JRN 104 NEWS REPORTING TECHNIQUES Fall 2018

LECTURE:
Thursdays

JRN 104
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
ARC108
LABS:
Mondays
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
News Reporting Techniques – Fall 2018 The Venn (RCC103)*
UPDATED OCT 1, 2018 - see Assignments and Weekly breakdown *Most labs can be done by distance

COURSE DESCRIPTION CONTACT

Taught concurrently with JRN Instructor:

103 - Introduction to Journalism, Sally Goldberg Powell
sgpowell@ryerson.ca
this course is an introduction 416-979-5000 extension 6914
to the elements that Office hours (RCC 209):
By appointment
complement and sometimes
Teaching Assistants:
lead textual news. SECTION 011/012 TEAM:
Lectures emphasize why and how photos, Karen Longwell
audio and video work together and why it’s klongwell@ryerson.ca
June Jang
important to play attention to all elements of a
eun.jang@ryerson.ca
news story.
SECTION 021/022 TEAM:
In tutorials, you’ll complete craft exercises, and What is wrong with this picture and
Ashley Fraser
the first steps in multimedia content production this caption? You'll know by the end
of the course.
ashley.fraser@ryerson.ca
leading to the assembly of journalism portfolios. Fakiha Baig
fakiha.baig@ryerson.ca

In JRN 104, you will learn:

• to produce engaging blog posts on journalism techniques
• to identify the appropriate tool or platform for a story
• how to use social media for research
• to employ tools to verify and fact-check online content
• to use a mobile device as a Journalist
• to conduct and record interviews for audio production
• to produce audio and visuals to connect with audiences
• the basics of web standards for Journalists, including accessibility guidelines, image standards
and the use of CP Style for captions and copy.
• how to responsibly use the work of others (copyright, fair dealing…) in producing content
• the basics of branding and promoting your work with the use of graphic design and social media
JRN 104 NEWS REPORTING TECHNIQUES FALL 2018

REQUIRED COURSE RESOURCES

ONLINE LEARNING: D2L Brightspace

Though Sally will describe assignments in class, it will be necessary to use resources and information on D2L to
complete and submit all assignments and fully participate in the course.
All grading will be provided through D2L. Links to the tutorials, lecture slides and many of the required readings are posted
to D2L. Quizzes and online discussion are only accessible through D2L. Failure to note instructions posted on D2L is not an
excuse for late submissions or for failure to conform to assignment requirements. Changes to content on D2L will be
communicated via Ryerson email and D2L announcements in a timely manner.

TEXTBOOK, READINGS AND TUTORIALS

Details about the textbook will be communicated through JRN 103. Other readings will be accessible online via links on D2L.
Video tutorials are available on insession.journalism.ryerson.ca, and links will be provided to the tutorials on D2L.

STYLE GUIDE
All text in assignments should conform to The Canadian Press Style.
To access the guide, login at: stylebooks.thecanadianpress.com/index.php
J-Press WORDPRESS BLOGS
For several assignments in JRN 103 and JRN 104, you will create blog posts on your personal J-Press website
(j-press.fcad.ryerson.ca/wp-admin). This site is private. It is not accessible through search engines or to the general public.
Make sure you watch the tutorial on setting up your blog before you begin. We’ll talk more about this in class.

YOUR SMARTPHONE, OR AN IPOD

For multimedia assignments, you will act as a mobile journalist and master the use of a smartphone as a newsgathering
device. If you do not have a smartphone, iPods are available from the Andy Kufluk Equipment Distribution Centre (EDC)

QUIZZES, ASSIGNMENTS, DISCUSIONS…

A breakdown of the assessments for this course is on the following page and includes all due dates.

In most cases, assessment and feedback will be available through D2L approximately 10 days after the date of
submission. Discussion and participation marks will be available by the end of the term unless otherwise requested. All
quizzes are assessed automatically upon completion through D2L.
The teaching assistant team assigned to your section will be responsible for marking your assignments. Any questions or
requests about when you can expect assessment and feedback should be directed to your TA first.

LATE SUBMISSIONS
Assignments are due by 4pm on the due date. Quizzes and discussions close at 11:59 p.m. on the due date. Late
quizzes can only be completed under very specific circumstances if approved by the instructor.
You should have ample time to learn the skills, ask questions of clarification, complete and submit all assignments. If you
are concerned about a deadline or the requirements for an assignment, or wish to invoke an accommodation, please
make every effort to speak to your TA or the Instructor well before the deadline.
Any extension request must be approved by the instructor.
The penalty for late submission is a 10% deduction the first day or portion thereof, and 5% every subsequent day up
to a maximum 40% deduction. For instance, an assignment meriting 75% will, if submitted an hour late, receive 65%.
After 24 hours, 60%, then 55% and so on. If it is six days late or more, it would receive 35%.

