Chabot College
Fall 2012
Course Outline for Mass Communications 1
JOURNALISM: NEWSWRITING AND INFORMATION GATHERING
Catalog Description:
1 - Journalism: Newswriting and Information Gathering
3 units
Fundamentals of reporting and newswriting to develop ability to identify a compelling story, gather
information, organize, write, rewrite and deliver in the chosen format, according to professional
standards of traditional print journalism and online journalism, supported by multimedia. Analysis of
exemplary journalistic models. Conceive, research, and write stories using traditional news values.
Requires source interviews or original research. Strongly recommended: Eligibility for English 1A.
3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1. Use critical thinking to analyze news stories and news features for content and execution;
2. Develop original story ideas for maximum reader interest using traditional news values;
3. Demonstrate journalistic style using appropriate sentence length, paragraph organization,
active voice, vivid word choice;
4. Interview for pertinent information using critical thinking to develop both open-ended and
closed question techniques;
5. Incorporate direct accurate quotes into straight news copy;
6. Demonstrate elements of story organization, including strategies for beginning, ending,
structuring and transitioning;
7. Write an extended news feature of at least 1,200 words;
8. Develop content and style appropriate to different print readerships, including question-andanswer format, breaking news story, news briefs, meetings and speeches, Web blurbs, side
bars and hyperlinked stories related to main-focus stories;
9. Identify and avoid libelous writing, invasion of privacy and unethical reporting; using critical
thinking developed from lecture and reading.
10. Present a plan for a Web news feature employing such components as interactive segments,
video interviews, slide shows, ambient audio, voiceover narrative and hyperlinked sidebars;
11. Demonstrate application in all written work of fundamentals of the Associated Press
Stylebook, current edition.
Course Content:
1. Detailed analysis of daily news stories, longer news features and various components of
journalism, such as government, coverage, police and fire, lifestyle features, profiles, press
conferences, investigations, etc.
2. Using critical thinking skills to write/rewrite leads, reduce wordiness, rewrite for greater clarity,
interview live sources
3. Completing at least eight major writing assignments, totaling 6,000 words
4. Critiquing examples of student writing, the daily press, and preparing revisions of the
students' own work
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lecture and discussion
"Live" interview and note-taking situations
Individual/group evaluation of student and professional prose
Challenging students with deadline writing situations
Chabot College
Course Outline for Mass Communications 1, Page 2
Fall 2012
5. Movies, tapes, guest speakers, reporting simulations
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Given several hundred words of disordered language describing a news event, create a lead
sentence of 25 words or fewer, summarizing the main elements of the event in third-person,
objective active-voice news writing style.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Regularly scheduled writing assignments
b. Surprise deadline writing assignments
c. Verbal reports on research progress and interviews
d. Participatory discussion
e. Quizzes, correcting errors in Associated Press style usage, major examinations, including
final examination
Textbook(s) Typical):
Writing and Reporting News a Coaching Method by Carole Rich, 7th ed. 2012 Wadsworth/Cengage
Learning
Special Student Materials:
USB drive, access to radio, television and the Internet.
Course outline MCOM1
Rev. 11/18/11
L. Leach