1. Journalism 1-2
Course Description: Journalism is an introduction to newspaper publishing and broadcast
journalism. Students will learn how to write for print, online and broadcast journalism. Students
will also learn how to conduct interviews, write in a variety of journalistic forms and discuss
editorial positions. The law and ethics of print and broadcast journalism will be covered as well.
Students will gain hands-on experience as they write, edit, design and layout the print and online
version of the MHHS monthly newspaper.
Prerequisites: 2.0 Cumulative G.P.A., C or better in prior English course
Course Materials:
Inside Reporting, 3rd edition – By Tim Harrower
AP Style Book
Unit 1: The Story of Journalism
This unit will take approximately 10 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● How has news changed over the past 200 years?
● What causes changes in news media?
● How do news sources stay in business?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● News media changes based on current social, cultural, and economic conditions.
● News reporters and editors have to stay aware of current social, economic, and cultural
issues.
Topics:
● Historical Figures of the American Press
● American Journalism in the 19th and 20th Centuries
● Current Changes in American Media
Unit 1 Project: Pitch Ideas for the School Newspaper
GOAL: Create a digital presentation that pitches ideas on what our school newspaper should do
to be successful.

2. ROLE: You are a reporter for the MHHS newspaper team in which each member of the team
must pitch ideas to create a successful newspaper.
AUDIENCE: Your audience is first your news team, but ultimately the audience includes the
MHHS students, staff, and community.
SITUATION: You are tasked to develop and present ideas for publishing a successful MHHS
newspaper. The ideas must take into account the media landscape of the MHHS and the
community.
PRODUCT: Your presentation may use Google Slides or Prezi. It is to be no longer than 5
minutes, so it must be concise and to the point. The ideas must take into consideration the
audience, media landscape, and the resources the news staff has available.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: An effective idea pitch includes the following:
● The ideas take into account the current media landscape of the community
● The ideas consider the expectations of the readers.
● The presentation is well organized and easy to follow.
● The presentation is no longer than 5 minutes.
● Appropriate journalistic language and grammar conventions are used with very few or no
errors.
Unit 2: How Newsrooms Work
This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● What makes a news story interesting?
● What do readers want in a news story?
● Why is the organization of a newsroom important?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● Reporters consider the readers’ interests and reading habits.
● Reporters spend 90% of their time chasing a story and 10% writing it.
Topics:
● Components of news stories
● Roles of people in a news room
● News and Press Terminology
● Tools of a Reporter

3. Unit 2 Project: Pitch an Idea for a News Story
GOAL: Create a digital presentation that pitches an idea for a newsworthy story to your news
team.
ROLE: You are a reporter for the MHHS newspaper team in which each member of the team
must pitch ideas for news stories for the upcoming issue.
AUDIENCE: You have to convince the editor and the advisor that your idea for a story is
newsworthy. Your ultimate audience is the readers.
SITUATION: You are tasked to develop and present an idea for a newsworthy story to be
included in the upcoming issue of the school paper. The ideas must take into account what
readers want.
PRODUCT: Your presentation may use Google Slides or Prezi. It is to be no longer than 3
minutes, so it must be concise and to the point. To support your idea, the story idea must take
into consideration what readers want. It must also show 2 examples of the parts of the story and
2 examples of the parts of a page.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: A successful news story pitch includes the following:
● The news event has two or more news elements that make it newsworthy
● The news story pitch takes into account what readers want.
● The news story pitch uses 2 examples from parts of a story.
● The news story pitch uses 2 examples from parts of a page.
● Appropriate journalistic language and grammar conventions are used with very few
or no errors.
Unit 3: Newswriting Basics
This unit will take approximately 15 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● What makes an effective news lead?
● How do reporters keep a reader interested?
● What makes an effective news kicker?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● The best reporters are objective, truthful, and fair.
● Newswriting summarizes the most important facts at the beginning.
● An effective story involves the reader from the very start.
● The best reporters keep a reader from getting bored.

4. ● Real writing is rewriting.
Topics:
● Facts and the 5 W Questions
● The Inverted Pyramid
● Writing Leads
● Structure of a News Story
● Revising, Editing, and Style of News Writing
● Strategies and Tips of News Reporting
Unit 3 Project: News story for the School Newspaper
GOAL: Write a news story for the upcoming issue of the school newspaper.
ROLE: You are a reporter for the MHHS newspaper and the news team is counting on you to
write a story for the upcoming issue.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience includes the editor and the advisor. They will check the
story for newsworthiness, structure, and readability. Your ultimate audience is the readers.
SITUATION: You are tasked to research a newsworthy event and write an article about it for the
upcoming issue of the paper.
PRODUCT: You will use Google docs to write an article that answers the factual 5 W’s, follows
an appropriate story structure, begins with an effective lead, ends with an effective kicker.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: An excellent news story will have the following traits:
● The facts tell the story leaving the readers to draw their own conclusions.
● It uses one of the three story structures that is appropriate for the type of story.
● Each paragraph includes only one idea each.
● Transitions are used appropriately and effectively.
● The readability has a fog index of 7 to 8.
● Appropriate journalistic language and grammar conventions are used with very few or no
errors.
Unit 4: Reporting Basics
This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● How is a web story different from a paper story?
● Where do reporters get ideas for stories?
● How do you know if a source is reliable?

5. ● What is the best way of taking notes?
● What are the best interviewing strategies?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● Reporters are always on the job and constantly prepared to cover a story.
● A reporter is only as good as the sources.
● Good note-taking requires a system of multitasking abilities.
● Good quotations give a story personality.
Topics:
● Finding and Using Sources
● Researching, Observing, and Taking Notes
● Using and Writing Interviews
● Reporting and Presenting Figures and Statistics
Unit 4 Project: News Story based on Sources
GOAL: You are to write a news story in which you use sources to find and research the story.
ROLE: You are a reporter for the school newspaper and are tasked with writing a news story
based on reliable sources.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience includes the editor and the advisor. They will check the
story for newsworthiness, structure, readability, and reliability of sources. Your ultimate
audience is the readers.
SITUATION: You are to find and use reliable sources to identify and research a newsworthy
event. It will be considered for publication in the next issue of the school paper.
PRODUCT: You will use Google docs to write an article that answers the factual 5 W’s, follows
an appropriate story structure, begins with an effective lead, ends with an effective kicker. It also
properly cites and credits sources as well as engages the senses.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS:
● Sources are reliable.
● Sources, quotations, and attributions are cited and properly credited.
● The story shows rather than tells. It engages the senses.
● It uses one of the three story structures that is appropriate for the type of story.
● Transitions are used appropriately and effectively.
● Appropriate journalistic language and grammar conventions are used with very few or no
errors.

6. Unit 5: Covering the News
This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● How do beat reporters balance the wants of the readers with those of their sources?
● What should reporters consider before writing a news story?
● How do editors decide what is and is not a news story?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
 Beat reporters focus on specific topics or institutions.
 The best news stories are well researched and written in a style based on its purpose.
Topics:
● Beat Reporting
● Writing Obituaries
● Covering Disasters
● Covering Crime and Courts
● Covering Politics
● Covering Sports
Unit 5 Project: Covering a Beat
GOAL: You are to choose and cover a specific beat on which you will write a news story.
ROLE: You are a reporter for the school newspaper and are tasked with writing a news story
based on a specific beat.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience includes the editor and the advisor. They will check the
story for newsworthiness, structure, readability, and reliability of sources. Your ultimate
audience is the readers.
SITUATION: You are to choose a specific beat that no other reporter on your team is covering.
So, be sure to coordinate with the other reporters. Then, you are to cover the beat and write a
news story about one event in that beat.
PRODUCT: You will use Google docs to write an article that answers the factual 5 W’s, follows
an appropriate story structure, begins with an effective lead, ends with an effective kicker. It also
properly cites and credits sources as well as engages the senses.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS:

