Nancy Edmonds Hanson, APR

Office: 293.1489
Fax: 237.4662
nancy@hansonphoto.com

Mass Communications 210
Media Writing

Course Information, Attendance Policy and Grading
"Bad writing makes bright people look dumb."                           — William Zinsser
An introduction to media style and substance, focusing on the common ground print and electronic media, advertising and public relations. 

Time
bulletTuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Location
bulletClass meets in Frick 258.

Textbooks
bulletYopp, Jan Johnson, and McAdams, Katherine C., Reaching Audiences: A Guide to Media Writing
bulletThe Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual
bulletStudents are expected to read a daily newspaper and pay attention to local broadcast news as often as possible throughout the semester. Many discussions in class depend on familiarity with news media practices that can be acquired only by consciously joining their audiences.

 

Course Objectives
bulletTo provide a basic understanding of the principles involved in media relations, along with opportunities to apply them by preparing media copy and strategies to work with print and broadcast media. Opportunities for writing a variety of types of copy for print, broadcast media, public relations and advertising will be incorporated into the various assignments.

bulletTo explore communication strategies for reaching and influencing internal and external audiences. Students will work with nonprofit organizations to develop a variety of print collateral materials.

bulletTo develop proficiency in managing the grammar of writing; and to become comfortable with the Associated Press Stylebook's approach to punctuation, use of numerals, capitalization and the use of abbreviations.

 

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken and will count toward your overall grade. If you can’t be in class, it’s not necessary to call with an excuse. Students will not receive credit for classes they did not attend, regardless for how good their reasons for missing. However, by pre-arranging for unavoidable absences, you may avoid penalties for turning in assignments after the nominal due date.

If you miss class, check this Web site and with the instructor or others taking the class to insure that the assignment has not been augmented or changed. It is strongly recommended that you attend class regularly, since supplementary material will be presented during class that does not appear in the text. This material may be included on examinations!

 
Disability Services Available Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 222 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

 

Grading

90% = A; 80% = B; 70% = C; 60% = D; below 60% = F. Late assignments will be reduced by one letter grade for each week.

Approximate composition of final grade:

bulletExams = 150 points (three exams, 50 points each)
bulletClass Participation = 150 points (5 per session)
bulletStory Assignments = 120 points (15 points each)
bulletMiscellaneous Assignments = approximately 50 points. These may include research, grammar and style exercises and other projects. They will be assigned (and often completed) in class.
bulletThis "recipe" is approximate and not exact.

 

Syllabus

Resources

About the instructor

 

Last updated on 08/25/08 by Nancy E. Hanson



 

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