Newswriting 221-02
Journalism Department
San Francisco State University
Spring 2018
Roland De Wolk
Senior Lecturer

Newswriting is the essential entry point into completing the Journalism major at SFSU. Prospective students should know very clearly this will be a demanding class. Standards of excellence and competence will be strictly enforced.

Journalism, of course, is in a historic state of turmoil and tumult. It is for this very reason I take on this extra task and I hope—I can only hope—it propels the more gifted of you as well. We will examine and execute the very highest standards of true journalism and how they might guide us to the redemption of democracy’s most vital building block.

Successful scholars will also greatly enhance their ability to write business plans, grant proposals, graduate school essays or just the usual online screeds as well. No kidding.

What follows are the department’s broad guidelines for the course and then the specific ones I have designed for this class.

PREREQUISITES

In order to enroll, students must be at sophomore level or higher; have earned a minimum grade of C in English 214 or an equivalent. Students will be given an exam at the start of the semester to assess competency in grammar, punctuation, knowledge of current events and news judgment. Test results will NOT determine a student’s eligibility to take the course, however, they might assist the instructor and student in deciding areas of focus in the curriculum. Students need ability to type at least 25 WPM or be familiar with computer keyboard. A note for some of my favorite students: Those from other countries. Although I have consistently found students from overseas are some of the most gifted, hardworking and eager to learn, once and a while someone who is not really fluent in English will enroll. That won’t work for anyone. Please take this into account.

And for all of you: If you failed to pass Newswriting once before, you get a second chance and can take one more time. If you screw up twice, you’re done here.

SUMMARY

The course is designed to teach clear thinking and writing skills, knowing these are the true paths to communications excellence. Ultimately—and for most students—these two skills can propel you regardless of intellectual and professional disciplines you follow. In Newswriting our emphasis will be on:

1. Accuracy and verification
2. Thinking logically and quickly
3. Writing precisely and concisely
4. Gathering information in a rudimentary fashion.
5. News judgment. This will be a major component of all we do.

Assignments will begin immediately and progress to increasingly difficult and complex news stories. A detailed rundown of the assignments can also be found here.

TARGETS

• Accuracy
• Attribution
• News judgment
• Story-telling
• Clear and graceful writing
• Editing and rewriting
• Libel law
• Fairness
• Multiple sourcing
• Highest and best sourcing
• Use of quotes
• Use of transitions/segues
• Deadline writing
• Note-taking
• Use of statistics
• Research tools including phones, the Web, databases, primary sources
• Interviewing
• Listening

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

During the first part of the semester, we will concentrate on accuracy and news judgment. In the latter part of the term, students may be asked to additionally report as well as write. Deadline writing will be a constant element.

There will be a strong emphasis on developing professional competence. We will regularly examine – and you will be expected to understand – issues such as ethical and legal standards, freedoms and responsibilities. We will hold up the highest and best standards of our many cultures and histories.

All assignments will be written using a word processing program such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs and then printed in 14 points, preferably in a classic font such as Times New Roman. Triple space. Keep all your documents organized and ready if they need be emailed or shared electronically. Punctuation, grammar, spelling and adherence to the Associated Press Stylebook will be emphasized.

All stories & other assignments will have this format at the top of the first page:

Slug

Your Name

Date

Word Count

Class attendance, as always, will be mandatory. Unfortunately, for some of you, this will be no joke.

News quizzes will be regular. Suggested daily reading will be a topic of regular discussion.

NOW SOME OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT PRONOUNCEMENTS:

COMPLETION OF JOURNALISM 221 NEWSWRITING

Students in all sections of Newswriting will be tested at the start of the semester in basic grammar, punctuation and news judgment. This entrance exam will be in multiple-choice form and will not be factored into the final grade. However, the students will also get a midterm and exit exam, as well as a final assignment as determined by the instructor. These assignments will be factored into the final grade accordingly.

(Detailed grading information below.)

In order to progress in the Journalism Department’s sequences, you must earn a C or better grade in Newswriting. Getting a C- or less means you failed.

