1. To increase knowledge and understanding of: 

•  The role of the copy desk in media organizations 
• .The technological tools available today for better editing and writing 
• The legal, ethical and other pitfalls in editing, including racism and sexism. 
• The collaboration in WEDiting (writing, editing and design) in today's newsrooms 
• Editing as observed in local, national and global settings 
• Current affairs 

2. To improve skills relating to the use of:

•  Editing marks 
•  Wire-service style, including punctuation 
• Grammar 
• Headline writing 
• Photo cropping, sizing and cutline writing 
• Contemporary newspaper design 
• WEDiting 
•  Newsletter production and related feature writing 
• Internet resources 

3. To develop professional attitudes relating to:

•  Ethical behavior in editing, and writing 
• .Importance of deadlines 

Textbooks

Brooks, B.S., & Sissors, J.C. (2001). Student Workbook for The Art of Editing, 7th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. 

Brooks, B.S., Pinson, J. L., & Wilson, J. G..(2000) Working with Words: A Concise Handbook for Media Writers, 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000.

 

Supplementary (on-line and other) references:

Arnold, G. T. (1996). Media Writer's Handbook: A Guide to Writing and Editing Problems. Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark.

Bartlett's Quotations. 

Darling, C. (2004). Guide to Grammar and Writing. Hartford, CT: Capital Community College.

Garcia, M. (1993). Contemporary Newspaper Design: A Structural Approach. 3d ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
(Chapter 1 "WED: the importance of writing, editing and design," pp. 10-37, is compulsory reading before Week 9.) OVERSIZE Z253 .G27 

Mencher, M. (2003). News Reporting and Writing. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill. 
(Chapter 5 "The Lead," pp. 111-136; Chapter 7 "The Writer's Art," pp. 153-188; and Chapter 8 "Features, Long Stories and Series," pp. 190-218, are compulsory reading before Week 8.) 

Merriam-Webster Online

Roget's Thesaurus. 

Stovall, J. G. (1997). Infographics: A Journalist's Guide. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.  

Strunk, W., & White, E. B. (1979) The Elements of Style. 3rd ed. New York: Macmillan.
(This is a classic handbook that all must read before getting into the grammar component of the course) 

Additional References

Assessment of Objectives

• Objective 1 (knowledge and understanding): Acquired through prescribed readings, class discussions and Internet exploration. Assessed through quizzes and exams.
• Objective 2 (skills): Assessed through several quizzes on copy and proof markings, wire-service style, punctuation, grammar and headline writing; two team-produced WEDited stories of interest to MSUM mass comm. alumni; and the final production of an alumni newsletter that reflects contemporary design, good headline writing, and superior editing of text, photos and graphics.
• Objective 3 (attitudes): Assessed through the ability to meet deadlines and adherence to ethical behavior in producing class assignments.

• Quizzes on editing symbols, style, grammar and headlines:                         500 points = 50%
• Newsletter production, including two WEDited stories:                             300 points = 30%
• Attendance  [Incentive grade of 50 extra points added to final grade]                                                                            
• Midsemester examination:                                                                        100 points = 10%
• Final examination:                                                                                    100 points = 10%

Total                                                                                                    1,000 points = 100%

1. Quizzes on editing symbols, style, grammar and headlines: Students will answer these quizzes as specified in the schedule. Students should read the relevant material on AP style (both in the textbook and the stylebook) and on grammar and usage (Brooks, Pinson & Wilson) before doing the workbook exercises. They should complete the workbook exercises as scheduled in the course schedule.
(Note:  A missed deadline is a failing grade on the assignment.  In objective tests, the percentage of correct answers will be the criterion for grading.) 

2. Newsletter production, including two WEDited stories: A team of three students will do each W.E.D. project. Read about the following during the first few weeks to understand and implement the W.E.D. concept: 

--The four principles of artistic design (elaborated in pp. 278-283 of your textbook) that distinguishes traditional (sans design) layout from contemporary modular design/layout

--The six tips for better editing and design  that elevates contemporary design to the W.E.D. level by attracting the audience to the story through multiple entry points (pp. 13-20) plus Don Fry's five tips for W.E.D. implementation (pp. 21-23)  in Chapter 1 WED: the integration of writing, editing and design in Mario Garcia's 1993 book.

--Other tips on W.E.D. concept available from Poynter Institute Web site: 
           How W.E.D. works
           W.E.D.

