Newspaper and Online Editing moves the student from the classroom environment of Multimedia Editing (JOUR 419) to the working professional environment of The University Daily Kansan, its Web site, kansan.com, its statewide news service, Jayplay and other publications and media, as necessary.

     Copy desk shifts: Each student works as a copy editor at the Kansan. At this moment, you will work at least two shifts per week: a “long” shift (six hours), working primarily for the print edition; a “short” shift (two to three hours), working primarily for kansan.com and the news service.
     Your grade will be determined through the assessment of your respective copy chiefs and editors of the Kansan, as well as my evaluation of their assessments and your work. Assessments (in addition to my weekly review) will be made for each shift throughout the semester. Results of an individual's assessment will be discussed with the affected student during the regular weekly meetings, as necessary. Important note: You report directly to and are responsible to the editors of the Kansan for this portion of the class. Your work will be assessed by your supervisors at the Kansan. Your grade will be determined from those assessments, my evaluations of those assessments, my conversations with the appropriate editors and you about your work, and the daily critiques of the Kansan, which reflect your published work. Copy chief evaluations: Each copy editor will have at least three one-on-one evaulations with each of their copy chiefs during the semester. If those fail to occur, it is your responsibility to ensure, through your respective copy chiefs, that those assessments of your work occur.
     This accounts for 40 percent of the grade.
     Note: An unexcused absence or tardiness likely will result in the deduction of at least one letter grade from the final course grade. A second unexcused absence and/or serious tardiness likely will result in a failing grade for the course. (See attendance policy below.) Note: You are required to inform me by e-mail if you miss or are late for any copy editing shift. Failure to do so will be considered academic misconduct.

     In-class work and participation: Exercises, quizzes, presentations, and other projects and assignments will be part of the in-class requirements. Students will be expected to show their expertise and knowledge of skills relevant to their work away from class, assigned readings and handouts (including essays), “common errors” that crop up during the semester, and current events. Some work will be closed book in the manner of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund test; other work will require use of your reference materials, particularly Words on Words and the AP and Kansan stylebooks. Bring those references to class. You may not use reference materials and books other than your own. Kansan styleguides will be made available during quizzes and exercises.
     This accounts for 20 percent of your grade.
     Individual grades — either letter, numerical or S/U — may be given for each assignment and averaged at the end of the semester. Quizzes will account for 80 percent; other work will account for 20 percent. Note: An unexcused absence or tardiness likely will result in the deduction of at least one letter grade from the final course grade. A second unexcused absence and/or serious tardiness likely will result in a failing grade for the course. (See attendance policy below.)

    Newspaper critiques and portfolio: Critiques: At most Friday class sessions, one team will be responsible for presenting a critique to the class of a pre-selected edition of the Kansan and its Web site. Its intent also is to provide assessments of the quality of reporting and editing at the Kansan.
     Final critique: The purpose of those weekly critiques is to prepare each student for a final critique of a local, regional or national newspaper of the student's choice (with my approval). Deadlines for the selection of a newspaper and for the final critique are indicated on the class schedule.
     Portfolio: Each student will prepare a portfolio that will include examples (samplings) of work from the semester for presentation to prospective employers. Details will vary depending on individual needs. Requirements include a cover letter (to an appropriate contact person at the newspaper selected for your critique unless other arrangments are made and approved), a one-page resume with references, and clips, with appropriate commentary. Examples should represent your best body of work, including headlines, cutlines, Web and wire service..
     The final critique and portfolio account for 30 percent of your final grade (80 percent for critique; 20 percent for portfolio). Note: The weekly in-class critiques of the Kansan are part of the in-class and participation grades and do not affect the grade of the final newspaper critique. However, your in-class presentation of your final critique at the end of the semester is part of your final critique grade.
     A guide and grading sheet will be made available to show specifically what areas are important and how the grade will be determined. Note: Late submissions will be docked one letter grade and one letter grade per day thereafter.

