Course Schedule | JRN275 home page
KEY DUE DATES
Assignment #1: Sunday, Feb. 21
Assignment #2: Sunday, March 28
Midterm exam: Thursday, April 1
Movie paper: Sunday, April 25
Part I of the final, 8 a.m., Tuesday, April 27
Part II of the final: 10 a.m., Thursday, May 6
** LINKS TO ZOOM MEETINGS ON BLACKBOARD **
WEEK 1. WHAT IS INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM?
Tuesday, Jan. 26 -- Class via Zoom (link in Blackboard)
What we will talk about:
Each other, learning objectives, personal introductions.
What to do for next class:
*Read Gaines, Chap. 1 (pp. 1-21)
*Identify a piece of investigative journalism (Have links ready to post in chat)
*Write what elements make it so by answering bullet-pointed questions (just #1) on p. 21; You will turn this in via Blackboard.
Thursday, Jan. 28
What we will talk about:
Lecture (ppt) and discussion on investigative journalism;
What to do for next class:
*Read Gaines, Chap. 2 (pp. 23-49)
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 1
WEEK 2. STORY PITCHES & HOW TO BEGIN REPORTING
Tuesday, Feb. 2 -- First in-person class for TUESDAY GROUP
What we will talk about:
Lecture and discussion (ppt) on story pitches - What should you be thinking about in a story pitch? What goes into it?
Getting into the "document state of mind" & how to
What to do for next class:
*Create a story pitch (follow style/example on pp. 44-45 of Gaines) & turn in via Blackboard
* Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 2
Thursday, Feb. 4 -- First in-person class for THURSDAY GROUP
What we will talk about:
Lecture and discussion (ppt) on documents and the law
Knowing your rights (FOIA)
What to do for next class:
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chaps. 4 & 5
WEEK 3. HOW TO WRITE EFFECTIVE FOIA REQUESTS & KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM
Tuesday, Feb. 9
What we will talk about in class:
Investigating people and the paper trail we humans leave behind
How to write a FOIA request
What to do for next class:
*Write a FOIA request and turn in via Blackboard
Thursday, Feb. 11
What we will talk about in class:
Discuss FOIA requests
Map a government agency - group work
What to do for next class:
*Your group will write a story pitch & a corresponding FOIA request to turn in via Blackboard
*Read Gaines, Chap. 3 (in two files: Part I & Part II)
WEEK 4. WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?
Tuesday, Feb. 16
What we will talk about in class:
How were the story pitches and FOIA requests?
Look into GIS, licensure, Google & more; discuss strategies for getting information
Discuss Assignment 1
What to do for next class:
*Work on assignment
Thursday, Feb. 18
What we will talk about in class:
How do investigate public officials?
What to do for next class:
*ASSIGNMENT 1 due via Blackboard no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21
*Read "Connecticut's Courts" (short pamphlet)
WEEK 5. COPS, COURTS, PRISONS & "NO"
Tuesday, Feb. 23
What we will talk about in class:
How was Assignment 1?
How our court system works, police, courts (ppt)
What to do for next class:
*Identify information from your Town Clerk about a specific case (details in class) to turn in via Blackboard
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 6 & 8
Thursday, Feb. 25
What we will talk about in class:
How was the town clerk assignment?
Discuss options when our FOIA request is rejected
What to do for next class:
*Write a FOIA request to your Town Clerk (or appropriate entity) for documents pertaining to your case to turn in via Blackboard
WEEK 6. FINDING THE STORY IN THE POLICE/COURT DOCUMENTS
Tuesday, March 2
What we will talk about in class:
How was the Town Clerk/FOIA?
The court system & following a story from arrest through the court system (ppt)
Group work: Go through the documents in class
What to do for next class:
*Your group will identify a story in the documents and write a story pitch to turn in via Blackboard
Thursday, March 4
What we will talk about in class:
How was the story pitch?
