare and
publish a slideshow for your enterprise story (worth 50 points). It should contain between 12 and
24 images (each 100kb or less) that you have taken. You may earn extra credit for adding sound
to your slideshow. This might entail your narration, portions of your interview or elements of
natural sound. You may earn up to 10 extra points for enhancing your final story with an
additional multimedia asset (e.g., a timeline or Google map). Equipment (digital recorders, digital
still/video cameras) can be checked out from me; time permitting, instruction will be provided on
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 4
Soundslides Plus and perhaps Audacity. Story/multimedia deadlines are noted above and in the
class schedule.
•
Reflective blog (30 points): Details will be provided later in the semester, but this will be your
opportunity to critically reflect on the service-learning component of the course. (Publish your
approved blog on Voices of Utah by Tuesday, April 16)
•
Your bio and photo (10 points): You will write your own biographical sketch to publish on your
bio page. You also will need to publish an approved photograph to the site. (Publish approved
bio and photo on Voices of Utah by Tuesday, April 16)
•
Twitter (25 points total): You will create a professional Twitter account that includes a profile
and photograph (preferably the same one you will use on LinkedIn and your homepage) (10
points), follow at least three media outlets or professionals during the semester and tweet that info
to me @KimMangun (6 points), and send three additional tweets — one for each of your
published stories — using hash tag #VoicesOfUtah (3 points each). (Create account and send
your tweet(s) to me by Thursday, Jan. 24; other deadlines coincide with the Voices of Utah
publishing schedule.)
•
X-ray readings (15 points each, 45 points total): Three stories that you will examine for
excellent journalism and other qualities. (Due Tuesday, February 12; Thursday, March 28;
Thursday, April 11)
•
Reading reflections (35 points each, 105 points total): During the semester you will keep an
ongoing Word document in which you will write your thoughts about — and grapple with themes
in — your readings. These reflections will be collected via email (send to
kim.mangun@utah.edu) three times during the semester: Thursday, Feb. 7; Tuesday, March
12; Tuesday, April 23. Late submissions (up to 12 hours after the deadline) will be penalized 15
points; submissions turned in 12 to 24 hours after the deadline will be penalized 20 points. No
submissions will be accepted after that. It is very important to stay current with the readings so
you are prepared to discuss them in class, ready to submit your reflections when they are due, and
don’t have to play “catch up” at the last minute. Further, it helps to ensure that your reflections
are critical and thoughtful, rather than hasty and superficial. Additional details about what is
expected can be found on Canvas: “Reading reflections.”
•
LinkedIn profile (25 points): You will create a professional LinkedIn profile that includes your
profile, a biographical summary, experience, skills and education information, code of ethics and
professional photograph. (Due by Tuesday, April 23)
•
Website launch/presentation (20 points): You will invite your sources, faculty, family, friends
and other guests to our final class on Tuesday, April 23. This will be your opportunity to discuss
and share your good work.
•
Quizzes: I reserve the right to give quizzes if I think they will help you master spelling, grammar,
style, etc., or if it becomes clear that you are not completing the assigned reading. I may or may
not inform you in advance of an upcoming quiz.
•
Overview of your overall course grade:
•
Learning Abroad Fair story
60 points
•
Live tweeting
20 points
•
Outside story 1
120 points
•
Outside story 2
120 points
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 5
•
Enterprise memo
20 points
•
Enterprise story
175 points
•
Multimedia storytelling
80 points
•
Reflective blog
30 points
•
Bio and photo
10 points
•
Twitter
25 points
•
LinkedIn profile
25 points
•
In-class assignments; participation/attendance:
45 points
•
X-ray readings
45 points
•
Reading reflections
105 points
•
Web site launch/presentation
20 points
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
900 points
Extra credit: Earn up to 10 extra points (one point per article) for finding errors (spelling, style,
punctuation, grammar, etc.) in the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, or other local or national media
outlets. Show me the error, send me an email with the link and details, or submit the item with the error
circled. The deadline for all extra credit is Thursday, April 18. You also may earn a maximum of 10
extra points for enhancing your stories with additional multimedia components. Points earned will depend
on the complexity and quality of the multimedia element(s). Other opportunities to earn points — such as
by attending a relevant event or lecture — will be announced via Canvas.
