Course Title:  News Reporting and Sub-Editing              Course Code: MCOM6204                                                        

Spring-2020                                                                     Credit Hours: 3

Instructor: Hassan Raza Hashmi                                     Email: [email protected]

DESCRIPTION

The course intends to apprise the students about basics of news writing, news editing, news gathering, news reporting and news analysis for print and electronic media. At an initial level, this course will train the students about the professional standards and in the next phase, it will provide guidance about the modern techniques. The course also focuses on learning the importance of accuracy, balance and consistency in news. It will also develop a keen news sense, and understanding how to structure an effective news story by identifying the strongest angle and intro.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Demonstrate an understanding for news writing and reporting
• Understand the basic elements of digital storytelling
• Be able to write a short feature story, using appropriate description, detail and quotes
• Be able to find appropriate and diverse news sources, interview them and build the research necessary for strong news stories
• Be able to conduct interviews that elicit information and quotes for use in news and features stories
• Write a good headline

READINGS

• Clark, R. (2017). America‘s Best Newspaper Writing. NY: Bedford/St.Martin’s
• Rich, C. (2015). Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method (8th Ed.) Boston: Cengage Learning
• Ukonu, M.  (2013). News Editing and Design. Nigeria: Grand Heritage.
• Vincent, F.  (2018). Dynamics of News Reporting and Writing: Foundational Skills for a Digital Age. Washington: CQ Press.

Contents

• Basics of News: Definition, Elements, Values, Structure of News, Qualities and responsibilities of reporter 
• News Gathering: Sources of news, Interview, Criteria of news, Rewriting of news story 
• News Writing Techniques: Structure of news, Definition and types of headlines, Purposes and qualities of headlines, Principles of headline making
• Beat reporting: Crime and Accidents/Disaster, Sports, Commerce, Courts, Health, Education, Political, Parliament, Obituary 
• Difference between news reporting in print and electronic media 
• Sub-Editing: Sub- Editing, Art of Sub-Editing, Qualities and Responsibilities of Sub-Editor, Journalistic Translation
• Make Up: Types and techniques of make-up, Basic principles of makeup
• Computerized page designing and Use of computer in news room

Pre-requisite

Students should have basic knowledge of News Writing and the confidence to gather, write, edit and report effectively and efficiently.

Important Dates: Wednesday-Thursday 11:00-12:30 (R)

Wednesday-Thursday 03:30-5:00 (SS)

Start Date 12-10-2020                                                                        End Date 08-02-2021

1st Assignment            week 07                                               2nd Assignment Week 14

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Sessional: 20

Presentation: 10

Attendance: 5

Assignment: 5

Mid-Term: 30

Final exam: 50

RULES AND REGULATIONS

• 80 % class attendance is a must.
• Assignments would not be accepted after the due date.
• Originality of work would be ensured in case of assignments.
• In group presentations, group members have to divide the sub-topics in consultation with the teacher.