JRN 217W - Advanced Reporting

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

1. Demonstrate understanding of foundational journalism concepts.

A. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of journalism in democracies and communities.

B. Demonstrate an understanding of laws governing journalistic rights and responsibilities while reporting, including  the First Amendment, Freedom of Information Act, Open Meetings Act, invasion of privacy, copyright, defamation, and trespassing.

C. Demonstrate an understanding of ethical concepts governing journalistic conduct, including the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, the Associated Press guidelines on Inclusive Storytelling, and a commitment to accuracy, fairness, balance, objectivity, and clarity

D. Demonstrate ability to discern news from analysis and opinion.

E. Demonstrate an understanding of the skills, attitudes, and experiences required in today's fast-paced journalism professions, including ethical use of emerging technologies.

2. Apply principles of gathering and reporting news in various specialized assignments.

1. Apply news values and research skills to identify story ideas that serve the needs of a diverse audience.
2. Develop story pitches that explain your topic, angle, and plan for gathering information.
3. Apply media ethics when working with the public, including civility, transparency, inclusivity, honesty, respect, and special care when interviewing vulnerable individuals.
4. Create objective, unbiased, AP-Style news reports based on journalistic skills of reporting, reading, interviewing, listening, observing, critical thinking, verification, and writing.  
5.  Apply a journalistic writing process that includes gathering information, prioritizing information appropriately, verifying information, organizing ideas, meeting deadlines, incorporating feedback, editing, and proof-reading.
6. Produce news content that engages audiences with relevant facts, clear presentation, and relevant visual components appropriate for various formats and platforms, including web, print, and radio.
7. Compose specialized topical content including: public meeting story, public safety story, court coverage, sports story, business story, entertainment review, solutions journalism story, opinion column, and editorial.
8. Accurately convey source information through proper use of summary, paraphrase, quotation, attribution, image credits, and hyperlinks.
9. Use artificial intelligence in an ethical and transparent manner consistent with industry standards, including, if used, clear labeling of AI-assisted reporting or image generation.
10. Craft relevant headlines, search-engine optimization key words, social media content, hashtags, sidebars, graphics, photographs, and other components of a news package.
11. Apply best practices for personal and digital safety while reporting.
       
12. Submit finished work for consideration of publication in the Delta Collegiate or on Delta College Public Media.

      M. Produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates proficiency in various reporting
           situations.

3. Evaluate written work.

A. Critique own writing for clarity, concision, fairness, accuracy, objectivity, completion, context, and style.

B. Critique writing of classmates clarity, concision, fairness, accuracy, objectivity, completion, context, and style.

C. Critique published writing for clarity, concision, fairness, accuracy, objectivity, completion, context, and style.