**Format for all assignments:**
Assignments and stories will be submitted electronically as a Word attachment to kim.mangun@utah.edu.
Name your document with your last name and a slug, such as: Smith_outside story 1 or Smith_enterprise.
Stories typically are due by the start of class; refer to the syllabus for deadlines. Assignments typically
will be due at the end of class. Follow these guidelines to ensure successful, timely submissions:
•
Use the Microsoft Word default font: Times or Times New Roman, 12-point.
•
Set margins to 1 inch and header/footer to 0 (on a Mac, it’s Format: Document). Your story
should be double-spaced, left aligned (Format: Paragraph, or Formatting Palette: Alignment and
Spacing).
•
Write a headline that not only captures the story’s theme, but also contains words you might use
with a Google search (search engine optimization). Your headline should appear in the upper-left
corner and be left-justified and written in sentence case (without a period).
•
Enter one return, then type your byline as you would like it to appear on the website (think long
term). Type it exactly as follows: by JANE SMITH or Story and photos by JANE SMITH or
Story and slideshow by JOHN SMITH (then enter one return and start your story).
•
Do not indent graphs. Enter one return after each graph and then start typing the new graph.
•
Use em dashes (with one space on each side) instead of two hyphens (on Macs the command is
shift/option/hyphen).
•
Turn off the superscript function for suffixes such as “th” (Format: Character).
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 6
•
Use the space bar just once between sentences.
•
Include hyperlinks in parentheses after the item you want to link. Remember to think strategically
about what you want to link, and where you will place those links in your story. For example:
Voices of Utah (http://VoicesOfUtah.wordpress.com) is an award-winning website.
•
At the end of your story, add one return then center your end mark under your story (### or -30-).
Enter two returns, select left alignment and type the word count, less your headline/byline
(Tools/Word Count) for your story.
•
Notes must be turned in with deadline stories done in- and out-of-class. You will hand these in at
the start of class on the day your story is due.
Deadlines:
•
When an assignment is due, it’s due. That’s the news biz for you. Late stories — even those 5
minutes late — will be assessed 25 points. You will not earn any points for stories submitted
three or more class meetings late. Exceptions occasionally are made for those with dire
circumstances confronting them, but only if those circumstances are made known to me in
advance — if practical — and are documented.
•
In-class assignments are due at the end of class — 11:35 a.m. — unless a different deadline is
announced. Out-of-class assignments, as noted already, are due by the beginning of class — 9:40
a.m. — unless a different deadline has been stipulated in this syllabus.
Grading scale (please note the professor reserves the right to curve grades):
A: 837-900
A-: 810-836
B+: 784-809
B: 748-783
B-: 720-747
C+: 694-719
C: 658-693
C-: 630-657
D+: 604-629
D: 568-603
D-: 540-567
E: less than 540 points
Grades on writing assignments:
All written assignments will be evaluated in terms of mechanics (grammar, punctuation, formatting,
meltdown errors, etc.); use of AP style; ethical considerations; and journalistic skills (lead, body,
conclusion, use of quotes and attribution, etc.). The following general guidelines will be used when
evaluating assignments and stories.
A: The story is newsworthy and exceptionally well-written; i.e., thorough and free of errors. The lead is
clear, concise, interesting and appropriate for the story. The body is organized well and contains effective
transitions, quotations, descriptions and anecdotes. The story emphasizes the human element and quotes a
variety of sources. Because of the story’s obvious merit, media outlets would be eager to publish it.
B: The story is good and could be published after some editing and revising. The lead summarizes the
story; subsequent paragraphs are organized reasonably well. The story may contain errors, or it might be
more interesting, thorough or cohesive with some reworking.
C: The story omits important information or could be published only after extensive editing. The lead
may be too wordy or may fail to emphasize the news. The story may fail to develop the human element. It
may be disorganized and contain several errors. Sentences may be vague, long or complicated and use
passive voice rather than strong verbs. The sentences may have to be rewritten because they are awkward,
wordy or confusing.
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 7
D: The story is superficial or confusing, or requires extensive rewriting. Or, the story contains an
unacceptable number of style, spelling and grammatical errors. The story may also be of questionable
newsworthiness, raise ethical concerns or contain libelous information.
