Course Syllabus
Emerson College
Sports Media/Reporting - JR 240
Spring 2013
Day/Time: Monday 6:00 – 9:45 pm
Room: 120 Boylston, Room W638
Instructor: John Rooke
Email: john_rooke@emerson.edu or john.rooke@cox.net
Cell: (401) 258-7423
Course Text: Sports Media: Reporting, Producing and Planning – Bradley Schultz
Office Hours: Monday, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Room: 6th Floor, Walker Building (W604C)
Summary:
The purpose of this course is to provide a practical, real-world basis for sports coverage in print, broadcast and online media. Students will produce a range of stories in each media category; learn the basics of “beat” reporting; understand what it means to “do their homework” and how to compete for positions in a shrinking job market; deepen their overall knowledge of sports as it appeals to consumers of media.
Goals:
- To analyze in-depth sports reporting for television, radio, print and the internet, and to understand the similarities and differences for each medium.
- To develop and further writing, reporting, interviewing and voice skills for television, radio, print and the internet.
- To learn how to locate news sources, how to recognize elements of a good story, and how to present such stories for television, radio, print and the internet.
- To recognize and appreciate what makes good sports journalism, how facts and statistics can be used, and how creative writing can enhance the product.
- To learn the realities of the current job marketplace, what it takes to be successful in sports journalism, how ratings can affect product presentation and to understand how to “play the game” within the sports journalism field.
- To further general sports knowledge and cultivate a familiarity with sports discourse on a national and world level, as well as with local teams.
Assignments and class objectives:
Jan. 23: Introductory discussion of course expectations, goals and requirements. Current sports knowledge quiz. What makes good or bad sports journalism? What do consumers of sports media want out of their writers and broadcasters? Discuss how to separate fact from opinion in sports journalism, and how each can help or harm the other. Who are your favorite sports journalists, and why? Who are your least favorite? What characteristics make these individuals stand out from their competitors? Are you really considering sports journalism as a vocation, and why?
Assignments:
Read Chapter One – Sports Media: Reporting, Producing and Planning
Read DAILY from USA Today, Boston Globe and/or Boston Herald
Create a personal sports “blog” site that will serve as your location for homework assignments. You will send me a direct link to your blog site when homework is due, via email. Select one sports article, one sports radio or sports television program and write a 500-word (MAX) review on why the article or program interests you. Is it an example of good or bad sports journalism, and why?
Jan. 28: Current sports knowledge quiz…Discussion of Chapter One…review first assignment…Two-Minute Drill introduction
Assignments:
Chapter Two – Sports Media, Reporting
Read three separate sports journalism pieces (game stories from any beat) from any printed publication (online or otherwise) and write no more than 750 words comparing/contrasting the content. Did the reporter utilize a feature approach, or a hard news style? What did you like and dislike about the way the game was presented for consumption?
Feb. 4: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion of Chapter Two, review assignment two…Two-Minute Drill opening round(s)
Assignments:
Chapter Three – Sports Media, Reporting
Write a column (opinion piece) on any sports topic you wish. Get it off your chest! 1000 words MAX. How can having passion for a subject help or hurt your credibility as a sports journalist?
Feb. 11: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion Chapter Three, review opinion pieces…Two-Minute Drill competition
Assignments:
Chapter Four – Sports Media, Broadcast
Watch or listen to any sports event (radio or television) of your choice. Listen to the announcers – could you follow the game action? Did they enhance or detract from your enjoyment of watching/listening? Prepare a review of the game, talk about what you liked and/or disliked about what was said and how they reported. How could you have improved on their performance? 750 words MAX.
Feb. 18: No class – President’s Day
Feb. 21: Monday classes observed. Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion Chapter 4, interviewing techniques…sports news reporting/flashes…Two-Minute Drill
Assignments:
Chapter Five – Sports Media, Internet
Interview an Emerson athlete or coach, and write a feature story. Do they have an interesting story to tell? What makes them tick, or stand out from the rest? Interesting hobbies or habits? If a player, talk to the coach. If a coach, talk to the players! Use quotes. Go into this with the idea that NO ONE (especially me) knows anything about your subject. After the piece has been read, your readers should understand who they are!
Feb. 25: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion of Chapter 5…Two-Minute Drill…play-by-play
Assignments:
Chapter Six – Sports Media, Video and Visuals
Continue feature story on Emerson athlete or coach
Mar. 4: No class – Spring Break – but READ Chapter Seven in your text!
Mar. 11: Class this week will be “virtual.” I will be in New York covering the Big East Tournament, and available by email or phone if you have any questions. We will make this class up (if necessary) at semester’s end during reading days. Your assignment this week – even though we will not meet as a class – will be to read Chapter Eight – Sports Media, Production. And, pick any Major League Baseball team and follow their “beat” throughout the week. Prepare a “notes style” column on what happens during the week, as if YOU were in training camp with them. Offer your own insight and opinion where warranted. 750 words MAX.
