COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the online news landscape. Students learn which principles of traditional journalism can and should be applied to the web, and what makes online journalism unique. Students gain this knowledge through reading assignments, class discussion and activities, and a series of reporting, writing and multimedia production assignments.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• Explore the unique challenges and opportunities of digital journalism.
• Examine ethical and legal issues of online journalism.
• Maintain a website using a Content Management System.
• Author a news-oriented blog on a well-defined beat or coverage area.
• Write blog posts and news articles for the web with effective headlines, structure, links
and key words.
• Use social media as a tool for reporting and audience engagement.
• Gain practical knowledge of basic XHTML/CSS.
• Become proficient in basic multimedia reporting and production including how to tell
a story using text, links, photos, audio, video, information graphics and data
visualizations.
• Produce an online publication with original reporting and multimedia content. If done
well, this publication will be suitable for internship, freelance and job applications.
TEACHING METHODS:
Students will practice online journalism in this course. Practice, in this case, means acting as a journalist and covering a topic for a real audience, not just pretending to do journalism to fulfill a school assignment. Students will select a topic or beat to cover for the semester. Each student will create a blog and then report, write and create multimedia content to cover the topic. All assignments will be posted online for anyone to read. Students will build an online audience. I will serve as an editorial advisor and give the same responses, instruction and suggestions that I would give to professional journalists. This course stresses journalistic ethics, reporting and writing, and multimedia storytelling.
ACADEMIC HONESTY AND JOURNALISTIC ETHICS:
Plagiarism is a serious offense. Do not use words, photos, or other kinds of content without proper attribution and copyright permission. This includes copying content from the Internet. Plagiarism also includes passing off another’s work as your own or giving your work to another student. For Rowan’s complete academic honesty policy, download the Student Information Guide from http://www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/infoguide/pdf/infoguide0809.pdf (See pages 27-28 in guide.)
Anyone caught plagiarizing could receive an F for the course.
For this course, students are also expected to adhere to Cyberjournalist.net’s Blogger Code of Ethics at http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php
ACCOMMODATION POLICY
If you have a documented disability that may have an impact upon your work in this class, please contact me at the beginning of the semester. Students must provide documentation of their disability to the Academic Success Center to receive official university services and accommodations. The Academic Success Center can be reached at 856-256-4234 and is located in Savitz Hall, 3rd floor. The staff is available to answer questions about accommodations or assist you in your pursuit of accommodations.
OFFICE HOURS:
I welcome conversations with students outside of class. My regular office hours are posted on my office door at Bozorth 105E. I may also be available other times as well. If you would like to make an appointment, email me.
I regularly email students between classes with updates on assignments, grades, and responses to your work. Please check your rowan.edu email throughout the week so that you receive messages.
COMPUTER LAB ETIQUETTE:
We will often use the computers for in-class assignments. When we do use computers, please refrain from unrelated multi-tasking. Please turn off your cell phone and mobile device before class begins, and I will do the same.
