Designing pages

step by step

In Editing, we work with InDesign to make complete pages. First, we cover story editing and headline writing, then move on to use of photos and informational graphics.

The class and lab sessions allow you to learn and practice editing skills before being graded. The skills are cumulative; successive projects require more and varied work.

By the sixth week of the quarter, you'll be desigining full pages, and we'll cover the use of color, typography and feature design.

The final project is a fully developed magazine spread. Most students are surprised by what they are able to do by the end of the quarter.

Journalism 309 Editing

Syllabus for Fall Quarter 2008

Office: Communications 278
Phone: 650-3245
e-mail: carolyn.dale@wwu.edu
or dalecarolynj@yahoo.com
Office hours: 8:30-10 a.m. T, R and by appointment.

Editing draws on a range of skills

People who work as copy editors at newspapers, as editors at magazines, as public relations practitioners creating publications, or as editors of electronic news services need to master a range of skills to do their jobs.

This course aims to impart these skills:

writing headlines and subheads;

editing for AP news style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation;

editing news stories for content, leads, accuracy and legal issues;

handling wire copy, including making trims, cuts and updates;

cropping and sizing photographs and writing cutlines;

exercising ethical considerations for photo use;

creating and editing information graphics, such as charts;

gaining appreciation and understanding of typography;

designing pages (tabloid, broadsheet, magazine and Web) using InDesign;

integrating editing, writing and design.

Doing both visual and verbal work is challenging

Most students will feel more comfortable with some of these tasks than with others. For example, “word people” often take more readily to grammar, and “visual people” are more eager to do layouts. Professional editing draws on strengths in both areas.
One additional hour in the lab is required each week, plus considerable time on your own, to complete assignments. The journalism editing lab, CF 202, is open for students outside of class time. Mac labs open 24 hours are located in CF 161 and Fine Arts 101.
Many additional practice exercises are available. Please feel free to ask questions, or to show me drafts and ask for comments, at any time before you turn in a project.

Course requires six exercises and one test

Please see J309 Assignments for detailed descriptions of the projects, plus their due dates. A test is scheduled for the sixth week of class. There is no final exam, but a final project is due by noon Thursday, Dec. 4, the last day of class.

In the CF 202 lab, you'll find assignments and useful materials:
1. Log in to the desktop using your universal login;
2. Log in to the blue globe "S" server, and choose Journ.sys;
3. Select the Course Material folder;
4. Go to Dale J309 Editing;
5. Select from among the numbered assignment folders.

Texts and supplies

Main text: "Fearless Editing: Crafting words and images for print, Web and public relations," by Dale and Pilgrim, Allyn & Bacon, 2005.
Reference: " When Words Collide: A Journalist’s Guide to Grammar and Style," by Kessler and McDonald; and " The Associated Press Stylebook."
Recommended: a guide to InDesign for Macintosh or for Adobe Creative Suite.
Storage: A flash or thumb or other USB storage device suitable for Macintosh computers. Rewritable CDs are also an option.

Software: The lab in CF 202 is all Macintosh computers. We will be using Word for word processing, InDesign for headline writing and page design, Excel for charts, and some Photoshop. Students are required to complete an InDesign training session before the third week of classes.

For reading assignments and schedule, see J309 Syllabus page 2.
For descriptions of the projects required, see J309 Assignments.

Carolyn Dale, Associate Professor

Classes