Department of Human & Community Development, University of Illinois

                                                                                                           
                    

Undergraduate Programs


Course Information

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AGCM 210 writing for ag & env media

3 hours (lecture-discussion-lab)
Fall and Spring Semesters

Course Objectives

  • to offer the student basic instruction in writing for agricultural and environmental publications, with a heavy emphasis on news writing
  • to serve as the foundation for the sequence of other journalism, agricultural and environmental communications courses, all of which require a high proficiency in writing skills

Topics

  • News values and elements
  • Writing the lead
  • News story structure
  • Quotations, attributions and sources
  • Interviewing
  • News feature writing
  • Covering speeches and meetings
  • Covering beats
  • Covering science, agriculture and the environment
  • Public relations

Assigned Text and Other Readings

Izard, Culbertson and Lambert: Fundamentals of News Reporting, 6th ed.  Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, 1994

The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.  Reading, Massachusetts: Perseus Books, 1998.

Graded Activities

News story assignments (12)
Quizzes
Exams (2)

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