MCOM 407 Schedule

Spring 2012
MCOM 407/507.001 | Tuesdays, 3:30-6:10 p.m. | VB 209
MCOM 407/507.002 | Thursdays, 3:30-6:10 p.m. | VB 209

Dr. Stacy Spaulding | office hours | email | @drspaulding

Week 1 | Jan. 31, Feb. 2

Writing warmup | Introductions

What this class is about | Navigating the website | Syllabus

Assignment prep | Newstrust signup | Racial tension simmers on Martha’s Vinyard | Mfume not running in mayoral race |  Problems abound for vacant homes’ neighbors | A mission to transform Baltimore’s beaten schools

Week 2 | Feb. 7, 9

Due

• Read Stepp Chapters 2&3, the blogpost on anniversary journalism, and the syllabus
• Backgrounder: You’ll research your beat, posting and reviewing at least five pertinent news stories on NewsTrust. The purpose of this assignment: 1) to help you get a handle on what’s been published on your beat–and what hasn’t, and 2) to help you understand how to critically review journalism. Deliverable: Email the instructor the link to your NewsTrust profile.
• Story memo #1: You’ll write a one-page summary of the beat you’ve chosen on our theme this semester: anniversary journalism. What’s been written about? What hasn’t been written about? What are the key sources? What significant issues will your three-part project address? Here’s a good example of this memo. Deliverable: A one-page memo, typed and printed out by the beginning of class.

Writing warmup: What’s the hook? What’s the conflict?

Discussion: Writing as craft and magic.

Assignment prep: Newswriting review: redundant and wordy phrases, sentence structure, direct leads.

Week 3 | Feb. 14, 16

Due

• Read Stepp ch. 4&5
• Starter #1 the news brief. The purpose of this news brief is to 1) get you started making contacts and understanding the issues of your beat early in the semester, and 2) to demonstrate your writing skills and give me an idea of what you need help with. I’m looking for a short news article with a strong news angle in the lead and at least two sources, 300-400 words. Deliverable: typed, double spaced, printed and handed in at the beginning of class.
• Story memo #2. Now that you’ve researched your beat and interviewed at least two people on it, you should have an idea of what your project will be about. I’m looking for a succinct summary of your series, along with an outline of your stories, sources and multimedia for the semester. Deliverable: typed, double spaced, printed and handed in at the beginning of class. Here’s an example of what this memo should look like.

Writing warmup AP Style review | peer review

Discussion The qualities of good writing, ideas and reporting.

Assignment prep Photo composition

Week 4 | Feb. 21, 23

Due: Starter #2, Tompkins 1&3, Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency ch. 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11

Writing warmup: AP Style review #2

Discussion: Finding the focus and shape of your story.

Assignment prep Slideshow basics.

Week 5 | Feb. 28, March 1

Due: Starter #3, Tompkins 3, 6, Tips on interviewing victims: The anniversary story

Writing warmup Numbers

Discussion Finding and interviewing characters. Finding and writing your first story.

Guest speaker 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday Steve Luxenberg | Thursday Michael Olesker

Week 6 | March 6, 8

Due: Story #1 rough draft, Stepp 6, 7

Warmup: Punctuation

Discussion: Leads and story middles. In-class draft review.

Week 7 | March 13, 15

Due: Story #1 final draft with photo, multimedia. Tompkins 7, 11

Warmup: Grammar (subject-pronoun agreement)

Discussion: Pictures and sound

Spring break | March 20, 22

Week 8 | March 27, 29

Due: Story #2 rough draft, Stepp 10, 13

Warmup: Grammar (subject-verb agreement)

Discussion: Writing and polishing features. In-class draft review.

Guest speakers 4:30-5:30: Tuesday, Julie Scharper | Thursday, Bruce Goldfarb

Week 9 | April 3, 5

Due: Story #2 final draft with photo, multimedia. Tompkins 18.

Warmup: More AP Style and punctuation

Discussion: Enterprise.

Week 10 | April 10, 12

Page One screening with Brian Stelter

Week 11 | April 17, 19

Due: Coding

Discussion: Adventurous multimedia

Week 12 | April 24, 26

Due: Story #3 draft, Stepp 8, 9

Warmup: Accessibility

Discussion: Writing for clarity, drama. In-class draft review.

Week 13 | May 1, 3

Due: Story #3 final with photo, multimedia

Warmup: SEO

Discussion: TBA

Week 14 | May 8, 10

Due: Reading assignment

Discussion: The final website

Week 15 | May 15, 17

Due: Website

Discussion Website review | The two-minute pitch

Final Exam | TBA | Best in Show Awards | 3:30 p.m.