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Journalism · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

News Writing & Reporting

This is the boot camp of the journalism department. It focuses on the fundamental craft of “Hard News.” Students will learn to act as impartial observers, gathering facts from primary sources and assembling them into clear, concise reports. The curriculum emphasizes the “Beat System,” covering crime, courts, and city hall, and instilling the rigorous discipline of the deadline.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the "Inverted Pyramid" structure and the "5 W's and 1 H"
  2. Write compelling "Ledes" (Opening sentences) that hook the reader
  3. Conduct rigorous interviews to extract quotes and facts
  4. Navigate the "Beat System": Covering Local Gov, Crime, and Education
  5. Adhere strictly to the AP Stylebook and ethical guidelines
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01News Values: Timeliness, Proximity, Impact
  2. 02The Lede: Summary vs. Feature Ledes
  3. 03Structure: The Inverted Pyramid
  4. 04Sourcing: Attribution & On the Record
  5. 05Interviewing: Preparation & Listening
  6. 06Quotes: When to use them, how to fix them
  7. 07AP Style Basics: Numbers, Titles, Dates
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Covering Speeches & Meetings
  10. 10Beat Reporting I: Crime & Police
  11. 11Beat Reporting II: Courts & Law
  12. 12Beat Reporting III: Local Government
  13. 13Covering Disasters & Breaking News
  14. 14Follow-Up Stories & Developing Arcs
  15. 15Libel Law for Reporters
  16. 16Final Project: The Local Beat Portfolio

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Local Beat Portfolio

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Inside Reporting by Tim Harrower
  2. The Associated Press Stylebook (Current Edition)
  3. Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method by Carole Rich
  4. News Reporting and Writing by The Missouri Group
  5. The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
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