Course Description
The course is an introduction to journalistic reporting and writing. After a period of training in newswriting and newsgathering techniques, students research and write their own stories for the college’s online newspaper, At the LennonWall. Early class lessons will examine what news is, news story organization, how to find story ideas, how to conduct interviews and how to find and evaluate information. Though the focus is on writing for a newspaper or news agency, the course material is applicable to all forms of journalistic writing, including public relations writing.

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Clearly grasp and utilize newsworthiness criteria including impact, novelty, proximity and timeliness.
• Achieve accuracy and clarity in news reporting and writing.
• Use a variety of sources, including public records, to research and report a story.
• Report and write a news story on deadline using an appropriate lead and story structure, whether “inverted pyramid” or an alternative form.
• Report and write a feature story.
• Understand and analyze issues of balance, fairness, viewpoint and subject sensitivity in reporting.
• Understand and analyze issues surrounding freedom of information and government, corporate or other control of news in the context of daily reporting.

*Course content subject to change