University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Curriculum Proposal Form #3
New Course
Effective Term:
2121 (Spring 2012)
Subject Area - Course Number: JOURNLSM 227
Cross-listing:
(See Note #1 below)
Course Title: (Limited to 65 characters)
Writing for News Media
25-Character Abbreviation:
Writing for News Media
Sponsor(s):
Linda A. Robinson
Department(s):
Communication
College(s):
Arts and Communication
Consultation took place:
NA
Programs Affected:
Yes (list departments and attach consultation sheet)
Departments:
Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism; International Journalism
Is paperwork complete for those programs? (Use "Form 2" for Catalog & Academic Report updates)
NA
Yes
Prerequisites:
will be at future meeting
none
Grade Basis:
Conventional Letter
S/NC or Pass/Fail
Course will be offered:
Part of Load
On Campus
Above Load
Off Campus - Location
College:
Arts and Communication
Instructor:
Linda A. Robinson
Dept/Area(s): Communication
Note: If the course is dual-listed, instructor must be a member of Grad Faculty.
Check if the Course is to Meet Any of the Following:
Technological Literacy Requirement
Diversity
Writing Requirement
General Education Option: Select one:
Note: For the Gen Ed option, the proposal should address how this course relates to specific core courses, meets the goals of General Education in
providing breadth, and incorporates scholarship in the appropriate field relating to women and gender.
Credit/Contact Hours: (per semester)
Total lab hours:
Number of credits:
0
3
Total lecture hours:
Total contact hours:
48
48
Can course be taken more than once for credit? (Repeatability)
No
Yes
If "Yes", answer the following questions:
No of times in major:
No of times in degree:
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No of credits in major:
No of credits in degree:
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Proposal Information: (Procedures for form #3)
Course justification: This course is part of the merger of the Journalism Print Emphasis and
Journalism Broadcast Emphasis programs into a single degree program: Broadcast/Print/Web
Journalism. As a consequence of this merger, the new course will become a requirement for all
majors in the Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism emphasis and the International Journalism
emphasis but will not be a requirement for majors in the Advertising emphasis. It will be updated
to include a range of writing for print (text), broadcasting and Internet media.
Relationship to program assessment objectives:
This will be a required course in the Journalism sequence. It is part of the core of what might be
called the “skills” portion of the curriculum. Through reading, written assignments and exams,
students will meet the major’s Subject Matter Objective of identifying and producing “different
styles of writing” appropriate for various news media. This is a “Writing Intensive” course as
identified in the LEAP High-Impact Practices.
Budgetary impact:
As far as staffing, no impact beyond existing levels. This class will be taught by current faculty.
The existing class JOURNLSM 243, Mass Media Writing, will be deleted, and resources from
that class will be reallocated to the new course.
Course description: (50 word limit)
Introduction to journalistic writing in the styles appropriate to various mass media. Includes a
review of writing fundamentals. Emphasis is placed on selecting, organizing and structuring
information. Practice in writing for print, broadcast, and Web journalism is included.
If dual listed, list graduate level requirements for the following:
1. Content (e.g., What are additional presentation/project requirements?)
2. Intensity (e.g., How are the processes and standards of evaluation different for graduates and
undergraduates? )
3. Self-Directed (e.g., How are research expectations differ for graduates and undergraduates?)
Course objectives and tentative course syllabus:
Course Objectives:





To review writing and grammar fundamentals
To improve general writing skills
To know and understand the differences in writing for different media
To understand the qualities of professional mass media writing
To practice writing news stories for print, broadcast, and online media
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Bibliography: (Key or essential references only. Normally the bibliography should be no more than one or two
pages in length.)
The Associated Press Stylebook 2009. New York: Basic Books, 2009.
Barnas, Frank & Ted White. Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing (5th ed.).
Burlington, MA: Focal Press, 2010.
Briggs, Mark. Journalism Next: A Practical Guide to Digital Reporting and Publishing.
Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2009.
Doctor, Ken. Newsonomics: Twelve New Trends That Will Shape the News You Get. New York:
St. Martin’s Press, 2010.
Foust, James C. Online Journalism: Principles and Practices of News for the Web, second
edition. Scottsdale, Ariz.: Holcomb Hathaway, 2009.