What to do for next class:
*Read Gaines, Chap. 7 (pp. 153-176)
*Read Journalist's Resource article
*Read Understanding the IRS 990 form
WEEK 7. REPORTING ON NON-PROFITS & BUSINESSES
Tuesday, March 9 -- NO CLASS; SELF CARE DAY
Thursday, March 11
What we will talk about in class:
Lecture on investigating non-profits (ppt)
*Review last week's readings
Group work: You and your group will go through real 990s
What to do for next class:
*Your group will identify a story in the documents and write a story pitch to turn in via Blackboard
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 7
WEEK 8. DATA REPORTING: WHAT IS IT & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
Tuesday, March 16
What we will talk about in class:
How was the 990 story pitch?
What to do for next class:
*Read Fake polls are a real problem & Journalist’s Resource article
Thursday, March 18
What we will talk about in class:
Lecture on polls and academic studies -- what to look for, what to avoid
What to do for next class:
*Read First Amendment Handbook, Chap. 2 (pp. 11-18)
WEEK 9. MEDIA LAW PRIMER: PRIVACY, RECORDING & SOURCING
Tuesday, March 23
What we will talk about in class:
Legal torts and Privacy Defenses (ppt)
What to do for next class:
*Read First Amendment Handbook, Chaps. 3 & 4 (pp. 19-34)
Thursday, March 25
What we will talk about in class:
Surreptitious Recording and Confidential Sources (ppt)
What to do for next class:
*Read exam study guide sent to you via Blackboard email
Assignment #2 due via BlackBoard no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, March 28
WEEK 10. MIDTERM STUDY/EXAM -- Class via Zoom (link in Blackboard)
Tuesday, March 30
What we will talk about in class:
Live Zoom study session at 8 a.m.
What to do for next class:
*Study for exam
Thursday, April 1
What we will talk about in class:
Nothing... you will simply take the exam.
EXAM LIVE at 8 a.m. on Blackboard
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 1-52)
WEEK 11. THE BASICS OF INTERVIEWING
Tuesday, April 6 -- In-person class resumes for TUESDAY group
What we will talk about in class:
What is an interview? Why we do it?
What makes a good one?
Listen to Sawatsky's best interview ever & critique
Who do you interview and why?
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 53-120)
Thursday, April 8 -- In-person class resumes for THURSDAY group
What we will talk about in class (PPT):
Interview a classmate (assigned partners)
What worked? What didn't?
Preparing for the interview
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 121-203)
*Interview same partner again after preparing & write a story pitch
WEEK 12. SPECIFICS ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
Tuesday, April 13
What we will talk about in class:
How was the interview?
Logistics of interviews
How are YOU doing?
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 204-291)
Thursday, April 15
What we will talk about in class:
Asking hard questions
How to end the interview
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 292-342)
WEEK 13. LAW & ETHICS OF INTERVIEWING
Over the next week, you are required to watch two movies: All the President's Men and Spotlight. Here are links to help prepare you to watch the movies: "The Watergate watershed: A turning point for a nation and a newspaper" by Katharine Graham, Washington Post & "The Watergate Scandal," History.com, and "Church allowed abuse by priests for years" by Spotlight Team.
OR, you can listen to the podcast, "In The Dark" (Season 2)
Movie/Podcast Paper is due via BlackBoard, 11:59, p.m., Sunday, April 25
Tuesday, April 20
What we will talk about in class:
The law and ethics of interviewing
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 343-376)
Thursday, April 22
What we will talk about in class:
Your ego and the rules
Transcribing
Last questions before you turn in your major interview
What to do for next class:
*Part 1 of the Final is due via Blackboard no later than 8 a.m., Tuesday, April 27
WEEK 14. FINAL ASSIGNMENT IN-CLASS MEETING
Tuesday, April 27
Tuesday group in class only (No Thursday Zoomers) - Discuss project
Thursday, April 29
Thursday group in class only (No Tuesday Zoomers) - Discuss project
YOUR FINAL IS DUE VIA BLACKBOARD NO LATER THAN 10 a.m., THURSDAY, MAY 6. No late assignments will be accepted.
