Course Schedule | JRN275 home page
KEY DUE DATES
Monday, Sept. 27 (no later than 5 p.m.): Assignment #1 via Blackboard
Wednesday, Oct. 20 (no later than 5 p.m.): Assignment #2 via Blackboard
Thursday, Oct. 28: Midterm exam
Monday, Nov. 15 (no later than 5 p.m.): Press conference story pitch via Blackboard
Friday, Dec. 3: Part 1 of the final is due
Tuesday, Dec. 14: Part 2 of the final is due
WEEK 1. WHO ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
Tue., Aug. 31
What we will do in class: Introduce ourselves to each other and discuss How do journalists get their information? Why does it matter? What do we do with the information? (*Press release, write the lede)
What is due next session: Read Gaines, Chap. 1 (pp. 1-21); 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.
Thu., Sep. 2
What we will do in class: What is investigative journalism? What makes it so?
Lecture (ppt) and discussion on investigative journalism
What is due next session:
Read Gaines, Chap. 2 (pp. 23-49; the story pitch example on pp. 44-45 is not legible, so here it is); Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 1 -- request your grandfather's FBI file!
WEEK 2. PITCHING and DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS
Tue., Sep. 7
What we will do in class: Lecture (ppt) on pitches, rethinking the way we think, public documents
What is due next session: Write a story pitch using the above linked format; what documents would you need (list in sources). Submit via Blackboard before class
Thu., Sep. 9
What we will do in class: Go over your story pitches
What is due next session: Read C&D, Chaps. 2 & 5; Review Gaines pp. 31-33 (see above)
WEEK 3. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOIA): YOUR RIGHTS
Tue., Sep. 14
What we will do in class: Lecture on FOI, what it is, how to use it & effective requests
What is due next session: Write a FOIA request. Submit via Blackboard before class; Read C&D Chaps. 3 & 4
Thu., Sep. 16 – Yom Kippur, No class
WEEK 4. WHEN THE ANSWER IS "NO" & WHAT WE CAN'T GET
Tue., Sep. 21
What we will do in class: Discuss FOIA requests; Investigating people (HIPAA, FERPA & DPPA) and look into GIS, licensure, Google & more; discuss strategies for getting information
What is due next session: Read C&D Chap. 6
Thu., Sep. 23
What we will do in class: Briefly discuss options when the answer is "no"; 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.
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #1 is due no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27 via Blackboard
WEEK 5. COPS, COURTS & PRISONS
Tue., Sep. 28
What we will do in class: Briefly discuss Assignment #1 and homework; Lecture on covering cops and crime (ppt), cops press release; see article.
What is due next session: Read this short pamphlet on Connecticut courts.
Thu., Sep. 30
What we will do in class: Finish lecture; GROUP WORK: Map a criminal case.
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch, submit via Blackboard before next class
WEEK 6. MORE ON COPS & FOLLOW THE MONEY (990S, SEC filings)
Tue., Oct. 5
What we will do in class: Briefly discuss homework; Lecture on non-profits and businesses.
What is due next session: Read Journalist's Resource article and Understanding the IRS 990 form
Thu., Oct. 7
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 Journalists' Resource article
WEEK 7. MORE ON MONEY & POLL RESULTS & ACADEMIC STUDIES: ARE THEY STORIES?
Tue., Oct. 12
What we will do in class: Go over SEC filings; Guest speakers: Sara Silver and Chris Roush
What is due next session: Read polling material TBD
Thu., Oct. 14
What we will do in class: Lecture on polls and academic studies, introduce Google Scholar (ppt)
What is due next session: Read First Amendment Handbook, Chap. 2 (pp. 11-18)
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #2 is due no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 via Blackboard
WEEK 8. MEDIA LAW PRIMER: PRIVACY, RECORDING & SOURCING
Tue., Oct. 19
What we will do in class: Lecture on Privacy Laws: Legal torts and Privacy Defenses
What is due next session: Read First Amendment Handbook, Chaps. 3 & 4 (pp. 19-34)
Thu., Oct. 21
What we will do in class: Lecture on Surreptitious Recording and Confidential Sources
What is due next session: Study for midterm
WEEK 9. MIDTERM: PREP & EXAM
Tue., Oct. 26
What we will do in class: Midterm review
What is due next session: Study for midterm
Thu., Oct. 28
Midterm exam
WEEK 10. THE BASICS OF INTERVIEWING
Tue., Nov. 2
Thu., Nov. 4
WEEK 11. INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATING/PRESS CONFERENCE
Tue., Nov. 9
Thu., Nov. 11 No class to prepare for 3/3:30 p.m. press conferences, Friday, Nov. 12; Story pitches due no later than 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15 via Blackboard
WEEK 12. THE ETHICS OF INTERVIEWING
Tue., Nov. 16
Thu., Nov. 18
WEEK 13. THANKSGIVING
Tue., Nov. 23 – No class
Thu., Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving
WEEK 14.
Tue., Nov. 30
Thu., Dec. 2
WEEK 15. WORKSHOPPING YOUR FINAL
Tue., Dec. 7
Thu., Dec. 9
FINALS WEEK.