Kern, Jonathan. Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Kovach, Bill, and Tom Rosenstiel. The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know
and the Public Should Expect. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2007.
Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. State of the News Media 2010.
Online at www.stateofthemedia.org/2010.
Rich, Carole. Writing and Reporting News (6th ed.). Boston: Wadsworth, 2009.
Ryan, Michael , Jr. & James W. Tankard. Writing for Print and Digital Media. New York:
McGraw-Hill Humanities, 2004.
Stovall, James Glen. Writing for the Mass Media (7th ed.). New York: Pearson, 2009.
Wilber, Rick & Randy Miller. Modern Media Writing. New York: Thompson Wadsworth, 2003.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning
environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with
University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation,
Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the
“Rights and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the Academic Requirements and Policies and
the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures
(UWS Chapter 14); and the “Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).
Course Objectives and tentative course syllabus with mandatory information (paste syllabus below):
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Writing for News Media
Journalism 227 Section 00
[classroom and course times]
Instructor:
Linda Robinson
robinsol@uww.edu
262/472-5025 (campus)
Office: Andersen 2232
Office Hours:
Required Text: James Glen Stovall, Writing for the Mass Media (7th ed.) Pearson 2009 (rental) (“WMM”)
Course Description:
The communications field is undergoing a metamorphosis: The way in
which we receive information is changing rapidly. Today, newspapers
and broadcast news outlets are multi-platform. Online content is
growing. As a consequence, versatility and high-level writing skills are a
must. You will need the ability to write in multiple platforms, no matter
where the mass media field may go in the next 10 years.
This course is designed to make sure you have a good grasp of the
basics of good writing. With those basics as a foundation, you will then
practice effective print, online, and broadcast news writing.
Course Objectives:





To review writing and grammar fundamentals
To improve general writing skills
To know and understand the differences in writing for different media
To understand the qualities of professional mass media writing
To practice writing news stories for print, broadcast, and online media
Methods of Instruction:
Lecture, in-class discussion, and in-class assignments & quizzes
Requirements and Grading:
Attendance/Participation
In-class assignments & quizzes
Major homework assignments
Print hard news story
Print feature story
Online news story
Online news webpage
Radio story
100
400
100
100
100
100
100
Total
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1,000 points
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Grading Scale:
Course grade
930 – 1000
900 – 929
870 – 899
830 – 869
800 – 829
770 – 799
730 – 769
700 – 729
600 – 699
599 or below
Special Needs:
Deadlines:
400-point item
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
372 – 400
360 – 371
348 – 359
332 – 347
320 – 331
308 – 319
292 – 307
280 – 291
240 – 279
239 or below
100-point item
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
93 – 100
90 – 92
87 – 89
83 – 86
80 – 82
77 – 79
73 – 76
70 – 72
60 – 69
59 or below
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Please inform me of accommodations you may require through ADA and CSD.
The link for the Center for Students with Disabilities is http://www.uww.edu/csd
Meeting deadlines is mandatory in the mass media field. If you miss deadlines when
you’re on the job, you get fired. In this class, normally an assignment will not be
accepted after its due date, and the grade for any late assignment will be zero. In rare
cases, and only at the discretion of the instructor, you may be granted permission to turn
in a late assignment. In those cases, there will be a severe grade penalty of at least one
letter grade on that assignment.
Participation:
Attendance Policy:
“Participation” means (1) doing the assigned reading before the class for which
that reading is assigned; (2) engaging in classroom discussion; (3) completing all
in-class assignments; (4) doing your fair share of the work in group assignments;
(5) devoting your full attention to lectures and class discussions; (6) devoting your
full attention to readings of other students’ in-class work; (7) participating fully and
thoughtfully in critiques and analyses of other students’ in-class work; and (8)
treating classmates courteously by not interfering with their ability to hear or
concentrate on lectures, class discussions, and sharing of in-class work. All
electronic devices must be turned off and put away during class except for
computers being used solely to take notes. All electronic devices without
exception must be turned off and put away during quizzes.
Attendance in class is mandatory. The only excused absences are
medical and family emergencies (such as a death in the family) and
university-sponsored events, and only when I am notified through proper
university channels or when you provide me notice as early as possible
(email is fine), whichever is appropriate under the circumstances.
