This document outlines the key points from an introductory journalism class. It discusses the purpose of journalism in providing citizens with information, as well as the importance of objectivity, balance, and unbiased reporting. The professor reviews concepts like the elements of journalism, how to tell good stories, and assignments for students, including reading the first chapter, submitting a news article analysis, and completing an enrollment quiz. Students are advised to review the course content and check for announcements about upcoming classes.

1. JOU 1000
Introduction to
Journalism
Professor Michael Rizzo
Director, Journalism Program
Division of Mass Communication
College of Professional Studies
August 27, 2020

2. JOU 1000
Introduction to
Journalism
Last class: August 24
Introduction
Survey
Overview of course content

3. JOU 1000
Introduction to
Journalism
Today
Revisiting Course Outline
Start Chapter 1

4. NEW Course Outline in BlackBoard

6. The Verification of Enrollment Quiz is
located in BlackBoard for our course.
Click on the Verification of Enrollment
Quiz tab in the column on the left
side of the home page. Follow the
directions in the information that
opens up.
Please complete the quiz by 6 p.m.
on Friday August 28, 2020.

7. RECAP
• Audiences seek factual information
• Question the source and
trustworthiness of reporting
• Characteristics of news stories:
impact, conflict, unique, timely,
local, celebrity, useful, human
interest

8. Chapter 1
The “need” and “want”
for journalism

10. Journalism builds communities.
Journalism is for citizenship
and democracy.

12. Journalism is dynamic as it
shows people what is happening
around their neighborhood, city,
state, country and the world so
people can better understand
what the effect of those
happenings are and decide what
to do about them.

13. PHOTO : ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS
Yuen-Ying Chan
"I want to give
voices to people
who need the
voice…people who
are powerless…"

15. Page 17 of the text:
The primary purpose of journalism
is to provide citizens with the
information they need to be free
and self-governing.

16. A HUNGER FOR AWARENESS
The Awareness Instinct
“[People] need to know what is going on
over the next hill, to be aware of events
beyond their direct experience. Knowledge
of the unknown gives them security; it
allows them to plan and negotiate their
lives. Exchanging this information becomes
the basis for creating community, and
making human connections."

18. What does good journalism
need to survive?

20. The elements of journalism
1. Truth
2. Loyalty is to citizens
4. Independence
5. Monitor
3. Verification

21. 6. A forum
7. Interesting and relevant
8. Comprehensive and
proportional
9. Show conscience
10. Citizens have rights
and responsibilities

22. What's missing?
Objectivity, Balance (telling
both sides) and Unbiased
reporting
Why are these important?

23. Because good news reporting doesn’t
tell me what to think but gives me all
the facts that it can in the space
on the page or the time it has during
a broadcast that allows me to
make up my own mind on stories.

24. Good journalism overcomes bias,
prejudices and subjectivity
through reporting that’s defensible,
rigorous and transparent.

25. defensible: the reporter is following
good journalism ethics
rigorous: the reporter has a full story
that reflects every effort to get all
the information the story needs.
transparent: the reporter isn’t hiding
or holding back information or
where the information came from

26. Good reporting gathers and tells
information, without trying to
convince the audience of something,
so the reporter can communicate the
story fairly and without the reporter’s
opinion as part of the story.

27. How do you tell good stories?

28. MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis mayor imposed a curfew Wednesday night and
requested National Guard help after unrest that included violence and store looting
broke out downtown following what authorities said was misinformation about the
suicide death of a Black homicide suspect.
Mayor Jacob Frey said details of the curfew which went into effect immediately
were still being worked out.
Frey said during a news conference Wednesday night that he and Gov. Tim Walz had
been in contact to address the situation. Frey said bolstering enforcement was an
effort to “stay ahead of the game as much as possible."
“What we’re calling for right now is peace," Frey said. “What we’re calling for right
now is for people to return to their homes.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo dispelled rumors on social media
about the death of an unidentified Black man suspected in a Wednesday afternoon
homicide, who later fatally shot himself on the Nicollet Mall as officers approached.
The incident, which was captured on city surveillance video and released by police
within 90 minutes, nonetheless sparked protests and looting in the heart of
downtown.

29. Next Assignments
Complete the Verification of
Enrollment Quiz

30. Go to the Assignments Tab in
BlackBoard for this assignment:
Submit what you consider a good
journalism story from
USAToday.com that was posted
there on August 27, 2020.
Explain briefly which element(s) of
journalism it reflects and why
Next Assignments

31. Next Assignments
Read Chapter 1: Pages 37-42 plus
the handout you will see
under the Content Tab in
BlackBoard about journalism
skills.

32. Next Assignments
Look for an announcement
from me about the next class
presentation or meeting.

33. STAY WELL
AND
STAY SAFE