JMS 300 – Principles of Journalism
Spring 2015
MWF 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
PSFA 350
Instructor: Carrie O'Connell
Office: PSFA 372
Email: coconnell@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: Wed. 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM & by appointment
Communication with instructor: I am available in class MWF during class sessions if you need to discuss courserelated questions. I urge you to address these questions to me in class for the benefit of your fellow students. If
you need to reach me above and beyond this, please schedule see me during my office hours or by email.
Ideally, communication should follow these guidelines:
 In-Class: Course-related questions regarding clarification of reading assignments, quiz availability, and
chapters covered on exams.
 Office Hours / Email: Questions regarding grades* or any other private matter.
*Before discussing grades, please make sure you have reviewed your status in the grade book in BlackBoard.
Course Information:
Required Materials (Available at the campus bookstore and online)
Wilkinson, J.S., Grant, A.E., & Fisher, D.J. (2013). Principles of Converged Journalism, Second Edition. NY: Oxford
University Press.
Kovach, B. & Rosenstiel, T. (2007). The elements of journalism, what newspeople should know and the public
should expect. NY: Three Rivers Press. ISBN: 0307346706
Streitmatter, R. (2012). Mightier than the Sword: How the media have shaped American history, Third Edition. CO:
Westview Press. ISBN: 9780813346304
ParSCORE (Required Purchase): There will be exams and quizzes in this class that will require the use of ParSCORE
test forms. Please purchase several (estimate 10-20) ParScore Test Forms (F289-PAR-L) from the campus
bookstore. Bring them to each class – as you never know when a pop quiz may arise during the semester.
Supplies and Equipment
 Students should have access to an email account and Blackboard because communication and
information about the course will be sent via these methods.
 Purchase of ParScore Forms is required in this course since there will be exams and quizzes throughout
the semester that will use the form.
 It is required you create a Twitter account for this class and create a list of news organizations/individuals
you will follow during the semester in order to stay on top of the news.
 Other supplies are to be determined and will be discussed during the semester. Please see the course site
on Blackboard often.
Course Catalog Description
Theory and practice of journalism, survey of history, ethics, law, international news systems, and social
responsibility of the press. Operations of newspapers, news magazines, radio and television news departments,
and other news agencies. Impact of new media and technology on journalism, economics, and management of
news organizations.
Course Overview
This course will introduce you to the journalism field and the role it has in society. It is crucial to understand the
journalism field as a news consumer and as a potential future journalist. Through class readings, lectures, guest
speakers, exams, and assignments, you will come away from this class knowing more about what journalism is
and its importance in serving the public.
Course website: This course has a website on blackboard. Please visit it often as announcements and related
course materials will be posted on the site throughout the semester: http://blackboard.sdsu.edu
All lecture PowerPoints will be posted to BlackBoard after they are presented in class.
Objectives
This course will help you:
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Articulate what is journalism and the news;
How to critique components of the news as a news consumer and journalist;
Contextualize major journalistic events and milestones that contributed to the field;
Identify and explain the role of specific communication theories that were influenced by the field;
Define journalism ethics and how journalists apply ethical practices in their daily work;
Explain the importance of journalism and its role locally, nationally, and internationally;
Understand the role diversity has in the journalistic process;
Understand what is a traumatic news event and how journalists cover it;
Describe the role of informed citizens in the journalistic process as part of a democratic society;
Compare and contrast the influence of technology in journalism routines and practices;
Detect the influence and impact of media consolidation;
Distinguish from the various kinds of journalism careers and the kind of work they perform
Points Breakdown:
Assignment
Points
Percent of Grade
News Site Assignment
- Group Selection (25 pts)
- Website Selection (50 pts)
- Original Story (50 pts)
- Radio Broadcast (100 pts)
- TV Broadcast (100 pts)
- Re-purposed Story (50 pts)
- Presentation (25 pts)
- Group Evaluation (50 pts)
450 (1 group assignment x 450 pts)
45.00%
Midterm Exam
100 (1 exam x 100 pts)
10.00%
Final Exam
200 (1 exam x 200 pts)
20.00%
Weekly Quizzes
100 (10 quizzes x 10 pts each)
10.00%
Thought Papers
50 (2 papers x 50 pts each)
5.00%
News Labs
70 (7 labs x 10 pts)
7.00%
Participation and Attendance
30 pts
3.00%
Explanation of Assignments:
News Site Assignment: In groups of 4-5, you will have the responsibility of building a news site consistent of
original commentary as well as an aggregate of news from around the web. Websites can be built in WordPress,
SquareSpace, or the web space of your choosing (with instructor approval). You will have dedicated class time
during the semester to work on your news sites. All additional website maintenance and building must be
completed outside of class. The final assignment will be due Week 16.
