Fall 2016 Syllabus

Fall 2016 Reporting Public Policy

JMC 46009-001 & 002 and JMC 56009-001

11 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. M/W

312 & 314 Franklin Hall

 

Susan Zake: 101C Franklin Hall, 330-672-2616 (office); 330-329-5852 (cell); szake@kent.edu

Sarah Taylor: 440-821-6716 (cell); staylo52@kent.edu

Sue’s graduate assistant: Nick Buzzelli, nbuzzel1@kent.edu

Office hours: By appointment.

Laptops:

Be sure to bring your laptops to class, particularly on Mondays. We often work through exercises in class, researching public information or completing homework assignments during class time.

Course Website: www.reportingpublicpolicy.org. You will receive an email with an individual login and password to access the administrative tools. All content you create will be posted here. The site is built on a WordPress platform.

Class tools: We will be making use of the newsroom’s new Camayak workflow management system to pitch stories and track your progress on projects. It allows the editors and producers working in our classrooms to communicate more easily with all the interested parties. We’ll have training in class late in the second week.

I’ll also be looking for a few volunteer teams to test Ban.jo, a social media reporting tool. We’re set up for a free trial — many television station reporting teams use it for breaking news.

COURSE OBJECTIVE/OVERVIEW:  

What is public policy?  It is any issue that deals with the government’s management, administration and operation in the broadest terms. That may sound boring, but telling the stories of this year’s presidential election is a great example of why this class and the skills you’ll learn are important. Apply these skills to local government, which includes city, county, police, fire, education, taxes and courts, and it’s easier to see why public policy reporting is at the heart of an informed electorate.

By the end of the class, you’ll be better reporters, writers, videographers and online storytellers. You’ll understand certain functions of local government and be able to explain them to the public using media across multiple platforms. You’ll also learn to work with reporters outside your own medium, interact with a newsroom management culture and polish your multimedia and web skills in a multi-platform, news gathering environment.

You will learn and practice:

• how to get information from public officials and public entities
• put information into context for your audience
• telling about the people affected by public policy and how it affects them
• public event coverage, like campaign appearances and city council meetings
• How to request public records
• reporting using public data resources

Some things to remember:

• Your work should be trustworthy and accurate. A journalist’s credibility is everything
• You work for the student newsroom in this class — timely submissions earn extra points; late (or no) submissions cost points

• The faculty-assigned grade is separate from student media. Sarah and Sue share the grading responsibilities in this class and will be reading, viewing and grading the work of everyone in both sections.

 

• This is an original reporting class — the bulk of your work will be based on interviews you conduct yourself. It will not be a class where aggregation of others’ reporting will be rewarded or encouraged.
• Unless you have specific permission from one of the instructors, work you do for this class must be undertaken during the actual semester and may not be used to fulfill an assignment for another class.

Class sessions (typically on Mondays) will include lectures or in-class exercises that cover local government and public affairs reporting, along with an occasional guest appearance. Sessions will also include trips to various offices or institutions, some lab time (typically on Wednesdays) for you to work in teams, participate in special activities and meet with colleagues to review stories. Part of the work for this course will take place outside the classroom.

The class will emphasize local reporting about what is happening in the state of Ohio, Kent and Portage County, with teams reporting on assigned areas of content like higher education, city government, county government, etc. Stories that fall outside these team topics, while often valid, must be approved by the instructors.

Since this is a presidential election year, we will also be extensively engaged in covering the presidential election and the issues and candidates related to it. We’ll work this out with the newsroom as we go, depending on its needs.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The two biggest things we want you to achieve by taking this class are to become a better reporter and to learn how to create comprehensive packages of content online. If you intend to work as a producer when you graduate, the class is a vehicle to understanding how your reporters should cover government and find newsworthy stories within its structures.
By the end of this course students will be able to:

•  Gather information and report on government decision making.
•  Put information in context for a citizen (general) audience.
•  Request and use public records in a story.
•  Learn about the roles and structure of different arms of state and local government, such as police departments, courts, city council, county commissioners, school boards and other taxpayer-funded agencies.
•  Balance reporting daily stories or packages in “live” situations with the production of more complex, issue-based pieces.
•  Write about complex public affairs issues clearly and in understandable terms for a general audience.
•  Interact with student media as professionals, meeting deadlines and following instructions from editors/news directors.
•  Enhance reporting online, on air or in print using maps, informational graphics, data visualization and multimedia elements.
• To think in terms of the total story package and the information it conveys to an audience, rather than in single pieces of coverage.
• Use social media professionally and appropriately to promote your content to an outside audience (we’ll discuss what this looks like in class).
• Show basic proficiency in reporting and working with data, including a basic proficiency in Excel and data visualizations as part of a package of journalistic content.

