Texts:
"Fearless Editing" (2005, Allyn and Bacon) by Carolyn Dale and Tim Pilgrim
(Note: This is a text by WWU journalism professors and is less expensive than any other editing text for print media. All royalties earned from sale to students in J309 will be donated by Dale and Pilgrim to the WWU Journalism department's scholarship fund.)
"When Words Collide:  A Media Writer's Guide to Grammar and Style," (latest edition) by  Lauren Kessler and Duncan McDonald
"The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law" (latest edition)

Non-required supplemental texts and readings:
Pegie Stark Adam, "Color, Contrast and Dimension in News Design" -- Pilgrim has a copy for overnight checkout
"InDesign for Macintosh & Windows," by Sandee Cohen -- Pilgrim has a copy for overnight checkout
 
Supplies: 
Students need notebook and pencils and an external hard drive or USB storage device (flash drive) or reliable external storage on a non-journalism server. Students use personal Web space WWU provides them (although Pilgrim strongly urges extra backup on a USB or firewire storage device).

Available labs: InDesign is available in CF 202 (our classroom open only until 5 p.m.) and in CF 161 and Fine Arts 101, both of which are 24 hour labs and also have Macs with Adobe CS4). There is also a small Mac lab in the new psychology building adjacent to CF.

Please use Firefox, Opera or Safari to view this syllabus -- do not use Internet Explorer.

The class is MAC ONLY -- DO NOT USE PC COMPUTERS FOR THIS CLASS. Also, do not turn in PDF or files other than InDesign (CS 4) on Macs in Fine Arts 101, CF 161 or the WWU journalism department (fonts used must be readable by Pilgrim's Mac).

Note: Pilgrim REQUIRES that student lab computers (and handsets) are NOT LOGGED ON on during class lectures and presentations -- ignoring this rule results in embarrassing confrontations and in attendance/participation point deductions.

IN ANY E-MAIL TO PILGRIM, STUDENTS SHOULD PUT J309 ON THE SUBJECT LINE TO ENSURE THAT HE WILL READ THE MESSAGE.

Software:
Thorough knowledge of InDesign (Adobe Creative Suite 4 for Macintosh) is REQUIRED. Students are required to gain InDesign expertise by the beginning of the second week. Mandatory workshops outside of class (at the end of Week 1) will be arranged with the Student Technology Center early in the quarter -- students who do not complete this training -- or get individual training from the STC -- MUST DROP THE CLASS; after the workshops and throughout the quarter, students may also obtain supplemental individual help from STC (in Haggard Hall) to increase proficiency. Also, they may seek help from online tutorials -- for instance, try these:
http://www.design.iastate.edu/LABS/tutorials/indesign/basic.html
http://www.video-tutes.com/packages/INDesign1.php
   Also, other software used in J309 will not be taught, so students are urged to use the lab hour built into J309 to become familiar with Photoshop, Illustrator and Excel (Web-related software such as Dreamweaver will also benefit WWU journalism graduates) -- and this software, too, has tutoring and training available at the Student Technology Center. (In addition, a number of printed tutorials, such as the Peachpit Press Visual Quickstart series, is available for InDesign, PhotoShop and Illustrator.

Catalog description:
Prereq: Journalism 207 and 307 or 390. News copy desk operations; editing; headline writing; dummying; page make-up and news graphics; and computerized editing.
Description:
Journalism 309 is a five-credit class in which students use InDesign and to a more limited degree, Illustrator, Photoshop, Word and Excel.  J309 does NOT teach their use; instead, it focuses on editing concepts and relies on students to develop the necessary software skills to apply those concepts. The journalism department hopes students enjoy and learn from the experience to develop "word" editing skills traditionally needed by editors and the more modern visual, computer-oriented skills becoming important  nowadays.   Copy editors at newspapers, editors at magazines and those in public relations creating publications need to master many skills to do their jobs.

