Journalism Editing and Production

Cabrini College :: Fall  -Spring  :: M 3:15-4:30 :: Dr. Jerry Zurek :: 2 credits Fall + 2 credits Spring

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  In this course you will learn skills that are important in journalism, magazine editing, book publishing, public relations, and advertising. You will learn these skills and practices by working on the newspaper staff and by taking the Journalism classes.

The class activities and practices involved in producing a newspaper will help you achieve these objectives:

• To edit, rewrite and improve your own copy.
• To master the principal points of Associated Press style.
• To use standard copy editing symbols.
• To fit copy, crop and size pictures and write photo captions.
• To write concise and interesting headlines
• To analyze and improve the college newspaper by applying the national standards of good practice of the Associated Collegiate Press.
• To understand and appreciate models of excellent journalism by reading highly regarded examples of journalism.
• To work well in a group, by demonstrating efficiency, reliability, initiative and good humor.

TEXTS and MATERIALS:

AP Stylebook

• Journalism I students should read the New York Times for knowledge of current events and as examples of excellent journalism practices. Knowledge of important current events will be tested.
• Web sites like http://NewsU.org and http://Poynter.org

COURSE PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

  • You will be expected to hand in, to the best of your ability, well-written and edited copy on deadline (included in Com 250 grade).
• You will be expected to revise your copy with guidance from your editors and instructor (included in Com 250 grade).
• You will have an editing assignment based on the AP Stylebook each week (20 percent of final grade).
• You will write an analysis of the most recent issue of Loquitur each week, based on criteria set forth by the Associate Collegiate Press (38 percent).
• You demonstrate knowledge of an aspect of journalism each week based either on the textbook or on examples of professional journalism (20 percent).
• You will be expected to show reliability, teamwork skills and initiative by being prepared for and participating in classes and meetings, acting professionally and showing initiative. Work as an assistant editor is included in this category (22 percent).

 PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR:

It is of the utmost importance that you learn professional procedures right from the start. To the readers and your sources, YOU ARE THE LOQUITUR. How you act and what you write is the impression the readers have of the entire staff. Therefore, everyone must follow high ethical standards.

Everyone on this staff also must remember that this is a team. What one person does affects everyone. If you are late, someone else has to do your job. If one person talks about someone behind his back, that affects the team spirit of everyone. Therefore, how professionally you behave with each other is exceedingly important.

It is of the utmost importance that you learn professional procedures right from the start. Absence, except for illness, and lateness–for class or story deadline–are never allowed on any publication, and they are not allowed here. Absence and lateness will definitely hurt your grades. Actions that hinder or undermine the professional working and learning environment of the newsroom must be avoided.

(Although I am not excessively anal, I do get annoyed if you frequently show up late for class, leave class to talk on your cell phone, go to the toilet a lot, sleep during class, whisper to others during class, or do some new annoying practice.)

Absences due to illness, intercollegiate athletic events, etc., are considered "excused" absences if reported to me in advance via phone (x8360) or via e-mail (jzurek@cabrini.edu), and with the appropriate doctor’s note or athletic director’s note. You will not be penalized for missing that class; however, you are responsible for making up any coursework missed during your absence. It is up to you to find out what you must do both for the missed class as well as for the following class. More than three unexcused absences from this course will likely result in a substantially lower grade or even failure.

 Instructor Contact Information:

•  Instructor: Jerry Zurek, Ph.D., Professor
• Office: Founder's Hall, Rm. 272 Office hours: Tuesdays 12:20-2 p.m., Thursday 12:20-2 p.m.
• WebCT for grades: http://vle.dcollege.net  

Cabrini College Academic Honesty Policy:

The principal objective of the Cabrini College Academic Honesty Policy is to encourage a dynamic, open and honest intellectual climate based on the personal and academic integrity of all members. It is the responsibility of students to help maintain the community of academic integrity. Students shall not receive credit for work that is not a product of their own efforts. For a full description of the policy, please see the 2005-2006 Undergraduate Catalog. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

• Plagiarism (see below for further explanation)
• Cheating
• Information falsification or fabrication
• Theft or destruction of intellectual property
• Facilitation of academic dishonesty
  

For a first violation, the faculty member will meet with the student or otherwise communicate the charge. The faculty member will complete an Academic Honesty Violation Charge Form, stating the violation and assigning a penalty. The student should sign and date the charge form and return it to the faculty member. The student may request a hearing before the Academic Honesty Board by indicating that option on the form. For a second violation in a given course, the faculty member will follow the same procedures as in the first incident but will assign a penalty of failure of the course without privilege of withdrawal. For any second or subsequent violation during a student’s academic career at Cabrini College the Academic Honesty Board shall conduct a hearing.

Remember that all sources, including Internet sources, must be cited appropriately when using the author’s exact words or paraphrasing. Exact words must appear in quotations and their source must be cited. If you have any questions about citing sources properly, consult a faculty member, librarian, the Writing Center staff (http://www.cabrini.edu/writing/tools/index.htm), or the MLA style manual.

Disability Support Services: