(subject to change)

Meeting Time & Location: Tuesdays 6-8:30 p.m. Lee Hills 202

Instructor: Dr. Debra L. Mason
Office location & mail: 307D Cornell Hall (Business)
Office Phone: 573-884-6295
Cell Phone: 614-313-0441
Email: MasonDL@Missouri.edu

Syllabus
Flier

Course Overview
For nearly two decades now, religion has become more prominent as a topic in newspapers, magazines and broadcast news. The events of 9/11 also brought the world of religion and values more sharply into focus as a major element of U.S. culture and as a renewed area of challenge to American journalism.

Prerequisites: For journalism students, the prerequisite is Reporting J-4450 or the equivalent. Students outside journalism with comparable preparation may enroll with the permission of the instructor.

Details: JOUR 4426/7426 is a small seminar in reporting and writing that gives students the opportunity to try their hand at this important venue of non-fiction writing. Subjects covered will include how to originate story ideas, reporting and researching religion news, useful web sites on religion and religion journalism, developing sensitivity to religious language and building sources. In addition, the course will discuss the history and readership of news, best practices at reporting it and include a brief immersion into a diverse group of faiths.

For the writing component, students may produce articles on such topics as religion and public life; profiles of men and women active in their faith communities; reportage on emerging cross-cultural issues related to religion; narratives of the spiritual journeys of individuals and groups; background articles on faith and values in the news; and timely features on ethical issues within congregations, denominations, or public arenas. Special attention will be paid to the increasing religious diversity in North America.

Required Texts

1.) "Reporting Religion: A Guide to Journalism's Best Best" Written by Diane Connolly and Edited by Debra L. Mason (provided free by instructor).

2.) "Religion in a Free Market: Religious and non-Religious Americans. Who | What | Why | Where," by Barry A. Kosmin & Ariela Keysar. Available at the bookstore.

All other readings will be provided in class free or via online reserve.

Grading: As a small seminar focused on religion reporting and writing, grading emphasis is distributed as follows:

Attendance & Participation in class: Active and consistent attendance at weekly seminars. Included in this portion of the grade is knowledge of and quality of participation in discussions of weekly readings. (20%) Exercises: You'll be given simple basic religion questions to research each week. All answers will be written on index cards, provided by the instructor and due at the next class. Questions will include such things as, "How many Roman Catholics are in Missouri," and "What is the name of a Sikh house of worship:" or "How many Mormons belong to the U.S. Congress:" These exercises, which should take from five to 15 minutes to answer, will give you practice and familiarity with the location of information about religion and they will help you discern reliable sources. You will be graded both on the answer and the source (½ and ½). In grading the "source" component, I will look for:   a.) The relationship of the source of informataon to the issue researched b.) The ability to verify or authenticate the information c.) Motivation of the source. (10%) Reporting and writing performance: Reporting and writing as reflected in the following: the originality of the reporter's story ideas; the development of those story ideas; the completeness, accuracy, and quality of written work; and the quality of re-written responses to critiques. Students will be assigned a "beat" within religion. Their "beat" will mirror their project topic. You will be expected to write four stories, one each of a profile (person, place, thing); one survey / stats / trend story; one analysis of a current issue; one story about how religion intersects with other beats. (40%). Beat Report Presentation: Each person will present a two-hour "experience" of another faith. The choices for these "experiences" are: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and other faiths depending on class size. (These faiths were chosen because they are the largest religious groups in the United States). These will serve to better inform the entire class on other faiths. If you have a faith background, you are not permitted to present a report on your own faith. More information on this will be distributed in early February. These "experiences" may include but are not limited to: creation of a website, flash presentation, demonstration of a holiday or significant component of a worship service, visit to a local house of worship. All reports will include the following: a summary of beliefs and practices plus information on major holidays and festivals, major issues/trends, resources and reporting tips. 20 pages typed max. (25%) Final Portfolio: All your papers, clips, notecards, etc. should be turned in between May 1 and May 8 for review, and for a maximum 500 word self-assessment of the course (to be provided later). 5% Bonus Points: You may receive extra points (depending on level of effort) for:   a.) Sidebars, info graphics, web content, photo spreads, other content with a story, etc. b.) Including a visit to a house of worship in your beat report presentation. d.) Having a story published or aired. c.) Entering Religion Newswriters' student reporting contest (entries due May 1-requires 3 published religion stories).

