Course Schedule | JRN275 home page
KEY DUE DATES (Note: All due dates are the same except the midterm exam & final project)
Wednesday, March 1 (no later than 11:59 p.m.): Assignment #1 via Blackboard
Wednesday/Thursday, March 8/9: Midterm exam
Sunday, April 2 (no later than 11:59 p.m.): Assignment #2 via Blackboard
Sunday, April 16 (no later than 11:59 p.m.): Movie paper
Sunday, April 30: Part 1 of the final is due
Tuesday/Wednesday, May 9/10 (no later than 10 a.m.): Part 2 of the final is due
WEEK 1. WHO ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
Mon/Tue., Jan. 23/24
What we will do in class: Introduce ourselves to each other and discuss how journalists get their information? Why does it matter? What do we do with the information? *Press release, write the lede; What is investigative journalism? What makes it so? Lecture (ppt) and discussion on investigative journalism
What is due next session: Read Gaines, Chaps. 1&2 (pp. 1-49; the story pitch example on pp. 44-45 is not legible, so here it is). Identify a piece of investigative journalism *bring the link, or copy to class*, write what elements make it so, answer questions on p. 21 to turn in.
Wed/Thu., Jan. 25/26
What we will do in class: Lecture (ppt) on pitches, rethinking the way we think, introduce public documents
What is due next session: Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 1 & 2.
WEEK 2. PITCHING, ATTRIBUTING & FOIA
Mon/Tue., Jan. 30/31
What we will do in class: Go over story pitches; lecture on FOI, what it is, how to use it & effective requests
What is due next session: Read C&D, Chap. 5; Write a story pitch using the above linked format; what documents would you need (list in sources). Submit via Blackboard before next class.
Wed/Thu., Feb. 1/2
What we will do in class: More on effective letters
What is due next session: Read C&D Chaps. 3 & 4; Write a FOIA request. Submit via Blackboard before next class.
WEEK 3. FOI: YOUR RIGHTS AS JOURNALISTS... AND AS CITIZENS
Mon/Tue., Feb. 6/7
What we will do in class: Discuss FOIA requests, alphabet soup: HIPAA, FERPA & DPPA.; Investigating people and look into GIS, licensure, Google, Nexis Uni & more; discuss strategies for getting information
What is due next session: Read C&D Chap. 8
Wed/Thu., Feb. 8/9
What we will do in class: GROUP WORK: Map a government agency.
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch and a FOIA request (one each per group), submit via Blackboard before next class. Read C&D Chap. 6
WEEK 4. WHEN THE ANSWER IS "NO" & WHAT WE CAN'T GET/COPS, COURTS & PRISONS
Mon/Tue., Feb. 13/14
What we will do in class: Why is the answer is "no?" and what do we do.
What is due next session: Read Gaines Chap. 6, this article & this short pamphlet on Connecticut courts.
Wed/Thu., Feb. 15/16
What we will do in class: Lecture on covering cops and crime (ppt), cops press release; Briefly discuss Assignment #1 and homework.
What is due next session: Nothing
WEEK 5. MORE ON COURTS & NON-PROFITS AND COMPANIES (990S, SEC filings)
Mon/Tue., Feb. 20/21
What we will do in class: Finish lecture on covering cops and crime (ppt)
What is due next session: Contact your town/city clerk about a case, turn in via Blackboard.
Wed/Thu., Feb. 22/23
What we will do in class: Map a criminal case
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch, submit via Blackboard before next class; Read Journalist's Resource article, Understanding the IRS 990 form & SEC forms
WEEK 6. NON-PROFITS AND COMPANIES
Mon/Tue., Feb. 27/28
What we will do in class: Lecture on 990s and covering non-profit organizations & companies
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #1 is due no later than 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 via Blackboard
Wed/Thu., March 1/2
What we will do in class: GROUP WORK: Map 990s.
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch, submit via Blackboard before next class; Read First Amendment Handbook, Chaps. 2-4 (pp. 11-34) & these two Journalist's Resource articles: 1.) Using academic research to do investigative journalism: 5 tips, 2.) How to tell good research from flawed research: 13 questions journalists should ask.
WEEK 7. Privacy, Surreptitious Reporting, Using polls and studies & MIDTERM.
Mon/Tue., March 6/7
What we will do in class: Discuss privacy and surreptitious reporting; how to use polls and academic studies; midterm review
What is due next session: Study for midterm
Wed/Thu., March 8/9
What we will do in class: TAKE THE MIDTERM (on Blackboard at home).
WEEK 8. SPRING BREAK
NO CLASSES.