Note: it is still better to hand in a late assignment than no assignment at all.

JRN 104 NEWS REPORTING TECHNIQUES FALL 2018

ASSESSMENTS

Description Weight Due by

ASSIGNMENTS (70%) – All due at 4 p.m.

Assignment 1: Journalism across the platforms blog post 10 Sept. 24
Assignment 2: Three verification tools put to the test blog post 10 Oct. 5
Assignment 3: Audio streeter blog post 15 Oct. 22
Assignment 4: 100 photos in 1 hour blog post 10 Nov. 5
Assignment 5: Photo gallery (visual storytelling) blog post 15 Nov. 19
Assignment 6: Social media promotion 10 Dec. 7*

QUIZZES ON D2L (20%)

(available at the beginning of the lab prior
to the due date* and close at 11:00 p.m. on the due date)
Module 1: Course details and journalism platforms 4 Sept. 19
Module 2: Social media research and verification 4 Oct. 3
Module 3 (a): Multimedia – Audio and interviewing 4 Oct. 24
Module 3 (b): Multimedia – Photo and complementary media 4 Nov. 14
Module 4: Promotion and engagement/Other people’s stuff 4 Nov. 24
NOTE: Module 4 quiz available November 22 at 4:00 p.m.

DISCUSSION AND PARTICIPATION (10%)

2 discussion posts, 100-200 words each (your choice from the 5 Module 2: Oct. 3
list, but each must be from a different module) Module 3: Nov. 14
Module 4: Nov. 23
2 discussion responses, 50-100 words each (your choice from 3 Module 2: Oct. 3
the list, but each must be from a different module, and Module 3: Nov. 14
different from the posts you chose above) Module 4: Nov. 23
FCAD Level Up: Clifton Strengths badge 2 Any time before
Oct 29
* Since this is a deviation from the Course Management Policy, the chair of the School of Journalism has authorized this variance as per
Senate Policy 142 section 5.
JRN 104 NEWS REPORTING TECHNIQUES
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN
Week Readings/Tutorials*
1 SEPT 6
Course Outline on D2L
2 SEPT 10
3 J-Press Setup Tutorial,
Online verification
handbook, ch. 2.0 and 2.1
4 Tweetdeck, Ch. 8, pages
14-16 in Textbook,
Mobile audio recording
5 tutorials
(Readings in 103 will relate
6 to Assignment 3)
7 Ch. 12 and 13 in the
Textbook
(photojournalism)
Ch. 9 pages 71-183
8 (multimedia) in textbook
Pixlr-Cropping Tutorial
9 NOV 5
Photo Gallery Tutorial
10 Aggregation guidelines,
Article on responsible
social embeds
n/a
11
12 Graphic Design Tutorial
(Pixlr), America Press
Institute - Developing a
voice
Lab (MON)
Meet TA, finish orientation tasks,
D2L, Watch/Read/Listen
SEPT 17
Watch tutorial, work on
Assignment 1 , complete
readings, QUIZ: Platforms, J-
Press, Course details
SEPT 24
Complete Assignment 1, Watch
Tweetdeck tour/ try it out
OCT 1
Watch tutorials, practice audio
recording, QUIZ: Social media
research and verification
------------ READING WEEK OCT 8-12 -----------
OCT 15
Work on Assignment 3, try out
OTranscribe with one of your
recorded interviews
OCT 22
Readings, finish Assignment 3
QUIZ: Audio and Interviewing
OCT 29
Complete Readings, work on
Assignment 4
Complete Assignment 4, Watch
tutorials, planning Assignment 5
NOV 12
Complete readings
QUIZ: Visual Storytelling
NOV 19
Complete assignment 5, check
out sources for stock images, etc
NOV 26
Watch tutorial, do the readings,
check out promotional
tweets/posts by news orgs
Assignments Due
n/a
Quiz 1(Sept 19)
Assignment 1: Journalism
across the platforms blog
post (Sept 24)
Quiz 2(Closes Oct 3)
Assignment 2: Verification
post (Oct 5)
Assignment 3: Audio
Streeter Post (Oct 22)
Quiz 3a(Closes Oct. 24)
Clifton Strengths
(October 29)
Assignment 4: Photo
practice (Nov 5)
Quiz 3b(Closes Nov 14)
Discussion posts (Nov 14)
Assignment 5: Photo
Gallery post (Nov 19),
Discussion posts (Nov 23)
Quiz 4 (Closes Nov 24)
n/a
Assignment 6 (Dec 7)
*Links to readings and tutorials available on D2L
FALL 2018
START HERE 
Lecture (THURS)
Intro/Course how-to,
Journalism platforms 1
SEPT 13
Journalism platforms 2,
J-Press, Assignment 1
SEPT 20
Guest - Verification,
Assignment 2, Research
techniques with social
SEPT 27
Social media and
verification 2, Review
Assignment 1,
OCT 4
Audio, Assignment 3
Guest: Interviewing and
Local News
OCT 18
More on Interviewing/Audio
Photojournalism/
Introduce Assignment 4
OCT 25
Photojournalism
/multimedia
NOV 1
Best of Assignment 3/
Photo 2, Moving images in
Journalism, assignment 5
NOV 8
Guests-Video
Journalists, Best of
assignment 4/Other
people’s stuff preview
NOV 15
Guest-Aggregation,
Other people’s stuff
NOV 22
Graphic Design 101/Live
Tweeting vs.
Promotion/Branding
NOV 29
Guest-Social/ Assignment
5 review/ Assignment
6/Course Recap
JRN 104 NEWS REPORTING TECHNIQUES Fall 2018