Assignment #1: Sunday, Feb. 21
Assignment #2: Sunday, March 28
Midterm exam: Thursday, April 1
Movie paper: Sunday, April 25
Part I of the final, 8 a.m., Tuesday, April 27
Part II of the final: 10 a.m., Thursday, May 6
** LINKS TO ZOOM MEETINGS ON BLACKBOARD **
WEEK 1. WHAT IS INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM?
Tuesday, Jan. 26 -- Class via Zoom (link in Blackboard)
What we will talk about:
Each other, learning objectives, personal introductions.
What to do for next class:
*Read Gaines, Chap. 1 (pp. 1-21)
*Identify a piece of investigative journalism (Have links ready to post in chat)
*Write what elements make it so by answering bullet-pointed questions (just #1) on p. 21; You will turn this in via Blackboard.
Thursday, Jan. 28
What we will talk about:
Lecture (ppt) and discussion on investigative journalism;
What to do for next class:
*Read Gaines, Chap. 2 (pp. 23-49)
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 1
WEEK 2. STORY PITCHES & HOW TO BEGIN REPORTING
Tuesday, Feb. 2 -- First in-person class for TUESDAY GROUP
What we will talk about:
Lecture and discussion (ppt) on story pitches - What should you be thinking about in a story pitch? What goes into it?
Getting into the "document state of mind" & how to
What to do for next class:
*Create a story pitch (follow style/example on pp. 44-45 of Gaines) & turn in via Blackboard
* Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 2
Thursday, Feb. 4 -- First in-person class for THURSDAY GROUP
What we will talk about:
Lecture and discussion (ppt) on documents and the law
Knowing your rights (FOIA)
What to do for next class:
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chaps. 4 & 5
WEEK 3. HOW TO WRITE EFFECTIVE FOIA REQUESTS & KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM
Tuesday, Feb. 9
What we will talk about in class:
Investigating people and the paper trail we humans leave behind
How to write a FOIA request
What to do for next class:
*Write a FOIA request and turn in via Blackboard
Thursday, Feb. 11
What we will talk about in class:
Discuss FOIA requests
Map a government agency - group work
What to do for next class:
*Your group will write a story pitch & a corresponding FOIA request to turn in via Blackboard
*Read Gaines, Chap. 3 (in two files: Part I & Part II)
WEEK 4. WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?
Tuesday, Feb. 16
What we will talk about in class:
How were the story pitches and FOIA requests?
Look into GIS, licensure, Google & more; discuss strategies for getting information
Discuss Assignment 1
What to do for next class:
*Work on assignment
Thursday, Feb. 18
What we will talk about in class:
How do investigate public officials?
What to do for next class:
*ASSIGNMENT 1 due via Blackboard no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21
*Read "Connecticut's Courts" (short pamphlet)
WEEK 5. COPS, COURTS, PRISONS & "NO"
Tuesday, Feb. 23
What we will talk about in class:
How was Assignment 1?
How our court system works, police, courts (ppt)
What to do for next class:
*Identify information from your Town Clerk about a specific case (details in class) to turn in via Blackboard
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 6 & 8
Thursday, Feb. 25
What we will talk about in class:
How was the town clerk assignment?
Discuss options when our FOIA request is rejected
What to do for next class:
*Write a FOIA request to your Town Clerk (or appropriate entity) for documents pertaining to your case to turn in via Blackboard
WEEK 6. FINDING THE STORY IN THE POLICE/COURT DOCUMENTS
Tuesday, March 2
What we will talk about in class:
How was the Town Clerk/FOIA?
The court system & following a story from arrest through the court system (ppt)
Group work: Go through the documents in class
What to do for next class:
*Your group will identify a story in the documents and write a story pitch to turn in via Blackboard
Thursday, March 4
What we will talk about in class:
How was the story pitch?