7. ● Sources are reliable. However, the story is written for the readers, not for the sources.
● Sources, quotations, and attributions are cited and properly credited.
● The story shows rather than tells. It engages the senses.
● It uses one of the three story structures that is appropriate for the type of story.
● Transitions are used appropriately and effectively.
● Appropriate journalistic language and grammar conventions are used with very few or no
errors.
Unit 6: Beyond Breaking News
This unit will take approximately 15 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● What do successful feature writers do?
● How do feature writers reach readers?
● How can you tell if your idea is a good one?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● Feature stories are more personal and narrative.
● Successful journalists research and plan a complete package.
● Journalists use more than just paragraphs and reports to reach their readers.
Topics:
● Feature Articles
● Story Ideas
● Profiles
● Enterprise Projects
● Investigative Reporting
● Package Planning
● Short Form Alternatives
● Editorials and Columns
● Reviews
Unit 6 Project: Feature Article Package Planning
GOAL: You will create a package plan for a feature article for the next issue of the school
newspaper.

8. ROLE: You are a reporter for the school newspaper and are tasked with planning a feature article
package on a topic of interest of the readers.
AUDIENCE: You have to convince the news team that your package plan for a story is
newsworthy for a feature article. Your ultimate audience is the readers.
SITUATION: You are to choose a specific topic and angle that no other reporter on your team is
covering. So, be sure to coordinate with the other reporters. Then, you are to create a package
plan using the package planning form as a guide. If your plan is chosen, you will be the head
reporter of the feature.
PRODUCT: You will use Google Slides or Prezi to present the feature article package plan. The
plan should follow the package planning form guidelines.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS:
● The story is summarized in 25 words or less.
● Questions the readers may ask are answered.
● Photos and illustrations are specified and explained.
● An effective headline and/or deck is written.
● Staff roles and deadlines are set.
Unit 7: Law and Ethics
This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● Should bloggers be entitled to the same rights and protections as mainstream media
reporters?
● How much can a school newspaper be censored?
● When should an article not be published?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● Journalists have the right to free press, but they also have legal responsibilities
and ethical standards.
● Reporters and editors maintain a high standard of professional behavior.
Topics:
● Rights of the Press
● Libel
● Privacy Issues

9. ● Copyright Law
● Censorship
● Journalistic Ethics
Unit 7 Project: Instructional Presentation: Avoiding Plagiarism
GOAL: Create an instructional presentation for students about the importance of citing sources
and avoiding plagiarism.
ROLE: You are a research expert at the school. You have been asked by other teachers to create
an instructional presentation that teaches students the importance of citing sources and
convincing them to avoid plagiarism.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience includes the high school teachers of English. Ultimately,
the audience will be high school students in English classes.
SITUATION: There have been major problems with students plagiarizing their reports and
essays in English classes. English teachers have asked you, as an experienced reporter and
writer, to create a presentation that stresses and highlights why citing sources is important and
convinces students to avoid plagiarism.
PRODUCT: You will use Google slides or Prezi to create the instructional presentation. Your
presentation will highlight and explain laws and ethics behind the rules for citing sources. The
presentation may be used in English classes and may be posted on course websites.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: An effective presentation will include the following:
● The presentation is no longer than 5 minutes.
● Specific and credible reasons are shown why the citing of sources is important.
● Specific and credible arguments are given for avoiding plagiarism.
● The sources in the presentation are appropriately cited.
● Literary techniques are used that engage the reader and maintain their interest.
● Appropriate language and grammar conventions are used with very few or no errors.
Unit 8: Online Reporting
This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● What should journalists consider before publishing on the web?
● How is journalism changing today?

10. Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● Electronic newspapers may replace paper newspapers.
● The role of the journalist is changing along with the media.
● Technological innovations are transforming 21st-century journalism.
Topics:
● Printing vs. Web Publishing
● Media Convergence
● Online Storytelling
● Writing for Online Media
Unit 8 Project: News story for Online Media
GOAL: You are to write a news story exclusively for an online news site.
ROLE: You are a reporter for the school newspaper. You are tasked with creating a web page
specifically for a news story.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience includes the editor and the advisor. They will check the
story for newsworthiness, structure, and readability. Your ultimate audience is the readers who
read the news online.
SITUATION: The school newspaper wants to have a wider appeal for the online audience.
Therefore, the reporters have been given the task of writing a news story and creating a web page
specifically for the news story.
PRODUCT: You will use Google sites to create the web page and publish the news story. When
approved by the editor and advisor, a link to the page will be posted on the newspapers’ web site.
So, the final product must be planned, written, and created specifically for a web page.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: An effective web news story:
● Uses appropriately sized images and text.
● Includes audio and visual elements.
● Includes one or more links to related information
● Includes 2 or more other interactive elements.
● Is easy to navigate.
● Includes compelling headlines.
Unit 9: Broadcast Journalism

11. This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● What stories work best through broadcast journalism…through print journalism?
● How do broadcast journalists engage the audience?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● TV and radio journalism are neither better nor worse than print journalism.
● Broadcast stories require a different format than print stories.
● Broadcast interviewing requires a different approach than print.
Topics:
● Broadcast News
● Radio News
● Television News
Unit 9 Project: Online Broadcast
GOAL: You are to write and produce a news story exclusively for an online broadcast.
ROLE: You are a reporter for the school newspaper. You are tasked with writing and producing
an online broadcast of a news story.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience includes the editor and the advisor. They will check the
story for newsworthiness, structure, and readability. Your ultimate audience are those in the
community who watch the news online.
SITUATION: The school newspaper wants to have a wider appeal for the online audience.
Therefore, the reporters have been given the task of writing and producing a news story that will
be broadcast online.
PRODUCT: You will use Google Docs to write the news story script and WeVideo to create the
broadcast of the news story. When approved by the editor and advisor, your broadcast will be
posted on the school’s web site. So, the final product must be planned, written, and created
specifically for an online broadcast. You may choose to deliver the story yourself or find a

12. volunteer to professionally deliver the story. However, you are ultimately responsible for all
aspects as the producer.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: An effective news story and broadcast include the following
traits:
● Written and presented with emotional appeal, realism, and immediacy.
● Uses a friendly, conversational tone.
● Is short, simple, and easy to follow.
● Attributions and quotes are treated appropriately.
● The script helps the broadcast reporter’s delivery by using appropriate phonetic
pronunciation and punctuation.
● Engages viewer’s emotions and looks professional.
Unit 10: Public Relations
This unit will take approximately 12 hours to complete.
Essential Questions:
● What is public relations?
● How do public relations specialists differ from journalists?
● How is public relations different from advertising?
● How does knowing journalism help someone be an effective public relations specialist?
Enduring Understandings:
By the end of this unit, you will understand:
● Businesses and organizations must get their message out, encourage media coverage, and
protect positive public image.
● Without a strategy, you can’t achieve your goals.
● News releases provide ideas and information that become news.
● There are two sides to every story.
Topics:
● Process and Strategy of Public Relations
● News Releases
● Media Kits
● Balance
● Bias
● Media Manipulations

13. Unit 10 Project: News Release
GOAL: You will write a news release about a school event.
ROLE: You are a public relations specialist for MHHS and have been asked to write a news
release about a school event.
AUDIENCE: Your primary audience is the principal of MHHS. He has to approve news releases
before they are sent out. Ultimately, news organizations (newspapers, news sites, television and
radio stations) will be the audience because you have to convince them through the news release
to share the story.
SITUATION: You are to choose a specific event that no other reporter on your team is covering.
So, be sure to coordinate with the other reporters. Then, you are to write a news release about the
event. Make sure the event is newsworthy. You may want to share ideas with the news team
before choosing an event.
PRODUCT: You will use Google Docs to write the news release.
STANDARD FOR SUCCESS: An effective news release:
● Includes newsworthy information.
● Gives a clear message and presentation.
● Stresses the benefits of following the story.
● Uses an engaging headline.
● Avoids distortion and jargon.
● Uses proper AP Style.