ACADEMIC CONDUCT AND

ACCESSABILITY AND ACCOMMODATION
Ryerson University provides academic accommodations
for students with disabilities in accordance with the terms
of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The University is
committed to the fostering of an inclusive climate of
equitable access, understanding and mutual respect
which recognizes the dignity and worth of all persons,
provides equal rights and opportunities without
discrimination, and protects the privacy, confidentiality,
comfort, autonomy and self-esteem of students with
disabilities. You can find out more about Academic
Accommodation Support here:
www.ryerson.ca/studentlearningsupport/
Full details of the University’s policy, including
responsibilities and procedures, please consult:
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol159.pdf
RELIGIOUS, ABORIGINAL AND SPIRITUAL
OBSERVANCE
Students who may have observance obligations are
strongly encouraged to consult the revised policy:
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol150.pdf
CELLPHONES, LAPTOPS, TABLETS…
There is no ban on devices in this class. However, they
can be distracting to you and other students. Please be
courteous and focused during lectures. Use electronic
devices for course-related activities during class.
There will be a break halfway through each lecture
during which you can check social media/text/etc…
RESPONSIBILITIES
All work you submit must be entirely your own and
truthful. Penalties for fabrication, plagiarism or other
forms of cheating will range from failing an
assignment to failing the course and will include a
disciplinary notice being placed on your academic
record. For details please see the School of
Journalism’s Rules of Conduct, which contain greater
detail about truth-telling issues specific to the
practice of journalism. These are in the online student
handbook here:
http://rsj.journalism.ryerson.ca/item/rsj-guidelines/
As additional guidance, please note the following:
You are required to adhere to Ryerson University's
Code of Academic Conduct, which covers plagiarism
and other transgressions. It is at:
www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf
The student handbook also contains information on
appeals and course management, as well as
information and a link to the Student Health
Certificate.
The full university policies on these subjects, which
set out in detail the responsibilities of academic units,
instructors and students, can be found at:
http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol134.pdf

RSJ RULES AND GUIDELINES

Sources and conflict of interest
Unless explicitly permitted by the instructor, you may
not use close friends, relatives, bosses or any journalism
students as sources for assignments. Plus, you must
draw the instructors’ attention to any emotional or
financial involvement with a source, and any other
potential conflict of interest. Every source must be
available for fact-checking. If the person cannot be
reached within a reasonable time, the writer will be
expected to prove that he or she exists and is indeed a Ryerson student studying at a bistro table on Gould St. is a better
source (rather than fabricated). caption, but not perfect. (Sally Goldberg Powell/RSJ)
Please read and refer to the following documents for
full rules and guidelines: LAST BUT NOT LEAST: COURSE SURVEY
rsj.journalism.ryerson.ca/item/guide-to-reporting-on-
campus/ Your feedback is important!

rsj.journalism.ryerson.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/RSJ- You will have time to complete the online course

Reporting-Guidelines-2014.pdf survey in class on November 15.