Jour 302, Public Affairs Reporting
Instructor: Tom Mullen
Room 500, Ryland Hall
MWF, 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Phone: 649-6108/270-2499
tmullen@richmond.edu
tmullen@timesdispatch.com
Public affairs reporting is the staple of journalism. Reporters on the beats traditionally associated with public affairs will cover crime and courts, individuals and institutions, government and the governed. This field requires intellect, integrity, insight and a relentless interest in reporting information that is vital to an informed society. You will pursue stories of tremendous importance by telling people what is going on in their neighborhoods, courthouses, statehouses, police stations, hospitals, churches, school boards and other entities that help shape the way we live our lives.
This is not a field for the timid. And this is not a class if you're afraid to ask questions or to tackle assignments that will challenge your patience and interest in journalism.You should know right away that you will be expected to do several assignments outside of class. These will include covering local government or school board meetings, a trial, a possible ride-along with local police, a trip to the courthouse for a records search and some kind of political experience. We'll discuss details and ways to make this work, but you will be expected to show initiative and independence in tackling your outside assignments. You will also be given a beat to follow, from which you will write at least four stories.
At this level, I expect that you have mastered basic news writing. Now is the time to kick your writing up a notch or two - or three. We will work on gathering information and presenting it in a way that is useful, informative and readable. Good reporting and good writing are not mutually exclusive, and reporters who know this frequently find their stories on the front page. We will also discuss the concept of convergence, in which print, broadcast and online operations work together.
A brief word about deadlines: make them. Reporters who can't make deadline often are encouraged to find another line of work. Let me know in advance if there is some urgent reason that you can't turn in an assignment by the assigned deadline, but be warned that exceptions to missing deadline are rare.
I will grade your work closely, and I urge you to pay close attention to comments I make on your stories. Please let me know if you don't understand something I've said. Communication is vital to success in this course. I am glad to look at drafts of stories before you turn them in for a grade, just like editors edit stories before sending them through for publication. Never forget this: Never assume.
REQUIRED BOOKS AND WEBSITES
"The Investigative Reporter's Handbook" - Houston,
Bruzzee and Weinberg
"2001 Best Newspaper Writing"- The Poynter Institute
"Betrayal - The Crisis in the Catholic Church" - The
Boston Globe investigative team
www.ire.org - look for the story of the week/beat resources,
etc
www.powerreporting.com
www.journalism.indiana.edu/Ethics/index.html
The Associated Press Stylebook
A good dictionary
Some reporter's notebooks and legal pads
ATTENDANCE
You have to come to class. Period. This means you must also be on time for class. Three late starts to class counts as a missed class. Let me know in advance if you have to miss a class for a non-emergency. You are responsible for finding out whatever assignments or material were covered in class. You can call me or a classmate. Missing class doesn't mean you can miss a deadline, unless you're dealing with an emergency such as a serious illness or family crisis. Please keep me informed of such events, if at all possible.
Here are some attendance incentives:
*Miss no classes, and I'll drop your three lowest writing
grades. (This could boost you one letter grade at the end of the
term.)
*Miss one class, and I'll drop your two lowest writing grades.
REQUIRED READING
*The Richmond Times-Dispatch, every day;
*The Washington Post online edition, every day;
*The Collegian every week;
*Articles from major news magazines or other sources, as assigned.
You must be well-versed enough to discuss intelligently any major
article that appears in any of the above publications. This is
an essential part of this course, more so than in news writing
or copy editing. You must - repeat, must - have a grasp
of public affairs. We will have current events quizzes and we
will discuss differences in stories, story play, etc.
One way to help your writing and reporting is to read good writing and reporting. We'll spend time in class discussing and critiquing a wide range of stories, and the texts of full of examples of good public affairs reporting. Anything I write in the Times-Dispatch is fair game for your criticism. Any mistakes you catch in my writing adds to your grade.
WRITING
The pace will be different in this course than it was in news
writing. You may write fewer stories, but those you turn in must
have considerably more depth in content and must demonstrate a
higher level of writing. You could wind up with some resume-worthy
clips from this course that will be essential if you want to work
in journalism. You will improve, if you apply yourself. I am available
to coach you by e-mail before all of your assignments, unless
I tell you otherwise.
BEAT STORIES
You will be assigned to be part of a team to cover a beat. You will be responsible for writing at least four stories from your beat, which may be on- or off-campus. In addition, you will also be part of a beat team responsible for briefing the class at any time on a wide range of other topics such as national politics, economics, social issues and the like. We'll discuss specifics and options in class.
GRADES
I don't give grades -- you earn them. Your work will be graded according to professional standards, but you'll get a little more slack at the start of the course and a lot less as we go along. In other words, if you're doing C work early in the semester, I'm looking for A or B work at the end. The grades you get toward the last month or so of the semester are a good indicator of your final mark. For example, if you start out getting Cs and head into the homestretch with consistent Bs, you're likely to get a B.
Here are some keys to getting a good grade: paying attention to AP style; writing clearly and accurately; using more than one source in stories; spelling correctly; participating in discussions; coming to class; scoring well on quizzes and tests; showing effort and interest.
Here are some ways to get an automatic F: missing deadline; misspelling a name; writing stories with major factual errors; using only one source in your stories; not participating in class; earning poor quiz and test grades; showing little effort or interest; missing a deadline; misspelling the following: accommodate, occurred, a lot, receive and its (as a possessive). Remember, It's only when it is. Also, you will lose five to 10 points if you use the following words in your stories: really, great, very and awesome. Do not use those words unless they are part of a direct quotation. If you've had news writing and copy editing, you know why.
Second chances: You get one shot at rewriting an F grade.