     Individual meetings: Because each student's needs vary, all students will meet individually with me for 15 minutes at predetermined times on Wednesdays (as indicated on the class schedule). At those meetings, students will provide (whenever indicated on the class schedule) a one-page comprehensive assessment of one story or responsibility from the previous week. That assessment will be turned in at least one day (24 hours) before the scheduled meeting.
     Each assessment will be single-spaced in 12 pt. Times or Times Roman with 1-inch margins. Moreover, students should bring a copy of the unedited story, the edited version and the clip from the Kansan, whenever necessary.
    List of stories (and other work): In addition to the typed assessment, the student will provide a typed list of stories and other tasks accomplished during the week. That list will be a collective list, meaning that it will reflect the work through the semester up to that point. Details will be explained in the first class meeting.
    Be prepared: The student also should be prepared to review work, particularly areas needing improvement, and to provide important feedback. The responsibility for initiating and maintaining that conversation during the one-on-one meetings is the student's, not mine. If you don't understand, ask.
     Assessments and interactions from those meetings will account for 10 percent of your grade. The grade will be determined on the quality of your interaction with me or my designate on issues central to the course and your work. Note: An unexcused absence or tardiness will result in the deduction of up to one letter grade from the final course grade. A second unexcused absence and/or serious tardiness likely will result in a failing grade for the course.

Required books and materials

   • Words on Words by John B. Bremner. When Bremner retired from KU at the end of 1985, he was the nation's best-known teacher of editing. His important legacy continues.
   • The American Heritage Book of English Usage. It provides a modern guide to contemporary English.
    • The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. It's still the best book out there on usage. If you've got one book to own on grammar and usage, this should be it.
    • Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual (a recent edition). Note: I have new editions — the best-quality wirebound editions — available for $8.50 each, which is lower than the lower-quality paperback editions. The Kansan gets them at reduced cost because the Kansan is an AP member. The style books are sold at cost; the Kansan makes no profit.
    • The University Daily Kansan Policy, Style and Layout Guide (latest edition), copies of which are available in the newsroom. I am not requiring that you possess a copy of your own. I do require that you learn it — well and quickly.
    • American Heritage Dictionary.
    • The Sunday edition of The New York Times, specifically the Week in Review section. I will have arranged for you to receive discounted copies through The New York Times — $2.50 (plus tax) per week, about half of what you'd pay at Border's. We'll receive it for 10 selected weeks, which means the total is $26.83. You'll need to provide checks for the proper amount by the end of the second full week of class. (Failure to do so, unless other arrangments are made, could affect your grade.) Make checks payable to The University Daily Kansan and give them to me. Note: The newpapers are delivered to the Kansan loading dock on Sunday morning. I will move them to a chair outside my office sometime that morning and, later, into the newsroom. Please check your name on the list when taking a copy. Important: Take the entire edition. Do not simply take the Week in Review section, leaving the rest behind. Why? Two reasons: Because someone will then pick up the “ort” (a good crossword word) of your ill-deed only to find that the needed section is not there; you might bump into a lot of other interesting stories and features (Sunday magazine and crossword, to name but two) that might, or should, grab your attention.
    • Any material on the Newspaper and Online Editing web page, which is available at http://web.ku.edu/~gibson/copyedit/, and, as assigned, on my Multimedia Editing web page at http://web.ku.edu/~edit/.
     • A three-ring binder with plastic sleeves* for your portfolio and to preserve all handouts and quizzes during the semester. (*The plastic sleeves are for your letter, resume and clips; other materials, such as handouts and quizzes, do not need to be in plastic sleeves.)

Required newspapers:

    • Obviously, The University Daily Kansan, each day, as well as the Week in Review section of the Sunday edition of The New York Times. You also should keep up on local events by paying regular attention to the Lawrence Journal-World.

Recommended:

    • Daily newspapers, such as The Kansas City Star, USA Today, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. I also recommend national news shows on television and radio, especially NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
    • Woe is I by Patricia T. O'Conner.
    • The Careful Writer by Theodore Bernstein.
    • The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy.

    In the workplace, people who fail to show up for work without notice are soon fired. You will approach this course as you would your chosen profession. Obviously, attendance is mandatory for all copy editing shifts, as well as other meetings called by the Kansan editors. An unexcused absence or tardiness will result in up to a one-letter-grade deduction from your final course grade. A second unexcused absence and/or serious tardiness likely will result in a failing grade for the course. If you miss or are late for a shift, you must inform the appropriate persons at the Kansan — and me — as soon as possible and follow any rules that may apply, including sincere and timely efforts at securing a replacement. Failure to do so also can be treated as academic misconduct. Any appropriate penalties may apply.
     Attendance also is mandatory for all Wednesday and Friday class sessions. If you cannot attend class or if you are going to be late, you must contact me before class. If you do so, you may be excused. If you do not, you will receive a zero on that day's assignment, whether there is a graded assignment or not, and suffer other penalties as they apply, which likely will include a full-letter reduction in your semester grade for the class. A second unexcused absence and/or serious tardiness likely will result in a failing grade for the course.
     There will be no make-up work for missed exercises and assignments for unexcused absences, and all deadlines must be met. Any missed deadline will result in either a zero (exercises and individual meetings) or a penalty of one letter grade and, then, one letter grade per day thereafter.