E: The story could not be published because it is too confusing, incomplete or inaccurate, and/or contains
factual errors or libelous information.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Note: Due to the variable nature of journalism, assignments and deadlines may change during the term.
You are responsible for changes announced in class. Electing to remain in the class indicates that you
understand course prerequisites, class policies and possible consequences.
A note about publishing: Publishing stories on Voices of Utah frequently requires more time than is
available during class meetings. Please be aware that you may need to meet with me outside class time to
ensure that your best work is published.
Tuesday, Jan. 8 / Week 1 / Introductions
In class: Class overview; beats, trends, community; peer profiles
Assignment: Visit Poynter Institute’s News University at www.newsu.org and become a registered user
(note your user name and password in your Stylebook, phone, or other handy place; you’ll need it
throughout the semester).
Thursday, Jan. 10 / Excellence, plagiarism, defining news
Read: This syllabus; Stepp, Preface, Chapter 4
Read on Canvas: “Hearst fires reporter for serial fabrication in at least 25 stories”; “The CounterPlagiarism Handbook”
In class: Profile recaps; elements of excellence; plagiarism; listen to NPR story; NewsU/News Sense:
The Building Blocks of News (five sections)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Jan. 15 / Week 2 / Ethics
Read on Canvas: “Twitter for journalists: Engagement and best practices”; “Editorial ethics for Twitter
journalists”
In class: Discuss readings; read ethics codes and begin crafting your own statement for LinkedIn (due
Tuesday, April 23)
Assignment: Twitter (due Thursday, Jan. 24)
Thursday, Jan. 17 / Leads, reporting
Read: Stepp, Chapter 2
Read on Canvas: “Meltdown Errors,” “Grammar Overview,” “AP Style To Know Cold” and “AP Style
for Addresses” (read these carefully; I also suggest printing them and keeping them handy in your
Stylebook)
In class: NewsU/The Lead Lab (complete the following modules: Additional Resources/Browse, 1-5 and
Lexicon of Leads); leads
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Jan. 22 / Week 3 / Focus / MLK WEEK Jan. 18-25
Do: MLK Week live tweeting
Read: Stepp, Chapter 6
Read on Canvas: “How to Live-tweet from an Event”
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 8
In class: leads; finding your focus; note taking
Thursday, Jan. 24 / Leads, reporting (early dismissal due to the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s visit)
Due: You should have created your Twitter account by today, begun following at least three news
individuals/outlets, and sent me a tweet (or tweets)
Read on Canvas: “Diversity is accuracy”; “How to Cross Your ‘Faultlines’”; “You have to circulate to
percolate”
In class: research your beat, develop questions for the upcoming interview on Jan. 31; leads
Assignment: Prepare to cover the Learning Abroad Fair; prepare for next week’s interview
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Jan. 29 / Week 4 / Reporting: Cover the Learning Abroad Fair
Read: Stepp, Chapter 8
Read on Canvas: “Tips on verifying facts and ensuring accuracy”
In class: Cover the Learning Abroad Fair at the Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. (fair runs
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Assignment: Write your story and email it to kim.mangun@utah.edu by midnight. Be sure to proof
carefully, watch AP style and grammar and use a good lead and kicker.
Also: Continue prepping for Thursday’s interview
Thursday, Jan. 31 / First interview
Due: Notes for the fair story
Read: Stepp, Chapter 3
Read on Canvas: “Show, don’t tell”; “5 ways journalists can overcome shyness during interviews”
In class: Interview an individual TBD.