That effort is due by the next
class period. You must submit the original along with the rewrite.
The rewrite counts one grade lower than it might otherwise have
earned. In other words, if you turn in an A rewrite, it goes in
the book as a B.
Grading key:
A -- outstanding work that requires minimal editing before
publishing.
B -- above average work that requires four or fewer minor
editing changes before publishing.
C -- average work that requires substantial editing and no
more than one rewriting effort before publishing.
D -- unacceptable work that contains multiple errors and requires
extensive editing and rewriting before possible publication.
F -- see the note above.
Making the grade:
70 percent: Writing and reporting assignments
20 percent: quizzes, participation, effort, improvement
10 percent: exams
NEWS TIPS
You will turn in two public affairs story ideas every Wednesday at the start of class. Write these like an editor giving a news tip to a reporter. Include what you think the story is, why it's important, what the angle is and how the information can be obtained. We will discuss these tips and may pursue them as stories.
FORMATS
Double space all of your stories. On each page, write your name
in the upper left corner, the slug (a one-word description of
the story) and the page number, like so:
Mullen
Meeting
Page 1 of 1 (or Page 1 of 2, Page 2 of 3, and so on)
If you have more to write at the end of a page, write MORE at
the bottom. Use either the symbol # or -30- at the end.
Major assignments must be submitted by e-mail as attached files in the Microsoft Word format, as well as hard copy. Your articles may be published on-line, so be meticulous about accuracy.
NOTE: Be sure to inform all interview sources fully that the interview is for publication, not merely a class exercise.
A list of full names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of
any source quoted, paraphrased or cited must accompany each of
your stories. Presenting fictional interviews, quotes, etc., as
factual is an honor code violation, as well as a grave breach
of trust with readers, the instructor and yourself.
FINAL
Your final exam is to write a substantial news story related to any issue within the wide boundaries of public affairs. This can include stories related to government, schools, crime and courts, religion, medicine, business and social issues. Please remember to remind people you interview that the story may be published. In professional terms, your final exam would be described as project story or investigative piece.
The story must have at least eight sources. You must demonstrate primary source research and background research from some combination of libraries, newspapers, magazines and computer databases. You'll need to turn in a one-page description of your story by Oct. 9. I want you to tell me why you think your story is worth pursuing and how you plan to do it. I'll get that back to you with my comments within a week. By Oct. 30, turn in at least a three page rough draft of the story. I'll get that back with my comments within a week. The final version of the story is due by final exam day, but you may turn it in earlier.
Remember, I will work with you on your stories at every step. On most assignments, I will coach you by e-mail before your work is due. Ask for assistance and you will receive it. Don't wait until the last minute.
Honor pledge: You are expected to do your own work for this class. Failure to do so is a serious offense with serious consequences.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE: This may change as the semester progresses. You'll have a number of out-of-class assignments and we'll also have several guest speakers during the semester. We will readjust as needed for breaking news of great interest. Please note that lectures are not designed to simply repeat what's in the text; frequently, discussions will be based on topics related to the assignments. In simple terms, you have to read the text and come to class in order to succeed in this course.
Week 1 -- Handbook, chapters 1 and 2; beats and beat reporting;
begin reading "Betrayal"
Week 2 -- same as week 1; discuss 9-11 anniversary coverage; continue
"Betrayal"- finish by start of week 3
Week 3 -- Handbook, 5; people trails, police reporting; first
beat stories due; discuss "Betrayal"
Week 4 -- Handbook, 9; police reporting, writing focus; discuss
"Betrayal"
Week 5 -- Handbook, 6 and 8; education coverage, local government,
closed meetings, records;
Week 6 -- same as week 5, second beat stories due; writing focus
Week 7 -- Review and midterm; writing focus; start selected stories
in "Best Newspaper Writing"
Week 8 -- Handbook, 19; zoning, planning, special beats, business
reporting, etc.
Week 9 -- Handbook, 21; disadvantaged, Kate Boo, special beats,
third beat stories due; "Best Newspaper Writing"
Week 10 -- same as week 9, plus Handbook, 20; environment; special
beats, "Best Newspaper Writing"
Week 11 -- Handbook, 22; writing, writing, writing, special beats,
"Best Newspaper Writing"
Week 12 -- same as week 11, plus law, libel, ethics, fourth beat
stories due; "Best Newspaper Writing"
Week 13 -- Law, libel, ethics; "Best Newspaper Writing"
Week 14 -- Review; career options, convergence'
THE KICKER
I will work with you like an editor on your stories before they are graded. I'll work with you like an editor in my grading. I care about good writing and reporting and I want to teach you to do both well. If you are eager to help yourself improve, I am eager to help you.
ADDITIONAL WEBSITES
THESMOKINGGUN.COM, archives
Speech & Transcripts Center: delivers what it promises
http://gwis2.circ.gwu.edu/~gprice/speech.htm
AssignmentEditor: Run by a journalist for journalists
http://www.assignmenteditor.com
IRE Tip Sheets: From Investigative Reporters & Editors
http://www.ire.org/resourcecenter
Poynter Tip Sheets: 200 tips sheets, indexed by topic
http://www.poynter.org/dj/tips/index.htm
Newsthinking: An LAT editor's thoughts on writing
http://www.newsthinking.com
PowerReporting.com: a newsroom trainer's suggestions
http://www.powerreporting.com
JournalistsToolBox: excellent guides for journalists -
http://www.journaliststoolbox.com
Cyberjournalist.net's tips and talk for online writers
- -
http://www.cyberjournalist.net
SPJ's FOIA Resource Center: all about the Freedom of Info Act
http://www.spj.org/foia