Ethics & Behavior

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of the academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsibly and honorably acquired, developed and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful.

When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting or collaboration, consult with your instructor. For closed-book exams and exercises, academic misconduct includes conferring with other class members, copying or reading someone else's test and using notes and materials without prior permission of the instructor. For open-book exams and exercises, academic misconduct includes copying or reading someone else's work.

Classroom Misconduct
Classroom misconduct includes forgery of class attendance; obstruction or disruption of teaching, including late arrival or early departure; failure to turn off cellular telephones leading to disruption of teaching; playing games or surfing the Internet on laptop computers unless instructed to do so; physical abuse or safety threats; theft; property damage; disruptive, lewd or obscene conduct; abuse of computer time; repeated failure to attend class when attendance is required; and repeated failure to participate or respond in class when class participation is required.

IMPORTANT: Entering a classroom late or leaving a classroom before the end of the period can be extremely disruptive behavior. Students are asked to arrive for class on time and to avoid early departures. This is particularly true of large lectures, where late arrivals and early departures can be most disruptive. Instructors have the right to deny students access to the classroom if they arrive late and have the right to dismiss a student from the class for early departures that result in disruptions.

Under MU policy, your instructor has the right to ask for your removal from the course for misconduct, disruptive behavior or excessive absences. The instructor then has the right to issue a grade of withdraw, withdraw failing or F. The instructor alone is responsible for assigning the grade in such circumstances.

Dishonesty and Misconduct Reporting Procedures
MU faculty are required to report all instances of academic or classroom misconduct to the appropriate campus officials. Allegations of classroom misconduct will be forwarded immediately to MU's Vice Chancellor for Student Services. Allegations of academic misconduct will be forwarded immediately to MU's Office of the Provost. In cases of academic misconduct, the student will receive at least a zero for the assignment in question.

Professional Standards and Ethics
The School of Journalism is committed to the highest standards of academic and professional ethics and expects its students to adhere to those standards. Students should be familiar with the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists and adhere to its restrictions. Students are expected to observe strict honesty in academic programs and as representatives of school-related media. Should any student be guilty of plagiarism, falsification, misrepresentation or other forms of dishonesty in any assigned work, that student may be subject to a failing grade from the instructor and such disciplinary action as may be necessary under University regulations.

University of Missouri-Columbia Notice of Nondiscrimination
The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action institution and is nondiscriminatory relative to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. Any person having inquiries concerning the University of Missouri-Columbia's compliance with implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, or other civil rights laws should contact the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resource Services, University of Missouri-Columbia, 130 Heinkel Building, Columbia, Mo. 65211, (573) 882-4256, or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

Accommodations: If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need assistance, please notify me immediately. The school will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your special needs. Students are excused for recognized religious holidays. Please let me know in advance if you have a conflict.

ADA Compliance
If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and need assistance, please notify the Office of Disability Services, A038 Brady Commons, 882 4696, or the course instructor immediately. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your special needs.

Religious Holidays
Students are automatically excused for recognized religious holidays. Let your instructor know in advance if you have a conflict.

Course Overview

Schedule, Themes and Readings

Readings reflect the date they will be discussed in class.

Assignment dates (“Do”) are the dates due.

January 16: Course Overview, history of the beat and the audience for religion news.

January 23: The basics for understanding and reporting religion

January 30 Nature of U.S. religiosity and best practices

Feb 6  Demographics of religion and key resources

Feb 13 Membership trends and ethics on the beat

Feb 20 Meet individually with students about projects and reports.

Feb 27 Religion and society: reporting outside the box

March 6: Investigating religion.

March 13: Project reports

March 20: Project reports

March 27: No class (Spring Break).

April 3: Project reports

April 10: Project reports

April 17: Project reports

April 24: Project reports

May 1: Last day of class. Discussion and wrap-up

May 4:

May 8: Last day to turn in portfolios