Assignment: Work on the first draft of outside story 1; draft for peer critiques due Tuesday, Feb. 12
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Feb. 5 / Week 5 / Quotes, dialogue, attribution
Read: Stepp, Chapter 7, 11
Read on Canvas: Tool No. 21, “Quotes and dialogue”
In class: Writing; listen to/discuss Doug Fabrizio’s interview with Terry Gross, host of NPR’s “Fresh Air”
Thursday, Feb. 7 / Writing, rewriting
Due: Reading reflection journal, part 1
Read: Stepp, Chapter 10
Read on Canvas: Tool No. 41, “X-ray reading”; Tool No. 49, “Learn from Criticism”; “From Good to
Great”
In class: NewsU/Get Me Rewrite: The Craft of Revision. Complete the following modules: Starting down
the path; List of strategies; Re-seeing your work (skip to “my recipe”); Looking and listening for
problems; Making good work better (stop at “10 percent solution”); writing
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Feb. 12 / Week 6 / Story ideas
Due: Draft of your outside story 1 for peer critiques (final story due Thursday, Feb. 21)
Also due: X-ray reading of “Streets named for civil rights leader weave rich tapestry” by Jonathan Tilove
(marked copy and marginal notes)
Read: Stepp, Chapter 5
Read on Canvas: “Dear Reporters: Be Friends with Craigslist”; “Blog your beat to connect with your
audience”; “Streets named for civil rights leader weave rich tapestry.” Print out the last item and critically
analyze it using X-ray reading. Among other things, circle transitions; find metaphors, anecdotes, similes;
note active verbs; mark adjectives; note what works and what doesn’t; mark the elements of excellence;
mark any lingering questions you have; etc. Also note the type of lead that is used (and whether it is
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 9
effective) and the sources (people or documentary?) that are consulted.
In class: Come prepared to discuss “Streets named for civil rights leader weave rich tapestry” and other
readings; story ideas; campus exploration (weather permitting); prep for the upcoming interview
Thursday, Feb. 14 / Second interview
Read: Stepp, Chapter 9
Read on Canvas: Tool No. 7, “Dig for the Concrete and Specific,” and Tool No. 8, “Seek original
images”
In class: Interview an individual TBD.
Assignment: Work on the first draft of outside story 2; draft for peer critiques due Tuesday, Feb. 26
Assignment: Begin preparing your enterprise memo, which is due Thursday, Feb. 28. Be sure to reread the information about the out-of-class enterprise story and multimedia assets on page 4 of this
syllabus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Feb. 19 / Week 7 / Writing
Read: Stepp, Chapter 12
In class: Writing; other work TBD
Thursday, Feb. 21 / Writing
Due: Your final outside story 1
Read on Canvas: “22 tools and apps every journalism student should know about” and “Predictions for
digital journalism in 2013”
In class: Writing; other work TBD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, Feb. 26 / Week 8 / Multimedia storytelling, WordPress
Due: Draft of your outside story 2 for peer critiques (final story due Thursday, March 7)
Read on Canvas: “5 Free Sites to Help Journalists Build an Online Portfolio”
In class: Peer critiques; hands-on work with WordPress and publishing; NewsU/Five Steps to Multimedia
Storytelling
Assignment: Revise and polish outside story 1; begin publishing it and multimedia asset(s) on Voices
on Thursday, March 5
Thursday, Feb. 28 / Multimedia storytelling, WordPress
Due: Your enterprise memo
Read on Canvas: “CJR Column Mentions The Simpsons”’; “Student journalists need to learn SEO more
than they need AP style”
In class: Come prepared to pitch ideas for your enterprise story (oral progress reports due Tuesday,
March 7)
Assignment: Continue to work on your enterprise story for the rest of the semester
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, March 5 / Week 9 / Publishing
Due: Your revised, polished outside story 1 and multimedia asset(s) for publication on Voices of Utah
Read on Canvas: “Poynter offers mobile ‘Help! For Writers’”
Thursday, March 7 / Publishing
Due: Your final outside story 2
Also due: Enterprise updates (draft for peer critiques due Tuesday, March 19)
Read on Canvas: “The transition to digital journalism”
In class: Continue publishing story 1 and multimedia asset(s) for publication on Voices of Utah
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 10
Tuesday, March 12 / Week 10 / NO CLASS; SPRING BREAK
Due: Reading reflection journal, part 2
Thursday, March 14 / NO CLASS; SPRING BREAK
Assignment: Revise and polish outside story 2; we will begin publishing it and multimedia assets on
Voices on Thursday, March 21.