Students in the writing concentration or sequence must complete both Newswriting and Reporting with at least a C before enrolling in an advanced writing course. Three writing courses – Newswriting, Reporting and an advanced writing course – must be completed with minimum C by students in the writing sequences or Print/Online concentration before they may enroll in Publication Laboratory, Jour. 609. Photojournalism sequence or concentration students must complete both Newswriting and Reporting with minimum of C, but they may enroll in Publication Laboratory, Jour. 609, as photographers after completion of Newswriting, Photojournalism I and Photojournalism II, with minimum grade of C in each.

The Journalism Department requires you participate in two journalism department approved events each semester. Events are posted at http://journalism.sfsu.edu/events as they are made available. Questions regarding this issue should be directed to your faculty advisor. 

REQUIRED TEXTS

AP Stylebook, Writing and reporting the News by Carole Rich, 7^th edition.

BTW, I do not employ iLearn in this course.

GRADING

Grading will be along department guidelines:

To grade someone’s writing is a difficult and inexact task. This is how we will try to do it: While each instructor’s grading policy on issues such as spelling may be unique, the journalism faculty has agreed on and enforces one thing: “Any story with a misspelled name receives an automatic ‘F’.” Beyond that, grading criteria are:

A—The news story is exceptionally well written and free of errors. The lead is clear, concise and interesting. The story is well organized and contains effective transitions, quotations, descriptions and anecdotes. Because of the story’s obvious merit, any news publication would be eager to publish it.

B—A news publication could publish the news story after minimal editing. The story contains only a few minor errors of style. The lead clearly summarizes the story, and the following paragraphs present all the information necessary for a comprehensive news story. The information is presented in a cohesive, well-organized manner. The story is not as detailed, descriptive or interesting as an “A” story.

C—The news story is superficial or could be published only after heavy editing. The lead may be too wordy and fail to clearly emphasize the latest, most interesting or most important aspects of the story. The story tends to be disorganized and contains many minor errors. A few sentences or paragraphs may have to be rewritten because they are repetitious, awkward or confusing.

D—The news story contains all the necessary facts, but those facts are presented so ineffectively that they would have to be rewritten before the story could be published. The story also may contain an unacceptable number of stylistic, spelling or grammatical errors.

F—The news story could not be published by a news publication and is so incomplete, confusing or erroneous that the facts in the story could not be rewritten and published.

The University’s grading policy:

A = Outstanding work (“…truly unusual accomplishment…”)

B = Above average work (“…exceptional accomplishment…”)

C = Average performance (“…successful completion of all course requirements, no significant weaknesses…”)

D = Below average (“…completion of course requirements but with significant weaknesses…”)

F = Failure (“Course requirements not met.”)

The University’s grading policy:

A = Outstanding work (“… truly unusual accomplishment…”)

B = Above average work (“… exceptional accomplishment…”)

C = Average performance (“…successful completion of all course requirements, no significant weaknesses…”)

D = Below average (“… completion of course requirements but with significant weaknesses…”)

F = Failure (“Course requirement not met.”)

As to the question, “Should grades represent quality and a level of accomplishment? Or effort? Or progress?” here is what the University says:

“Grades are assumed to reflect the instructor’s judgment of the quality of the student’s performance. Grades should not merely be awarded for effort, attendance, native ability, etc., notwithstanding the fact that all of these may affect performance and become part of the evaluation.

“Students who elect the CR/NC system are not to be given fewer or easier assignments than those who are on the A-F systems; such practice makes grades reflective of the quantity rather than the quality of the student’s performance.

“Students may not be guaranteed ‘at least a “C” or “B,”’ etc. in advance or by a contract related solely to the quality of assignments completed, as evaluation is a post-performance function rather than a pre-performance contract.”

ETHICS STATEMENT

“All journalism students are expected to conduct themselves as professionals. Any instances of plagiarism, fabrication, misrepresentation, cheating and/or conflict of interest will be investigated. Students found to have engaged in any activity will be reported to the department chair and the appropriate dean.” — SFSU Journalism Department  (Use your common sense and always do the right thing. Sometimes it’s hard to know what that is and sometimes it’s especially difficult when you are suddenly away from home for the first time, in a big, raucous city, and among a whole new group of people and demands. I’m here to help. If you are in a quandary of any sort – school-wise or personal — JUST ASK ME! I like helping.)