Mar. 18: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion of Chapters 7 & 8, review Emerson features and MLB beat stories…Two-Minute Drill
Assignments:
Chapter Nine & Ten – Sports Media, Economics, Public & Media Relations
Prepare for your final project. Choose a medium (TV, radio or print) in which to create and prepare your project. It can be a radio feature or play-by-play of a game, a TV story or show, an op/ed or feature piece for print/web…or use your imagination! It may be a single piece, or a series of articles, blogs, stories, etc…your choice. Creativity will count. Write a 250 word synopsis on what your project will be.
Mar. 25: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion Chapters 9 & 10…synopsis on final projects due…Two-Minute Drill
Assignments:
Chapter Eleven & Twelve – Sports Media, Ethics, Gender & Race…final project
Apr. 1: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion Chapters 11 & 12…Two-Minute Drill…sportscasts for radio
Assignments:
Chapter Thirteen – Sports Media, Employment…final project
Apr. 8: Current sports knowledge quiz…discussion Chapter 13…Two-Minute Drill…movie night
Assignments:
Continue work on final projects
Apr. 15: No class – Patriots’ Day
Apr. 19: Monday class observed…current sports knowledge quiz…Two-Minute Drill
Assignments:
Final projects should be nearing completion
Apr. 22: Current sports knowledge quiz…Two-Minute Drill finals
Apr. 29: FINAL QUIZ – PROJECTS DUE
Guest speakers will be added as speaking schedules are arranged.
This syllabus serves as a GUIDELINE ONLY as to what you may expect in class, and is subject to
change. All assignments and class discussions are subject to change; in-class assignments and
lab opportunities will also vary…it is YOUR responsibility to be certain of what is due WHEN it
is due.
Previous Guest Speakers have included:
Bob Ryan, Boston Globe, ESPN; Bob Halloran, WCVB-TV; Jon Wallach, WBZ-FM; Jason Wolfe,
WEEI; Steve Hyder, Pawtucket Red Sox; Kevin McNamara, Providence Journal; Andy Katz, ESPN;
Doris Burke, ESPN; Mark Summer, ESPN Producer; Len Weiner, ESPN Radio Network PD; Sara
Hogan, WPRI-TV (Emerson grad); Pete Thamel, New York Times (now Sports Illustrated/si.com)
reporter.
Course Reading:
“Sports Media: Reporting, Producing and Planning” – Bradley Schultz
Daily, from USA Today, Boston Globe, Boston Herald or similar daily newspapers/websites
Daily, from sports coverage websites espn.com, si.com, cbssports.com, nbcsports.com, etc.
Weekly from Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine or similar weekly publications
Course Grading:
25 percent – sports knowledge quizzes
25 percent – class assignments
25 percent – class participation/attendance
25 percent – final project/exam (12.5% each)
Proper use of spelling, punctuation and grammar are ESSENTIAL. Quality of reporting style,
originality, fairness and balance, authority and specificity, clarity and organization will all be
considered in assessing your assignments and the final project.
Expectations:
Attend each class and arrive on time. This industry revolves around deadlines, and as such, you
will be expected to meet every deadline set – especially with class attendance. Assignments
will not be accepted late. Treat this class as if it were your job, and as if I were your
editor/producer/news or sports director. If you must miss a class for whatever reason, it is your
responsibility to let me know BEFOREHAND if at all possible, by phone or email, and your
responsibility to keep up with and turn in assigned work. Missed or late assignments will be
graded as ZERO. This class only meets once per week – as such, more than two missed classes,
excused or otherwise, may cause your final grade irreparable harm.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of the words and/or ideas of another person as if they were your own, and
without the acknowledgement of their source. Plagiarism is stealing, pure and simple – and will
not be tolerated. Journalists who make things up outside of the realm of opinion pieces, or
steal others’ work to pass it off as their own undermine their careers – and erode public trust
in their ability to be credible. Therefore, anyone in this class found guilty of plagiarism in any
assignment will automatically fail the course, and may be suspended from the College. Please
note, plagiarism can also happen inadvertently due to careless note taking, or due to a lack of
knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or story. All sources for your assignments
should be independently verified whenever possible, and when it is not possible, that
information should be paraphrased and attributed to the source from which it was drawn. The
course instructor will periodically check sources for accuracy.
Disability:
If you believe you have a disability that may warrant accommodations in this class, I urge you
to register with the Disability Services Coordinator, Dr. Anthony Bashir, at 216 Tremont Street,
5th Floor (617-824-8415) so that together, you can work to develop methods of addressing
needed accommodations in this class.
Course Summary:
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