WEEK 9. CATCHING UP.
Mon/Tue., March 20/21
Catching up
Wed/Thu., March 22/23
Catching up
WEEK 10. THE BASICS OF INTERVIEWING
Mon/Tue., March 27/28
What we will do in class: Introduce the importance of interviewing; interview a classmate
What is due next session: Interview with the classmate - notes on interview, story pitch idea to discuss; Read Nelson: Introduction & Chap. 1 (pp. 1-52)
Wed/Thu., March 29/30
What we will do in class: Discuss interviews reading (ppt)
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 53-120) &
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #2 is due no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, April 2 via Blackboard
WEEK 11. INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATIONS
Mon/Tue., April 3/4
What we will do in class: Discuss reading (ppt)
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 121-224)
Wed/Thu., April 5/6
What we will do in class: Discuss reading & talk about the movie paper
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 225-313)
WEEK 12. THE ETHICS OF INTERVIEWING
Mon/Tue., April 10/11
What we will do in class: Discuss Hard questions, Otter.ai, note-taking & transcribing and LIBEL
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 314-378); Should have made contact with primary source for Part I of the final
Wed/Thu., April 12/13
What we will do in class: Discuss "off the record" and clarifying the rules
What is due next session:
MOVIE PAPER is due no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, April 16 via Blackboard
WEEK 13. INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATIONS.
Mon/Tue, April 17/18
What we will do in class: Discuss the movies
What is due next session: Read "Loosening Lips" by Pulitzer Prize-winner Eric Nalder & some of Nalder's work
Wed/Thu., April 19/20
What we will do in class: Discuss "Loosening Lips," Nalder's work and identifying how
What is due next session: Nothing
WEEK 14. CONDUCTING YOUR FINAL INTERVIEW
Mon/Tue., April 24/25
What we will do in class:
Wed/Thu., April 26/27
What we will do in class:
Part I of the final (interview is due Sunday)
WEEK 15. WORKSHOPPING YOUR FINAL
Mon/Tue., May 1/2
Individual meetings on final pitch
Wed/Thu., May 3/4
Individual meetings on final pitch
FINALS WEEK.
Section 1 (M/W): Final due to Blackboard no later than 10 a.m., May 9
Section 2 (T/Th): Final due to Blackboard no later than 10 a.m., May 10
Wednesday, March 1 (no later than 11:59 p.m.): Assignment #1 via Blackboard
Wednesday/Thursday, March 8/9: Midterm exam
Sunday, April 2 (no later than 11:59 p.m.): Assignment #2 via Blackboard
Sunday, April 16 (no later than 11:59 p.m.): Movie paper
Sunday, April 30: Part 1 of the final is due
Tuesday/Wednesday, May 9/10 (no later than 10 a.m.): Part 2 of the final is due
WEEK 1. WHO ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
Mon/Tue., Jan. 23/24
What we will do in class: Introduce ourselves to each other and discuss how journalists get their information? Why does it matter? What do we do with the information? *Press release, write the lede; What is investigative journalism? What makes it so? Lecture (ppt) and discussion on investigative journalism
What is due next session: Read Gaines, Chaps. 1&2 (pp. 1-49; the story pitch example on pp. 44-45 is not legible, so here it is). Identify a piece of investigative journalism *bring the link, or copy to class*, write what elements make it so, answer questions on p. 21 to turn in.
Wed/Thu., Jan. 25/26
What we will do in class: Lecture (ppt) on pitches, rethinking the way we think, introduce public documents
What is due next session: Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 1 & 2.
WEEK 2. PITCHING, ATTRIBUTING & FOIA
Mon/Tue., Jan. 30/31
What we will do in class: Go over story pitches; lecture on FOI, what it is, how to use it & effective requests
What is due next session: Read C&D, Chap. 5; Write a story pitch using the above linked format; what documents would you need (list in sources). Submit via Blackboard before next class.
Wed/Thu., Feb. 1/2
What we will do in class: More on effective letters
What is due next session: Read C&D Chaps. 3 & 4; Write a FOIA request. Submit via Blackboard before next class.
WEEK 3. FOI: YOUR RIGHTS AS JOURNALISTS... AND AS CITIZENS
Mon/Tue., Feb. 6/7
What we will do in class: Discuss FOIA requests, alphabet soup: HIPAA, FERPA & DPPA.; Investigating people and look into GIS, licensure, Google, Nexis Uni & more; discuss strategies for getting information
What is due next session: Read C&D Chap. 8
Wed/Thu., Feb. 8/9
What we will do in class: GROUP WORK: Map a government agency.
