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Home , David Carr (journalist), Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey, Tampa Bay Times

GraduateSymposium

inJournalism Professor William McKeen

Office Fall 2021 Fall 131 COM Phone 617.353.3484 Email wmckeen@ bu.edu

JO 700 Office hours Tuesdays, 2-4 pm Fridays, 10 am - Noon [Zoom]; and by appointment Home page Filmmaker williammckeen.com , author of All @wmckeen That You Leave Behind

About this course

his symposium is required for first-semester graduate students in journalism. The goal is to enrich the first semester curriculum by presenting a variety of topics relevant to the field, presented by interesting speakers who are T experts in the subject matter. Attendance is mandatory.

Fifty percent of the grade will be based on three short papers inspired by our required books, your class participation and your preparedness for our guest speakers. The remainder of the grade will be from a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Details to follow. Poor attendance may lower your grade, at the discretion of the instructor. Also, talking, dancing and making rude noises also will diminish your grade.

We have three required books and one (David Carr) highly recommended: • David Carr, The Night of the Gun (Simon and Schuster, 2008) • Erin Lee Carr, All That You Leave Behind (Random House, 2019) • and , (Penguin Press, 2019) • Gilbert King, Beneath a Ruthless Sun (Riverhead, 2018)

Daily reading of The Times, and other news sites is required.

One last thing: we insist that you have fun. 1

Research paper Fall 2021 Fall

ou will write a research paper and perhaps make a brief presentation on your paper in ourY last class period, which is when the JO 700 paper is due. These presentations do not have to be elaborate productions with Power Point or Keynote slide shows, but you are welcome to go that way if you wish.

Focus on the paper. The body of your paper--exclusive of bibliography and endnotes--should run no less than eight double-spaced, typewritten pages, and no more than 15. The papers should be well-written, technically perfect and thoroughly documented.

We will discuss the content of these papers early in the semester, but you will be encouraged to “adopt” a Journalist Jessica Rinaldi of the Boston Globe won the 2016 for journalist and write a paper about that Feature Photography and was also a finalist that year — to herself. She will discuss person and their contributions during the commitment required to be a visual storyteller. the decade. You may also use this assignment to create a prospectus or a working plan for your professional citations follow the format under the 6. Revision. I may ask you to revise your project, which is due the last semester of required-texts section of this syllabus. paper. This will not affect the grade. But I your program. We encourage you to get Cite interviews with a superior number will not record your grade -- give you started on this project. and include all relevant information in the credit for the work -- unless you turn in a endnote. Thus: 47. Edna Buchanan, revision if one is requested. You can also write about an issue rather telephone interview, October 8, 2020. 7. Report Covers. I hate those flimsy little than an individual. I think the approach plastic things. I usually throw them away. focusing on the journalist is the way to go, 3. Page Numbering. Some lunatics Paper covers and other fancy forms of but the choice is entirely up to you. apparently think if they don't number the presentation are mere annoyances. Save pages I won't notice that they did not your money. Just staple or paper clip the Here are answers to questions you make the minimum length. I can count. pages together. And don't come to class haven’t yet asked: But make easy on me. Don't include a the day that paper is to be turned in lot of blank paper to make your paper expecting me to have a stapler. You think I 1. Style. Consistency is what matters most fatter. It will make me think that your carry one in my back pocket? Get real. to me. Historical papers generally follow paper is flimsy. It's a waste, too. the style outlined in A Manual for Writers 8. General Quality. One last, vital thing: of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations 4. Title Page. Put this sort of stuff on the Do not think of this as "another boring by Kate Turabian. This is a recommended cover: Title of paper, your name, course term paper." You are a student in a text. But as long as you are consistent and number (JO 700: Graduate Symposium in college of communication. You are give me bibliographical information, I will Journalism) and the date (Fall Semester, supposed to be a writer. I will be judging be happy. 2019). your paper as a piece of writing. It must be interesting. It should read like a good 2. Citations. Follow the simple practice of 5. Errors. Errors of fact seriously damage magazine article. indicating a citation with a superior your grade. Spelling and grammar errors number. Then, put all your notes at the also will hurt. Typographical errors will be Hope you enjoy this assignment. I’m end. o go insane. I prefer that book considered spelling errors. Edit carefully. pretty sure you will. 2

