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JRN 516, Spring 2009. A user-friendly guide. The basics. Reporting Finding out what’s going on and telling somebody about it. Journalism Giving citizens the information they need to be free and self-governing. What's this class about?. Public Affairs Reporting
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JRN 516, Spring 2009 A user-friendly guide
The basics • Reporting • Finding out what’s going on and telling somebody about it. • Journalism • Giving citizens the information they need to be free and self-governing
What's this class about? • Public Affairs Reporting • Understanding local government • Finding stories, reporting them • Writing to professional standards
Contacting me • Come to class • Drop-in office hours • 9:50-11 a.m. and 11:50-12:20 p.m. MWF • No appointment needed • Phone and email • 989-631-0644; 989-708-5199 (cell) • Japalen@aol.com
Warning • My email address is japalen@aol.com • DO NOT omit the “a” between the “j” and the “p.” • Mail sent to jpalen@aol.com goes to my nephew in Southern California. He no longer responds to it.
Deadlines • You must meet deadlines to get a full grade. • Late work gets a grade deducted (A to B etc.) up to 24 hours late. • After 24 hours, work is returned ungraded.
Format • Turn in all work in hard copy. • Double space it • Put your name and the date at top • Turn it in during class • If class is not being held, turn it in to my mailbox. Get it date and time-stamped. • Do not email work to me.
Texts and materials • Guide to Local Government • Posted on class blog, http://jrn516.wordpress.com/ • Technology to save your work • Important for revision
Your grade • Six stories from your beat • 70 percent of grade. • Class presentation and update of your beat section in guide • 20 percent • Five exams • 10 percent
Covering the beat • You’ll be assigned a beat. • Stories can include: • Advances • Meetings • Breaking news • Enterprise stories • Interviews
The beats Lake Isabella MP City Commission MP airport MP parks MP planning MP public schools MP zoning board Shepherd schools Village of Shepherd Union Township • Beal City schools • Charter schools • Library district • County board • County parks • County planning • County roads • ICTC
The fatal error rule • Work containing a misspelled proper noun or factual error receives no more than a D (revisable to a C).
Revisions • All work except quizzes can be revised for up to one higher grade (D to C, B to A). • For full revision credit, do everything I ask you to do on the original. • Turn in the original with the revision.