Special Topics in Journalism: The Washington Post Semester--A Consortium    

Fri. 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.; Story Conference Room, 5^th floor Newsroom, The Washington Post, 1150 15^th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20010

Instructors

Coordinator and Instructor of Record: Athelia Knight, Director of The Post’s Young Journalists Development Project. Each week different reporters and editors from The Washington Post’s news staff will lead a discussion on the assigned topic. 

Required Readings and Texts

There is no assigned textbook for this course. All students in The Washington Post Semester are expected to have the read the Post each day. The instructors may give other assigned reading. Students are expected to complete reading assignments prior to class sessions.

Course Overview

The Washington Post Semester is a one-credit course offered in a consortium with American University, Howard University and George Washington University.  It is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students planning careers in print journalism and provides an opportunity to interact in seminar fashion with professional reporters and editors at one of the nation’s premier daily newspapers. The objective of the course is to bring reality and immediacy to the classroom experience.

Students are expected to meet promptly at the Post’s editorial offices each Friday at 12 noon. Knight, the Washington Post coordinator and instructor of record will determine evaluation criteria.

Grading

Student course grades will be based on class attendance, preparation for and participation in seminar discussion, and demonstrated mastery of the readings. Since a student who is not in attendance cannot participate, attendance for this class is mandatory. There also will be one writing assignment—a long form story, five to seven pages in length, due at the conclusion of the course. Details will be announced in class.  

92-100 – Story is publishable as it stands. Shows mastery of facts, narrative flow, proper style, writing, and fairness and balance.

87-91 – Well-written, accurate copy. Contains relevant material but may lack completeness. Also has spelling, typographical and style errors.

83-86—Handled assignment fairly well although left questions unanswered. Copy needs some rewrite and publishing. However, contains no major factual errors.

Possible Course Topics:

The State of Newspaper Journalism Today: Myths and Realities

Covering Business and High Tech

The Changing Nature of Sports Reporting and Writing

Covering State and Local Politics

The Art and Craft of Feature Writing

Diversity and Changing Demographics; Impact of Immigration on coverage; Covering a Multicultural Society

Newspaper Production in the 21st Century: A Visit to the Washington Post Printing Plant  

Ethics of Journalism: What’s Wrong, What’s Right with the News Business       

Science Reporting: Translating the complex for readers.              

The Business of Newspapers, New Media and the Internet                                          

The Special Story: Parachute Journalism at Home and Abroad

Follow the Money: Understanding the Stock Market; Exploring Finance and the Economy

Survey Journalism: Learning how to Write, Report on and Evaluate Polls and Polling