Course Description
Three credits (two hours lecture, two hours lab). Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in AGJR 105. Credit will not be given for both AGJR 203 and JOUR 203.

Agricultural Media Writing I introduces students to news gathering, writing, editing and style. It also includes media ethics and law – all as they relate to communicating agricultural information to the industry and to the general public. The course content includes news identification, audience analysis, basic news writing forms (including the inverted pyramid) and style based on the Associated Press Stylebook. Throughout the course, students will write for mediums including newspapers, radio, television, the Internet and other current and emerging mediums used to communicate with the agricultural industry and its stakeholders.

Instructors:

Lead Instructor: Dr. Deb Dunsford

Teaching Assistant: Chris Lavergne

Dr. Deb Dunsford Senior Lecturer Department of Agricultural Education d-dunsford@aged.tamu.edu

Chris Lavergne Teaching Assistant Texas A&M University clavergne@aged.tamu.edu

Course Objectives:

As a result of participation in this course you will be able to:

• Understand the basics of news identification and news gathering for various agricultural stakeholder audiences.
• Organize the gathered information into an appropriate form for various agricultural communication media.
• Use style consistent with the medium and that assists the agricultural audience in better understanding the information provided.
• Write clear, accurate and engaging copy that would be usable for the targeted agricultural medium.

How Does a Web-Assisted Course Work?

• Each week you will click on the class link that corresponds to that week's lesson (click here). You should review the lesson and its related materials before the class meets for that week. The objective is to have the lesson for each week posted by Friday of the preceding week.

• A PowerPoint slide show will be used to facilitate discussion during class; it is viewable in Adobe format and may include an online presentation. However, like all dynamic courses, the PowerPoint slide show will not serve as the alpha and the omega; each student is responsible for additional inquiry through self-directed processes.

• One of the benefits of a Web-assisted course is the opportunity to experience a multitude of materials on the Internet. Under the list of learning activities, you will find a list of Web sites, journal articles, papers, and other materials to be reviewed. In this class we utilize the power of the Internet. You are to visit each site that is listed under the learning activities and read or view the materials. For some of the materials, you will need to have the Acrobat Reader on your computer. If you don't have Adobe, it's a free download at Adobe, and will be indicated by the Adobe symbol . Materials that do not require Adobe will have the symbol.

• The course utilizes e-mail for additional information and dialogue among course participants. You should check your NEO email account weekly to ask/post questions and engage in dialogue with other class members. This is not in real time so you will need to drop in from time to time and add your contributions. On some weeks there will be specific directions regarding the administration of this course. For more information regarding the NEO email program, review the help section when you get to NEO.

• You should establish a standard time every week to work on this class and "just do it." You don't want to get behind because it will be hard to catch up. In a typical class you would spend 3 hours in the classroom and 6-9 hours reading and doing assignments during a week. This class will require similar time commitments.

Course Text:

Associated Press Stylebook and briefing on media law. (2000). New York: Perseus Publishing.

Course Requirements:

• Active class participation is expected from each student during each meeting.

• A minimum of four individual projects (see syllabus for details) will be completed during the course.

Course Policies:

Your  work should be:

• Professional - There is no excuse for sloppy work. You can have fantastic ideas and thoughts but if your work is sloppy, colleagues will think your ideas are sloppy too. Always let the quality of your work be an accurate reflection of your professionalism!
• Academic Integrity: Texas A&M University faculty and students have a responsibility to maintain academic integrity. Information on academic integrity is found at http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/integrty.html. Check these links for more information on the Student Conduct Code.