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch and a FOIA request (one each per group), submit via Blackboard before next class. Read C&D Chap. 6
WEEK 4. WHEN THE ANSWER IS "NO" & WHAT WE CAN'T GET/COPS, COURTS & PRISONS
Mon/Tue., Feb. 13/14
What we will do in class: Why is the answer is "no?" and what do we do.
What is due next session: Read Gaines Chap. 6, this article & this short pamphlet on Connecticut courts.
Wed/Thu., Feb. 15/16
What we will do in class: Lecture on covering cops and crime (ppt), cops press release; Briefly discuss Assignment #1 and homework.
What is due next session: Nothing
WEEK 5. MORE ON COURTS & NON-PROFITS AND COMPANIES (990S, SEC filings)
Mon/Tue., Feb. 20/21
What we will do in class: Finish lecture on covering cops and crime (ppt)
What is due next session: Contact your town/city clerk about a case, turn in via Blackboard.
Wed/Thu., Feb. 22/23
What we will do in class: Map a criminal case
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch, submit via Blackboard before next class; Read Journalist's Resource article, Understanding the IRS 990 form & SEC forms
WEEK 6. NON-PROFITS AND COMPANIES
Mon/Tue., Feb. 27/28
What we will do in class: Lecture on 990s and covering non-profit organizations & companies
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #1 is due no later than 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 via Blackboard
Wed/Thu., March 1/2
What we will do in class: GROUP WORK: Map 990s.
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch, submit via Blackboard before next class; Read First Amendment Handbook, Chaps. 2-4 (pp. 11-34) & these two Journalist's Resource articles: 1.) Using academic research to do investigative journalism: 5 tips, 2.) How to tell good research from flawed research: 13 questions journalists should ask.
WEEK 7. Privacy, Surreptitious Reporting, Using polls and studies & MIDTERM.
Mon/Tue., March 6/7
What we will do in class: Discuss privacy and surreptitious reporting; how to use polls and academic studies; midterm review
What is due next session: Study for midterm
Wed/Thu., March 8/9
What we will do in class: TAKE THE MIDTERM (on Blackboard at home).
WEEK 8. SPRING BREAK
NO CLASSES.
WEEK 9. CATCHING UP.
Mon/Tue., March 20/21
Catching up
Wed/Thu., March 22/23
Catching up
WEEK 10. THE BASICS OF INTERVIEWING
Mon/Tue., March 27/28
What we will do in class: Introduce the importance of interviewing; interview a classmate
What is due next session: Interview with the classmate - notes on interview, story pitch idea to discuss; Read Nelson: Introduction & Chap. 1 (pp. 1-52)
Wed/Thu., March 29/30
What we will do in class: Discuss interviews reading (ppt)
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 53-120) &
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #2 is due no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, April 2 via Blackboard
WEEK 11. INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATIONS
Mon/Tue., April 3/4
What we will do in class: Discuss reading (ppt)
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 121-224)
Wed/Thu., April 5/6
What we will do in class: Discuss reading & talk about the movie paper
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 225-313)
WEEK 12. THE ETHICS OF INTERVIEWING
Mon/Tue., April 10/11
What we will do in class: Discuss Hard questions, Otter.ai, note-taking & transcribing and LIBEL
What is due next session: Read Nelson (pp. 314-378); Should have made contact with primary source for Part I of the final
Wed/Thu., April 12/13
What we will do in class: Discuss "off the record" and clarifying the rules
What is due next session:
MOVIE PAPER is due no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, April 16 via Blackboard
WEEK 13. INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATIONS.
Mon/Tue, April 17/18
What we will do in class: Discuss the movies
What is due next session: Read "Loosening Lips" by Pulitzer Prize-winner Eric Nalder & some of Nalder's work
Wed/Thu., April 19/20
What we will do in class: Discuss "Loosening Lips," Nalder's work and identifying how
What is due next session: Nothing
WEEK 14. CONDUCTING YOUR FINAL INTERVIEW
Mon/Tue., April 24/25
What we will do in class:
Wed/Thu., April 26/27
What we will do in class:
Part I of the final (interview is due Sunday)
WEEK 15. WORKSHOPPING YOUR FINAL
Mon/Tue., May 1/2
Individual meetings on final pitch
Wed/Thu., May 3/4
Individual meetings on final pitch
FINALS WEEK.
Section 1 (M/W): Final due to Blackboard no later than 10 a.m., May 9
Section 2 (T/Th): Final due to Blackboard no later than 10 a.m., May 10