CONTENT YOU PRODUCE:

• You will work in small teams to complete four in-depth stories of varying complexity and breadth for the course.
• Each team will work in a broad content area that will be assigned to you, like cops and courts, environmental reporting, city government, education or county government. This will help ensure you develop stronger sources and learn how to report on issues of importance — we call it “peeling the onion.”
• At least one of these content packages will be on deadline and can include a city council meeting, spot news or an election appearance or related event. Every team will sign up to cover a Kent or Streetsboro city council meeting, but these can be substituted with breaking news or coverage of an election appearance. Your choice of what to cover on deadline must be approved by one of the instructors and coordinated with the student media editors in the class.
• You will also work in a larger team to complete one team project.
• Requirements for the story content and presentation on the Web site for each assignment will be discussed in class. The rubric is posted in Blackboard in the course content along with a checklist (not comprehensive) to help you self-evaluate your content.

In general, these content packages will be rich multimedia web projects incorporating AP-style text, video, still images, podcasts, infographics, data, social media and other Web resources. Team members will share in the content production — we encourage you to work in roles that take you out of your comfort zones or areas of expertise. We also encourage you to switch roles and try something different as the semester moves ahead.

Your stories should be substantial enough to lead the TV2 newscast, be the featured content on KentWired or the main front page package in The Kent Stater. In planning the content, we will always stress a web-centric viewpoint, with content spinning off for broadcast and print.

If your story has a time element, you will be expected to coordinate with the newsroom editors and producers (if they want the story) to meet their needs and supply any revisions or requested edits in a timely manner.

Spot news coverage is always a priority in the class and can fulfill one or more of the story assignments — for it to count, you must work with the newsroom editors and file your coverage in a timely manner online, then follow up with the newsroom to make sure TV2 and the Stater have the content they each need. This coverage should include posting information on social media with live tweets. (Unedited, original copies of your coverage must still be posted on the classroom site before the next story deadline.)

Story ideas must be logged into the Camayak system (training on Camayak will be in week two) that will be accessible to the instructors and newsroom editors. Only one team may work on a story — if you haven’t signed up for the story you want to cover, and another team does, you lose out. First come, first served. You will complete a planning sheet for each story your team works on.

Videos will be initially filed using Kaltura, Kent State’s video hosting network, which is accessible at http://video.kent.edu, and must be embedded to play on the class website. We’ll go over the details in class, because you’ll need to file a certain way for student media to access the content.

All content created in this class has the potential to be published or broadcast in some manner — the RPP website is public and open to anyone to view. Be sure when you are contacting and interviewing sources they understand you are interviewing them for publication or broadcast via student media or the class website. Anonymous sources or using only partial names in content produced for this class is not permitted without the permission of one of the instructors — permission must be obtained in advance of turning in your story for a grade.

BREAKING NEWS:
In the case of significant breaking news situations that affect the city, campus or surrounding region, it’s all hands on deck, so expect to be called in to assist. Breaking news coverage can substitute for one or more of your regular story assignments, if you provide significant coverage. Helping with spot news on deadline will also be heavily considered in your attendance and participation grade. Extra credit may be offered in some of these situations, as well.

ELECTIONS:

We will be helping provide coverage leading up to and including election day Tuesday, November 8. You can expect to produce at least one candidate profile in advance, or one explanation of an issue that will count as a homework grade (15 pts.). You will also potentially be covering campaign visits from national candidates. You will be expected to work at least part of election day for the newsroom reporting results, covering polling places, etc. This will also count as a homework grade (15 pts.) Be sure you plan your time so you have a block available. We’ll discuss this more thoroughly closer to the election.

ASSIGNMENTS/REQUIREMENTS (tentative outline):

1. Attendance/Participation: (75 pts.)

• Field trip to Judge Becky Doherty’s court in Ravenna — 10 pts. — mandatory
• Attendance in regular class over the semester. Mandatory except on specified work days — 25 pts.
• Classroom participation score — 15 pts.
• Newsroom participation score — 15 pts.
• Cops and Courts checks (sign-up for a specific day) — 10 pts.

Subject to change

1. “Homework” and In-Class Exercises (75 pts.): Will include education, public records, pre-election day coverage, Election Day coverage, auditor’s website and data exercise at 15 pts. each. If homework assignments are completed in class and you’re not in attendance, you will not be allowed to make up the work. (Subject to change)

1. Four content packages (400 pts.) Includes at least one live city council meeting. You can substitute live election or breaking news for your city council meeting. Breaking news coverage can also substitute for any of the four content packages as long as it is substantive and covered live for the newsroom. Five points of your score will be credit for filling out your team’s story proposal for each content package. 100 pts. each.

