Journalism 134
Online Reporting

MW 10:30-11:45
DBH 225

As of January 1, 2004, the finished web site for the Fall Semester, 2004 class can be found here.

For the first time, this course will be online in more than name. Our job will be to create a website for the new Laptop Project. That means we have much to do in a very short period of time.

The first task will be to educate ouselves how to best use the laptops so we can create an effective communications organization. If you haven't already purchased your laptop, you'd better better do so promptly. Time is fleeting. We have to figure out what our web site will look like and what we'll include. Then we have to assign various editorial tasks and begin to report on the project.

Your efforts will soon be uploaded and visible to the rest of the world. While not many people from Oshkosh or Tashkent will tune in, we can expect to have a wide following on campus, especially in those three departments participating in the project.

Our purpose is not to publicize the project. We will create an analytical site that examines what's happening. To do this, we have to familiarize ourselves with previous efforts elsewhere as well as key developments on campus. That will require lots of research and legwork.

By the end of the semester you all should be better reporters and writers and more familiar with what it takes to create a website.

Grades will be assigned according to the level of your involvement and the skill of your efforts. You will receive an "A" if you attend class regularly, accept responsibility and show marked improvement in your writing over the semester. Expect a "B" if you occasionally skip class, accept only an average amount of work and improve your writing only a little. A "C" will go to those who skip class, shun responsibilty and show only marginal improvement in their writing. "C" and "D" are for those who do even less. "F" is for individuals who think they can skate through the class.

If you wonder how I grade, go to this site for more information.

If you wonder what I consider to be good writing, go to this site.