Journalism Disclosure Document

The Eclectic 2006-2007

I. Objectives

The objective of this class is to produce a high-quality newspaper which reflects the culture of Timpanogos High School. The newspaper staff will strive for variety and interest by including as many articles on all aspects of the school as possible. Students will learn journalistic techniques to help them achieve this goal.

II. Journalistic techniques

A. Interviewing

B. News Articles

C. Editorials

D. Features

E. Layout and design

F. Editing

III. Homework

A. Students may be required to attend extracurricular activities in order to write their stories/articles.

B. I require that students fully investigate and/or interview persons for the stories/articles they are assigned. Often, this must be done outside of class time.

IV. Assignments

A. Our newspaper staff will normally publish two issues of The Eclectic per term.

A newspaper staffer’s “assignment” for each issue is to write his/her article(s) using standard journalism techniques, revise as needed, be sure it crosses the copy editor’s desk or my desk for final approval, and get it to the layout team by copy deadline. If a student performs other assignments, such as photographer, he/she is likewise expected to submit photos by copy deadline. How well a student follows this procedure, for the most part, determines his/her term grade.

B. Each staffer is also required to solicit and sell one newspaper ad per semester.

V. Grades/Attendance

A. I fully support the THS Attendance Policy. I should—I helped write it. It will be fully operational in this class.

B. This is a newspaper class — deadlines mean everything! If you can’t be in class on the day of first draft/copy/layout deadline L, you are expected to make arrangements to ensure your story is dropped in your computer folder on time. This includes excused absences.

C. Students’ grades are weighted this way:

Assignments – 40% Deadlines – 40% Good faith participation – 20%

A NOTE ON “GOOD FAITH PARTICIPATION”: This is a category for some of the

intangibles which, nevertheless, separate the A students from the B or C students.

This includes, but is not limited to, being an active participant in class brainstorming sessions, suggesting and sharing story ideas, producing quality work and not just work that looks like it was thrown together at the last minute, and conferring with me if a student feels he/she has “hit a wall” in completing an assignment. Collaboration means everything on newspaper staff. If a student is actively engaged in helping to produce a quality newspaper and works well with others, he/she will receive full credit in this category.

D. Grading scale (in percentages):

93-100 = A 80-82 = B-

90-92 = A- 76-79 = C+

86-89 = B+ 73-75 = C

83-85 = B 70-72 = C-

Any student receiving a D will be dismissed from newspaper staff.

E. I also reserve the right to dismiss a staffer who is consistently absent/tardy or who consistently procrastinates, thereby creating stress/havoc to other staffers trying to meet deadlines.

VI. Materials

A. Students will have their copy of the Associated Press Stylebook with them at all times.

B. If a student has completed all assignments for an upcoming issue, he/she

should bring a book to read or do homework from another class, assuming

that no other help is needed in any other area of production.

One last comment:

In order to better represent the diverse nature of the THS student body, I welcome and encourage a mix of students in journalism. I expect that as a

newspaper staff we show respect and courtesy not only to each other, but to

others’ ideas as well.

I hope that as a small group we will have a lot of fun working together for a

common goal--to produce a school newspaper we can be proud of! Thank you

for your help and cooperation.

Cut here and return. This will be worth 10 points.

*****************************************************************

I have read Mrs. Swenson’s disclosure document for Journalism

Student name ___________________________________

Student signature________________________________

Date ______________

Parent/guardian name ______________________________________

Parent/guardian signature ___________________________________

Date _______________