JOUR-296: Copy Editor

This course is INACTIVE
School
Liberal Arts
Division
English Literature & Composition
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Journalism
Course Number
296
Course Title
Copy Editor
Credit Hours
1.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
16.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
16.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
Instructor Permission
Catalog Course Description

Internship for students hired to fulfill responsibilities of Copy Editor position at The Mirror News. Internship is under the direction of an instructor in the respective discipline. Students will learn knowledge and skills to perform the duties of the Copy Editor of the Mirror News. The Copy Editor is primarily responsible for selecting and proofreading articles submitted for publication in the Mirror News student newspaper. Class may be repeated for credit.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Goal Statement

Students will demonstrate the ability to do the following:

  • Complete the tasks required of the Copy Editor of The Mirror News, the College's student newspaper. The primary responsibility of the Copy Editor is to insure all article submissions meet the format, grammar, and quality guidelines of the Mirror News. Students will practice academic responsibility and ethics in the field of journalism to develop skills to pursue a job in journalism or a journalism related field.
Core Course Topics
  1. The student and instructor will meet to create a set of objectives for the semester to successfully produce each issue of the college’s student newspaper.
    • The student will perform the skills necessary for performing the duties of the Copy Editor of the Mirror News.
    • The student and instructor will meet for the equivalent of one hour each week per credit hour to work on the upcoming issue of the Mirror News.
    • The student will collect, select, proofread, and edit student submissions for the college’s bi-weekly newspaper, the Mirror News.
    • The student will write articles for The Mirror News.
Core Course Learning Objectives (Separated)

Upon successful completion of the course, students should demonstrate the following:

  • Set and meet deadlines
  • Follow Associated Press guidelines for copy editing and for ethics in journalism
  • Analyze the structural pattern of specific news stories, feature stories, and reviews for a balanced perspective of information
  • Analyze how professional writers use quotations and transitions to develop a news and feature story
  • Identify bias and timely information in a news story
  • Recognize and evaluate accuracy in news and feature writing
  • Evaluate news worthiness of information from a variety of sources
  • Evaluate stories for logic, organization, clarity, and quality of writing
  • Evaluate the relevance of news stories
  • Collect the facts and quotations necessary for a news story
  • Write and edit a news story so that it is concise and free of bias
  • Organize the facts and quotations for a news story in a logical manner
  • Evaluate effective leads
  • Write clear and concise sentences and paragraphs per Associated Press guidelines
  • Edit news stories to eliminate errors such as comma splices, run-ons, and fragments.
  • Proofread entire newspaper prior to print
  • Conduct writing and editing sessions with Mirror News staff
General Information

Note that a grade of C- is not transferrable and is not accepted by some programs at HFC

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement
  • Weekly consultations with the instructor in the respective discipline. The consultations will involve oral and written assignments evaluating the student's knowledge of journalism standards for copy editing with an emphasis on editing for the campus newspaper.
  • Weekly consultations with the faculty advisor to the Mirror News.
  • Bi-weekly publications of The Mirror News.
General Course Requirements and Recommendations
  • Must have completed a college-level English course, preferably creative writing and/or a literature course with a grade of "B" or better.
  • Must have cumulative 2.5 GPA and successfully complete at least six credit hours at the end of each semester.
  • Must demonstrate proficiency in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
  • Recommended to have completed a college-level journalism class, such as JOUR 131.
  • Recommended to have prior newspaper experience, preferably being a staff member of a high school or college newspaper.
  • Recommended to have completed a college-level graphic design and/or web design course, or demonstrate proficiency in graphic design and/or web design.
Texts

The curricular committee that oversees this course maintains a list of approved texts.

Approval Dates

Effective Term
Fall 2018
Deactivation Date
ILT Approval Date
AALC Approval Date
Curriculum Committee Approval Date