[JRN 4100]
Course Schedule - Weekly Overview
This is a tentative schedule for the semester. Changes may be necessary to arrange for visits from guest speakers. You will be notified of any changes.
JRN 4100 ANNOUNCEMENTS
IMPORTANT:
FINAL EXAM DATE
PLEASE NOTE THE OFFICIAL EXAM TIME FOR JRN 4100 IS MONDAY, DEC. 12, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Check the assignment instructions to make sure you turn in everything by the deadline. If your assignment is not complete by the deadline (scheduled beginning of class) , deductions will be taken.
JRN 4100 Students,
Remember: You need signed Permission/Release forms for all photos and videos and audio you collect while out with your reporting team. You also still need signed Permission/Release forms from all sources quoted your story.
Release Forms available here.
Accuracy Fact Check Forms available here.
You should complete the textbook readings BEFORE each class. Online readings and websites will be read and discussed during class unless stated otherwise. Additional online readings will be assigned throughout the semester.
Click on the underlined links below to access information online.
Date |
Topic |
Readings |
In-Class Assignments |
Writing/Story Assignments |
| Sept. 6 |
Course Introduction
|
Check out these online news sites:
NYT Science Twitter/Green Blog
Huffington Post Green http://www.huffingtonpost.com/green/
Greenwire
M Live – Blog - Green Blawg
SF Green |
||
| Sept. 8 | What is Environmental Reporting?
Science/Environmental News Audience |
Wyss, Ch. 1
The Times-Picayune - Breaking News - Hurricane Katrina - Pulitzer Prize-winning stories
Examples- Environmental News Sections and Recent Coverage:
The Washington Post's Environment and Energy News Section http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment
The New York Times' Science Section (includes environmental news) http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html
Can you be green and have a green lawn?
Unfinished Business: Earth Day 40 Years later (video and MM) |
Sign up with News University
In Class Assignment: News University- Introduction to Reporting: Beat Basics |
|
| Sept. 13 | Beat Basics/ Environmental Writing
Environmental Awareness
|
Wyss, Ch. 2
New York Times Raising awareness of plastic waste
San Francisco Chronicle 25 low-cost, maximum-impact tips http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/01/09/greentips010909.DTL&type=green
Bring your environmental awareness logs with you |
In-Class Assignment - News University - Covering Climate change (Part 1, The Science) |
|
| Sept. 15 |
Discuss Story Idea Proposals
Green Twitter Sites and Blogs
|
Wyss, Ch. 12; review Wyss, Ch. 2
http://wefollow.com/twitter/environment
|
In-Class Assignment - Blogging
|
|
| Sept. 20 | Story Idea Critques | Story Idea Proposals Due - Bring 20 copies | ||
| Sept. 22 | Story Idea Critiques |
|
||
| Sept. 27 | Background Research
Finding Sources |
Wyss, Ch. 7
80+ Environmental Organizations to Follow on Twitter
To be viewed during class: |
||
| Sept. 29 | Background Research
Interviewing |
In-Class Assignment - News University- Covering Climate change (Parts 2, 3 -- The Politics, Exploring the Coverage and Part 4, Reporting the Story | ||
| Oct. 4 | Interviewing Scientists | Wyss, Ch. 5
To be viewed during class:
Interview with Stephen Schneider
Interview with John Keller, NASA
|
In-Class Assignment - News University - Covering Climate change (Part 5 - Writing the Story)
|
|
| Oct. 6 | Interviewing/Reporting Writing Conferences |
|||
Oct. 11
|
Translating Technical Information
The Regulators |
Wyss, Ch. 3, 4,6
Environment |
|
|
Oct. 13
|
Environmental Beat Reporting Project: Introduction | TO BE USED DURING CLASS:
SEJ - A Local Environmental Story
NYT Grow Local and Eat Local, City Council Says
On a School Rooftop, Hydroponic Greens for Little Gardeners
Need for Good Environmental Reporting Video - Adocacy Perspective |
||
| Oct. 18 |
Environmental Beat Reporting Project: Background Research and Finding Story Ideas
Review for Mid-term Exam |
Wyss, Ch. 8 | In-class Assignment: Research for Environmental Beat Reporting Project -Background Research | |
| Oct. 20 | Mid-term Exam | |||
| Oct. 25 | Environmental Beat Reporting Project: Story Idea Proposals and Multimedia Idea
|
Wyss, Ch. 9
To be viewed during class:
Multimedia - Boston Globe New England Under Water http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/photos/photos_ galleries/new_england_flooding/#/9
Multimedia - Minneapolis Star Tribune Losing Our Lakes http://www.startribune.com/projects/96992724.html
|
In-class Assignment: Research for Environmental Beat Reporting Project - Story Idea Due -- Make sure you have a NEW angle | |
| Oct. 27 | Environmental Beat Reporting Project: Story Assignments
|
|
In-class Assignment: Finalize Story Idea + Research for Environmental Beat Reporting Project
- Develop source list for your story idea |
|
| Nov. 1 | Narrative Writing | Wyss, Ch. 10
Do background research for your story idea - Check out previous related media coverage (Lexis/Nexis) and search the Web
Get started on interviews! |
||
| Nov. 3 | Interviewing/Group Conferences/Reporting Trips |
Be sure to sign up for an appointment time
Keep working on your interviews! |
Keep working on your interviews - Did you do your background research? | |
| Nov. 8 | Multimedia
Interviews and Reporting
Attribution
Copy Editing
|
Wyss, Ch. 14
Keep working on your interviews!
