Public Affairs Reporting

Journalism 135

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Courses
Journalism 131
Journalism 135
Journalism 193
Journalism 197

 

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Course Requirements

Your grade will be based on (but not limited to) the following assignments:

Reporting and Writing (60%)

1. Report on an agency or a non-profit organization (you may not be employed, affiliated or act as a volunteer with the organization).

You will choose a city council, school board, planning and zoning or other official, public meeting to attend and report on prior to April 1. (Campus meetings are possible if approved beforehand.) Your first choice is due Tuesday, Feb. 24. An agenda of the meeting and preview story is due prior to the meeting. The story is due 24 hours following the meeting you attend, and should be 400- 500 words. You may choose a public meeting that is related to your group project.

2. Profile of a candidate for the 2003 Recall election

This will be an investigative profile of a particular state legislator of your choice with information about his/her personal background (education, family); professional career; business relationships; real estate holdings; campaign financing; voting record; military history; court records. The report must be footnoted to source, and documents must be included in the appendix. Your choice is due Tuesday, February 24. The profile is due Tuesday, April 27.

Document research
Each of you will procure public documents related to your candidate profile. You must go through the process of procuring the documents (by mail or in person) and describe that process for the class in a brief presentation. You will also provide a short written summary (it can be in letter, memo or journal form) of how you acquired the document or information to share with your colleagues. Be specific on exactly how you found the document (even the missteps!). Your choice is due Tuesday, March 9. The results are due Tuesday, March 16.

3. Bill story
You will research a bill that was passed and signed into law that will affect the CSUS readership and write an appropriate story for a campus audience. Story length: approximately 500 words.