What to do for next class:
*Read Gaines, Chap. 7 (pp. 153-176)
*Read Journalist's Resource article
*Read Understanding the IRS 990 form
WEEK 7. REPORTING ON NON-PROFITS & BUSINESSES
Tuesday, March 9 -- NO CLASS; SELF CARE DAY
Thursday, March 11
What we will talk about in class:
Lecture on investigating non-profits (ppt)
*Review last week's readings
Group work: You and your group will go through real 990s
What to do for next class:
*Your group will identify a story in the documents and write a story pitch to turn in via Blackboard
*Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 7
WEEK 8. DATA REPORTING: WHAT IS IT & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
Tuesday, March 16
What we will talk about in class:
How was the 990 story pitch?
What to do for next class:
*Read Fake polls are a real problem & Journalist’s Resource article
Thursday, March 18
What we will talk about in class:
Lecture on polls and academic studies -- what to look for, what to avoid
What to do for next class:
*Read First Amendment Handbook, Chap. 2 (pp. 11-18)
WEEK 9. MEDIA LAW PRIMER: PRIVACY, RECORDING & SOURCING
Tuesday, March 23
What we will talk about in class:
Legal torts and Privacy Defenses (ppt)
What to do for next class:
*Read First Amendment Handbook, Chaps. 3 & 4 (pp. 19-34)
Thursday, March 25
What we will talk about in class:
Surreptitious Recording and Confidential Sources (ppt)
What to do for next class:
*Read exam study guide sent to you via Blackboard email
Assignment #2 due via BlackBoard no later than 11:59 p.m., Sunday, March 28
WEEK 10. MIDTERM STUDY/EXAM -- Class via Zoom (link in Blackboard)
Tuesday, March 30
What we will talk about in class:
Live Zoom study session at 8 a.m.
What to do for next class:
*Study for exam
Thursday, April 1
What we will talk about in class:
Nothing... you will simply take the exam.
EXAM LIVE at 8 a.m. on Blackboard
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 1-52)
WEEK 11. THE BASICS OF INTERVIEWING
Tuesday, April 6 -- In-person class resumes for TUESDAY group
What we will talk about in class:
What is an interview? Why we do it?
What makes a good one?
Listen to Sawatsky's best interview ever & critique
Who do you interview and why?
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 53-120)
Thursday, April 8 -- In-person class resumes for THURSDAY group
What we will talk about in class (PPT):
Interview a classmate (assigned partners)
What worked? What didn't?
Preparing for the interview
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 121-203)
*Interview same partner again after preparing & write a story pitch
WEEK 12. SPECIFICS ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
Tuesday, April 13
What we will talk about in class:
How was the interview?
Logistics of interviews
How are YOU doing?
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 204-291)
Thursday, April 15
What we will talk about in class:
Asking hard questions
How to end the interview
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 292-342)
WEEK 13. LAW & ETHICS OF INTERVIEWING
Over the next week, you are required to watch two movies: All the President's Men and Spotlight. Here are links to help prepare you to watch the movies: "The Watergate watershed: A turning point for a nation and a newspaper" by Katharine Graham, Washington Post & "The Watergate Scandal," History.com, and "Church allowed abuse by priests for years" by Spotlight Team.
OR, you can listen to the podcast, "In The Dark" (Season 2)
Movie/Podcast Paper is due via BlackBoard, 11:59, p.m., Sunday, April 25
Tuesday, April 20
What we will talk about in class:
The law and ethics of interviewing
What to do for next class:
*Read Nelson (pp. 343-376)
Thursday, April 22
What we will talk about in class:
Your ego and the rules
Transcribing
Last questions before you turn in your major interview
What to do for next class:
*Part 1 of the Final is due via Blackboard no later than 8 a.m., Tuesday, April 27
WEEK 14. FINAL ASSIGNMENT IN-CLASS MEETING
Tuesday, April 27
Tuesday group in class only (No Thursday Zoomers) - Discuss project
Thursday, April 29
Thursday group in class only (No Tuesday Zoomers) - Discuss project
YOUR FINAL IS DUE VIA BLACKBOARD NO LATER THAN 10 a.m., THURSDAY, MAY 6. No late assignments will be accepted.