JRN 381 Spring 2018

Outcomes

1. Obtain a working knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript
2. Learn how report for data visualization
3. Acquire the skills to successfully plan and execute the development of a data interactive
4. Plan and develop a website to present the written, interactive and multimedia components of a story

Communication

You can email us at [email protected]. The class also has a slack team you must sign up for using your stonybrook.edu email address.

Identifying yourself

When reporting, students are obligated to make clear to sources that they are working on stories that may be published or broadcast. Students should not tell a source: "Don't worry, this is just for a class." A reporter's sources must understand that information and quotes provided can appear in print or online or be broadcast. Our class will focus on developing well-coded sites that will be well-indexed by search engines, which means not only will sources and their quotes be published on the web, but they could very well appear when a source searches for themselves on Google. You don't want them to be surprised by this, especially since it is a lot easier to get a set a site indexed by Google than to have it removed.

Sources

Students will provide contact information for all sources in a story, no matter what the platform. This list includes names, telephone numbers and email addresses. Instructors will make random checks to verify sources and information. An assignment without a full list of sources will not be accepted.

Food and drink

Food and drink are banned in the Newsroom and any computer.

Disruptive behavior

Stony Brook University expects students to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other people As stated in the Code of Student Responsibility, "No student shall impede or disrupt any educational, research, administrative, social or recreational activity of the University; nor shall any student create a nuisance to members or guests of the University community" (Article III.A.9.a., page 18, in the Code). Students involved in such conduct are subject to disciplinary action. Faculty are required to report to the Office of University Community Standards any disruptive behavior that interrupts their ability to teach, compromises the safety of the learning environment, or inhibits students' ability to learn.

Attendance

If circumstances prevent your attending class, the instructor must be informed by phone or email on or before the day of class or within 24 hours afterward. The policy of the School of Journalism is as follows: In a class that meets once a week, more than one unexcused absence will result in the loss of 1/3 of a letter grade. Each subsequent unexcused absence will result in the loss of 1/3 of a letter grade.

Email

All university email communications use your primary campus address ([email protected]). If you are not using that ad- dress, you will not receive any university email, including Blackboard. There is a Blackboard account for this course. Check daily for an- nouncements. Failure to check e-mail will not be accepted as an excuse for missing announcements or assignment changes. If you have not done so already, you must set up a Blackboard account. Please verify your email address on Blackboard. For help, call 631- 632-9602. If you choose to forward your official University email to another off campus account, I am not responsible for any undeliverable messages to your alternative personal accounts. Not checking email isn’t an ac- ceptable excuse for missing assignments.

Assignment turn in

Your homework assignments will be turned in on the class blog. Each design assignment will need a rationale (a few paragraphs explain- ing why you made the design choices you did). The homework is due posted by 9 a.m. on the due date. authorship. It covers literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works. The published or broadcast work of student journalists, just like any other author, is protected by copyright. The School of Journalism diligently protects its own copyrighted materials and respects the copyrights of others. The SOJ expects students to abide by all SUNY, Stony Brook University and SOJ copyright policies. When in doubt about the use of any materials created by a third party, always consult with your instructor.

Grading

The emphasis is on the student’s grasp of each assignment. There will be no midterm or final exam. You will be graded on your participation in class, and projects. For the breakdown of what each project is worth, see the sidebar on this page. Here are the criteria for letter grades:

• “A” work is superior; dramatically surpasses minimum requirements
• “B” work is good; exceeds minimum requirements
• “C” work meets minimum requirements
• “D” work is poor; does not meet minimum requirements
• “F” work is not acceptable or not turned in.

Important: Only semester grades of C or above count for credit toward the journal- ism major or minor. Any student earning a C-minus or below who intends to continue in the journalism program must retake the class and will not be able to continue in other journalism skills classes.

Equipment

This class will require a domain name and hosting plan. GoDaddy is the path of least resistance for this. You will have access to all journalism school resources for all multimedia and web development requirements for this class.

Mobile devices

Having a mobile device in class is strongly encouraged. Reviewing your code and site's performance and appearance on mobile is a crucial process to building a successful website. If you're using the device to text or be on social media it will impact your participation grade and likely your website and data visualization's final product.