DIVERSITY AWARENESS

“Students will be expected to strive for accuracy, fairness and inclusive reporting practices. Diversity in the newsroom and in the news is a central tenet of fairness and accuracy in newswriting. Journalists can safeguard against bias by checking with a variety of sources and by getting outside of their comfort zone to talk to people other than usually cited experts or sources, or the people you are most comfortable with. This course will explore how cultures, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, age, language, and geography might influence perspectives on a story. Students will explore societal shades of gray—often the most interesting places to dig. Student journalists will learn to check, then check again, then check one more time.” — SFSU Journalism Department (You will hear a lot of undisciplined talk – and read a lot of clichés — about “diversity” around here. We will actually practice it. Diversity does not mean different clothes, hairstyles, and music you listen to, but about different ways of thinking, solving problems, and acting. In other words it’s not about looking different but thinking the same as the pack. Diversity means the sole Republican in a room full of Democrats. Diversity means the kid who grew up in a home with handicapped relatives. Diversity means the person who will honestly listen to an argument for the Confederate flag despite how odiously traitorous a symbol it may be for most. In short, diversity should not be a buzzword but a true appreciation for things that are truly different — not infrequently uncomfortably so.  I don’t want to browbeat you with it — you will get enough of that. I know many of you will turn off the message just for that reason. Don’t. That’s a trap Authority unwittingly sets up.)

Having paid tribute to this legit & important issue, I will add that as much as I applaud the sometimes abused and overused D word I strongly believe we are way past overdue on also stressing our commonality as human beings. Let’s do some more of that in journalism.)

A SPECIAL MESSAGE REGARDING PLAGIARISM

The Journalism Department has an official policy on this issue you must read and understand:

“Plagiarism, the passing off of someone else’s work as your own, is a serious offense against scholarship, journalism and honesty. It is regarded as a serious offense by this university and this department.

In journalism, the object is to develop one’s own original body of work, based on one’s own reporting and research, and delivered in one’s own “voice”—in one’s own writing—in an effort to give the reader as faithful a rendition of the truth of things as we are capable.

By contrast, plagiarism delivers what someone else has researched and written under the pretense that it is one’s own work. The plagiarist lies to the reader by pretending the stolen writing is original, depriving the real author of credit, and denying readers the right to form opinions based on the real sources of information.

To call this a disservice to journalism is putting it in the mildest terms. When a journalist steals someone else’s work, it damages the credibility of all his or her associates, calling into question the integrity of the newspaper or magazine in which the plagiarized work is published.

Plagiarists fail their readers, their profession and themselves.

San Francisco State University calls plagiarism “literary theft” and treats it as a disciplinary issue. Any student suspected of plagiarism can expect, first, a conference with the instructor and department chair. If they conclude that plagiarism has occurred, the student’s conduct may be reported to the Dean’s office and, ultimately, the university’s Student Judicial Officer, who may take further action. The student’s case will be made known to the department’s faculty, so that they can watch the student’s future work closely for any more transgressions.

Journalism Department professors regard plagiarists as liars and thieves and will read their assignments with disbelief beyond skepticism.” — Professor Emeritus John Burk.

Here are my own first and last words on this subject: Plagiarize and I will do everything I can to have you expelled from the university. ‘Nuff said.

DISABILITY ACCESS

Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the instructor.  The Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) is available to facilitate the reasonable accommodations process. The DPRC is located in the Student Service Building and can be reached by telephone (voice/415-338-2472, video phone/415-335-7210) or by email (dprc@sfsu.edu).

STUDENT DISCLOSURES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE 

SF State fosters a campus free of sexual violence including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and/or any form of sex or gender discrimination.  If you disclose a personal experience as an SF State student, the course instructor is required to notify the Title IX Coordinator by completing the report form available at http://titleix.sfsu.edu, emailing vpsaem@sfsu.edu or calling 338-2032.