Learning Schedule

Fall 2021 Fall objectives SEP 13 Introduction

Students will: SEP 20 Some Stuff About Storytelling

• Develop an awareness and appreciation Everything But the Kitchen Sink

JO 700 of the foundations of journalism in a free society SEP 27 Merchanting Information Inside the Boston Globe • Develop an awareness of the issues facing journalism today OCT 04 All That You Leave Behind

• Develop an understanding of the by Erin Lee Carr importance of journalism in its various Discussion of book; paper due forms and across platforms OCT 12 Professional Connections * • Develop an appreciation of excellent Networking seminar sponsored by journalism by taking a deep dive into a the Career Resource Center couple of major works in the field

• Develop a research project conceived OCT 18 Storytelling in Society and executed in consultation with the The history of this country is instructor. the history of journalism

OCT 25 Investigative Reporting Guest: Jenifer McKim, NECIR

NOV 01 Beneath the Ruthless Sun Grading by Gilbert King Discussion of book; paper due ou will write short (5-7 page) essay-reviews of All That You NOV 08 Trials of the Media Leave Behind, Devil in the Grove The case and the story of Y and She Said. Your research paper (or project) is of greater length and depth. the Las Vegas Review Journal This is to be determined in conversation with the instructor. NOV 15 Storytelling Across Platforms Guest: Shira Springer Work that it is of professional quality — meaning that it is ready for publication or presentation with only the minimum of NOV 22 She Said by Jodi Kantor editing — earns the student an A-grade. & Megan Twohey Discussion of book; paper due Work that needs revision or that has significant stylistic errors earns the student a NOV 29 Stories Without Words B-grade. Guest: Jessica Rinaldi, Boston Globe

Work that needs a great deal of revision and which has significant errors earns the DEC 06 Doing the Right Thing student a C or D-grade. A discussion of media ethics Final paper due Work that contains errors or fact or severe errors in presentation is considered failing (*) This class meets on Tuesday due to the Monday schedule. work and earns the student an F-grade. 3 Be good

he code of academic conduct can be found at: http://www.bu.edu/

Fall 2021 Fall academics/resources/academic- Tconduct-code/ There, you will note that: “Academic Shameless plug misconduct is conduct by which a student misrepresents his or her academic Available wherever fine books are sold. I have accomplishments, or impedes other seven children and your JO 700 students’ opportunities of being judged purchases might allow me fairly for their academic work. Knowingly to get them back on allowing others to represent your work as schedule for three their own is as serious an offense as meals a day. submitting another’s work as your own.”