ATTENTION: After reading the above material, each student must write a short paper explaining the differences between the traditional approach and the W.E.D. approach providing clear answers to the following:
     1. What distinguishes traditional layout from contemporary layout/design?
     2. What features elevate a story/page from mere contemporary design to the W.E.D. level?
     3. How would  your team follow Don Fry's five tips for W.E.D. implementation?
(The deadline for this paper is Week 9.) This will be graded as part of the midsemester examination.

Your two W.E.D. stories will serve a double purpose: (a) as projects that reflect your ability to implement the W.E.D. concept, and (b) as projects that can be re-edited for MC news, the department's alumni newsletter, scheduled for publication at the end of spring 2003. Thus each team will have to brainstorm for story ideas that will continue to be newsworthy at publication time. Spot stories that rapidly lose timeliness may not be suitable for either project. The team members should designate the writer, editor and designer of the story before venturing into each project. Each of them is equally responsible for the final output. Well before you meet as a team to decide on the ideas for W.E.D. projects, each student should have read the three compulsory chapters from Mencher (2003): "The Lead" (pp.111-136), "The Writer's Art" (pp.153-188) and "Features, Long Stories and Series" (pp. 190-218). 

(Advice for the writer and editor: 
1. Follow the guidelines in the handout on copy preparation.) 
2. Your stories should show balance by including interviews with two or more sources with different views. Anonymous sources are unacceptable. 
3. Use the campus directories, local telephone directory and other tools to check spelling of names. Stories with fact errors -- misspelled names, incorrect job titles, etc. -- will get an F grade. 
4. Use active voice in your writing. 
5. Read the MSUM mass communications department's handout on standards for writing classes for further details. 
6. Read the two chapters on interviewing in the Mencher text (chapters 14 and 15) if you want to learn the techniques before you interview sources for your stories.) 

-- Each of the W.E.D. stories should be a two-page printed spread of the MC news size. It should adhere to the usual MC news format (Times 10-point for text and Helvetica for headlines; and other format considerations as determined by the newsletter editor/s). Use contemporary design to place the text, photos and graphics with appropriate headlines and cutlines. (Retain the word-processed story for further editing later.) Caution: Do not lift pictures or illustrations from the Web without permission from copyright owners. Borrow the digital camera from the mass comm. department to take your own news photos.

-- The two W.E.D. story ideas are due before Week 9.  The laser-printed first story is due in Week 11. 
-- Second W.E.D. story in laser-printed form is due in Week 13. 

Grading: Writing, editing and design components of each story will receive separate grades. The overall grade will be the average of the three.

The class will produce a newsletter-size edition of MC news (Vol. 20 No. 2, Summer 2004) using the PageMaker/QuarkExpress and the LaserWriter. This is the alumni newsletter of the MSUM mass communications department. Each class member will perform specific duties assigned by the newsletter editor/s during the final two weeks. The work may involve further editing of selected W.E.D. stories, writing shorter pieces, proofreading and other duties. 

-- The instructor will appoint an editor, based on performance merits. He or she will be responsible for producing the newsletter to meet the deadline: Wednesday, May 7. The editor will receive bonus points based on how well he or she produced the newsletter and the extra hours worked. The editor's responsibilities do not necessarily end with the final day of the class. The editor is responsible until all pages are ready in the final publishable form. 

3. Midsemester examination: This exam, which follows the format of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund test for internships, will test your copy editing skills and current affairs knowledge. Students should try out the previous tests available online. Beginning Week 1, they should study the daily news quiz in the Star Tribune and the New York Times and the Tuesday weekly quiz in The Forum. (The paper on W.E.D. approach will be considered a part of this exam.)

4. Final examination: This will test your knowledge of the required readings, particularly the readings assigned after the midsemester examination. It will also include grammar and usage items.

5. Attendance is required (Up to 5 percentage points will be added to final course grade to reward good attendance). Students are expected to attend all class meetings. In case of absence due to health, military obligations, emergencies or official university activities, students must provide satisfactory documentation. I shall not give make-up quizzes or tests for frivolous reasons such as hunting or car problems. Students should avoid committing themselves for activities on days scheduled for tests and quizzes.

I shall follow the guidelines on attendance policy and academic honesty spelled out in the Student Handbook.

Special Accommodations: Students with disabilities who believe that they need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutes, coordinator of disability services at 477-2652 (phone) or 477-2047 (TTY), CMU 222, as soon as possible.