Students may miss two classes without penalty. A student with three
or more unexcused absences will have his/her Attendance grade
lowered. For example, the Attendance grade of a student with three
unexcused absences will be lowered from 100 to 94; for a student with
eight unexcused absences, it will be lowered to 64. A student with
twenty unexcused absences will receive an F in the course.
In addition, a student who misses in-class assignments or quizzes
because of an unexcused absence may not make up those
assignments or quizzes, and he or she will receive a zero for those
assignments or quizzes.
“Attendance” means (1) being physically present in class; (2)
performing in-class exercises; and (3) paying attention to lecture, class
discussion, and student critiques in class. Engaging in activities other
than performing assignments or paying attention, such as sleeping, using
electronic devices, talking, passing notes, or reading non-class-related
materials, does not constitute attendance. A student who engages in
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these activities during class will be marked “absent” for the day.
Electronic Communication:
I will be using D2L and email to communicate with you
electronically between class meetings. Be sure to check our
course D2L site every day for news, postings of documents, and
announcements. In addition, my email messages to you will go
only to your UWW email account and to no other email
account. Therefore, be sure to check your UWW email account
regularly. You are responsible for and will be held accountable to
all information distributed to you via D2L and UWW email. Your
failure to check D2L or your UWW email account will not excuse
you from any requirements, assignments, responsibilities,
deadlines, or course revisions communicated to you via D2L or
UWW email.
Inclement Weather:
In the event of severe weather, please check the UWW website or your
UWW e-mail to learn whether you should come to class.
UWW Standard Policies:
Academic Honesty: The University believes that academic honesty and
integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the
University of Wisconsin System. The University has a responsibility to
promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to
deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty. Students are
responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work,
for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others'
academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards are subject
to disciplinary action. UWS Chapter 14 identifies procedures to be
followed when a student is accused of academic misconduct. For
additional information, please refer to the section in the Student
Handbook titled, Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures. In addition,
the full text of UWS Chapter 14 is located at
http://www.edu/slifye/students/chapter14.html
Learning Environment: The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is
dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning
environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate
students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding
Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs
Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored
Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the “Rights
and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the
Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services
sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student Academic
Disciplinary Procedures (UWS Chapter 14); and the “Student
Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).
Administrative Drop: Please note that the Administrative Drop Policy
for courses enrolled in at UW-Whitewater has changed. Faculty will no
longer process any automatic course drops. If you wish to drop a
course(s), it is your sole responsibility to go into WINS to drop the
course(s). Even if you fail to attend class during the first week of a
semester, you still must drop the course(s) on WINS. The deadlines for
dropping a course(s) are listed in the timetable, and can be found on the
university's academic calendar. Any student failing to drop a course(s)
within the deadline periods will still receive a grade in the course(s)
he/she is enrolled in.
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Reading and Assignment Schedule:
In addition to the textbook readings assigned below, other readings may be assigned. If so, those
additional readings will be posted on D2L. Quizzes may also be given in class. Some quizzes will be
announced at least one class period before they are given. Others will be unannounced pop quizzes.
WRITING FUNDAMENTALS
WEEK 1
WMM Chapter 1: “Sit Down and Write”
WMM Chapter 2: “Basic Tools of Writing”
WEEK 2
No reading assignment
WEEK 3
WMM Chapter 3 “Style and the Stylebook”
WEEK 4
WMM Chapter 4: “Writing in the Media Environment”
PRINT NEWS WRITING
WEEK 5
WMM Chapter 5: “Basic News Writing I: Inverted Pyramid, Leads, and Writing
Conventions
WEEK 6
No reading assignment
WEEK 7
Print hard news story due
WMM Chapter 6: “Basic News Writing II: Types of Stories, Editing, and Feature Writing”
WEEK 8
No reading assignment
ONLINE NEWS WRITING
WEEK 9
Print feature story due
WMM Chapter 7: “Writing for the Web I: The Fundamentals”
WEEK 10
No reading assignment
WEEK 11
Online news story due
WMM Chapter 8: “Writing for the Web II: The Potential for Journalism”
WEEK 12
No reading assignment
WEEK 13
Online news webpage due
BROADCAST WRITING
WEEK 14
WMM Chapter 9: “Writing for Broadcast”
WEEK 15
No reading assignment
WEEK 16
Radio story due
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