JOU 3820: Publicity Methods
Assignment for 9/12: Read chapter 4 in Newsom - Research for the Public Relations Writer. Pick a product, group or orgnanization (your choice) and identify the potential audience. Write a few sentences about the possible information you would want to gather from this audience, possible conflicts within the group, assumptions you may need to dispel. etc.
BUZZARD 2434 | T,TH: 11:30-12:45 | FA 2008
OFFICE/HOURS: 2141 Old Main | I am usually in my office from 8 am - 4:30 pm, M-F, excepting meetings. Please call or email me if you would like to come by to chat.
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TEXTS: Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques, (Dennis Wilcox, Fourth Edition, Addison-Wesley, 2001.); Public Relations Writing, (Doug Newsom and Jim Haynes, Seventh Edition, Wadsworth, 2005.); Associated Press Stylebook
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Description
Publicizing events, products and organizations through the news media. Practical application stressed. For those who will do publicity as part of their careers in business, family and consumer sciences, science, etc. Not open to journalism majors.
Course Objectives
By the conclusion of JOU 3820, students will be able to:
- Create a successful publicity campaign.
- Understand the goals and objectives setting process.
- Identify and analyze audiences
- Write a news release.
- Design a brochure, flyer and newsletter.
- Conceptualize and design publications based on the audience and communication objectives.
Academic Honesty
In short: DON'T CHEAT. Plagiarism is the unpardonable sin of journalism, an act that essentially ends a journalist’s career. Plagiarism could also end a student’s career. There is nothing wrong with using information from another source so long as it is clearly credited within the story. If you take a quote or information from another publication, cite it within the story. An assignment determined to be plagiarized will be give a grade of “0” and the responsible student will receive an “F” for the course. Plus, this student will be referred to the appropriate EIU board for discipline. According to the university’s policy, students who plagiarize are eligible for dismissal from EIU. Please review the EIU Student Conduct Code: www.eiu.edu/~judicial.
Students with Disabilities
Contact the Office of Disability Services (581-6583) for answers regarding accommodations, auxiliary learning aids and physical accessibility. Diagnostic information regarding the disability must be submitted so the most appropriate accommodations can be arranged. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for more information.
Absences & Make-up Work
Students are expected to be in class on time and remain until the dismissal. Students may not make up quizzes or assignments missed for tardiness or an unexcused absence. If you miss class when an assignment is due, you will receive a “0” for that assignment. Students not already in class when quizzes are started may not start taking any part of that assignment. No make-ups will be given. When absent, please contact a fellow student or instructor to find out what was missed; if important notes were given, please get those from a fellow student. Therefore, it is important to become well acquainted with someone in this class. You are responsible for all material covered or assigned during classes.
Assignments
| Name | Percentage |
| Mid-term | 20 |
| Final | 20 |
| Chapter reviews/quizzes | 20 |
| Final Project | 20 |
| Writing assignments | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Grading
A 90 to 100%
B 80 to 89.9%
C 70 to 79.9%
D 60 to 69.9%
F below 60%
Deadlines
Making deadlines are essential in public relations and marketing. In this class, missing deadline will mean a full letter grade (10%) is deducted from that assignment. If you show up late for class, any assignments due will be considered missing deadline so the full 10% will be deducted from your final score. An additional 10% will be deducted for each day an assignment is late so do not wait until the next class session, which could be two days away and a 20% reduction. In-class assignments may not be made up. All assignments are required to be typed and with the proper headings. If they are not typed, they won’t be accepted and will be considered late.
Class Revisions
This syllabus may (and probably will) be changed at any time during the semester by announcement of the instructor.
Tentative Schedule of Assignments
Week 3 Sept. 8-12
Chapter 4 in Newsom – Research
Week 4 Sept. 15-19
Chapter 5 in Wilcox – The Values of News Releases
Chapter 9 & 10 Newsom – News Releases
For Print, News for Broadcasting
Week 5 Sept. 22-26
News Releases
Week 6 Sept. 29-Oct. 3
Chapter 7 in Newsom – Memos, E-mails, Letters, Reports and Proposals
Week 7 Oct. 6-10
Chapter 8 in Wilcox – Pitch Letter, Media Alerts, Press Kits and Op-Ed
Week 8 Oct. 13-17
Chapter 7 in Wilcox – Photos and Graphics
Mid-term
Week 9 Oct. 20-24
Chapter 11– Working with the Media
Week 10 Oct. 27-31
Chapter 12 & 14 in Wilcox – Writing for Media
Week 11 Nov. 3-7
Chapter 12 in Newsom – Message Design Concepts
Week 12 Nov. 10-14
Chapter 15 in Newsom – Campaign Writing And Media Kits
Week 13 Nov. 17-21
Chapter 17 & 18 Newsom – Newsletters and Brochures
Nov. 24-28
Thanksgiving Break
Week 14 Dec. 1-5
Chapter 20 in Wilcox – Program Evaluation
Week 15 Dec. 8-12
Chapter 20 in Newsom – Crisis Communications
Week 16 Dec. 15-19
Final