Editing for Print 

Instructor: Jay Perkins

 Office Phone: 388-2381

 Office Location: 203 B Journalism

 E-mail: jrperk@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu

Office hours: Monday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

 Course Objective: This lecture/lab section of MC3210 is designed to familiarize you with basic editing principles and with AP Style. In my half of the class, we will focus on editing for print media. We also will look briefly at print layout and design tools. And we also will examine how the computer and the rise of the web has changed the rules for both print and broadcast. However, the purpose of the class is not to teach you computer programs and the time we spend in this area will be only enough to acquaint you with the basic techniques.

 Reading: I expect you to read quality newspapers on a daily basis. I specifically want to you to read daily the online edition of The New York Times. This will require you to set up an account with the Times. The newspaper is free but you must have an e-mail account and a logon id in order to access it.

I also expect you to read USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post to see how those newspapers edit differently. And I expect you to read each week the current edition of Time Magazine online to see how the online world is changing the way we edit.

It would be extremely smart of you as well to watch television news on occasion to see how television edits in a different fashion. After all, being prepared for Dr. King’s part of the course is not a bad idea.

 Required Texts: The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual; When Words Collide, Kessler; Grammar of the Edit, Thompson;

Newspaper Layout & Design, Moen; Newspaper Layout & Design workbook, Moen; Webster’s New World Dictionary: College Edition

 Week I- October 10

Introduction to the course. Outline of Requirements. Acquainting yourself with the computer programs we will use in this class. .

 Week 2- October 17

 Basics of a news story. Organization. Various methods of writing and when they should be used. The inverted pyramid, nut graf, feature and opinion forms and formats. Various editing assignments.

Week 3 – October 24

Memorize the AP Stylebook A-G before class. Remember, you should be prepared for a quiz at any time on any section of the reading and style that we have assigned.

AP Style. Ten rules that will make you right 75 percent of the time. Editing assignments

Project I Due - Read and analyze three authors

October 31

No class. Fall Holiday

Week 4- November 7

Memorize the AP stylebook H-O before class.

AP Style continued. Editing assignment.

Week 5 - November 14

Memorize the AP Stylebook P-Z before class.

AP Style continued.

Project II Due - Read and analyze three authors

Week 6 - November 21

Libel rules, layout and design. Basics of libel law. Introduction to HTML editors.

November 28

No class- Thanksgiving Holiday

Final Exam. Your exam will consist of approximately 80 style questions taken from the previous exams. It will NOT be an open book exam. In addition, we will have a short piece of copy to edit for content and organization as well as style. You will have 2 hours to complete the exam.