Monday, August 20, 2012

Syllabus for Fall 2012


NEWS MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION
FALL 2012

Adviser: Pamela Moreland
Room: Brawner Hall, Room 402
Phone: 415.246.1578 (Yes, you can text to this number)
Office hours: Tuesday, 4-5 p.m.

SUMMARY:
In this class, we will write, edit, design and publish The Menlo Oak, the school’s student news website. Microsoft Word, Blogger, Photoshop, YouTube, Storify, Facebook, Pintrest and other software programs are used to produce content, publish, and market the site. In addition, students will learn reporting, writing and multimedia skills that will serve as a foundation for all types of 21st century communications endeavors.

REQUIRED TEXTS:
Associated Press Style Book

DIGITAL CONNECTIONS:
Menlo Oak website:
Class blog:

GRADING:
Attendance: 20%
Published work: 40%
Non-published work: 30%
Weekly Story Ideas: 5%
Weekly Style Quizzes: 5%

WEEK BY WEEK OUTLINE:

Week 1: Opening Day. Overview. Fill out class questionnaire. Reporting building blocks. First Five Paragraphs: A template for clear writing.  Storify Basics.
 Homework: “What’s new at Menlo” story idea. Due: Friday, 6 p.m.

Week 2:  More First Five Paragraphs. Interviewing techniques. In-class writing assignment Blogger Basics. Storify practice
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories. Read and prepare to discuss in class your 2-3 paragraph view of “Elements of Journalism.” (Handout).

Week 3: Discuss “Elements of Journalism.  Crafting a story. AP Style overview. Self-editing and copy editing skills. Blogger practice.  Photoshop Basics (Photo editing for the Menlo Oak: icons vs. story-level photos).
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m.  Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories.

Week 4: AP Style Quiz.  Effective use of Quotations in Stories. Photoshop practice.  College Publisher basics.
Homework: Story Ideas: Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories.  Bring your favorite print headline to next class.

Week 5: AP Style Quiz. Writing Headlines: Digital vs. Print and SEO techniques. College Publisher practice.
Homework:  Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories.
Week 6: AP Style Quiz.  How to Write Effective Opinion Articles. College Publisher Practice: Menlo Oak production.
 Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories. Digital Media Law handout: Fair Use. Write 2-3 paragraph view on issue and be prepared to discuss in next week’s class.

Week 7: AP Style Quiz.  Discuss Fair Use issues. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories.

Week 8: AP Style Quiz.  Presidential Election 2012: Content Audit. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7. Stories. Read and be ready to discuss content audit materials

Week 9: AP Style Quiz.  Building content audit spreadsheets. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories. Name of publication to be used in content audit. Due: Friday, 6 p.m.

Week 10: Discuss progress of content audits. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories. Handout: Case Study on using Facebook, Twitter and other online resources as material for stories. Write 2-3 paragraph view point and prepare to discuss in class.

Week 11: Happy Halloween!  Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories. Content Audit Due: Friday, 6 p.m.

Week 12:   Election Post-mortem. Discussion of Use of online resources in reporting. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories.


Week 13:   Final project discussion/assignment. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Story Ideas. Due: Friday, 6 p.m. Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories.

 Week 14: Thanksgiving break (no class).
Homework: Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories. Final project description due Nov. 21.

Week 15: Work on final project in class. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories

Week 16:   Work on Final Project. Menlo Oak production.
Homework: Storify: 7 Days, 7 Stories
                                                                             
Final Project Due

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