This course focuses on comprehension, analysis and evaluation of the concepts of priority, clarity, community, unity, contrast and beauty as they relate to media editing -- and also focuses on imparting the following skills:
* editing news stories for content, leads, accuracy and legality;
* editing for AP news style and journalistic English;
* writing headlines and deck heads;
* handling wire copy ( including trims, cuts and updates);
* gaining understanding of typography;
* cropping and sizing photographs and writing cutlines;
* exercising legal and ethical judgment;
* creating and editing infographics;
* designing InDesign pages (tabloid, broadsheet, magazine sizes);
* integrating concepts focused on during the quarter;
* learning how the concepts can be applied to newsletters and Web pages;
* incorporating fact checking skills gained by using Wilson Library resources, the J309 reference sources below, phone books, maps and other Web resources such as these:
http://www.m-w.com/ (dictionary)
http://www.yourdictionary.com/ (dictionary/thesaurus)
http://www.encyberpedia.com/cyberlinks/links/index.html (encyclopedia)
http://www.spl.org/magnewsp/emagloc.html (Seattle Public Library)
http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/pages/toolbox/ (American Press Institute)

Student skills:
Most students will feel more comfortable with some of these tasks than with others. But, editing requires skills in both areas. Students should expect to spend considerable time on their own in the lab gaining the skills to complete assignments, especially in students' weaker areas.  Students will also have the opportunity to capitalize on their strengths by selecting near the quarter's end one final graded project that allows their talent to "shine."

Grading:
Many class and lab sessions allow students to learn the important concepts and practice demonstrating their understanding of the concepts in the editing process. The skills of editing focused upon are cumulative; successive projects require a deeper and broader conceptual understanding and ability in application.   The course grade is based on an introductory assignment, four major assignments, two in-depth journalistic English quizzes, an infographics assignment and a four-hour in-class project assigned in Week 9 and completed in Week 10 (all must be completed) -- along with attendance/participation points.

All assignments must be submitted as Macintosh CS3 InDesign documents (no e-mailed, PDF or other submissions unless indicated by Pilgrim).

The J309 course possible points for grades A to F is broken down as follows:
Practice stories -- practice only -- no points.
Stories 2 -- 145 pts.
Basics quiz 1 -- 100 pts.
Stories 3 -- 200 pts.
Basics quiz 2 -- 100 pts.
Page 1 design -- 100 pts.
Infographics -- 25 pts.
Feature design -- 100 pts.
Attendance/participation -- 80 pts.
In-class final project -- 150 pts.
Total possible -- 1,000 pts.

In-class points, including quizzes, infographics assignment and attendance/participation points (students lose partial attendance points if not in class within 5 minutes of starting time) CANNOT  be "made up."  Assignments not turned in because of "computer" problems will receive 70% of possible points -- if loss is documented and determined by Pilgrim to be legitimate (notify him immediately upon having any such problems so that legitimacy is established).

Also, five points are deducted from any asssignment handed in after deadline -- and beginning at five minutes past deadline, the late penalty outlined below applies.

The course has 1,000 possible points. Points -- not "grades" -- will not be assigned to each project (a "grade" for the course will be assigned at quarter's end). Out of the 1,000 possible points, the plus and minus system (A, A-, B+ etc.) is used in awarding those final grades.

In general, however, a total of 90 to 100 percent of the possible points on a project indicates excellent performance; 80-89 percent, very good performance; 70-79 percent, average; 60-69 percent, below average; lower than 60 percent, unacceptable performance.

The final project value is 15 percent of the possible points for the quarter. At quarter's end, a "loose curve" will be used to determine final course grades. The plus/minus system will be used.   Several editing projects will be begun in class and completed in the lab later as part of the homework.

The normal LATE PENALTY is 10 percent per day if turned in any later than five minutes after the assigned time on day due (weekends count as one day). In-class exercises cannot be made up.   During class sessions,  students may confer with each other -- except on the two quizzes. Increased learning occurs with such collaborative effort.  For all graded assignments, HOWEVER, assignments submitted must be only the student's own work -- no idential submissions (see the WWU catalog regarding academic dishonesty). Also, assignments submitted in the class will be used (without author's name) as examples in future J309 classes -- and possibly in the class text -- unless students notify Pilgrim in writing they do not agree to such use.

J309 students take J309 with the understanding that for educational purposes to further student learning, their work from class assignments may be shown and used in class discussion.

DUE DATES OF MAJOR GRADED PROJECTS ARE NOTED ON THE SCHEDULE BELOW.  

Please note that Pilgrim has a HEARING DISABILITY, so student conversations during class should be held in the hallway so class learning will not be interrupted. Also, no cell phones or other computer devices (iPods, etc.) in class -- turn them off before you enter.

Finally, no grades are posted in hallways; begining Thursday noon of finals week, final projects will be available in CF 251 in a file cabinet drawer for student papers; please do not e-mail Pilgrim asking for grades -- but do feel free to e-mail him during finals week at the time the final exam is scheduled for an e-mail conference on your final project.

