Schedule

Specialized Writing and Reporting: Literary Journalism

Comm177F/277F - 5 units Winter Quarter 2008	Instructor: Jim Bettinger Stanford University

Literary Journalism Winter 2008
Communication 177F/277F

MWF 10 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
McClatchy Hall Room 410

Jim Bettinger
jimb@stanford.edu

McClatchy Hall, Room 428

725-1189 (office)

323-7027 (home)

Office hours: MW 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Course email list:
lit-journalism@lists

Course Texts:

Schedule

            The class will meet three times a week during the first part of the quarter, and then taper off as the quarter goes on. The idea is that near the end of the quarter you’ll be spending more time reporting and writing and less time in class. What follows is my roadmap for the course. It is not chiseled in granite, and you’ll notice some open spaces in it. I like to leave flexibility for issues and themes that pop up during the course.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 — First meeting of class. Ground rules, etc.

Friday, Jan. 11 — No class

Monday, Jan. 14 — What is literary journalism? What can it achieve that other forms of journalism cannot?

            Reading:

            Gerard, Chapter 1, 7

            “Writing: Love it or Leave It,” by Henry Allen

            “The Boy Behind the Mask, Part 1-4” by Tom Hallman, Jr. in 2001 Best Newspaper Writing (pp. 3-51)

            “A conversation with Tom Hallman Jr.,” in 2001 Best Newspaper Writing, pp. 54-67.

Wednesday, Jan. 16 — Getting started. Ideas and how to generate them, how to recognize the kinds of stories that lend themselves to these techniques

            Reading:

            Gerard, Ch. 2

            “Two Soldiers,” by Dan Baum, The New Yorker, Aug. 9 & 16, 2004

Friday, Jan. 18 — From story ideas to story plans, including reporting plans

            Reading:

            Gerard, Ch. 3

Monday, Jan. 21 — Martin Luther King Holiday. No class

Wednesday, Jan. 23 — Continuation of discussion on reporting and researching

            Reading:

            “Details, Details,” by Brad Reagan

Friday, Jan. 25 — And so to write. Organizing your story; finding the right narrative line

            Reading:

            Gerard, Chapter 6, 8

            “The Line Between Fact and Fiction,” by Roy Peter Clark, Jan. 24, 2002, Poynteronline

Friday, Jan. 25 (12 noon on) —Individual story conferences.

Monday, Jan. 28 — First story due

            Discussion of challenges and problems

Wednesday, Jan. 30 — First stories returned

Revising stories

            Individual sessions during 2^nd hour and office hours

            Reading            Gerard, Ch. 10

Friday, Feb. 1 — Profiles

            Reading:

            “The natural who self-destructed,” by Amy Ellis Nutt, in Best Newspaper Writing 2004

            “Actor without Mask or Mirror,” by Robin Finn, New York Times

Monday, Feb. 4 — First rewrite due.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 — Interviewing techniques.

            Reading:

            Gerard, Chapter 4

            “‘Please give me an example’ and other tips for great interviews,” by Tom Peters.

            “Getting the measure of a soul on deadline,” by Louise Reid Ritchie

            “Interviews with the Interviewers,” by Lori Luechtefeld, Jan/Feb 2003, March-April 2003, May/June 2003, IRE Journal



Friday, Feb. 8 — No class

Monday, Feb. 11 — Using quotes and dialogue effectively

            Reading:

            “The Journalist and the Murder”, by Janet Malcolm, pp. 3-5 and “Afterword,” pp. 147-163

Wednesday, Feb. 13 — Openings and endings

            Reading:

            “A Round-the-clock Race to Rescue the Rach,” by David Stabler, Oct. 6, 2004, Portland Oregonian

Friday, Feb. 14 — No class

Monday, Feb. 18 — President’s day. No class

            Profile due

Wednesday, Feb. 20 — Profile returned

            Individual discussion sessions

Friday, Feb. 22 — No class

Monday, Feb. 25 — Developing and honing a writing voice

            Profile rewrite due



Wednesday, Feb. 27 — No class

Friday, Feb. 29 — No class

Monday, March 3 — Ethical issues in literary journalism

            Reading:

            “The Legend on the License,” by John Hersey, pp. 1-25, Autumn 1980, Yale Review.

Wednesday, March 5 — No class

Friday, March 7 — No class

Monday, March 10 — Last class.

Wednesday, March 12 — No class

Friday, March 14 — No class

            Final story due

Schedule

Specialized Writing and Reporting: Literary Journalism

Schedule

Specialized Writing and Reporting:
Literary Journalism