This document provides an overview of the journalism class taught by Mrs. Nicole Sitler. It outlines class procedures, assignments, and grading procedures. The class focuses on creating a print news magazine and maintaining a website. Students will learn journalistic writing skills, photojournalism, and how to market a publication through advertising sales. Assignments include weekly journals and current events discussions, articles and layouts for the news magazine, event photoshoots, and marketing subscriptions and business ads. Grades are based on these assignments and meeting deadlines. The goal is for students to work together to represent the media department and high school.

1. MEDIA II, III, IV
JOURNALISM
Welcome to

2. MEET MRS. NICOLE SITLER
Media teacher
 15th year of teaching at PT
 11 years of teaching journalism
Personal life
 Married for 16 years
 Josh – fourth grade
 Autumn – second grade

3. 2015-2016 FOCUS
Connecting with our audience
Writing for a national audience (USA
Today High School Hub)

4. WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
Creation of a print news magazine
Design and maintenance a website
How to write and design content for
public display.
Journalistic writing
AP style, lead, headline, inverted pyramid,
etc.

5. WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
Photojournalism
Choosing & taking appropriate photos
Caption writing
Marketing of a publication through ad
sales and subscriptions.
Maintaining accurate records.

6. WHY IS THIS CLASS IS
UNIQUE?
Working together for common goal.
Sharing our work others.
Your performance impacts everyone
else.
Represent the Media Department and
high school.

7. CLASS ENVIRONMENT
Lesson vs. Work Days
Only ½ credit if you finish
after due date
LV IIs – Learn basics of
writing and layout
LV III & IVs – Make
publication decisions and
role model for LV IIs.

8. COMPUTERS
No food or drink!!!
No homework by computers
Be careful to not bump the tables

9. CAMERAS
Cameras
 May use any camera
 See Mrs. Sitler for SD card
 Download the same day
 Always return and charge the batteries

10. SAVING
All assignments will be saved to the Y
drive
Reasons why?
 Multiple students will need to access them
 Only Mrs. Sitler has access to your home
directory
 Slows production of news magazine

11. CLASS RULES
Devices
 No Cell Phones
 Appropriate use of Internet
Your Stuff
 Personal items go in
designated spaces
 Again, NO books, work or
water bottles near computers

12. MEDIA II, III, IV
JOURNALISM
Classroom Procedures

13. DAILY PROCEDURES
Beginning of the period
 Backpacks/purses go in designated areas
 Read the white board and listen to
announcements.
End of the period
 Logoff the computer and put all equipment
away including your press pass
 Please stay seated until the bell rings.

14. MEDIA PASSES
Always wear outside of the classroom
Media passes are a privilege can be
revoked for inappropriate behavior.
Everyone signs an honor code and
parents must sign a “parental consent
form” located in the course syllabus.

15. MEDIA II, III, IV
JOURNALISM
Assignments/Grading
Procedures

16. ASSIGNMENTS
Weekly assignments
 Journals/Surveys
 Current Events
 Online
News magazine assignments
 Article process
 Layout
 Event Shoots
 Workshop Days

17. ASSIGNMENTS
Marketing
 Subscriptions
 Business ads

18. JOURNALS/SURVEYS – 5PTS
Journals (Weekly – Mondays)
Reflect on high school
Establish a characteristic of a highly
successful adult
Surveys
Verify work
Keeps students accountable
Happens during work days or Mrs. Sitler’s
absences.

19. CURRENT EVENTS – 5 PTS.
Weekly class discussions on Fridays.
 Focuses on the following:
 News: international, national and local
 Sports
 Current events
 Entertainment
 Other
 No phones. Must come to class prepared to
talk about the focus or more than one news
story.

20. ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS – 10
PTS.
Due on Wednesdays
Responsible for one online assignment
per week or small daily assignments.
Graded on quality
 No grammatical or spelling errors
 Accurate information
 Meets deadline

21. NEWS MAGAZINE
ASSIGNMENTS
Articles (30 pts.):
 Rough drafts (10pts.)
 Process (20 pts.)- includes peer edits, and
final copies
 Meeting deadlines are very important and
factor into your grade.
Layout (30 pts):
 Preplanning (10 pts.)
 Final layout (20 pts.)

22. EVENT SHOOTS – 10 PTS.
Event Shoots:
 1 - 3 per news magazine
 Assessment based on quality of work and
meeting deadlines
 Examples: photos & captions, head shots,
action photos, changing backgrounds,
mailings, tallying, etc.
 Will change per issue

23. WORKSHOP DAYS– 10 PTS.
Students will participate in workshop
sessions in place of tutorials
 2-4 per news magazine
 Large/small group instruction
 Level III & IVs will serve as co-instructors
and mentors

24. MARKETING ASSIGNMENTS
Parent/Community Subscriptions (20
pts.):
 Must sell a total of 2 parent/community
subscriptions
 $15 and delivered to your home.
 Students receive a free copy with purchase of
a yearbook.
Business Ads/Event Shoots (20 pts.):
 Grade will be recorded on the third nine
weeks.
 Editors encourage to sell ads.
 Attempting to sell an ad counts.

25. OTHER INFORMATION
Grading conferences
 Meet individually with Mrs. Sitler
Deadlines
 Group deadline
 Proofing
 No computers
Editors
Introductions on Tuesday, Sept. 8
Pick seats tomorrow

26. LET’S HAVE A GREAT
YEAR!