Multimedia Gallery: Think of how some of these design might work for your team reporting assignment. INTERACTIVES/MAPS: http://data.baltimoresun.com/food-truck-finder/ http://essentials.baltimoresun.com/micro_sun/homicides/ http://data.baltimoresun.com/maryland-recruiting/highschool/
GRAPHICS AND DATA: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html http://data.baltimoresun.com/baltimore-county-teacher-salaries/
VIDEOS/PROFILES:
ANIMATED VIDEO:
VIDEOS/ENVIRONMENT: http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/environment/1194821066219/index.html http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/environment/1194821066219/index.html
AUDIO SLIDE SHOWS: http://www.chicosanchez.com/thenaturalhealers/ http://www.chicosanchez.com/thenaturalhealers/ http://www.miamiherald.com/slideshows/#violins
|
Story Concept Maps
|
|
| Nov. 10 | Interviewing/Group Conferences/Reporting Trips |
Be sure to sign up for an appointment time
Keep working on your interviews! |
Keep working on your interviews - Did you do your background research? | |
| Nov. 15 | Copy Editing
Storyboard Planning |
Multimedia - Washington Post Wheels that are low-tech http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/wheels-that-are-decidedly-low-tech-and-environmentally-friendly/2011/08/24/gIQASWxXlJ_gallery.html#photo=1
Multimedia - NewsOn6 Oklahoma Fails Small Town In Fly Ash Regulation |
|
|
| Nov. 17 | Group Reporting Reports
Website Planning
Written Story Peer Critiques |
In-Class Assignment Headline, Bio, Photo Captions |
Environmental Story #2 (Beat Project) + Reporting Trips Multimedia Due
Bring an extra printed copy of your story for peer critiques |
|
| Nov. 22 | Written Story Peer Critiques |
Bring an extra printed copy of your story for peer critiques |
||
| Nov. 24 | Have a great Thanksgiving Break! | |||
| Nov. 29 | Multimedia Project: Taking it Online
Discuss Additional Multimedia Needed for Website (Thursday's class)
Story Rewrites
|
Bring Story #2 (Beat Project) to class on flash drive along with all multimedia
|
In-Class Assignment:
Write bio., headline, summary blurb, bring photo to go with bio. |
|
| Dec. 1 | Multimedia Reporting/Workshop Day - Classroom available for story rewrites, multimedia group work, etc... |
Continue story rewrites |
In-Class: Multimedia for Website (due Tuesday at the beginning of class) | |
| Dec. 6 | Ethics and Environmental Reporting
Skype interview with Michelle Ferrier, proprietor of this Online News Website |
Wyss, Ch. 15, 16
Continue story rewrites
Bring small (jpg) photo or have photo taken during class
Write bio., headline, summary blurb, about this project |
|
|
| Dec. 8 | Multimedia Project: Taking it Online: ALL DUE TODAY
Review |
UPLOAD ALL FINAL, REVISED STORIES + MM to Flash Drive! LAST CALL!
FINAL EXAM DATE
PLEASE NOTE THE OFFICIAL EXAM TIME FOR JRN 4100 IS MONDAY, DEC. 12, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
|
Final revised copies of beat project story and multimedia due today |
FINAL EXAM DATE
PLEASE NOTE THE OFFICIAL EXAM TIME FOR JRN 4100 IS MONDAY, DEC. 12, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Program in Gender and Women’s Studies
Western Michigan University
E-mail: jocelyn.steinke@wmich.edu
Revised Date: December 6, 2011 12:59 PM
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