About this course: Being a successful journalist is more than hunting down information. How journalists process the information, then put it together, are key steps for news reports. You will learn the process, planning, requirements of how journalists develop their news reports. There are many ways to report news reports, and you will learn different forms of how to perform reporting and writing to serve different audiences. This course also explains the different formats within journalism, beyond the written word and how they are best utilized.
Created by: Michigan State University
Taught by: Joanne Gerstner, Sports Journalist in Residence
Michigan State University School of Journalism
Taught by: Jeremy Steele, Specialist
Michigan State University School of Journalism
Taught by: David Poulson, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Eric Freedman, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Joe Grimm, Instructor
School of Journalism
Taught by: Lucinda D. Davenport, Director & Professor
School of Journalism
| Basic Info | Course 3 of 5 in the Become a Journalist: Report the News! Specialization |
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| Hardware Req | none |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to Course 3!
We are thrilled to have you as part of Course 3 in our Introduction to Journalism Specialization. We will be discussing how to "Effectively Delivering the News to Your Audience". You will learn about the School of Journalism, our award-winning faculty and the world-class atmosphere of Michigan State University. We are a special place, where amazing things happen every day.
4 videos, 1 reading
- Video: This is Journalism
- Video: Meet your School of Journalism faculty
- Video: The MSU School of Journalism
- Video: #SpartansWill
- Reading: Where to find us
WEEK 2
Earning and keeping trust
You've developed your story concept. You've done your research, reporting and interviewing. Now you will learn how to take the next steps: sorting your information, and picking the right format for your news report. You will develop skills in dealing with statistics, numbers and how to figure out if you have enough information to compile an effective news report.
4 videos, 1 reading, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: How do journalists sort their information?
- Reading: Things to help sort information
- Practice Quiz: Sorting newsgathering
- Video: Using numbers wisely in news reports
- Practice Quiz: Understanding how to use numbers
- Discussion Prompt: How USA TODAY uses numbers effectively
- Video: Newsgathering...what's accurate and what's not?
- Discussion Prompt: Think like a journalist!
- Video: What happens if you don't know something?
Graded: Sifting, sorting and choosing information
WEEK 3
Preparing your news report
Sometimes one of the biggest challenges in being a journalist is figuring out how to best handle quotes, format, and audience recognition. Knowing what you're reporting, and your audience, makes all the difference. You will learn how to best use and structure quotes in your news reports, choose the right format for reporting, and understand the needs of your audience.
3 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Using quotes in your news reports
- Discussion Prompt: Examining quotes and transitions
- Practice Quiz: Using quotes correctly
- Video: Choosing a news report format
- Reading: Some formats for news stories
- Video: Knowing your audience
Graded: Have you seen format affect a news report?
Graded: Audience, tone, leads, sources
WEEK 4
More than words
Having an effective news report is often dictated by the many thoughtful choices made by editors and journalists. How things look, sound, feel and read impacts how the audiences choose to take in information - and if they want to interact with your media. What are the things you need to consider? You will learn how your news report can be strengthened through multimedia: audio, video, graphics, photos and maps. You will develop skills in shooting video and photos, as well as gathering audio.
4 videos, 2 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- Video: Multimedia in News
- Discussion Prompt: How can you use multimedia?
- Practice Quiz: Ways to think about multimedia
- Video: Adding audio to your news report
- Reading: Listen to this!
- Practice Quiz: Audio best practices
- Video: Adding Videos to your News Report
- Reading: Make Your Video More Visually Interesting
- Practice Quiz: Adding Video to Your News Report
- Video: Why should you use multimedia?
Graded: Adding layers with multimedia
WEEK 5
Keeping the news conversation going
Being a journalist does not mean you complete a news report...and move on to another story. Many times, one report leads to another, then another, then another on a particular topic. You will learn how to harness and understand the power of your audience, and use their feedback to develop more news reports. You will also deepen your understanding of audience reaction and how to handle the feedback.
4 videos, 1 reading, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Keep the reporting going!
- Video: Crowdsourcing and audience reaction
- Discussion Prompt: Using the audience to crowdsource
- Video: The good, the bad, and the please go away
- Practice Quiz: Forms of audience reaction
- Video: Journalists and pushback
- Reading: Stress and journalists
Graded: How do YOU keep the reporting going?
Graded: Journalists and audiences
Graded: Putting it all together
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
Michigan State University
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 150 years.
One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
Pricing
| Purchase Course | Audit | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Available | Not available |
| Receive a final grade | Available | Not available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Available | Not available |
Ratings and Reviews
Great course very resourceful to my career.
It just keeps getting better.
Each course is a healthy and robust expansion upon the last. My knowledge base continues to expand: My writing in general has become honed, my videos and pictures have enhanced. I am getting more compliments on my presentations.
This course builds nicely upon the last 2 with a focus on how to successfully carry your news and reports to your readership.
As always, instructors are varied in personality, their individual rhythm and cadence is appealing. I feel a deep sense of engagement with the material. The slides behind the instructors are thoughtful and well-placed; bulleting key topics. I felt I was honestly both learning and understanding the material.
I experienced both personal and professional accomplishment in this course. I am signing up right now for the next one.
An amazing course indeed
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Very interesting!