4. Group project (150 pts. + 15 pts. for peer assessment report = 165 pts.)

You will work in larger teams to produce one in-depth project on an agreed-upon topic. We’ll discuss the requirements of this assignment in class.

Total: 715 (subject to change)

Some of the homework assignments will be turned in via BlackBoard Learn. Grades will also be recorded there.

We will use Google Docs extensively in this class for homework, feedback on assignments and story sign up. Links to the docs will be available on BB.

Extra credit opportunities:

Did you communicate with the student media editors in the class about your story, make any necessary edits or corrections and make sure it was published online, in print and/or on air? Did you respond to breaking news?

DEADLINES:

Journalism emphasizes strict deadlines. Therefore, deadlines will be strictly enforced in this class. Assignments must be posted to the website by the designated deadline. If you miss the initial due date and time, fifteen percent will be deducted from your grade. You have three days to complete and submit your late assignment, otherwise you will receive a zero.

Each team will receive one deadline extension of up to three days during the semester. Choose carefully before asking for an extension — you will not be granted more than one except under the most dire of circumstances which would include proven, excused absences or circumstances beyond your control. Do not ask for special consideration unless your circumstances are truly extenuating and be prepared to provide documentation. Sources not calling you back is not an excuse — be sure to have back-up sources in mind when you begin reporting and call more people than you think you will need.

Many stories you’ll cover for this course are timely and need to be reported quickly.  The timeliness with which you submit them to KentWired and the other student media will play a major role in determining your participation grade.  For example, a city council meeting is much less newsworthy if the story about it is printed or broadcast a week later when the class deadline for the assignment rolls around, and it will receive a lower grade for timeliness. Likewise, a story submitted on deadline has the potential to earn a higher grade. (A later, more polished version can also be submitted at the story deadline.)

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION:

Attendance in class (mostly on Monday after about week three) is mandatory. All absences will be noted and result in the deduction of points from your overall grade. Please notify both of us by email if you’re unable to be in class.

Scheduling interviews during class does not constitute an excused absence. Schedule interviews for outside of class time or for Wednesdays, which are work days where you manage your own time.

In the event of absence because of illness or injury, verification from a medical professional must be presented when you return. Dates you were diagnosed and dates when you may return to class must be on this documentation. University Health Services (UHS) no longer provides students with excuses for missed classes, exams, etc. However, UHS “Walk-Out Statements” will be accepted as verification for excused absences.

Other approved absences would include death of an immediate family member, religious observances, court appearances or required university business. Again, you need to advise us about such absences and make arrangements to fulfill your academic responsibilities.

REQUIRED TOURS:

At least one, and possibly more, Important field trips to area offices will be scheduled. We will visit the Portage County Courthouse on Main St. in Ravenna. We may also visit the Portage County administration building in Ravenna. We will update you as these tours are scheduled. Class will meet at those locations on those days. You are required to attend these tours — we will help coordinate transportation for those students who don’t have cars.  There may be additional tours/field trips scheduled as opportunities present.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to keep everything you produce for this class, both hard copy and digitally. Keep all this work until you have a final semester grade.

 

GRADING:

You are expected to produce quality, creative multi-platform stories and packages of content. Grading will be based on the usual rigorous Kent JMC standards that include, but are not limited to: accuracy, completeness and thoroughness, sources and attribution, objectivity, balance and fairness, clarity and logic, grammar, spelling and organization. (See the rubric in BB.)

If your content has a factual error (including misspelled names, incorrect proper names, the wrong dates, etc.), substantial points will be deducted automatically; additional points will be deducted for other errors. Professional journalists cannot be inaccurate.

All produced content must be accurate, clear, creative and in perspective. Broadcast students will be held to a professional standard of video quality that is reasonable for this level in your academic careers — you should be proficient video storytellers, with the ability to produce supporting content in other formats, including written stories. Multimedia news students should be proficient at telling written stories, with the ability to produce professional looking/sounding supporting content in other formats, like video.

Content also will be graded for appropriate content formats and components as taught this semester.

We reserve the right to award extra points to students who demonstrate unusual mastery of the subject, dedication to the work or other extraordinary effort. However, grades are unlikely to be curved. There may be limited opportunities for extra credit, but don’t count on this. Extra credit will be offered to the entire class. No occasions for individual extra credit will be extended.

GRADING SCALE:
GRADE                                                         

A   =  93% to 100%

A-  =  90% to 92.99%

B+ =  87% to 89.99%

B   =  83% to 86.99%

B-  =  80% to 82.99%

C+ =  77% to 79.99%

C   =  73% to 76.99%

C-  =  70% to 72.99%

D+ =  67% to 69.99%

D   =  63% to 66.99%

F   =    0 to 62.99%

DECORUM:

You’re expected to arrive on time and stay until class is dismissed. People arriving late and leaving early cause disruption and interrupt discussion. Avoid private conversation because it, too, is distracting and disrespectful. Mutual respect is expected in this class. If your behavior is disruptive we’ll ask you to leave.

