Chris RoushCroush@email.unc.edu

Jan. 4, 2011Business Journalism Professors Seminar

Deciding what to teach

The syllabusThe syllabus should be a contract between

the students and the instructor.The instructor agrees to follow the syllabus,

and the students agree to meet the requirements listed.

Changes in the syllabus should be in writing.

The syllabusWriting a syllabus is an art.A good syllabus effectively spaces out

writing assignments, guest speakers and other work so that it’s not bunched together near the end of the semester.

A good syllabus also builds momentum. It starts out slow, with easy work, and then becomes progressively harder.

The syllabusI’m also a big fan of a syllabus working up

to a major final project due at the end of the semester.

All of the lectures and assignments build up to a student showing what they have learned during the semester into that final project.

The syllabus

For “Business Reporting,” syllabus should tell students why this is going to be a great class to take.

Think about answering these questions in the document:

1. What will you cover in this course? 2. What won't be covered? 3. Why is it worthwhile to study this

subject? (What got you interested in this topic initially?)

The syllabus More questions to consider with the

syllabus:1. What is your approach to teaching this

content? 2. How will this relate to the material that was

covered in the prerequisite course(s)? 3. Is there any other body of content that it will

draw on? (For example, a this course might draw on business and economic concepts, even if business and economics courses are not a prerequisite.)

4. Are there any life experiences that the student might find it helpful to draw upon?

Parts of the syllabus

Parts of the syllabusMost syllabuses will include basic

information such as office hours, how a grade will be determined, textbooks to be used and when the class meets.

But there are other things to consider when writing the syllabus.

ObjectivesI like to list an objective for my sources.For “Business Reporting,” it might state

something like this:“The objective of this course is to make

you comfortable writing stories about business and the economy. My goal is to have each of you call or e-mail me from your first job when you were asked to write that earnings or IPO story, and tell me how easy it was.”

ReadingsIn addition to the textbook, the syllabus

needs to explain what is expected of outside readings.

Most “business reporting” classes require students to read The Wall Street Journal or local business news sections.

Can also require reading BusinessWeek, Forbes and Fortune.

ReadingsHow do you determine whether students

have actually done the readings?Can have pop business news quizzes as

part of the grade.Can also offer bonus points for successfully

answering questions about current business news issues.

ReadingsAs far as textbook readings, I like to list

what I expect to be read before each class.Accomplishes two things: Improves class

discussion, and lets you know who has done the reading when you ask questions and they don’t know the answers.

Non-textbook readingsLike to give students a book to read during

the semester in addition to the textbook.Needs to be something that shows them

how business reporters do their job.A number of recent books qualify.

Non-textbook readings Here are some suggestions:1. "24 Days: How Two Wall Street Journal

Reporters Uncovered the Lies that Destroyed Faith in Corporate America." By Rebecca Smith and John Emshwiler. Harper Collins. 2003.

2. “The Fortune Tellers: Inside Wall Street's Game of Money, Media, and Manipulation.” By Howard Kurtz. Touchstone Books. 2001.

Non-textbook readings Some other suggestions:1. "High and Mighty: The Dangerous Rise of

the SUV." By Keith Bradsher. Public Affairs: 2004.

2. "Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron.” By Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. Portfolio: 2003.

3. The Big Short, by Michael Lewis. Norton: 2010.

4. All the Devils are Here, by Bethany McLean and Joe Nocera. Penguin: 2010.

Non-textbook readingsIf you do assign one of these books to

your students, don’t make them write the typical book report.

Hold a class discussion one day about the reporting tactics discussed in the books.

Or, have the students write about how they may have reported stories differently than the journalists in the books.

Writing assignmentsWill the writing assignments be done in

class, or outside of class?Unless you’re teaching in a room that

has computers, most reporting classes require stories to be written outside of class.

Make sure there is a set deadline when stories are due. Make deadlines realistic, but enforce it strictly.

Writing assignmentsThe writing assignments should be

assigned at the end of a class, but they should also be marked on the syllabus.

Discuss the material in class, such as earnings stories. Talk about how it’s reported and written.

Then, assign immediately, so it’s fresh in their minds.

Writing assignmentsAlso, set guidelines on what the

students can – and can’t – do for the writing assignments.

Can they e-mail or call you with questions?

Can they look at how similar stories were written online?

Can they have another student look at their work?

What type of sources are they supposed to use?

Writing assignmentsAlso, discuss with the class how the writing

assignments are going to be graded?Are you more interested in seeing that they

understand the concepts that they are writing about?

Do you also want to see good structure and transitions, for example?

The fact error issueIt’s vitally important to instill a belief in

“Business Reporting” students that getting a number or name wrong can kill their credibility, especially with those they’re writing about.

How much will you count off for a fact error?

At UNC, it’s 50 points.

Writing assignmentsHow much should a student’s writing

assignments count for their overall grade?I like to give 9 or 10 writing assignments

throughout the semester.Make them at least 40 percent of the

grade.

Class participationWill you make part of the student’s overall

grade how much they participated in class?I’d encourage it, but no more than 10

percent.Gets students involved in the discussion

about issues and topics.

ExamsHow many exams you give should be up to

you.I prefer to give exams that focus on

understanding concepts such as the SEC and its filings rather than making them write a story.

Want to see they understand what they’re writing about.

ExamsGive only a mid-term exam, and it counts

for 20 percent of the grade.Short-answer questions that makes them

think.Example: “List six reasons why a company

would file a Form 8-K with the SEC.”

Using guest speakersI like to use guest speakers to emphasize

points made in class, or as a writing assignment.

Will have CEO and CFO of public company come be interviewed.

Or, can have sell-side or buy-side analyst discuss reports or portfolio.

Using guest speakersAlso like to have a PR person from a local

company talk about relationship with business reporters.

Downside: How do you know they do what they tell the class?

Upside: Can expose students early to what can be a tense relationship.

Using guest speakersOne of the problems I’ve run into with

guest speakers is vetting them beforehand.If you’ve never heard them speak, how do

you know they’re going to be good?Sometimes, have to take a chance.Stay in class, and direct conversation back

on point.

ScheduleI prefer the syllabus include a calendar of

what will be done EVERY day the class meets.

Prevents ambiguity.Lets students know what to expect each

day.Lets them know about deadlines.

Final points about the syllabus

Make it available onlineHaving the syllabus easily available on-line

will save both you and students time and frustration later in the quarter, when paper copies have been misplaced.

Make sure students know how to access it.Blackboard or personal URL?

There is no length issueTake as much space as you feel necessary

to write the syllabus.If in doubt, it is usually best to err on the

long side, to ensure that important course information is fully covered.

At the same time, students will appreciate having key information in succinct form on the first page or two.

Show your personalityHave some fun with the syllabus. It puts

students at ease.Showing humor will also help show them

that business and economics are not boring topics.

Example: “April 11: Bonds. Not James. Munis, government, etc. Chapter 7 in Show me the Money.”

Always look to improveDon’t use the same syllabus every year.Find new guest speakers.Come up with new assignments, possibly

about breaking news in the area.Using same syllabus makes instructor

bored, and students will notice.

Changes for 2010-11My big change for last year was swapping

places with a business journalism professor from Spain.

He came to UNC and taught my class for two weeks about business reporting in Europe.

I taught his students for two weeks about business journalism in the U.S.

Am going to Spain in March.Looking into exchange with London university

that has business journalism program.