J309 schedule -- Fall 2009:
Readings below are from "Fearless Editing" (FE), "The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual" (AP) and "When Words Collide" (WWC). Complete all readings by the beginning of the week.
 

WEEK 0 & WEEK 1 (Sept. 23, 28, 30) Introduction and Ch. 1, 2, 3 and 12 in FE; read Ch. 1, 2 and 3 in WWC: review entire AP stylebook; begin Practice stories; COMPLETE Indesign training session before Week 2

WEEK 2 (Oct. 5 & 7) Continue AP, journalistic English, InDesign work; work on headlines and editing; complete Stories 1; assign Stories 2. Read Ch. 4-5 (and reread Ch. 1-3 and 12) in FE; read Ch. 4-7 in WWC
Due: Practice stories completed by end of Mon., Oct. 5

WEEK 3 (Oct. 12 & 14) Continue AP style, journalistic English, headlines; expand editing; work on Stories 2 in and out of class; take Basics Quiz 1; reread Ch. 4, 5 & 12 in FE, and reread Ch. 1-7 in WWC; review entire AP; begin libel and ethics; assign Stories 3
Due: Basics Quiz 1 (100 pts.) given at beginning of class Wed., Oct. 14
Due: Stories 2 (145 pts.) printed on InDesign page at 11:15 a.m., Wed., Oct. 14

WEEK 4 (Oct. 19 & 21) Continue with AP style, journalistic English; begin more complex editing; work on Stories 3; read Ch. 7 (photos) in FE; read Ch. 8 in WWC

WEEK 5 (Oct. 26 & 28) Continue complex story editing; conclude journalistic English review; conclude Stories 3; begin editing photos; assign Page 1 layout; complete Stories 3; read Ch. 6 and Ch. 11 (layout/design) in FE; read Ch. 9 and 10 in WWC
Due: Stories 3 (200 pts.), each story printed on its own separate InDesign page -- due at 11 a.m., Mon., Oct. 26.

WEEK 6 (Nov. 2 & 4) Continue Page 1 layout; review Ch. 1-8 in WWC and especially Ch. 8 in FE; reread Ch. 6 and 11 in FE
Due: In-class journalistic English basics Quiz 2 (100 pts.) -- at beginning of class Mon., Nov. 2

WEEK 7 (Nov. 9 & 11 -- no class Nov. 11, Veterans Day) Page 1 work; layout; color theory lecture and analysis; read Ch. 10 (infographics) in FE; read Ch. 11 and 12 in WWC; read (optional) Pegie Stark Adam's "Color, Contrast, and Dimension in News Design" (on reserve in Wilson Library); IN-CLASS EXCEL TRAINING AT 11:30 a.m., Mon., Nov. 9
Due: Page 1 design (100 pts.) in electronic form placed in Editpro folder and submitted in reduced-size b&w version printed on InDesign page at 11 a.m., Mon., Nov. 9

WEEK 8 (Nov. 16 & 18) Complete in-class infographics assignment; assign feature page layout; expand visual approaches to content; read Ch. 9 (typography) in FE; typography lecture
Due: Weak infographic (& typed reason articulating reasons why) at beginning of class Mon., Nov. 16 (5 pts.); also due, one student-created infographic (20 pts.) completed in class Mon., Nov. 16 (entire class period devoted to producing infographic)

WEEK 9 (Nov. 23 & 25 -- university closes at noon for Thanksgiving holiday) Integrating writing, editing and design; feature page layout due; final project assigned on Mon., Nov 23
Due: Broadsheet feature page design (100 pts.) in Editpro folder and in reduced-size b&w version printed in InDesign on Wed., Nov. 25 at 11 a.m.

WEEK 10 (Nov. 30 & Dec. 2) Dead week. Work in class both Monday and Wednesday on final design projects; course evaluation
Due: Rough draft of final project at end of class (in reduced size -- use 47% -- on 8.5 x 11 printed sheet) on Mon., Nov. 30 -- ROUGH DRAFT MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT
Due: Final in-class project due at end of class (InDesign project submitted to Editpro as required) on Wed., Dec. 2

Week 11 (Dec. 8-12 -- Finals Week)
Pilgrim will be available during the final exam time via e-mail to students for conferences about the final project -- but no office hours. Pick up final in-class projects beginning Thurs., Dec. 10 in the filing cabinet in CF 251.