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| Nancy Edmonds Hanson, APR
Office: 293.1489
Fax: 237.4662
nancy@hansonphoto.com |
Mass Communications 307
Public Relations Processes
Course Information and Grading
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| "Bad writing makes bright people
look dumb."
— William Zinsser
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This class is designed to provide a basic overview of how to plan and
carry out a multi-faceted public relations program. It offers practical experience in
identifying publics and messages; developing and producing a broad variety of PR
tools;
understanding and working with the news media; and working with other professionals in
graphics, photography, video and printing. Students work as teams with a
nonprofit organization of their choice throughout the semester,
researching its policies, practices and needs, and using them as the
basis of a series of team assignments.
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Time
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 | 3:30–4:45 Tuesdays
& Thursdays |
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Place
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| Class
meets in Frick 258. |
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Textbooks
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| Public Relations Writing
& Media Techniques by Dennis L.
Wilcox (5th ed.) |
| Students should also own The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. |
| The Internet will be used as a resource whenever possible. |
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Attendance
Policy
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| Attendance will be taken and counted toward the class participation score described
above. 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 are 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 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! |
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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.
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Grading
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| Grades are based in approximately
equal part on points on class participation, weekly
assignments, and the mid-term and final tests. Letter grade equivalents: 90% or higher, A;
80-89 percent, B: 70-79 percent C; 60-69 percent, D, and less than 60 percent, F.
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Assignments
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| Students are responsible for completing all assignments, including
those listed on this syllabus and any additions or changes announced in class. All
assignments must be delivered in acceptable media style — typed and double-spaced
with ample margins, page numbers and the writer’s name on the first page. Special
attention will be paid to basic issues of media style (as discussed in class). Grading
will be weighted toward content; but media style, grammar and spelling are important,
accounting for about one-third of each assignment’s grade. Due dates are reflected in
the syllabus, but may be amended orally in class.
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| Late Assignments: Assignments are due at the beginning of each class period. Late
assignments will be accepted up to a week after the due date if arrangements are made in
advance; the grade may be reduced one level or more. |
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Syllabus
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| This syllabus, including all assignments, is subject to
frequent revision
throughout the course. If you are forced to miss class at any time, I urge you to confirm
reading and written assignments for the following week! |
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