Journalism 315 – Fall 2013
Editing for Print Media/Digital Copy Editing and Design
San Diego State University School of Journalism and Media Studies
4 p.m.-7 p.m., Thursdays – PSFA 374
Instructor: Aaron Hoskins
Office hours: TBD
Phone: 619-987-6356
E-mail: sharpdigitalguy@gmail.com
Prerequisites
Communication 200 and Journalism 220 with minimum grades of C (2.0) in each course; upper
division standing; ability to type; credit or concurrent registration in Journalism 300 and
Communication 310W; and a passing score on the Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation (GSP)
test.
Purpose of the course
Journalism 315 is a hybrid course with a digital emphasis that will cover:
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news writing, editing, use of photography, graphics and other imagery
digital publication design
web communications and managing a web communications project
impact of mobile
In short, the course will focus on content creation and consumption in our ever-changing digital
world.
Required reading
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Steve Krug, 2006, New Riders Press
Don’t Make Me Think, 2nd ed.
(ebook $11.20 - http://www.peachpit.com/store/dont-make-me-think-a-commonsense-approach-to-web-usability-9780321344755)
Jakob Neilsen and Raluca Budiu, 2012, New Riders Press
Mobile Usability
(ebook $9.80 - http://www.peachpit.com/store/mobile-usability-9780321884480)
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, latest edition
Jakob Neilsen, Neilsen Norman Group
NN/g UX Research Reports (free online at www.nngroup.com/reports/)
Additional readings and resources available for free online
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Journalism 315 – Fall 2013
Editing for Print Media/Digital Copy Editing and Design
San Diego State University School of Journalism and Media Studies
Class format
Most classes will include a seminar-style discussion followed by exercises that will be due at the
end of the period. Some exercises will be completed in small groups and will require
presentations.
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Meet your deadlines! Class assignments are due in class by the set deadline. Work
outside of class will be due on the date assigned.
The semester will include four tests, plus weekly current-events quizzes. Tests will be based on
class discussions, reading material and exercises.
More about the class format
Journalism 315 is designed primarily as a lab course. Content skills will be developed through
discussion and practice, and work for grading will be assigned in almost every class session.
Assignments will be varied in content and difficulty to give students experience handling news
material and communications assignments that deal with a broad range of subjects, including
breaking news, features, sports business and opinion. Students will be required to keep up
with current events, including events on campus.
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Attendance:
o You must attend class to complete in-class assignments and tests. They cannot
be made up.
o If you are unable to attend class because of illness or other approved reasons,
please send me an email in advance of the class.
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Journalism 315 – Fall 2013
Editing for Print Media/Digital Copy Editing and Design
San Diego State University School of Journalism and Media Studies
Week 1
Aug. 29
Introductions
No reading. Know yourself and be ready
to discuss what you want from this class.
Week 8
Oct. 17
Designing Pages for Scanning, Not Reading
Reading: http://tiny.cc/qavsqc
Week 9
Oct. 24
Mindless Choices; Content for All
Audiences
Reading: http://tiny.cc/webreading
http://tiny.cc/ax2013
http://tiny.cc/seniorsax
http://tiny.cc/accessabilityearly
Week 2
Sept. 5
Omit Needless Words
Bring AP Style Guide. Reading:
http://tiny.cc/elementsofstyle
Also read two posts from:
http://tiny.cc/grammar-girl
http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog
Week 10
Mobile Imperative
Reading: Mobile Usability
Week 3
Sept. 12
Breaking News
Reading: http://tiny.cc/theatlantic-sandy
http://tiny.cc/bobhardt-sandy
http://tiny.cc/poynter-2007fires
Week 11
Nov. 7
Digital Photography
Reading: http://tiny.cc/photocontent
http://tiny.cc/designdiffs
Week 4
Sept. 19
Sports, Politics, Opinion
Reading: http://tiny.cc/sportsmythos
Week 12
Nov. 14
Final Project
Final Project and Final Paper assigned
Week 5
Sept. 26
News on the Web and the Super
Consumer
Reading: http://tiny.cc/webvsprint
Week 6
Non-thinking
Reading: Don’t Make Me Think
Oct. 31
Oct. 3
Week 13
Final Project Presentations
Nov. 21
Week 14
Final Project Presentations
Dec. 5
Week 15
Dec. 12
Final Papers due by 5 p.m., Dec. 12
Week 7
Oct. 10
Scanning, Satisficing and Muddling
Through
Reading: http://tiny.cc/neilsen-usability
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