Copyright

Copyright is the exclusive legal right of a creator or owner to repro- duce, publish, adapt, sell or distribute his or her original work of authorship. It covers literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works. The published or broadcast work of student journalists, just like any other author, is protected by copyright. The School of Journalism diligently protects its own copyrighted materials and respects the copyrights of others. The SOJ expects students to abide by all SUNY, Stony Brook University and SOJ copyright policies. When in doubt about the use of any materials created by a third party, always consult with your instructor.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Americans with Disabilities Act/ Student Accessibility Support Center: If you have a physical, psychological, visual, hearing, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Student Accessibility Support Center in the ECC (Educational Communications Center) Building, Room 128, (631) 632-6748. All requests for a disability-related accommodation must originate with SASC. It is the student’s responsibility to contact SASC, which will determine with you what accommodations, if any, are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential. A professor can not accept disability-related documentation directly from a student. Syllabus statement PLEASE NOTE: Students who require assistance during emergency evacuation are encouraged to discuss their needs with their professors and Student Accessibility Support Center. For procedures and information go to the following website.

Press Passes

All majors and minors in reporting courses will be issued an SOJ Press Pass. These cards are intended to identify student reporters to sources and authorities and to facilitate their movements around cam- pus. Students will sign for the cards, on forms to be provided, agreeing to comply with the rules or forfeit the card. They will be worn or carried and displayed at all SOJ assignments.

Plagiarism

Any form of fabrication, plagiarism, cheating or other ethical offense will be reported to the Academic Judiciary Committee and can result in a failing grade for the course, dismissal from the journalism program or expulsion from the university. This includes your code -- if you are using an online tutorial and they give you some code to work with be sure to make it your own and include a comment following the code citing where you got it and why you're using it. For example:

Sample markup happens here

This is to your benefit as well as it will allow you to go back and look at the original if necessary. Here is the University’s statement on academic dishonesty: “Plagiarism is the use of others’ words and/or ideas without clearly acknowledg- ing their source. As students, you are learning about other people’s ideas in your course texts, your instructors’ lectures, in-class discussions, and when doing your own research. When you incorporate those words and ideas into your own work, it is of the utmost importance that you give credit where it is due. Plagiarism, intentional or unintentional, is considered academic dishonesty and all instances will be reported to the Academic Judiciary. To avoid plagiarism, you must give the original author credit whenever you use another person’s ideas, opinions, drawings, or theories as well as any facts or any other pieces of information that are not common knowledge. Additionally quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words; or a close paraphrasing of another person’s spoken or written words must also be referenced. Accurately citing all sources and putting direct quotations – of even a few key words – in quotation marks are required.” For further information on academic integrity and the policies regarding academic dishonesty, go to Academic Judiciary at www.stonybrook.edu/uaa/academicjudiciary Examples of cheating include: Using sources for stories or assignments that are known to the student. Jour- nalism students must not use friends, family members, roommates, classmates or business associates – anyone they know – as subjects. If you believe an exemption is warranted, you must receive prior approval from your instructor. Multiple submissions of the same work. Cheating in any form on an exam or assignment. • Unpermitted collaboration on work. Falsifying any document, including excuse notes. • Making up sources, quotes, facts or references.

Blackboard

There is a Blackboard account for this course. Check daily for announcements. Failure to check e-mail will not be accepted as an excuse for missing announcements or assignment changes. If you have not done so already, you must set up a Blackboard account. Please verify your email address on Blackboard. For help, call 631-632-9602.

Religious Holidays:

Information can be found on the Office of the Provost website

The Academic Calendar:

For important dates and deadlines, please consult the Academic Calendar on the Registrar's website

Library Resources Online

The Stony Brook University Libraries provide access to a variety of subscription resources, including newspapers (the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, etc.), journals (Columbia Journalism Review, Journalism Practice, etc.), and books (the AP Stylebook Online). More detailed information on the libraries' resources and services is available at http://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/journalism.

Deadlines in Journalism Matter

You must meet Deadlines by filing your assignments no later than due date and time. Missing a deadline results in an automatic half-grade reduction. Your grade will continue to drop by half a grade for each subsequent day after the deadline until you file your assignment. Plan ahead and remember that in journalism: done is better than perfect. It will always be better to hand in something than nothing. If you are having trouble with your assignment let me know immediately, do not wait until it is too late.