Basic Policies
- Attendance policy: Absense of more than 10 percent of the class will result in corresponding percent decreases in the grade. Missing more than 40 percent of the class would mean a D for an otherwise A student and so on.
- Late policy: Late completion of projects will result in reduction of grade by one letter grade per week.
- Disabilities policy: We are glad to work with all students to accomodate disabilities on a non-discriminatory basis. Students with special needs may be required to clear accomodations through the disabilities resource office of the university.
- Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each students makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception.
- Plagiarism -- Students who directly copy work from anyone else will flunk the class and be reported to the Dean of Students office.
IMPORTANT: How to turn in assignments:
Turn in all assignments by posting them on your portfolio site. If they are in rough draft form, please send via email. Label with name, slug and class. (eg Smith.fire.404.doc) in three places:
- the email subject line
- the .doc file name itself
- inside as you regular name-slug-date info
Please send all assignments in easy to read formats (such as doc but not docx or wpd). Only stories turned in on time can be rewritten for an improved grade. One week grace period before the grade clock starts ticking down.
Assignment agenda
Assignments will originate in several ways:
- You will be given beat and story assignments at the start of the class. These will involve City Council, cops, school board, environment, Faculty Senate, Frats & Sororities, RU events, and others. Beats will rotate.
- You are welcome to suggest stories, but its best to get guidance and suggestions if you can beforehand.
- Spot news assignments from news organizations such as The Tartan (RU), Appalachian Voice, the New River Voice, the Radford Journal or the Roanoke Times.
Your stories will be published in some of these spaces:
- Your own blog space in wordpress, greenpress or some other free blog space. (Example: Angela Distefano, UWO)
- Contributions to the class blog (Example from Fall 2009, Ontario Green )
- Contributions to other news organizations, including The Tartan (RU), Appalachian Voice, the New River Voice, the Radford Journal or the Roanoke Times.
There will be several quizzes on readings but no mid term or final exam.
Grading priorities will follow this emphasis:
- Quizzes on readings and NewsU modules: 10%
- Writing assignments (6): 60% First deadline is in 1 week; Every 2 weeks for each story after that.
- Large project: 30%: Due early April
How your story is graded
The ideal news story is a clear description of a significant public event or issue explained in terms that are understandable to the average reader, and reported with empathy for people involved.
Once an issue leaves the realm of public people and public issues, journalists need to be wary of ethical problems that may arise. ( For example, private people who may be victims of polluting industries should be treated ethically and with full respect for their privacy and ability to give informed consent to interviews. Refusals must be respected. Children should never be interviewed without parental consent. )
Concept – 20%
- Public interest – Is this something the affects everyone?
- Reader interest – Is it important to, or interesting to, your readers?
- Balance -- Are all parties and interests given a chance to speak? Does the reporter avoid bias?
- Significance -- Does the story involve important questions, not things that are trivial or transitory or superfluous? (EG Impact of budget cuts on students as opposed to coverage of beauty pageants).
Reporting – 30 %
- Effective translation of concept into reporting plan
- Accuracy in all names, dates, events; avoids major factual errors
- Thorough reporting, all relevant questions asked
- All significant and accessible points of view respectfully reported.
- Effective and ethical interviews
- Also -- Inclusiveness in reporting - make an effort to include people who are sometimes overlooked.
Writing -- 40%
- All work must be entirely original. No use of quotes from other news articles.
- Follows standard submission guidelines (EG – name, date, slug: 1 - inside file, 2- on file name and 3- on subject line of email)
- AP style, proper grammar (spelling, verb tenses, punctuation, etc) The ideal story has no grammar or spelling mistakes and should be publishable without editing.
- The lead should be short, compelling and very much to the point.
- Personal examples help make a story relevant to the reader.
- Quotes should highlight color and opinion. Appropriate attribution forms.
- Well organized structure, Good writing style – smooth transitions, keyword repetitions, S-V-O construction, uses active voice verbs
Media -- 10% These days, it’s not enough to just write a story about a topic. Stories should have multiple points of entry: sidebars, illustrations, photos, video or info-graphics. You might have:
- Sidebars for breaking out factual data
- Photos taken, subjects identified
- Video or audio included in story
- Maps, charts and infographics
- Posting on appropriate blog or web site Other effective use of media
Extra credit for publication in professional or student media -- 10+