Course Syllabus

J501

Public Affairs Reporting

Summer, 2026

Instructor: Malcolm Moran, CA341D

Office Hours: By appointment. 

E-mail: moranma@iu.edu

Telephone: 317-278-5329 (*)

(*) Whenever possible, please communicate by e-mail. ______________________________________________________________________

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

The class represents the culmination of your graduate studies at IU Indianapolis. It will include knowledge and skills developed in previous classes within the Master of Arts in Sports Journalism. The structure of this course will be different. There will be more of an emphasis on the process of your work, as analyzed by you and the instructor. The premise is built upon a reality in the sports communications industry that no matter how successful the effort, there is always a way to improve.

 

Your assignments will call upon your ability to use a number of different reporting and research techniques, including traditional interviews. As a result of the economic limitations within the journalism industry, interns and entry-level reporters rarely have the opportunity to benefit from the type of carefully-planned mentoring that was once a standard part of the growth experience. Initiative and problem-solving skills have never been more valued, particularly during the interview process. This class is designed to fill that void and provide evidence of your self-sufficient approach.

 

This class will provide more independence than others you have taken, and the concentrated schedule of a summer session will include a more intensive pace. Your final project should reflect the growth that has taken place during your time at IU Indianapolis.

 

For the past year, and perhaps longer, you have been making the transition from interested consumer – a fan – to a knowledgeable observer of a multi-billion-dollar industry. This course will allow you to further develop that outlook by examining the way you go about your work and determining your place in the industry.

 

OBJECTIVES 

 

To gain, through an individualized and collective approach, a greater appreciation of the importance of initiative and an emphasis on attention to detail.

 

To complete an awareness and understanding of what is required in different forms of the sports communications industry and to determine where you could fit in.

 

To develop a project for the U.S. Basketball Writers Association website that demonstrates the capability of creating a compelling story.

 

To sharpen your journalistic skills and judgment, always within the context of the importance of ethical behavior, in a way that increases your value to prospective employers.

 

 

 

Administrative Withdrawal

A basic requirement of this course is that you will conscientiously complete all required course activities and/or assignments.

 

           

Please note: If a difficult circumstance, personal or otherwise, is affecting your performance in this or any other course, please remember that I respect your privacy and would be eager to discuss the circumstance and offer help.

 

 

 

SCHEDULE

(Any changes will be announced via email.)

 

Weeks of May 18, 25: Introduction and discussion of expectations. Explanation of assignments.

 

Zoom meeting will take place Tuesday, May 26 at 12:00 p.m. EDT

 

Assignment No. 1, personal essay, 750 words, due May 29 at 12:00 p.m.

 

Week of June 1: Assignment No. 2, method essay describing approach to feature, 400 words, due June 4 at 12:00 p.m.

 

Week of June 8: Assignment No. 3, 900-word feature, due June 11 at 12:00 p.m.

 

Week of June 15: Assignment No. 4, method essay describing approach to project, 400 words, due June 18 at 12:00 p.m.

 

Weeks of June 22, 29: Assignment No. 5: Project, feature or issue story, 1,500 words, due June 29 at 12:00 p.m.)

 

 

 

 

GRADING (Percentage of final grade in parentheses)

 

Assignment No. 1: Personal essay, 750 words. (20)

Assignment No. 2: Method essay on feature, 400 words (10)

Assignment No. 3: Feature, topic to be selected by student, 750 words (20)

Assignment No. 4: Method essay on project, 400 words (10)

Assignment No. 5: Project, topic to be assigned for USBWA website, 1,500 words. (40)

 

Please note: To reinforce the importance of meeting deadlines as expected by professional organizations, late submissions will result in a deduction of 10 points for each day after the deadline, with deductions beginning at the assigned time each day.

 

 

 

Semester letter grades will be determined by numerical averages:

93.0-100: A

90.0-92.9: A-

87.0-89.9: B+

83.0-86.9: B

80.0-82.9: B-

77.0-79.9: C+

70.0-76.9: C

60.0-69.9: D

Under 60.0: F

 

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. What is considered “common knowledge” may differ from course to course.

 

An important note: Any written assignment must be the work of the student, without the use of AI. 

 

 

  • A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment.
  • A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever:

 

  1. Directly quoting another person’s actual words, whether oral or written;
  2. Using another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories;
  3. Paraphrasing the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others, whether oral or written;
  4. Borrowing facts, statistics, or illustrative material; or
  5. Offering materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment.

 

Plagiarism results in at minimum a “0” grade for the assignment and the seriousness of the academic misconduct may lead to a failing grade for the course or expulsion from the graduate program or university.

 

 

 

IU INDIANPOLIS RULES: IU Indianapolis has a clear Code of Academic Behavior. In particular, this understanding guides the research, writing and presentation of a student’s work. The following university policies are from http://www.iupui.edu/code/#P2_G

 

 

Student Responsibilities

Just as students have rights, they also have responsibilities. Indiana University recognizes its responsibility to support and uphold the basic freedoms and citizenship rights of all students, and it expects students to be responsible for the following:

 

Uphold and follow all codes of conduct, including this Code, relevant codes and bulletins of respective schools, professional programs or professional societies, and all rules applicable to conduct in class environments or university-sponsored activities, including off-campus clinical, field, internships, or in-service experiences.

 

Obey all applicable university policies and procedures and all local, state, and federal laws.

 

Facilitate the learning environment and the process of learning, including  completing class assignments.

 

Plan a program of study appropriate to the student’s educational goals. This may include selecting a major field of study, choosing an appropriate degree program within the discipline, planning class schedules, and meeting the requirements for the degree.

 

Use university property and facilities in support of their education while being mindful of the rights of others to use university property and facilities.

 

Maintain and regularly monitor their university accounts including e-mail and bursar accounts.