1. What is news? JEM 222: Online Journalism University of Tennessee

2. Welcome to 222 Instructor: Lauren Spuhler –knoxnews.com, multimedia producer –laurenspuhler@gmail.comlaurenspuhler@gmail.com Professional adjunct: Peggy Collins –MSN Money Multimedia Producer

3. Week 1: Getting Started Thursday, Aug. 21 –Syllabus review –What is news? –What makes a story? –How the newsroom works Roles in the future

4. Syllabus This course introduces students to the concepts and skills necessary for reporting news for an online publication. It is strongly recommended that students take JEM 200: Intro to reporting before enrolling in this class. Proficiency in AP Style, grammar and spelling is mandatory.

5. This course explores: Reporting for the Web. You will learn how to think about writing for the web. Basic HTML. An intro to HTML is important for any budding journalist; we will also learn some Basic editing techniques required for publishing online. Image, audio and video production for the web.

6. Final grade based on: In-class assignments (10%) Blog entries (20%) Out-of-class assignments(40%) Final projects (20%) Attendance and participation (10%)

7. Basic Requirements Be prepared for class. Do your assignments. No late assignments will be accepted. This class operates on deadlines. Attend EVERY class. In-class assignments cannot be made up. Engage. Be prepared to work with your classmates - share your ideas, give and receive critical feedback.

8. Academic Policy The university's policies regarding academic conduct can be found in the official Hilltopics Handbook. Plagiarism, misrepresentation and any form of cheating is unacceptable and is considered a serious offense. Don't push your luck.

9. Textbooks Inside Reporting, Tim Harrower, 2007 AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law

10. Professional Adjunct: Peggy Collins MSN Money Multimedia Producer welcome message

11. What's news to you?

12. News to Me Facebook The New York Times LOL Cats YouTube Twitter The Daily Show The grapevine: My friends and family

13. What's news and what makes a story? “The job of a journalist is to take what's important and make it interesting.” - Reuven Frank, former president of NBC News

14. News by Numbers Americans who say they prefer news about serious issues and major event 63% Americans who say they prefer crime and celebrity news 24% Americans find news depressing 84% Who find news negative 77% Who find news sensational 58% Harrower, pg. 16

15. A magic formula? News by the numbers: 1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life = No News 1 ordinary man + 1 extraordinary adventure = News 1 bank cashier - $100,000 = News 1 chorus girl + 1 bank president - $100,000 = News 1 man + 1 auto + 1 gun + 1 six-pack = News 1 ordinary husband + 1 ordinary wife = No News 1 man + 1 wife + 1 fight + 1 lawsuit = News “News Arithmetic,” from 1932 editing textbook. In Harrower, pg. 16

16. Seven values of news: 1. Impact 2. Immediacy 3. Proximity 4. Prominence 5. Novelty 6. Conflict 7. Emotion

17. Impact Does the story matter to readers? Will it effect their lives? Pocketbooks? The bigger the consequences, the bigger the story needs to be

18. Immediacy Has the story just happened? Is it about to happen? Timeliness is crucial, especially when you’re competing against other media

19. Proximity How close is this story? Obviously, the closer to home, the more it will matter

20. Prominence Does the story involve a well-known public figure or celebrity?

21. Novelty Is something new, odd or surprising going on? “News of the weird” gets readers

22. Conflict Is there a clash of power? A political battle? A sports rivalry? Reporters are constantly on the look out for dramatic stories to tell

23. Emotion Does this story make us happy? Sad? Angry? Readers respond to stories that incite emotion

24. How online news comes together This ain't no 9-5 job Online is ALL the time Always be prepared. Always be ready. Keep your eyes and ears open. Equipment you need: cell phone, digital camera, spare batteries, chargers, memory cards

25. How the newsroom works Roles: Reporters, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designer, producers Backpack journalists - one man bands Newsroom re-orgs (Gannett's newsroom overhaul)

26. Assignment Read Harrower –Chapter 2: How the newsroom works –Chapter 3: Newswriting basics