Special Topics in Mass Communication: Online Reporting

Time & Place: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., in Journalism 3102.

Instructor: Assistant Dean Christopher Callahan

Course Overview: Special Topics in Mass Communication: Online Reporting (JOUR459O) is a new five-week, single-credit course that will look at the Internet through a journalistic prism. Specifically, we will explore how reporters and editors can use the Internet under deadline conditions to improve the speed, accuracy and depth of their journalism.

Office & Hours: Available 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, and by appointment in room 2102. Also available via office phone (301) 405-2432, home phone at nights and weekends (703) 759-7515, e-mail (ccallahan@jmail.umd.edu) and fax (301) 314-9166.

Text: "A Journalist's Guide to the Internet" will be the main text for the course. Copies of the soon-to-be published textbook will be available in the Student Services Main Desk in the Journalism Building. The key Web resource will be reporter.umd.edu.

Grading: Two-thirds of your grade for this course will come from the final project. The project, which will be presented during the last day of class, Dec. 10, will be a Web page designed for reporters covering a specific beat. Beats will be assigned by the instructor, in consultation with students. The other third of your grade will be derived from class participation. Since this is a practically oriented, hands-on course, attendance is critical. Your participation grade will be based on demonstrated mastery of the material. And since you cannot demonstrate your knowledge if you are not present, the class participation portion of your grade will drop a full letter grade for each missed class or late arrival.

Academic Integrity. Along with certain rights, students also have the responsibility to behave honorably in an academic environment. Academic dishonesty, including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty and plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Any abridgment of academic integrity standards will be referred directly to the dean and the university's Office of Judicial Affairs. Confirmation of such incidents can result in expulsion from the university. Students who are uncertain as to what constitutes academic dishonesty should consult the university publication entitled "Academic Dishonesty."

Students With Disabilities. Students with a specific disability (permanent or temporary, physical or learning) needing special accommodation during the semester should make an appointment to meet with the instructor.

I/Nov. 10: Introduction to JOUR459O and The Internet

Assignment: Read Chapters 1, 2 & 3

II/Nov. 12: Evaluating Information on the Net

Assignment: Chapters 4 and 6

III/Nov. 17: Basic Reporting References, Documents and Online News Publications.

Assignment: Chapter 5 and 12

IV/Nov. 19: Top Web Data Resources and Professional Development Sites

Assignment: Chapter 8

V/Nov. 24: Building an Electronic Beat

Assignment: Chapter 7

VI/Dec. 1: Strategic Searching & Search Engines

Assignment: Chapters 9 and 10

VII/Dec. 3: E-mail, Mailing Lists & News Alerts

Assignment: Chapter 11

VIII/Dec. 8: Newsgroups

Assignment: Chapter 13

IX/Dec. 10: Student presentations of beat Web pages

This page was last updated November 17, 1998