Tue., Dec. 14, 8 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 27 (no later than 5 p.m.): Assignment #1 via Blackboard
Wednesday, Oct. 20 (no later than 5 p.m.): Assignment #2 via Blackboard
Thursday, Oct. 28: Midterm exam
Monday, Nov. 15 (no later than 5 p.m.): Press conference story pitch via Blackboard
Friday, Dec. 3: Part 1 of the final is due
Tuesday, Dec. 14: Part 2 of the final is due
WEEK 1. WHO ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
Tue., Aug. 31
What we will do in class: Introduce ourselves to each other and discuss How do journalists get their information? Why does it matter? What do we do with the information? (*Press release, write the lede)
What is due next session: Read Gaines, Chap. 1 (pp. 1-21); 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.
Thu., Sep. 2
What we will do in class: What is investigative journalism? What makes it so?
Lecture (ppt) and discussion on investigative journalism
What is due next session:
Read Gaines, Chap. 2 (pp. 23-49; the story pitch example on pp. 44-45 is not legible, so here it is); Read Cuillier & Davis, Chap. 1 -- request your grandfather's FBI file!
WEEK 2. PITCHING and DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS, DOCUMENTS
Tue., Sep. 7
What we will do in class: Lecture (ppt) on pitches, rethinking the way we think, public documents
What is due next session: Write a story pitch using the above linked format; what documents would you need (list in sources). Submit via Blackboard before class
Thu., Sep. 9
What we will do in class: Go over your story pitches
What is due next session: Read C&D, Chaps. 2 & 5; Review Gaines pp. 31-33 (see above)
WEEK 3. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOIA): YOUR RIGHTS
Tue., Sep. 14
What we will do in class: Lecture on FOI, what it is, how to use it & effective requests
What is due next session: Write a FOIA request. Submit via Blackboard before class; Read C&D Chaps. 3 & 4
Thu., Sep. 16 – Yom Kippur, No class
WEEK 4. WHEN THE ANSWER IS "NO" & WHAT WE CAN'T GET
Tue., Sep. 21
What we will do in class: Discuss FOIA requests; Investigating people (HIPAA, FERPA & DPPA) and look into GIS, licensure, Google & more; discuss strategies for getting information
What is due next session: Read C&D Chap. 6
Thu., Sep. 23
What we will do in class: Briefly discuss options when the answer is "no"; 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.
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #1 is due no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27 via Blackboard
WEEK 5. COPS, COURTS & PRISONS
Tue., Sep. 28
What we will do in class: Briefly discuss Assignment #1 and homework; Lecture on covering cops and crime (ppt), cops press release; see article.
What is due next session: Read this short pamphlet on Connecticut courts.
Thu., Sep. 30
What we will do in class: Finish lecture; GROUP WORK: Map a criminal case.
What is due next session: Each group will write a story pitch, submit via Blackboard before next class
WEEK 6. MORE ON COPS & FOLLOW THE MONEY (990S, SEC filings)
Tue., Oct. 5
What we will do in class: Briefly discuss homework; Lecture on non-profits and businesses.
What is due next session: Read Journalist's Resource article and Understanding the IRS 990 form
Thu., Oct. 7
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 Journalists' Resource article
WEEK 7. MORE ON MONEY & POLL RESULTS & ACADEMIC STUDIES: ARE THEY STORIES?
Tue., Oct. 12
What we will do in class: Go over SEC filings; Guest speakers: Sara Silver and Chris Roush
What is due next session: Read polling material TBD
Thu., Oct. 14
What we will do in class: Lecture on polls and academic studies, introduce Google Scholar (ppt)
What is due next session: Read First Amendment Handbook, Chap. 2 (pp. 11-18)
LARGE ASSIGNMENT #2 is due no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 via Blackboard
WEEK 8. MEDIA LAW PRIMER: PRIVACY, RECORDING & SOURCING
Tue., Oct. 19
What we will do in class: Lecture on Privacy Laws: Legal torts and Privacy Defenses
What is due next session: Read First Amendment Handbook, Chaps. 3 & 4 (pp. 19-34)
Thu., Oct. 21
What we will do in class: Lecture on Surreptitious Recording and Confidential Sources
What is due next session: Study for midterm
WEEK 9. MIDTERM: PREP & EXAM
Tue., Oct. 26
What we will do in class: Midterm review
What is due next session: Study for midterm
Thu., Oct. 28
Midterm exam
WEEK 10. THE BASICS OF INTERVIEWING
Tue., Nov. 2
Thu., Nov. 4
WEEK 11. INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATING/PRESS CONFERENCE
Tue., Nov. 9
Thu., Nov. 11 No class to prepare for 3/3:30 p.m. press conferences, Friday, Nov. 12; Story pitches due no later than 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 15 via Blackboard
WEEK 12. THE ETHICS OF INTERVIEWING
Tue., Nov. 16
Thu., Nov. 18
WEEK 13. THANKSGIVING
Tue., Nov. 23 – No class
Thu., Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving
WEEK 14.
Tue., Nov. 30
Thu., Dec. 2
WEEK 15. WORKSHOPPING YOUR FINAL
Tue., Dec. 7
Thu., Dec. 9
FINALS WEEK.
Tue., Dec. 14, 8 a.m.