TO DISCLOSE ANY SUCH VIOLENCE CONFIDENTIALLY, CONTACT

• The SAFE Place - (415) 338-2208; http://www.sfsu.edu/~safe_plc/
• Counseling and Psychological Services Center - (415) 338-2208; http://psyservs.sfsu.edu/
• For more information on your rights and available resources: http://titleix.sfsu.edu

IMPORTANT STUFF ESPECIALLY FOR MY COURSE:

Aside from the standardized books and reporting assignments required of you by the department, you will be expected to:

• Be familiar with the news on a daily basis. That means reasonably serious exposure to at least two legit news outlets each and every day. (We’ll talk about these in class. Suggestions for original and interesting online, paper, broadcast, podcast, etc. news sites are enthusiastically welcomed.) There will be regular spot quizzes to gauge your daily news knowledge.
• You MUST have email and you MUST read it daily. Assignments and other vital messages will come to you via the Internet and you will be responsible for reading, understanding and executing them. Your email address must be professional grade.
• Have a phone. You will need voice mail with a professional-grade recording.
• Have an calendar (online or analog) and use it.
• Use the online site: NewsPort.org/cityroom. Take time to explore the links provided. They have the power to open doors to powerful opportunities. Students who fail to use this site fail themselves.
• We may experiment with Twitter and perhaps Snapchat to sharpen our focus and stay abreast of the way news & information is increasingly delivered. If you don’t have accounts and software loaded yet, please do so ASAP.
• Attend every class. Every teacher says attendance is mandatory. I will give an F grade on attendance to anyone absent three or more times without my express advance permission. I will give an F grade on attendance to anyone who is late by five minutes or more more than twice without my express, advance permission.
• You are responsible for all assignments. If you miss class for any reason, you must get the assignment from a classmate, not me. This is your responsibility. Take it seriously.
• I STRONGLY suggest everyone in the class get together in some fashion to exchange ideas, solve problems, and establish a vital spirit de corps. Those that do invariably do demonstrably better. Those that don’t tend to find themselves in the N/C situation. In your mom’s day these were called study groups. In your older brother’s day, Facebook was a preferred method. More recently Slack has become more popular. You guys choose.
• Meet all story deadlines. I will give an F grade to any story – complete, brilliant or not – that does not meet its deadline.
• Meet minimal quality standards. Those standards are described in detail here and throughout the course. Factual errors will, from the start, prompt an F grade on any assignment. Factual errors include misspelled names.
• All electronic devises such as laptops, phones, and tablets are to be off and stashed away during class unless I specifically state otherwise. Don’t ask me why — you know.

I am extremely aware that many of you are exploring majors, disciplines, and courses. I am a very big advocate of intellectual sampling as undergraduates. This is the time to take stock of what genuine curiosity about the world you may be blessed with and push it. I am not so fond of looking at college as a trade school, or succumbing to pressures from families, peers, and the like to make up your mind on what you want to do with the rest of your life. That also means if I can clearly see you have little passion, aptitude or even interest in this line of study, I will tell you straight up. Don’t take this as a criticism or failure. It is absolutely not. You might be the one to cure cancer, end war, or solve homelessness. Then everyone will be glad you didn’t waste your time studying journalism.

On the other hand, if I sense you may be among the elite who will create a bold new form of 21^st century news and information I will push you to your limits.

Either way, I simply hope you remember me in your Nobel Prize speech.

This limits my liability, please read it:

I will demand a great deal from you. I will expect you to demand at least equally high standards from me:

• I am  reporter, one who comes from and lives in the reality based community. (You can learn more about my professional background at RolandDeWolk.com). I am not a daycare worker, a psychologist, or caregiver. I will be courteously candid with you. I will not treat you as if you were a snowflake, cupcake or a child. In other words, I will show you respect. This is not to say I won’t make mistakes and unintentionally offend some of you who may be accustomed to the condescension some teachers mistake for compassion. If I do err, I eagerly welcome your returning the respect by (courteously) letting me know I have stepped on your toes. I’m here to learn, too.