Midterm: The Midterm Exam will be cumulative and cover all reading discussed weeks 1-7. A midterm study guide
will be posted to BlackBoard by Friday, February 20th.
Final Exam: The Final Exam will be cumulative and cover all reading discussed weeks 8-16. A final study guide will
be posted to BlackBoard by Friday, April 24th.
**Please bring a red ParScore Scantron to all Textbook Exams, the Midterm, and the Final Exam**
Reading Quizzes: Quizzes will cover the reading you are responsible for during the current week. In addition, the
quizzes may cover all material covered in class since the previous quiz. Quizzes will be available in BlackBoard
from 12:00 PM on Fridays and due the following Monday by 12:00 PM. Passwords to the quiz will be given at the
end of class on the Friday they are posted. You will have one opportunity to complete each one hour, tenquestion quiz once you have begun. Please make sure you have your class notes and textbooks available before
you start the quiz. No re-dos will be allowed.
News Labs: Every other week, there will be activities in class, based on the reading and lecture material. You must
attend the news lab in order to earn points. No make-ups or additional assignments will be given if a news lab is
missed without prior approval from the instructor. If you know you will be out of class during a scheduled news
lab, please inform the instructor at least two weeks prior. Absences without prior warning will result in a loss of
points for the assigned lab.
Thought Papers: The Friday of weeks 7 & 13, a one-page paper that synthesizes the readings for that week as well
as current news events will be due. Rather than summarize the readings, you must pull key points from each and
present them as backing for analysis of current news events. Your ability to translate the reading and apply key
points to current events will showcase your understanding of key concepts. See rubric at the end of the syllabus.
Participation and Attendance: Your success in this class is contingent upon your participation and attendance.
Each regular class week (after the add/drop deadline), you will earn 2 points for full attendance during the week.
If you miss any class during the week, you will forfeit the possible 2 points for the entire week. A total of 30 points
is assessed for the entire semester (possible 15 weeks at 2 points each week).
Grading:
Absolute Scale--93%+=A, 90%-92.9%=A-, 86%-89.9%-B+, etc.
Course Policies:
Late Work: No late work will be accepted. All exams must be completed in class during the scheduled class
sessions unless ADA-approved accommodations have been previously arranged.
ADA Accommodations: Students with ADA-approved accommodations should contact me privately prior to the
third class meeting to discuss specific accommodations.
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your
accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until
you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your
cooperation is appreciated.
Attendance: Your attendance in this course is necessary for a passing grade. PowerPoint presentations will be
available in BlackBoard after the lecture has been presented. While tests and quizzes are rooted in textbook
material, information will be delivered during lecture that may appear on the exams and quizzes; therefore,
failure to attend class sessions may result in a significantly lower course grade.
Privacy and Defamation: I realize this is a contemporary media course and you may be personally well-versed in
social and otherwise contemporary media. If you choose to communicate regarding this course on social
networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Storify, etc., please remember to use discretion.
Inappropriate communications have the potential to become privacy issues for class members and/or the
instructor, as well as defamation risks for yourself. Absolutely no photography or video recordings are permitted
during class sessions unless otherwise authorized by instructor for ADA purposes.
Grade Book: Quiz scores will be posted in the grade book upon completion of the quiz. Exam scores will be tallied
and posted within one week of completion of the exam. Please check the BlackBoard grade book frequently to
stay abreast of your class standing.
