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Media Writing

Communication 2000

Course Description:

This course provides instruction in writing for print, broadcast, video, and new media. Students will practice skills including form and content required for various media. Writing objectively, considering legal and ethical issues, developing ideas and stories, gathering information, and interviewing are some concepts covered by this course. Lecture: 3 credits

Textbooks:

All the News: Writing and Reporting for Convergent Media by Lieb, Towson University, 2009
Reaching Audiences: A Guide to Media Writing, 5th ed., by Yapp, McAdams, and Thornburg, 2010.

Syllabus:

Syllabus - RTF document

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Apply information-gathering and effective listening techniques, including interviewing
2. Develop original story ideas
3. Write accurate, objective, and balanced news and media articles
4. Make distinctions in content of various types of media writing
5. Write content for new media, such as blogs, news feeds, social media, and other emerging platforms
6. Articulate ethical, legal, and copyright issues related to writing

Course Measurements:

1. Attendance
2. Class participation
3. Chapter tests
4. Interviews
5. Story outlines
6. Written assignments, including articles and blogs

Content Outline:

1. What is news and media writing?
2. Writing tools and techniques
3. Guidelines and editing
4. Leads
5. Crafting the message
6. Interview and reporting techniques
7. Online content
8. News Vs. feature, obituaries, speech
9. Gathering and reporting objectively and accurately
10. Writing genres
11. Legal issues and ethics

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