Copy Editing and Computerized Design

Communications 305

Instructor Tomi McCutchen Parrish

Objectives: This is a laboratory course designed to help you become a careful editor of your own writing and that of others. The four primary facets of this course will be copy editing, headline writing, photo sizing and newspaper layout. Included will be consideration of news judgment, law and ethics, AP style, grammar, spelling, punctuation and word usage.

Prerequisite: Comm. 200 (Newswriting) or permission of instructor.

Texts:

• The Newspaper Designer's Handbook, Tim Harrower. This will be used primarily during March and April.
• Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual (New York: The Associated Press)

Always bring your stylebook and design handbook to class Both are wonderful reference tools.

Other items:

• Photo scale wheel. I have them. We rarely use them now.
• Ruler or pica pole. If you have a ruler, bring it March 17. I have pica poles.
• Pencils. These are used for the in-class editing/workbook exercises. Pencils will enable you to erase and hand in neater work. Always bring them with you.
• Calculator. Do not buy one; they are on the computers.
• Jump drive. You should keep a jump drive with you at all times anyway.

Readings:

• Textbook and handouts. Most of the lectures during the first half of the semester will be drawn from "Copy Editors Handbook for Newspapers" by Fellow and Clanin. Material from the Harrower book will be used throughout the course. Other sources also will be cited. You are expected to take good notes and study them as well as the material given in handouts.
• AP Stylebook. I do not expect you to memorize this book, but it will be wise to become thoroughly familiar with it. You will be allowed to use the stylebook during editing exercises, but you will be working on tight deadlines and if you do not know your way around the book, your grade will reflect it.
• A daily newspaper. Read The Commercial Appeal, The Jackson Sun and other metro dailies or online papers regularly. Take careful note of the manner in which the newspapers are laid out, how the stories are written and edited, the choice of photos, etc.

Required activities: In addition to two exams, you will be expected to perform three kinds of activities:

• Prepare for quizzes on editing symbols, grammar, style, word usage, spelling, punctuation and notes from the lectures on editing, headline writing, photo sizing and design.
• Successfully complete in-class and take-home editing exercises. Both pencil and electronic editing will be involved. We may also complete some assignments via e-mail.
• Prepare a final paper on newspaper design and media criticism. The paper is due in my mailbox by 5 p.m. Monday, April 27, and is worth 20 percent of your grade. Choose one daily newspaper (local, regional or larger) and collect five consecutive copies of the paper, preferably Monday through Friday. You will then critique the front page and jumps of each paper, specifically focusing on the attractiveness/purpose of the design; accuracy and readability of the headlines; size, composition, choice and range of the photos; and the clarity of the copy, such as whether it was well-edited and read smoothly and easily. You should also look through the other sections of the paper to determine whether a consistent style of editing and design were used; to point out weak areas of the paper; and to offer solutions for what you see as problems. In other words, rip these papers apart, but also point out what was done well. You should also include a section on media criticism, in which you will comment on the placement of news stories on each Page 1. For example, was the lead story truly worth being a lead story? Was a story placed at the bottom of the page that should have been placed at the top? Where were these stories placed in other newspapers during the same week? Note also what happens when a big story leads, then gets bumped to other parts of the page or to the inside as other big stories occur. This section will test your news judgment and your ability to understand the mission of the newspaper and the community that the newspaper serves. Your paper should be seven to 10 typed, double-spaced pages and obviously must be well-edited. Turn in your choice of newspaper to critique when you come to class Tuesday, March 17 (right after spring break). No two students should choose the same newspaper for the same week. I must approve your choice before you begin work on the paper.

Two exams: Exam No. 1 will consist of material covered during the first few weeks of the semester. Exam No. 2 will be a comprehensive exercise in which the student will edit a story, write headlines, crop and size photos, and lay out a front page. Both will be practical and open book, open notes.

