Journalism 1 & 2

Why journalism? Read what The New York Times has to say about the long-range value of high school journalism programs: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/student-journalism-three-benefits-of-newspaper-programs/

What makes this class unique that all enrolled students are involved in creating a real product—a publication—and all become part of an organization, Hollis Brookline Media & Publishing (HBM&P), which includes newspaper, yearbook, and a literary magazine. This is the “launch year” for our first online newspaper, as such, there will be a learning curve for all involved. Print editions may be issued for special events, but the focus of our work will be producing our online publication, The CavChron Line, with a front page story near-daily and new content most weeks of the month (the last week will be for evaluations, skill-building, & improvements--a launch year need!)

JOURNALISM 1 (J1) students will be involved in gaining the skills necessary for reporting and writing in many news genres, with a primary focus on The CavChron Line. On occasion, J1 students who have completed advanced writing coursework or service to a news media publication will take part in both J1 training and J2 projects or positions.

JOURNALISM 2 (J2) students will have fewer training/skill-building assignments-- in their place, J2 students are involved with STAFF positions on the paper or in other projects which promote the expansion of HBM&P into the ever-expanding world of multiple news media. Activities for J2 students might include exploring podcasting, developing our web presence, or writing for community newspapers. Such assignments are determined by a student’s interests, skills, initiative, and responsibility and are guided by frequent conversation with the teacher and Editor-in-Chief. The majority of assignments will be common to all Journalism students and will be posted on the online calendar along with due dates and production schedules for each issue.

While Journalism students are happy to enjoy the exploration offered by Journalism 1, many get hooked by the real nature of the class content and community; these students continue on to Journalism 2. On occasion, students’ interests extend beyond a year and they move on to ADVANCED WRITING & PUBLISHING (AWP), where they assume roles demanding high levels of skill, leadership, motivation, and maturity. The class work flow is diverse, with much peer-coaching and interaction. All students are expected to be on task at all times—either working on the week’s assignment, an article, a project, or his or her portfolio.

POLICIES & PROTOCOLS

See 21st. C. Learning Policies & Procedures

LATE WORK will be accepted up to two weeks past the due date, but the grade will drop a full step per late day, until it can only be accepted as a D- (better than a 0, but why?). If a student is late or absent, s/he is expected to find out what was missed and to make that work up. Again, it is the student's responsibility. To help, however, the student may check the website, call her/his mentor, or—if none of the above works—contact Ms. I. Handouts will be placed in the student's class folder. If your work is late due to a broken printer or other electronic mishap, it is still late. You may either accept the late penalty, use your LX Pass (see end), or bring in a parent note explaining the situation. My advice? Call your mentor and have her/him print it out, and send in an e-copy as back-up.

YOUR LX PASS: Students are allowed one free late, or Legal eXtension, per quarter. The work must be made up in a timely manner but, hey, life happens. When I collect the work, let me know you will “LX it”, and write “LX Pass used” on the work when you hand it in. LX Passes may not be used for presentations or print deadlines due to scheduling issues, they are not transferable to another student, and they do not move from quarter to quarter. However, a perfect homework record/no LX pass used will be taken into account if your grade is 1% off from the next level up. 

USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES: By teacher permission only. At times, you will be instructed to use your iPod, smart phone, or other electronic device for school purposes. Any other unauthorized use will result in the device being placed on the teacher's desk for the class (minor offense) or the device being sent to the office (repeat offender). Continued offenses, after the above actions have been taken, will result in a parent contact to retrieve the device from the office.

CYBER-ETTIQUETTE: Students in this class will use the web actively, as viewers, readers, writers, and as staff members. The same courtesy and rules apply to our cyber-class as they do in-person. Any infringement on this will be subject to the same rules as outlined in the HB Student Handbook. Early in the course, students learn the Journalists Code of Ethics and the Mindful Speech Policy; both of these guide our pararamters around what is published.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Cheating or academic dishonesty (plagiarism) is a serious violation of school rules. This includes, but is not limited to, the following*:

• • Receiving or providing information BEFORE, DURING, or AFTER a test—including tests given during an earlier class period or in another section of the same class

  • Using unauthorized material on tests

  • Using ideas or written material from other sources–student, professional writers, internet notes/ study guides–without acknowledging the source

  • Using or copying another student’s homework when not authorized by the teacher to do so.

  • Allowing other students to use your work on assignments. 

  • Consequences are listed in the Student Handbook

(*Source: With thanks to Dr. Susan Lustie at www. Lustie.com/ RCHS/index.cfm)

Please note that all teachers will be using software to check students’ work for potential plagiarism or improper citations. For further information see:http://turnitin.com/. 

*Finally, please note: While the teacher supervises each publication carefully, and classroom instruction includes training in everything from journalistic ethics to triple-editing each article or yearbook page, the publications are student-run. This is necessary to the invaluable training students receive in how things work "out there", such as how to lead, take responsibility, work with others, and make deadlines.While many steps are taken to assure that only the best and most well-edited work is published, this is a student-run publishing house; this means that mistakes will happen. The staff members of each publication will learn about what it means to be a visible entity in the public domain and, when mistakes are made, students will learn about how one conducts appropriate corrections in a business setting.   -Ms. I., HBM&P Publishing Adviser

Standard HBHS Policies

Please note that all teachers will be using software to check students’ work for potential plagiarism or improper citations.  For further information see: www.turnitin.com

Course Materials & Disclaimer

The instructional materials used at Hollis Brookline High School represent a broad range of knowledge, viewpoints, and experiences as well as a diversity of religious, ethnic, and cultural groups.  Materials support curricular goals, stimulate academic growth, and provide students an opportunity to practice critical analysis while developing the ability to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives.  We recognize that at times students and parents may object to some instructional material.  If a parent wishes to have his or her student exempt from the use of any material, such as a video or novel utilized in a class, they must notify the teacher within writing. It is strongly encouraged that the parent and student meet with the teacher to discuss the alternative material and/or any alternative assignments that coincide with the change in material.

If you have questions about the selection of course materials, please review the HBHS Cooperative School Board Policy IIA Instructional and Library Media Materials which can be found at http://policy.ctspublish.com/hollis-brookline-nhsba/.