Journalism 8, Newspaper Production Fall 2006 • Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 p.m. in ART 154 AND arranged hours • 1-3 units Instructor: Leah Unruh E-mail: leah.unruh@reedleycollege.edu Phone: (559) 638-3641 ext. 3115 Office: Administration Building, Public Information Office COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is the laboratory environment which provides students with “real world” experience in newspaper production. It is designed for students interested in all or some of the aspects of journalism and newspaper production including story proposals, writing, editing, photography, advertising, and page layout. COURSE OBJECTIVES: The objective of this course is for students to use their journalistic skills to produce the semester’s issues of the Reed- ley College student newspaper The Chant. This can include proposing appropriate ideas for news, feature, opinion and sports stories, producing professional articles through interviewing and using journalism style writing, taking professional photos and using journalist judgement in cropping and editing, writing journalist captions for each photo, editing and proofreading work, selling and creating advertisements for print, or using journalist judgement in deciding placement of stories, photos, cartoons, and advertisements toward a final product. READING: • The required book for this course is the Associated Press Stylebook, it can be found in the Reedley College bookstore. • It is strongly suggested that students read several different newspapers and magazines, listen to news on the radio, or watch news on the television to further their understanding of news writing, journalistic photos and the mass media in general. UNITS/HOURS: Because this class is a student lab, units are based upon the number of hours students devote toward the class each week. Student can choose the number of units (1-3) they take the class for, but must complete the amount of hours needed per week. For 1 unit: 3 lab hours per week are needed; for 2 units: 6 lab hours per week are needed; and for 3 units: 9 lab hours per week are needed. Students will be provided a weekly time sheet to record their hours, which will be turned in each week. Classroom time can also be counted toward these hours, and we will meet a minimum of once a week as a class. The entire newspaper staff meets once a week on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in ART 154. ASSIGNMENTS: As this class is the newsroom for The Chant, all points will be earned through creating the three or four issues of the newspaper. Students may earn points through writing articles, taking photographs, writing captions, editing, participating in newsroom discussions, drawing cartoons or illustrations, selling ads, or any other activity that contributes to producing the newspaper. Points will be determined based on quality of work, and if deadlines for each assignment is met ON TIME as an important aspect of learning about a newsroom is meeting deadlines. Remember that each student is a part of the newspaper and if any part is late, it effects the whole newspaper staff as well as the outcome of the newspaper. Points will be determined based on quality of your work, ability to meet deadlines, and your contribution to the final product. GRADING: Grades will be based on the total point score and follow these guidelines: A = 90% and above; B = 80%-89%; C = 70% 79%; D = 60-69%; F = 59% and below. One story is worth 1 to 20 depending on the quality of reporting, writing, length, number of sources, and ability to meet deadlines. One photo or graphic illustration is worth 1 to 15 points depending on quality, content and ability to meet deadlines. ATTENDANCE: Most work done for this course will be done outside the classroom in gathering information for stories, attending events, taking photos, interviewing, selling advertisements, and so on. But meetings will take place in class at least once a week. Think of class meetings as newsroom meetings, a place where we discuss the progression and direction of the paper and where you will turn in articles, photos, captions, and ads etc. CLASSROOM RULES: NO food or drinks are allowed in the ART 154 computer lab, these are new computers, so please help keep them in good condition. Please turn all cell phones and pagers OFF before entering class. Any student having a device going off during a meeting will 5 loss points toward your final grade. Open Lab Hours: ART 154 has open lab hours for students. Please feel free to use these lab hours to write stories or captions, edit photos, or anything else for The Chant. A folder will be created on the computers to save all Chant materials in. Open lab hours will be posted at the beginning of the semester. DISABILITY NOTICE: Students with disabilities are encouraged to identify themselves to the college and the instructor so reasonable accommodations for their learning and evaluation with the course can be made. CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in this course or any course at Reedley College. Please see the college catalog for complete information. Students are not allowed to confer during exams, and all work submitted to the instructor must be your own original work. Plagiarism and cheating will result in a failing grade in this course, and possible expulsion from the college. FIELD TRIP: On Saturday, October 14 the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) will be hosting its annual NorCal journalism conference. This year it will be held at CSU, San Jose and will include workshops, guest speakers and competitions. All students are encouraged to attend with registration fees and transportation covered by The Chant. It’s a really fun and information-packed event, I hope you will plan to attend! QUESTIONS: Please don’t hesitate to see, call or e-mail me if you have questions, concerns or comments. I am happy to assist you. SEMESTER SCHEDULE AND DEADLINES: (tentative schedule, subject to change) WEEK 1 AUGUST 15: Introduction, ad information, Chant #1 assignments WEEK 2 AUGUST 22: Staff meeting in ART 154, Working on assignments on your own during the week WEEK 3 Working on assignments on your own during the week AUGUST 29: Staff meeting in ART 154, Chant #1 DEADLINE, layout begins on Thursday WEEK 4 SEPTEMBER 5: Chant #1 layout continues, Thursday also if needed WEEK 5 SEPTEMBER 12: Complete Chant #1 layout, Chant# 2 assignments Wednesday Chant #1 to printer, Thursday or Friday Chant #1 distributed on campus WEEK 6 Working on assignments on your own during the week SEPTEMBER 19: Staff meeting in ART 154 WEEK 7 Working on assignments on your own SEPTEMBER 26: Staff meeting in ART 154, DEADLINE of Chant #2, layout begins on Thursday WEEK 8 OCTOBER 3: Chant #2 layout continues, Thursday also if needed WEEK 9 OCTOBER 10: Complete Chant #2 layout, Chant #3 assignments Wednesday Chant #2 to printer, Thursday or Friday distributed on campus Saturday, October 14: Journalism Conference in San Jose (Field Trip) WEEK 10 Working on assignments on your own during the week OCTOBER 17: Staff meeting in ART 154 WEEK 11 Working on assignments OCTOBER 24: Staff meeting in ART 154, DEADLINE for Chant #3, layout begins on Thursday WEEK 12 OCTOBER 31: Chant #3 layout continues, Thursday also if needed WEEK 13 NOVEMBER 7: Complete Chant #3 layout, Chant #4 assignments Wednesday Chant #3 to printer, Thursday or Friday distributed on campus WEEK 14 Working on assignments on your own during the week NOVEMBER 14: Staff meeting in ART 154 WEEK 15 Working on assignments on your own NOVEMBER 21: Staff meeting in ART 154, DEADLINE of Chant #4, layout begins on Thursday WEEK 16 NOVEMBER 28: Chant #4 layout continues, Thursday also if needed WEEK 17 DECEMBER 5: Complete Chant #4 layout Wednesday Chant #4 to printer, Thursday or Friday distributed on campus WEEK 18 DECEMBER 12: FINAL EXAM 5:00-7:00 p.m.