• I am accessible. My regular office hour will be every Wednesday one hour  before class, by appointment. My office number is Humanities 525. My email is RolandDeWolk@gmail.com. Use it. I prefer you don’t call or text, but if it’s a genuine emergency — school stuff or personal — My cell number is 510 220 2217. It has voicemail on duty 24 hours a day. A word of caution: I will NOT be impressed that you found my home number. Unless it’s a true emergency, I will be annoyed. Don’t poke the bear.

• I reward enterprise. Successful writers are no different than most successful people in any other vocation: They seek success by consistently doing more than expected, finding solutions not excuses, restlessly looking for the next accomplishment. I am keenly interested in observing and measuring these traits and guarantee they will significantly boost what you will take home from this course—and your grade. Commensurately, those of you who exhibit natural gifts that may lead you to acting as if enterprise is not necessary will suffer the opposite experience—here and beyond.

• I am accountable. You can and should expect the highest-grade professional learning from me. Moreover, you should expect respect from me throughout the course. If you feel that any of my teaching is not meeting your individual needs, I expect to hear from you. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

• I am goal-oriented. Although many new managers (and some teachers) will expect you to be a bulldog outside and a lapdog inside, I will demand you carry out all your work – inside and outside – with courtesy and persistence, professionalism and independence, compassion and skepticism. One can sum up my teaching attitude quite simply: When you succeed, I succeed. When you fail, I fail.

And I really hate to fail.

You get to grade me, too. Be sure to add this address to your contacts: online@sfsu.edu to ensure the forms will get to you during the last two weeks of the term.

Grades are transparent but private to each individual student. ANY STUDENT INTERESTED IN THEIR GRADE AND THEIR GRADE PROGRESS IS INVITED TO ASK AT ANYTIME FOR AN ACCURATE UPDATE. INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS ON THIS AND OTHER COURSE MATTERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

• The Journalism Department now requires that 50 percent of your grade be pegged to the final exit exam.
• Weekly assignments will count for 50 percent of your grade. The final grade on each story comes from the rewrite. In that category I will also consider a midterm exam, class participation and adherence to the guidelines and requirements stated in this syllabus.

I cannot put enough emphasis on just simple, pure effort. It usually makes the difference in my last balancing act in grading. It can easily mean the difference between a B+ and A-, or more critical still, the difference between a C and a C-, which is the difference between passing and not.

You and I will need one additional major trait to make these next three months a success: A sense of humor. If this is of concern to you for any reason, I expect to hear from you.

Somewhere in this mix will be the dreaded AP Stylebook test: 

WEEK 1

Introduction. The lede. 
Writing assignment. General fright & intimidation.

WEEK 2

The Basic News Story. How does it differ from creative writing. Putting it together and beginning the editing process. Syllabus test.

WEEK 3

Press releases and how to make them yours.

WEEK 4

Accidents, fires, floods. Covering the natural and unnatural disaster (and not-so-disastrous) news of the day.

WEEK 5

Obits: How to capture a person’s life and make it interesting without coming off as a publicist.

WEEK 6

Speeches, news conferences, studies (especially those with statistics): How to begin mastering them – and how to avoid some of the biggest perils that come from learning this sort of thing in Journalism school.

WEEK 7

Meetings: How to read an agenda, how to cover a meeting, how to make them interesting and important.

 WEEK 8

Crime: The basics. Midterm story assignment.

WEEK 9:

Delayed and second-day ledes.

Courts: How to cover a court proceeding. How to find a good hearing/trial. Avoiding legal technical terms.

WEEK 10

Beats. Libel, ethics and staying out of trouble: An Introduction.

WEEK 11

Interviews: Rapport. Keeping control of the conversation. Taking notes and knowing what matters. How to use quotes for strongest effect.

Listen to NPR’s “Fresh Air” and write a story based on an interview by Terry Gross. Who was the person, giving a little background so we know why they’re being interviewed? Include a few good quotes.

For those who know what a radio is and how to use one, the show airs daily on NPR stations. Naturally, the show is also online, which is probably the better way to go.

WEEK 12

Profiles: Making a human being instead of a caricature or worse.

WEEK 13

News features: How they differ from hard news stories. The nut graf. How to write them.

WEEK 14

Wrapping It Up: Final Story Assignment. Exit Exam. Exit.