I have an interest in political reporting and • Too Old to Die Young (Dredger’s Lane, Instructor for four years managed a news bureau at 2015) is a collection of articles, reviews, the Oklahoma capital, covering state recipes and memoirs. Available only as biography government. I've also covered the an e-book. Democratic and Republican national worked for and conventions, so this course has a political magazines before starting my teaching • Everybody Had An Ocean (Chicago bent. career. My first job, at The Courier- Review Press, 2017), a nonfiction ITribune in Bloomington, Ind., lasted until narrative about the crossroads of music, My books include: The American Story that fine little went out of murder and mayhem in 1960s Los (Curtis, 1975, edited with Starkey Flythe, business. I was at The Palm Beach Post Angeles Jr.), The Beatles: A Bio-Bibliography briefly and then joined The American (Greenwood, 1989), Hunter S. Thompson Spectator, then served two years at The I have seven children — Sarah, a designer in (Twayne, 1991), Bob Dylan: A Bio- Saturday Evening Post. While at the Post, I New York; Graham, chief environmental Bibliography (Greenwood, 1993), Tom helped edit a couple of books, including officer for the Indiana University system; Wolfe (Twayne, 1995), and Literary an anthology called The American Story. Mary, who works for Chance the Rapper in Journalism: A Reader (Wadsworth, 2000). Chicago; Savannah, a nursing student in Since I started teaching, I've taken several ; Jack, an artist in residence at my My books include: short term jobs — sometimes in the residence; and Travis and Charley, teen- summers, sometimes night work on the age scholars at Cohasset High School. I Rock and Roll is Here to Stay (W.W. copy desk during the school year – on The • also have four magnificent Norton, 2000), is an anthology tracing the Norman (Okla.) Transcript, The Courier- granddaughters, Mabel, Pearl, Rose and history of popular music. Journal (Louisville, Ky.), The Myer. I’ll be happy to share pictures. Times and The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun. I've Highway 61 (W.W. Norton, 2003) a written reviews and features for The • Before becoming professor and chairman memoir of a 6,000-mile road trip I took , The of the Department of with my eldest son. and The Boston Globe fairly regularly since Journalism, I taught at Western Kentucky 1989. I’m also book editor for an alt weekly University for five years, the University of Outlaw Journalist (W.W. Norton, 2008), called Creative Loafing. • Oklahoma for four years, and the University my biography of Hunter S. Thompson. of Florida for 24 years, the last dozen as I earned a bachelor’s in history and a department chairman. Mile Marker Zero (Crown Books, 2011) is master's in journalism from Indiana • about the writers, artists, actors and University, writing a historical survey of the I sincerely hope you enjoy the course. musicians who found their artistic portrayal of journalists in popular culture. I identities in . earned my Ph.D. in education from the From my side, I can tell you that teaching it University of Oklahoma, though that was is a privilege and a pleasure. Homegrown in Florida (University Press of largely a history degree. My major • Florida, 2012) is a collection of stories professor was a historian and my about growing up in Florida. dissertation was a historical account of a riot at that university.

4 Words about journalism Good Reading Favorite fancy-pants or funny quotes Start to build a journalism library

The purpose of journalism is to I would be a journalist if for no irritate, infuriate and inform. other reason than I would rather Fall 2021 Fall Jess Lewis Gardner III drink with journalists than any David Carr student in the first class I ever other people on Earth. Author of taught Hunter S. Thompson The Night of gonzo journalist the Gun The past actually happened, but history is only what somebody Reporters aren't very bright as a JO 700 wrote down. general rule. I mean, most of us A. Whitney Brown learn to write when we're kids. author and former writer and Then we go on to other things. performer on ‘Saturday Night Live’ Erin Lee Carr Bobby Knight Author of retired basketball coach Ninety percent of journalism is All That You saying "Lord Jim Dies" to people Leave Behind who didn't know Lord Jim was History, despite its wrenching pain, alive. cannot be unlived, but if faced G.K. Chesterton with courage, need not be lived English novelist and essayist again. Maya Angelou, It is not death or torture or speaking at President Clinton’s Jodi Kantor imprisonment that threatens us as first inauguration American journalists. It is the & Megan Twohey trivialization of our industry. Journalism keeps you planted in Ted Koppel the earth. Authors of formerly of ABC News Ray Bradbury She Said novelist and essayist The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the If journalism is good, it is comfortable. controversial by its nature. Finley Peter Dunne Julian Assange early 20th century journalist of Wikileaks Gilbert King Author of The principal difference between a Devil in Journalism is more addictive than horse and a man is that you cannot the Grove rely on a horse to gather news. crack cocaine. Mark Twain Dan Rather who needs no introduction formerly of CBS News

Some final words onsider this syllabus a contract. I’ve made some promises I intend to keep. By not dropping the class, I assume you accept the conditions. C There are two guiding philosophers in my life: Elvis Presley (who said, “If this ceases to be fun, we will cease to do it.”) and my dear, late mother (who said, “If we all liked the same thing, it would be a pretty dull world.”) Those two great thinkers shape my approach to this course. I hope this course deepens your interest in journalism and helps you understand its legacy. 5 WM Five important policies Fall 2021 Fall

JO 700

2. Equal opportunity

3. Disability services

4. Student athletes

5. Academic Conduct Code

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