Instructor: Floyd J. McKay, CF 261

650-3244 or (home) 647-8557

Office Hours: Mon/Wed 12-1 p.m., Tues/Thurs, 3-4 p.m.

and by appointment 650-3244

Catalog description: Prerequisite: Jour 307. Survey and application of advanced reporting techniques, including computer-assisted reporting and the use of the Internet, to produce news stories of depth, complexity and appeal.

The course: This is primarily a course in in-depth reporting. It will introduce computer-assisted reporting, including use of data banks, statistics and surveys, as a source of ideas and to develop stories. It will cover ways to analyze quantitative data, including data generated by public opinion surveys, and the use of the Internet for accessing documents, data bases and other information. Students will be expected to produce a major reporting project incorporating some of the techniques covered in the course. At a minimum, this will require use of primary documents, as well as interviews, to generate the story; use of computer-assisted reporting techniques is encouraged. But as in all journalism, good writing is at the core of the course. Students will also write short profiles and an opinion piece to provide greater flex and variety to their writing over the quarter.

The course this quarter will be centered around growth and its implications for the Whatcom County area. Students will produce a special section, to be published as an insert in the Western Front, focusing on this theme.

Required texts:

Shaw, Donald L., Maxwell Combs and Gerry Keir (1997). Advanced reporting (2d ed). Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press.

Associated Press Style Book.

The Seattle Times, daily edition

Participation: This is a hands-on course, requiring active student participation in all facets, including classes and production. Design and production of the newspaper section, as well as a community survey, will be the responsibility of students. Students may earn 20 points for active participation in the class, including contributions to discussion. We will have several speakers; it will be your responsibility to be prepared to ask intelligent questions, to challenge statements and to probe for material you might use in your reporting. Silence may be golden, but not for reporters.

Those accepting extra responsibilities, such as editing and survey design, may earn an additional five points. Students are expected to attend all classes, workshops and group activities. An absence not approved in advance will mean a penalty of five points in participation.

Plagiarism or other forms of cheating will earn an "F" for the course.

Preliminary story idea Oct 12 10

Community survey Oct. 28 15

Computer-assisted reporting Nov. 4 15

Growth story Nov. 23 30

Assignment points 80

Participation points 20

Total quarterly points 100*

*Up to five extra points for added responsibilities

Oct 5 Growth/economic development

(Speaker: Hart Hodges, Ph.D., Economics)

7. Discussion of growth continues; growth in rural areas

9. Finalize survey process; Preliminary story ideas due

(There is a $5 fee for this session)

19 No class. Story conferences.

(Speaker: Justin Mayo, reporter, Seattle Times)

26 TBA

28. Survey results are due; discussion

Nov 2 (VOTE!) Longer stories, examples, discussion

Discussion on writing opinion pieces

4. (TBA)

9. Progress on growth, production needs

30 Discuss production.

Dec 2 Opinion pieces due.