Course Objective 

 

The overall goals of the Institute are to:

• Inform teachers about the operations of multimedia daily newspapers and practices, news values and ethical decision-making in the craft of journalism
• Impart the basic writing, editing, online, design, photo and graphics skills that teachers need to better advise students and to start or strengthen a school newspaper
• Help teachers better understand the First Amendment and media literacy

Topics covered during the two-week course will include:

• The future of daily newspapers
• Basics of online journalism (The group will produce an online newspaper via my.highschooljournalism.org.)
• Journalism credibility
• Scholastic press freedoms and the First Amendment
• Media literacy
• Diversity in coverage and staffing
• Privacy and touchy topics
• Journalism ethics
• Reporting, sourcing and writing news stories
• Editing and headline writing
• Developing an editorial/opinion page
• Basics of photojournalism
• Basics of newspaper design
• Advertising and business issues

Texts  (Bring the starred books with you)

* The Associated Press Guide to Good News Writing

The Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual

The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, by Tim Harrower
Law of the Student Press, by the Student Press Law Center (SPLC)

* The Starting Point: Young Journalists and the Law, by SPLC

School Newspaper Adviser’s Survival Guide, by Patricia Osborn

The Journalist’s Road to Success, by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund

* Principal’s Guide to Scholastic Journalism, by Quill and Scroll Society

Newspaper Career Guide, by the Newspaper Association of America

In addition, we have purchased for each of you a daily copy of The Roanoke Times (to be picked up at the front desk of the Hampton Inn) and The New York Times (available in Reid Hall).  We expect you to read them, discuss them and keep up with the news!

Ground Rules

Attendance is required at all classes and outings, unless you are sick or have an emergency.  Alert one of the Institute staff in advance if you will miss a session.  Repeat offenders may be asked to leave.

Out of courtesy to our faculty and speakers, arrive on time to all classes and return promptly from breaks.

Cell phones must be turned off during all class sessions; if you are expecting an urgent call, turn your phone to mute or vibrate.  Please do not use laptops in class.

You are expected to read assigned material, complete all assignments and be active participants in class.  Expect regular quizzes on reading material and current events.

Course Requirements

To encourage you to begin thinking about this class, we ask that you complete this advance reading:

1) Unit One of the School Newspaper Adviser’s Guide
2) The Introduction and Chapter One of The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook

We also ask that you:

1) Complete an AP style test, consulting the AP stylebook that was sent to you.
2) Send two copies of your school’s newspaper, the same edition if possible, to:     Melissa Cox
            Department of Journalism
            103 Reid Hall
            Washington and LeeUniversity
             Lexington, VA 24450

Due by 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 18:

• One lesson plan (using template provided by ASNE)
• Two journalistic writing samples completed during the Institute. One should be a news or event story and the other a feature story or review.
• One newspaper layout in InDesign, including cutlines and headlines
• One newspaper layout in Dreamweaver (may contain same content as above)
• Fifteen developed story ideas suitable for your student newspaper, including possible angles, likely human and written sources and ideas for illustration
• A sample ethics policy for your newspaper
• A sample editorial page policy for your newspaper
• At least two postings to the Institute blog