Syllabus

*JRN 411 Convergence journalism

Instructor: Holly Shreve Gilbert

Email: shreve@oakland.edu

Cell: 248.255.5447

Office hours: Posted by semester (see office door) and available by appointment.

This class will teach students how to assemble and package journalistic stories across mediums, as well as introduce them to the unique tools and assets the Internet provides for reporters. Students will learn about the challenges and opportunities provided by social media platforms and discuss their potential for use in the profession.

My purpose is to teach you how to become multimedia storytellers.
Your purpose, obviously, is to learn. You already know a great deal about journalism; in this class you’ll expand your horizons by learning how to use a variety of software programs and mobile and computer applications to tell stories. In order to do that you’ll have to train yourself to use the necessary tools. Consider it the beginning (if you haven’t already started) of a constant learning process mandated by the merging of digital technology and journalism. I’ll give you basic introductions but you’ll be responsible for sorting out the details. The best advice I can give you is this: “Ask Google and the HELP menus are your friends.”

You must be a self-starter, capable of working on independent projects and meeting deadlines. You should have a clear understanding of the tenets of news writing, the rules of wire service style, grammar and punctuation. You should be willing to learn new software and take responsibility for making yourself an expert in the chosen program. Ingenuity, enthusiasm, resourcefulness, and participation will enhance your grade.

Become a journalist who can report, write, edit and publish on the Internet using a variety of story-telling techniques.
Learn how online journalism applies to your career direction, and how an
expanded skill-set can help you to get a better job.
Learn to present multimedia stories in exciting new ways while maintaining
traditional journalism standards of fairness, accuracy and quality.
Become more comfortable with the software and hardware used to tell stories online.

Push your commitment to be an ethical journalist, dedicated to covering a diverse society, to new heights.

You are expected to be here for the full class period. Missing classes in whole or in part will compromise the grades on your assignment packages. There are very FEW reasons for an excused absence. They include death (yours) and serious or contagious illness. The instructor reserves the right to require documentation for an excused absence.
Students who miss classes are responsible for obtaining lecture notes and assignment information from colleagues. The instructor does NOT perform encore lecture, discussion or assignment performances.

You are responsible for obtaining course information for missed class time from a colleague. This is an absence, not an exemption! You are also responsible for turning in assigned work early, if necessary.

You may make up course work missed for major religious holidays but you must notify the instructor PRIOR to missing the class.

No late assignments. If you have to miss a class for documented illness, you will be allowed an opportunity to make-up missed work.

Students are expected to keep copies of all original assignments on personal storage devices outside of this classroom. Loss of an assignment due to lab maintenance or student error is NOT an excuse for missing a deadline. Students who lose an original copy will be expected to redo the assignment in its entirety and will be penalized for turning it in late.

Cheating on examinations, plagiarism, falsifying reports/records, and unauthorized collaboration, access, or modifying of computer programs are considered serious breaches of academic conduct. The Oakland University policy on academic conduct will be strictly followed with no exceptions. See catalog under “Academic Policies and Procedures.”

The University add/drop policy will be explicitly followed. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the University deadline dates for dropping the course.

Students with disabilities who may require special considerations should make an appointment with campus Disability Support Services. Students should also bring their needs to the attention of the instructor as soon as possible.