Also this week: Work on your enterprise story (first draft due Tuesday, March 19)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, March 19 / Week 11 / Multimedia storytelling
Due: Draft of your enterprise story for peer critiques (next draft due Tuesday, March 26)
Read on Canvas: “Figuring Out When, and How, Journalists Should Use Audio Slideshows”
In class: Peer critiques; Audacity and Soundslides Plus (tentative); continue publishing story 1
Assignment: Keep working on your enterprise story
Thursday, March 21 / Multimedia storytelling
Due: Your revised, polished outside story 2 and multimedia assets for publication on Voices of Utah
Read on Canvas: Tool No. 32, “Let it Flow,” and “How the Boston Globe used Instagram to show
‘natural fabric’ of community”
In class: Audacity (tent.) and Soundslides; other work TBD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, March 26 / Week 12 / Social media, Facebook
Due: Draft of your enterprise story for peer critiques (final story due Tuesday, April 2)
Read on Canvas: “The Journalist’s Guide to Facebook”; “New Facebook data show 7 keys to maximum
engagement for journalists”
In class: Peer critiques; social media case study, time permitting; other work TBD
Thursday, March 28 / Social Media
Due: Your X-ray reading of “Black and Blue” by Westword reporter Joel Warner
Read on Canvas: “Harnessing Social Media”; “Black and Blue.” Print out the last item and critically
analyze it using X-ray reading. Among other things, circle transitions; find metaphors, anecdotes, similes;
note active verbs; mark adjectives; note what works and what doesn’t; mark the elements of excellence;
mark any lingering questions you have; etc. Also note the type of lead that is used (and whether it is
effective) and the sources (people or documentary?) that are consulted.
In class: Come prepared to discuss “Black and Blue,” which received a 2012 Salute to Excellence award
from the National Association of Black Journalists; writing; other work TBD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, April 2 / Week 13 / Blogging
Due: Final enterprise story
Read on Canvas: “Ethics: Social Media and Blogging Guidelines”; “Cappuccino and Citizen
Journalism”
In class: Blogging; publishing; other work TBD
Assignment: Work on your blog, bio and photo, all of which are due Tuesday, April 16
Thursday, April 4 / Blogging
Read on Canvas: “When Journalists Blog: How It Changes What They Do”; Chicago Tribune: “How we
did this story”
In class: Discuss readings; discuss LinkedIn; writing/editing; multimedia examples and hands-on;
blogging
Assignment: Revise and polish your enterprise story; begin publishing it and multimedia assets on
Voices by Tuesday, April 9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 11
Tuesday, April 9 / Week 14 / Twitter
Due: Your revised, polished enterprise story and multimedia assets for publication on Voices
Read: Stepp, Chapter 14
Read on Canvas: “6 ways Twitter has made me a better writer”
Listen on Canvas: “Internships”
In class: Publishing; writing/editing/multimedia TBD
Thursday, April 11 / Twitter
Due: X-ray reading of “Dave Duerson’s secret life and tragic end” by Miami New Times reporter Gus
Garcia-Roberts
Read on Canvas: “Dave Duerson’s secret life and tragic end.” Print it out and critically analyze it using
X-ray reading. Among other things, circle transitions; find metaphors, anecdotes, similes; note
active/passive verbs; mark adjectives; note what works and what doesn’t; mark the elements of
excellence; mark any lingering questions you have or missing elements (such as context); etc…. Also
note the type of lead that is used (and whether it is effective) and the sources (people or documentary?)
that are consulted.
In class: Come prepared to discuss the story about Dave Duerson, which received a 2012 Salute to
Excellence award from the National Association of Black Journalists; work on bio; take class photo;
invite guests to launch and party; writing/editing/multimedia TBD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, April 16 / Week 15 / Workshop
Due: Your approved blog, bio and photo
Read on Canvas: “How To: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for the Job Hunt”; “You’re the worst one
I’ve ever interviewed”; “9 top tips for the journalists of tomorrow”
In class: Publishing; writing/editing/multimedia TBD
Thursday, April 18 / Workshop
Note: Today is the deadline for extra credit
Read on Canvas: “Cover Letters”; “Résumés”; “How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation”
Listen on Canvas: “Job interview”; “Mistakes”
In class: Publishing; writing/editing/multimedia TBD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tuesday, April 23 / Week 16 / LAST DAY OF CLASS! — SITE LAUNCH and PARTY
Due: LinkedIn portfolio
Due: Reading reflection journal, part 3 (if you want comments, you must indicate this in your email to me)
COMM 3660-01 / SPRING 2013 / MANGUN / 12