COM 352 - Broadcast Journalism

Professor: Dr. Scott Sochay Department of Communication Studies
Office: HC 327F Fall Semester 2023

Office Hours: M, W, F 1:30 - 2:30

T, R 9-11am and by appt.

Location: CC431

Time: M, W, F 8:00 - 8:50 am
Office Phone: 638-6199 PO Box 51
Home Phone: (517) 648-7759 http://www.bethel.edu/~socsco/BCastWriting/BcastW.html
email: scott-sochay@bethel.edu Prerequisite: COM 213
  Back to Sochay home page

 

Required Texts:

None.

Course Description:

Theories and principles of broadcast writing with practical experience in writing news stories for radio and television. Analysis of broadcast news programming and procedures.

Course Objectives:

Students will learn to:

1. Write news copy in various broadcast formats following proper broadcast guidelines;

2. think critically about how news is gathered, reported and disseminated; and

3. apply legal, ethical and Biblical standards to goals one and two.

 

Grading and Expectations:

Participation is important and is part of your grade. Students are expected to have read the required chapters for each class session and be prepared to discuss its contents. A lack of preparation not only hurts your grade it also takes away from the quality of the in-class discussion and makes the learning experience less enjoyable for your classmates. Attendance is also a part of your participation grade. Excessive absences and/or tardiness will be reflected in that generally, three or more unexcused absences will result in a minimum one grade lower participation grade. The University policy on attendance can be found in the Bethel catalog.

Projects are due at the beginning of the class period noted in the course outline. Late projects or missed exams will not be accepted without a legitimate excuse such as medical illness or emergency. If you have a situation that may present difficulties in turning a project in on time or making an exam date the proper procedure is to discuss this with me before the due date. I'm flexible and understanding when students talk with me before an assignment or exam is due. I'm much less flexible if a student tries to explain their situation after the due date has passed. In short, if you think you're going to have a problem turning in an assignment on time, talk with me before the due date. The same also applies to attendance. Excused absences are at my discretion. I am far more likely to grant them when students let me know ahead of time (when possible) or contact me as soon as possible after the missed class.

Any/all assignments should be submitted in hard copy form. Any exceptions to this will be announced in class.

Student work will be evaluated according to the guidelines laid out in the Bethel University catalog. To receive an "A," work should be "exceptional". "B" work is considered "good," and "C" "work "satisfactory" and so on. If you have any questions about assignments, ask! If there are concerns about grading, the Complaint and Appeals Procedure can be found at: http://cas.bethel.edu/academics/catalog/.

Violation of honesty standards can result in denial or credit (U or F) in a course, as well as dismissal from the university. Penalties are given at the discretion of the faculty member, and offenders may be referred to the vice president and dean. (See Bethel University’s full policy on Academic Honesty in the catalog: (http://catalog.bethel.edu/arts-sciences/general-information/academic-honesty/).

The student will seek to resolve the matter first with the instructor or with the party directly responsible for the decision, and then with the department chair. (If the instructor is the department chair, the student should contact the Dean of Academic Programs.) If after talking with the instructor and the department chair the matter is not resolved, the student may appeal in writing to the Dean of Academic Programs. This written appeal must be received within three weeks of the decision. (See Bethel University’s full policy on Academic Appeals in the catalog: http://catalog.bethel.edu/arts-sciences/general-information/academic-appeals/).

Accessibility Statement:

Bethel University is committed to accessibility for students with disabilities and the Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS) is a resource to ensure students experience access. Reasonable accommodations are approved after an interactive process with the student and OARS. The instructor will provide accommodations, but the student is required to initiate the process.

Support for Multilingual Learners Statement:

 

Points will be awarded for the course as follows:

Assignments Part 1 150 points
Assignments Part 2 150 points
Participation 50 points
Total 350 points

Assignments

 

Final grades will be based on the cumulative number of points earned on the assignments noted above. Accumulated points will be divided by the total points available (300) to arrive at a percentage for the course. Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

A

= 93-100%

C+

= 77-79

A-

= 90-92

C

= 73-76

B+

= 87-89

C-

= 70-72

B

= 83-86

D+

= 67-69

B-

= 80-82

D

= 60-66

   

F

= below 60

       

 

 

Tentative Course Outline and Assignments:

Date

Topic

Assignment

8/28

Introduction

Writing Assignments will be announced in class throughout the semester
8/30

Part I begins

newsworthiness

expect assignments EVERYDAY
9/1

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

AP Stylebook

9/4 LABOR DAY  
9/6

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

legal issues/ethics

pronunciation guide
9/8

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

broadcast basics

 
9/11 Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing  
9/13 Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing  
9/15 Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing  
9/18

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

leads

 
9/20 Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing  
9/22 Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing  
9/25 Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing  
9/27

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

 
9/29

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

 
10/2

Nuts and Bolts of Broadcast Writing

 
10/4 Advanced Broadcast Writing  
10/6 FALL BREAK  
10/9

Advanced Broadcast Writing

news selection

 
10/11 Advanced Broadcast Writing  
10/13  Advanced Broadcast Writing  
10/16

Advanced Broadcast Writing

 
10/18 Advanced Broadcast Writing  
10/20

Advanced Broadcast Writing

interviews, soundbites, live reporting

 
10/23 Advanced Broadcast Writing  
10/25 ADVISING DAY  
10/27 Advanced Broadcast Writing  
10/30 Advanced Broadcast Writing  
11/1 Features lecture  
11/3 Features examples  
11/6 Pitch Day my office during class time, pitch your first feature
11/8

Soundbites

features

 
11/10 Soundbites  
11/13 Features Work Day no ftf, work on feature #1
11/15 Features 1  
11/17 Features 1  
11/20 Features 1  
11/22-24 THANKSGIVING BREAK  
11/27 Features 2  
11/29 Features 2  
12/1 Features 2  
12/4 Features 3  
12/6 Features 3  
12/8 Features 3  
     
12/14 Final 8:15 - 10:15