     Here is the School of Journalism's official policy on attendance that was adopted in Spring 2003:

     “No student may add a journalism class after the 20th day of a semester.
     “Students must attend their classes and laboratory periods. Instructors may take attendance into account in assessing a student's performance and may require a certain level of attendance for passing a course. Instructors may choose to drop students from a course, based on attendance, without the student's consent.
     “The School of Journalism reserves the right to cancel the enrollment of students who fail to attend the first class or laboratory meeting.
     “The KU Office of Student Financial Aid is required by federal law to determine whether students who receive aid are attending each class in which they are enrolled. Instructors are required to report to that office absences of students who have stopped attending and names of those who have enrolled but never have attended. Students who do not attend classes may be required to repay federal and/or state aid.
     “Students who receive any form of Financial Aid should learn all requirements including minimum hours and grades to qualify for and retain that aid.”

    The obvious objective is to improve your editing skills and to prepare you for a productive and profitable career in journalism.

    In addition, the class is designed to: 

    • Develop your vocabulary and reading skills. I believe that you can write and edit only as well as you read.
    • Develop your critical-thinking skills, which reading assignments and class discussions are specifically designed to enhance. This is an essential part of your development into a successful writer, reporter, editor and manager.
    • Develop a strong sense of story development and management.
    • Develop a good working environment and the ability to collaborate effectively.
    • Develop strong leadership skills and a strong sense of professionalism.
    • Understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law.
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society.
    • Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
    • Critically evaluate your own work and that of others in all relevant areas.
    • Provide you an opportunity to develop the skills necessary for a successful career as a communicator.

    Your final grade will be determined as follows: 
 

40%	Copy editing for the Kansan, kansan.com and the All-Kansan News Service, the Kansan's statewide news service.
30%	Individual newspaper critique and portfolio.
20%	In-class work: exercises, critiques, presentations and participation.
10%	Individual meetings.

     IMPORTANT NOTE ON GRADING: If you receive a C- or lower grade in any segment (copy editing shifts, in-class work and participation, quizzes, critique, portfolio, etc.), no matter its percentage weight, it is my option to make that your final class grade for the semester. It also is my option to make your grade for copy editing at the Kansan your final semester grade if that grade is lower than what mathematically results from all segments. If you don't understand what I mean, ask. This is to ensure that you put your full effort into each segment of this class, no matter its relative percentage value.

    Cheating will not be tolerated. University policies covering academic misconduct are spelled out in the current Student Handbook, which is available free in Room 213 of Strong Hall. 

In addition, here the policy regarding plagerism adopted by the School of Journalism:

     The William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication of evidence and falsification of evidence.
     Penalties for plagiarism, fabrication or falsification can include a failing grade for this course and expulsion from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
     If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, please consult the professor of this course.
     If you have questions about what constitutes plagiarism, fabrication or falsification, please consult the teacher of this course.
     The following definitions are from Article II, Section 6, of the University Senate Rules and Regulations, revised FY98.

Plagiarism

     Knowingly presenting the work of another as one's own (i.e., without proper acknowledgement of the source). The sole exception to the requirement of acknowledging sources is when the information or ideas are common knowledge.

Fabrication and Falsification

     Unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

Disability statement

    The staff of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), 135 Strong, 864-2620, coordinates accommodations and services for KU courses. If you have a disability for which you may request accommodation in KU classes and have not contacted them, please do as soon as possible.
Please also see me privately in regard to this course.

    The requirements for this course most likely will be modified for unscheduled assignments or activities, to provide an opportunity to reemphasize certain skills, or for any other unforeseen circumstances. In other words, it can be modified to meet individual and collective needs. 

    I came to the University of Kansas and full-time teaching in August 1996 after 34 years as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers and the Associated Press. I moved into the job of general manager and news adviser at The University Daily Kansan in December 2001. You should know that I am doing what I’m doing because I have a passion for quality journalism and a lifelong love of the written word. If you don’t really want to know more, that's OK, But you might want to read my “bio.” It’s nice to know a bit about the person who’ll be preaching the Gospel of Journalism to you for the next four months. Plus, it'll be on the first quiz.