NOTE: The three books can be purchased at the UST bookstore as a package for a discount.

Course Description: Journalism 110 is one of four core courses required of all journalism and mass communication majors. The course, along with its three companion courses, provides a foundation for future studies in the school. The course provides students with an introduction to, and practice in, the major skills required of professional communicators. The major goals of the course are to allow the student to familiarize himself/herself with the major areas of mass media communication — print and broadcast writing, public relations and advertising. The opportunity to practice techniques used in producing these elements will be provided in class. Information gathering techniques will be discussed and practiced.

Class Format: This is a hands-on course. Lecturing will be limited to a short portion of each class period. Students are expected to have the day's reading assignments completed before class and the day's paper read for discussion.

Students' goals in this course are to learn media writing and information-gathering skills, basic elements of journalistic style, meeting deadlines and becoming computer literate.

All assignments must be typed, whether completed inside of class or out. Composing at the keyboard is one of the important skills needed in any media writing job: in-class assignments are part of that learning process. Assignments that are not typed are not acceptable.

All deadlines are final. Late papers will be counted off one-third-letter grade per day. There are no incompletes.

A command of the rules of proper English is expected. Students will be expected to know the AP Stylebook. You do not have to memorize it. Be familiar with how it is organized and use it as you would a dictionary or other reference book. All stories will be written in AP style, with points subtracted for errors.

Most assignments are worth 25 points. Much of the time, these assignments will be due at the end of the day's class period or the beginning of the next class period. Since the assignments are subject to change given the day's events, class attendance is encouraged. In-class assignments cannot be completed outside of class. Exercises and news quizzes will be given from time to time. The mid-term examination and the final examination are worth 100 points each.

Grades: Grades in this course will be figured on a straight percentage basis. For example, 93% and higher will be an A, 90-92% an A-, etc. Below 60% is an F. Academic dishonesty is grounds for an F.

Course Outline:
[Note: WAM = Writing Across the Media, Words = Working with Words]

Week One: Introduction/Syllabus/Interviews/Computer practice

Week Two: Read WAM Chapters 1-2-3; review AP editing symbols; take QUIZ 1 on editing symbols; send e-mail to instructor.

Weeks Three-Four: Leads Reading: WAM Chapter 5; Chapters 1-2 in Words.

Weeks Five-Six: Basic Stories Reading: Chapters 3-4-5 in Words, WAM Ch. 6.

Weeks Six-Seven: Gathering Information Reading: WAM, Chapter 4; handouts; Words Chapters 6-7.

MID-TERM EXAMINATION AT THE END OF WEEK SEVEN

Week Eight: Advanced Skills Reading: Handouts; WAM Chapter 7, Words Chapters 8-9.

Week Nine: Audience Reading: WAM Chapter 3, Words Chapter 10.

Weeks Ten-Eleven: Broadcast Writing Reading: WAM Chapter 8. Words Chapter 11.

Weeks Twelve-Thirteen: Writing with Images, Words Appendix C.

Final Week: Rewrites/Individual meetings.