Reading Assignment Legend:
E: Elements of Journalism
P: Principles of Convergent Journalism
M: Mightier than the Sword
JMS 300 MEETING / READING SCHEDULE
Week 1: Course Introduction
1/21
1/23
Syllabus Review
News Site Assignment Review
Week 2: Beginnings of Journalism
E: Chapters 1-2, M: Chapter 1, P: Chapter 8
1/26
1/28
1/30
Lecture
Lecture
Due: Group Selection
Week 3: Who do journalists work for?
E: Chapters 3-4, M: Chapter 2
2/2
2/4
2/6
Due: Quiz #1 in BlackBoard
Lecture
News Lab 1: Practice Thought Paper
Week 4: Journalism as a Public Forum
E: Chapters 5-6, M: Chapter 3
2/9
2/11
2/13
Due: Quiz #2 in BlackBoard
Lecture
Lecture
Week 5: Convergent Journalism
P: Chapters 1-2
2/16
2/18
2/20
Due: Quiz #3 in BlackBoard
Lecture
News Lab 2: Midterm Review – Jeopardy
Week 6: Engagement with the Publics
E: Chapters 7-8, M: Chapter 4
2/23
2/25
2/27
Due: Quiz #4 in BlackBoard
Lecture
Due: Website Selection
Week 7: Comprehensive and Proportional
E: Chapters 9-10, M: Chapter 5-6
3/2
3/4
3/6
Due: Quiz #5 in BlackBoard
Lecture
News Lab 3: Radio Broadcast Activity
Due: Thought Paper #1
Week 8: Midterm
M: Chapter 7-10
3/9
3/11
3/13
MIDTERM EXAM
Lecture
Due: Original Story
Week 9: Broadcast News
P: Chapters 5-7
3/16
3/18
3/20
Due: Quiz #6 in BlackBoard
Lecture
News Lab 4: TV Broadcast Activity
Week 10: Journalism and Revolution
M: Chapters 11-12
HANDOUT: Network Theory and the
Egyptian Revolution
3/23
3/25
3/27
Due: Quiz #7 in BlackBoard
Lecture
Due: Radio Broadcast & Group Evaluation 1
Week 11: Spring Break
3/30 – 4/3
Week 12: Internet News
P: Chapters 9-11
4/6
4/8
4/10
Due: Quiz #8 in BlackBoard
Lecture
News Lab 5: Storify
Due: TV Broadcast & Group Evaluation 2
Week 13: Journalism and Civic Issues
M: Chapter 13
4/13
4/15
4/17
Due: Quiz #9 in BlackBoard
Lecture
Due: Thought Paper #2
Week 14: Propaganda and Politics
M: Chapters 14-15
4/20
4/22
4/24
Lecture
Lecture
News Lab 6: Final Exam Review – Jeopardy
Due: Re-Purposed Story
Week 15: Final Exam Review
M: Chapter 16
4/27
4/29
5/1
Due: Quiz #10 in BlackBoard
Lecture
News Lab 7: Emerging Media
Week 16: The Future of News Production
P: Chapter 12, M: Chapter 17
5/4
5/6
5/8
Due: Website Presentation
Due: Website Presentation
Due: Website Presentation
Week 17: Final Exam
5/11
FINAL EXAM 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
*Schedule subject to change as course progresses. All changes will be noted in the “Announcements” section of
BlackBoard.
Thought Paper Rubric
Information:
Importance of the
concept / topic and its
significance to you.
Organization: Well
structured and laid out.
Synthesis:
Conclusions written in
own words and
thoughts.
Grammar, Spelling,
Punctuation:
Clearly written without
error.
Context:
The thought paper ties
into current issues and
news events.
0-2
Lacked
information /
details.
03-4
Information given.
Difficult to follow.
5
Information was
complete. Easy to
follow.
Lacked
organization of
thoughts.
Lacked any
synthesis.
Organization was
there. Difficult to
follow.
Synthesis given, but
hard to identity.
Very well organized and
thought-out.
Grammar,
spelling and/or
punctuation very
poor.
Paper lacks
relevance to
current news
events.
Grammar, spelling
and/or punctuation
with some errors.
Grammar, spelling
and/or punctuation
perfect.
Paper touches upon
current news events,
but lacks contextual
analysis.
Paper contextualizes
current news events
with weekly readings.
Synthesis was
complete.
Score