Introduction to Journalism Course Overview: For twelve weeks, students taking this elective course will study the fundamental principles of
gathering, writing, reporting, and editing the news, with emphasis on accuracy, clarity, brevity, and reportorial
responsibility.
Each week, the class will be asked to consider an essential question, provided helpful background
information and terminology, and assigned small and/or large tasks to practice the journalistic skills central to
the current unit. At the end of each week, students will convene to share their products, findings, reactions,
and reflections while revisiting the essential question.
Students will be responsible for regularly selecting & sharing different types of stories/articles from a
variety of news sources, actively participating in seminars, and acting as a researcher, a writer, and an editor.
Course Texts and Materials: The Complete Reporter: Fundamentals of News Gathering, Writing, & Editing: Leiter, Harriss, Johnson
The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know & the Public Should Expect: Kovach, Rosenstiel
Journalism Today: Ferguson, Patten, Wilson (text book and corresponding workbook)
Storycrafting: A Process Approach to Writing News: Rosenauer
Supplementary news sources—in print and online
Tentative Calendar of Coursework: Week 1: Looking Back on the History of American Journalism & Ahead to the Future
Oral Report on Influential Person or Organization
Week 2: Understanding Journalistic Ethics
Journalist Job Posting, Paper on Court Decision
Weeks 3-4: Gathering the News, Assessing Sources, and Interviewing
Press Conference Preparation and Article
Week 5: Organizing with Effective Headlines, Leads, Transitions, & the Inverted
Pyramid
Critique, Original News Story
Week 6: Choosing and Incorporating Quotations
Original QV Feature Person Story
Weeks 7-9: Writing Editorials, Columns, and Reviews
Original Editorial, Column, and/or Movie Review
Week 10: Editing and Packaging
Story Package
Weeks 11-12: Reaching an Audience in the Digital Era
Student-Designed Project Using Technology
QVHS * 2015-2016 * Mrs. Woods * woodse@qvsd.org