1. HU JRNL53: Intro
Prof. Chris R. Vaccaro

2. Today’s Class Roadmap Professor introduction
Note: use HUJournalism.Wordpress.com for the syllabus, slides and updates
Syllabus introduction
No formal class-by-class breakdown
Class introduction
Initial lecture slides

3. Old vs. New
The fact we have a copy editing class is interesting. We can not simply teach about AP Style, grammar and punctuation, but editing can be more more than that.
This class will be about the new digital challenges related to editing, with a backbone in understanding and assessing style, grammar and so on.
It will be part theory and part practice.

4. New Challenges for Editors
Refining the focus, finding and reaching the target audience
Measuring, analyzing, budgeting and reacting to data
Getting the facts straight
And what about these lovely new “alternative facts”? Fake news?
Writing tight and clearly
Creating headlines and titles with SEO
Navigating the shifting legal landscape

5. More Challenges
Handling matters of fairness, ethics, taste and sensitivity
Finding and creating multimedia
Performing triage
Understanding alternative story forms
Being agile, flexible and versatile with digital and social
Hiring, staffing budgeting for the new age

6. Keep In Mind Anyone can be a publisher (citizen journalist)
The increase in small publishing operations and decrease in traditional newsrooms have led to a lack of editing, oversight and increase in errors
Lack of editing and quick publishing of work leads to many problems, things that trained and traditional journalists aim to avoid: lack of facts, lack of objectivity, lack of understanding of ethics and legal terms, etc.

7. AP Style
Once again, I can not stress enough the importance of this book
The one consistent staple of good writing is strong use of style
It’s the common theme that all good and proper publications use to make their words and sentences appear sound
You will at least scratch the surface with this during the semester
We will have quizzes and your midterm and final exam will feature style

8. NEXT CLASS Just show up and be ready to learn and participate!
Make sure you buy your AP Style Guide by Feb. 13; first style quiz will be that night