Cell phones, pagers, tablets, iPods and other devices are also disruptive and rude to your teachers and your classmates. Please make sure that cell phones do not sound in class. Except for breaking news situations, no texting during class.

The University sometimes cancels classes because of weather or other emergencies. If the University cancels classes, check FlashLine for announcements or the KSU home page at www.kent.edu.

Eating and drinking in Franklin Hall classrooms is strictly forbidden because of the potential for damage to the furnishings and equipment. We’ll discuss this more in class.

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONALISM:
You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner when interviewing and contacting sources. Don’t allow your frustrations, whatever they may be, to spill over into the way you interact with your sources or the public at large or in the way you choose to cover your news stories. You represent your media outlet, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Kent State University and most importantly – your own reputation.

You are expected to have a professional appearance when conducting interviews in person or when appearing on camera.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

As a program accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, we are committed to developing a curriculum designed to meet twelve professional competencies. This course, as part of a larger program, contributes to our development of:

THOUGHTFUL, PROFICIENT COMMUNICATORS

¨      write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.

¨      demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.

¨      understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.

¨      apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work, and to understand the digital world.

…WHO ARE CREATIVE, CRITICAL THINKERS

¨      think critically, creatively and independently.

…TRAINED TO UNCOVER AND EVALUATE INFORMATION

¨      conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.

¨      critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.

¨      apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.

…WITHIN A LEGAL AND ETHICAL FRAMEWORK

¨      Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press in the United States, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to Tuesitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;

¨      demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.

…IN A DIVERSE AND GLOBAL SOCIETY.

¨      demonstrate an understanding of gender, race ethnicity, sexual orientation, and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications.

¨      demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of people and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society.

JMC DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

The Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication recognizes the importance of a diverse faculty and student body and embraces the concept that diversity will foster the acknowledgement, empowerment and inclusion of any person.

JMC teaches the history, culture, values and notable achievement of persons who represent the world’s diverse community.  The mission of the School is to offer a strong curriculum, enriched by a legal and ethical foundation, which recruits, retains, promotes and hires from this diverse community.

JMC believes that the highest levels of success, knowledge and progress arise when we learn from others who are not of our own national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, physical and mental ability and social class. We welcome the many opportunities to examine challenges that may arise from differences.

STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT:

University policy 3342-3-01.3 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through Student Accessibility Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sas for more information on registration procedures).

STATEMENT ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM:

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication deals in publishable works and educates its students for various aspects of publishing and other communications professions.  Within this framework, every student must be aware of the following rules and definitions while in school or on the job:

Fabrication is, in phrasing first used by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, the cardinal sin.  Faking quotations, faking “facts”, reporting things that did not happen are not only reprehensible; they could be actionable in court.

Plagiarizing, as defined by Webster, is “to steal and pass off as one’s own the ideas or words of another.”  It is unethical and, in cases involving creative work, usually illegal.  One of the worst sins a communications practitioner may commit is to plagiarize the work of another – to steal his/her words, thought, or outline and pass them off as his/her own.

Cheating includes the submission of work in which you have received material and substantive assistance from others, or copied the work of others, when the assignment was intended to be completed by you alone. Unless specifically designated as a group project, all assignments for this course are intended to be the result of your individual efforts and original reporting work.

Duplicating work is defined as submitting the same work to more than one instructor (or publication) without the prior knowledge and agreement of both.

Commission of any of these offenses while in school is grounds for disciplinary action. In the case of this course, which is the senior capstone class for news majors, plagiarism, fabrication, or cheating will result in a grade of “F” for the class and a referral for academic sanction.

Please refer to Kent State University’s Policy Register Section 3-01.8 regarding plagiarism – http://www.kent.edu/policyreg/policydetails.cfm?customel_datapageid_1976529=2037779

NOTICE OF MY COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. Any intellectual property displayed or distributed to students during this course (including but not limited to PowerPoints, notes, quizzes, examinations) by the professor/lecturer/instructor remains the intellectual property of the professor/lecturer/instructor. This means that the student may not distribute, publish or provide such intellectual property to any other person or entity for any reason, commercial or otherwise, without the express written permission of the professor/lecturer/instructor.

CALENDAR — Tentative schedule and due dates, to be finalized in class as we progress. Please be attentive. There are a lot of deadlines and a lot of moving parts to this course, just like in a real newsroom.