1. JRN 516, Spring 2009 A user-friendly guide

2. The basics Reporting –Finding out what’s going on and telling somebody about it. Journalism –Giving citizens the information they need to be free and self-governing

3. What's this class about? Public Affairs Reporting –Understanding local government –Finding stories, reporting them Writing to professional standards

4. Contacting me Come to class Drop-in office hours –9:50-11 a.m. and 11:50-12:20 p.m. MWF –No appointment needed Phone and email –989-631-0644; 989-708-5199 (cell) –Japalen@aol.com

5. Warning My email address is japalen@aol.com –DO NOT omit the “a” between the “j” and the “p.” –Mail sent to jpalen@aol.com goes to my nephew in Southern California. He no longer responds to it.

6. Deadlines You must meet deadlines to get a full grade. –Late work gets a grade deducted (A to B etc.) up to 24 hours late. –After 24 hours, work is returned ungraded.

7. Format Turn in all work in hard copy. –Double space it –Put your name and the date at top –Turn it in during class –If class is not being held, turn it in to my mailbox. Get it date and time-stamped. –Do not email work to me.

8. Texts and materials Guide to Local Government –Posted on class blog, http://jrn516.wordpress.com/ Technology to save your work –Important for revision

9. Your grade Six stories from your beat –70 percent of grade. Class presentation and update of your beat section in guide –20 percent Five exams –10 percent

10. Covering the beat You’ll be assigned a beat. Stories can include: –Advances –Meetings –Breaking news –Enterprise stories –Interviews

11. The beats Beal City schools Charter schools Library district County board County parks County planning County roads ICTC Lake Isabella MP City Commission MP airport MP parks MP planning MP public schools MP zoning board Shepherd schools Village of Shepherd Union Township

12. The fatal error rule Work containing a misspelled proper noun or factual error receives no more than a D (revisable to a C).

13. Revisions All work except quizzes can be revised for up to one higher grade (D to C, B to A). –For full revision credit, do everything I ask you to do on the original. –Turn in the original with the revision.

14. Questions?