Syllabus

JRNL 1000: Principles of Journalism: Spring 2017

Version 2. Updated 1/27/17 *** This is a living document and subject to change. ***

 

Class Details

 

Instructor: Tom Yulsman

Email: tom.yulsman@colorado.edu

Class Meets: Monday and Wednesday; 2-2:50 p.m. in Hale 270

TAs: Angela Chiarmonte, Hannah Granberry, Evan Rowe

Recitation Information

Instructor: Evan Rowe

Email: evro8685@colorado.edu

Recitation Meets: Friday; 2-2:50 p.m. in MCOL E158

Office Hours: By appointment

Class Word Press: jrnl1000spring2017.wordpress.com

Recitation Syllabus

 

Class Description: This class surveys the history, practices and responsibilities of journalism in a democracy. We will examine: ethics; best practices in institutional and network settings; reporting and writing; international news systems; personal branding; and strategies for creating and distributing content across media platforms. We promote the highest professional values and encourage students to be leaders who recognize the possibilities of journalism in a democratic society.

Purpose: This recitation will act as a discussion platform for the issues addressed both in lecture and in the weekly readings. We will use material from the news, current events, pop-culture and other media to enhance understanding and application of topics covered in class. We endorse proper grammar and journalism style.

Expectations

• First and foremost, respect for your peers is required in this class. No yelling or harmful/discriminatory language is tolerated.
• Don’t interrupt the speaker. Please wait your turn or raise your hand.
• Be an active listener. Ask questions.
• Punctuality is required. If you are continuously late to class, I will deduct participation points.
• While I allow technology in the classroom, I expect you will use it for notetaking or referencing materials. I do not allow cell phones. No texting or Facebook stalking allowed! Our class is only 50 minutes. The more robust the discussion, the quicker the class will seem. Then, you will be free to catch as many Pokémon or watch as many cat videos as your heart desires.

Email and Appointments: According to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), I am not able to discuss your grades in detail through email. Therefore, if you have questions about your grades, please make an appointment. We will hold some appointments over the phone. Please be aware that sometimes I will not be able to make urgent appointments. We will work together to make time for each other.

Staying Current

 

Keeping yourself updated on what’s happening in the news and around the world is a necessity as both a journalist and a responsible citizen/voter. To help ourselves stay informed and expand our knowledge of world events, we’ll hold a short, class-wide newsroom meeting at the beginning of each class. I will act as the producer of a newscast and all of you will be the reporters briefing me on your own news stories. While I don’t need you to tell me every detail of the article, you will be required to focus on the main ideas: Who, What, Where, When, and most importantly… Why and How. Please be prepared to discuss these with the class and ask other students questions. Your blogs could also be topics of discussion. You are required to speak in every class to receive full participation credit for that day.

 

 

Class Blog

You are required to create a WordPress blog for the class. Every week (except for those when other assignments are due), you will write a blog post about something current happening in the media. You are encouraged to think critically about the idea of the media and what this means. Your topics may include politics, pop culture, sports, science, education, video games, etc. While this is relatively open, you are expected to include some form of outside media within your post, whether that be links to other articles and blogs, photos, YouTube videos, podcasts, songs or something else. Be creative, and have fun! As I have to read all of your posts, please entertain me! I will be grading on completion, the amount of thought put into your posts, spelling/grammar and improvement. Find topics that fuel your passions. I ask that, while your blog might have a common theme, expand your horizons. Do not blog about the same topic two weeks in a row.

Required Assignments

In addition to your weekly blog posts, you will be required to complete five (5) assignments that will act as a portion of the recitation grade. These will be in essay format and will eventually be posted to your blog. Each assignment is worth 5% (25% total of your recitation grade). The assignments should be turned in by their due date. As the semester continues, I will consider improvement. At the end of the semester, I will expect that the versions you have put on your blog reflect any of my feedback.

Tentative topics for these assignments will include: reading a newspaper cover-to-cover, ethics in journalism, the Pulitzer Prize and a journalistic book review. News and topics in the media are unpredictable, and we would like these assignments to be relevant. Therefore, they are subject to change as the semester progresses. I will inform you of the definitive topics for each assignment in recitation and via email once the professor and TAs discuss them.

Attendance and Grading

 

• You are expected to attend and be an active participant in your recitations. Failure to show up to class and take part in discussions will affect your grade. Recitation is worth 50% of your overall Principles of Journalism class grade, so it is essential that you are both physically and mentally present in class, especially as recitation only meets for one hour every week. Therefore, five (5) unexcused absences will result in an F in the class. If you are sick, you must present a doctor’s note to be counted as excused. If you must miss recitation for an emergency or another reason, let me know ahead of time.
• LATE WORK: I will deduct ONE (1) FOR EVERY HOUR AN ASSIGNMENT OR BLOG POST IS LATE.
• Recitation is worth 50% of your overall class grade. Below you will find a percentage breakdown of the recitation portion:
  • Graded written assignments: 5 assignments each worth 5% for a total of 25% Participation/Attendance: 10% of recitation grade (please remember that 5 unexcused absences will result in a failing grade in the class)
  • Blog: 15%

 

Tentative Schedule:

 

Week 1 (1/20): Introductions.
Week 2 (1/27): Compete your blog. Due by 8 p.m.

Week 3 (2/3): First weekly blog post. (Topic: Privilege) Due by 9 a.m.

Week 4 (2/10): Assignment #1 Due. Newspaper Review. Due by 9 a.m.

Week 5 (2/17): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.

Week 6 (2/24): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.
Week 7 (3/3): Assignment #2 Due: Pulitzer Prize. Due by 9 a.m.
Week 8 (3/10): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.
Week 9 (3/17): Assignment #3 Due: Journalistic Book Review. Due by 9 a.m.

Week 10 (3/24): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.
(3/31) SPRING BREAK NO CLASS
Week 11 (4/7): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.
Week 12 (4/14): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.

Week 13 (4/21): Assignment #4 Due: CWA Report. Due by 9 a.m.
Week 14 (4/28): Blog post. Due by 9 a.m.

Week 15 (5/5): Assignment #5 Due: Ethics Group Project. Due by 9 a.m.

Accommodation for Disabilities:

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for exam accommodations provide your letter at least one week prior to the exam) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at dsinfo@colorado.edu. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Injuries guidelines under the Quick Links at the Disability Services website and discuss your needs with your professor.

Religious Holidays:

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class,

See the campus policy regarding religious observances for full details.

Classroom Behavior:

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. For more information, see the policies on classroom behavior and the student code.

Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, Harassment and/or Related Retaliation:

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. CU Boulder will not tolerate acts of sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. CU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy prohibits sexual assault, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, intimate partner abuse (dating or domestic violence), stalking or related retaliation. CU Boulder’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy prohibits discrimination, harassment or related retaliation based on race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy. Individuals who believe they have been subject to misconduct under either policy should contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127. Information about the OIEC, the above referenced policies, and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment or related retaliation can be found at the OIEC website.

Honor Code:

All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of the institution. Violations of the policy may include: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access, clicker fraud, resubmission, and aiding academic dishonesty. I report all incidents of academic misconduct to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are found responsible for violating the academic integrity policy will be subject to nonacademic sanctions from the Honor Code Council as well as academic sanctions from the faculty member. Additional information regarding the academic integrity policy is at honorcode.colorado.edu.