Grading: Activities will be graded according to the following weights:

• Final paper -- 20%
• Grammar, spelling, usage, style and chapter (etc.) quizzes (combined) -- 10%
• Exam No. 1 -- 10%
• Exam No. 2 -- 10%
• In-class exercises, homework -- 45%
• Participation (attitude, attendance) -- 5%

Grading scale: Grading will be based on the percentage of points earned. Letter grades will be given according to the following ranges, taking into account the varying weights listed above:

• A = 90-100
• B = 80-89
• C = 70-79
• D = 60-69
• F = Below 60

Attendance: It is mandatory. I will take roll each day and will consider absences in borderline grade situations. For those students who, for physical reasons, must ride the elevator, I will be tolerant of problems that arise when the elevator is not working. Be sure to tell me if such a situation occurs.

Respect: The computers in the lab are tools, not toys, and I will not tolerate students checking their e-mail or surfing the Internet while I am lecturing. Lecture time is my time; you may check your messages on your own time.

Makeups: No makeups will be given for in-class exercises, quizzes, etc., nor will makeups be given for the two exams unless a legitimate reason exists to do so. In case of legitimate crises (family, health, etc.), notify me immediately, before the absence. If you are absent and do not explain why, I will consider it unexcused in terms of missed work. If your missing work or exams is related to an unexcused absence, you will likely not be allowed to make it up. If I'm not in my office, leave a voice-mail message. If you would prefer to e-mail me, do so before the class that you miss, if at all possible.

Late work: Not allowed. This includes people who miss a quiz because they are tardy. If you must miss or be late, please arrange to have your work turned in on time by a classmate, etc.

No cheating: Academic dishonesty and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Cheating on quizzes or copying a previous or current student’s work will certainly result in a zero for the assignment without a chance to redo the work and, depending on the severity of the offense, could result in a zero for the course. Plagiarism is defined as using or stealing others’ work and presenting it as your own. You should be careful, particularly when you begin to write stories for The Pacer, to correctly cite all sources. Example: Finding a movie review on a Web site, then copying it and pasting it into a file, changing a couple of sentences and putting your byline on it, then submitting it to The Pacer for print, is considered plagiarism. If you wish to be sure that you are not guilty of plagiarism, please do not hesitate to consult with me on how to use others’ words in an appropriate manner. As with any other form of academic dishonesty, plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment and could result in a zero for the course. If you’ve read your Student Handbook, you already know that plagiarism is a cardinal sin in the academic world and could get you expelled from the university.

Extra credit: I give few extra credit opportunities in this class. If I do assign extra credit work, it will have a due date, just like any other assignment. No extra credit will be given beyond the last day of classes.

Reminder: If you have any questions or concerns about the content or direction of this course, or your progress in it, please do not hesitate to contact me. Any discussions we have are privileged and will not affect your grades. I prefer to keep problems to a minimum, and I am here not only to teach, but to help you if I can.

Course outline (tentative)

Jan. 13 – Introduction to course, discussion of syllabus, question-and-answer
Jan. 15 – What is copy editing?
Jan. 20-22-27-29-Feb. 3-5 – Back to basics; editing symbols quiz on Jan. 20
Feb. 10 – Grammar/spelling/punctuation/word usage quiz
Feb. 12 – No class; SEJC conference
Feb. 17-19-24-26 – Basic and “beat” editing; law and ethics, etc.
March 3 – Exam No. 1
March 5 – Workday
March 9-13 – SPRING BREAK
March 17-19-24-26 – Headlines and photos
March 31-April 2-7-9-14 – Layout/design and Web
April 16 – Career Day
April 21-23 – Exam No. 2 (in class)
April 27 (Monday, last regular day of spring semester classes) – Final paper due in my mailbox by 5 p.m.

NOTE: BRING PENCILS, ERASERS AND STYLEBOOK TO EXAM NO. 2. ALSO, THE FINAL PAPER IS ASSIGNED IN LIEU OF A FINAL EXAM.