Ithaca College | Roy H.

Park School of Communications

JOUR 48000 Mobile and Social Media Journalism – Fall 2021
Monday & Wednesday/Park 275
Section 1: 1-2:40 p.m. // Section 2: 3-4:40 p.m.

PROFESSOR
Anthony Adornato
Email: aadornato@ithaca.edu Office: Park 250
Twitter: @anthonyadornato Office Hours: Remotely by appointment
Class Website: http://bit.ly/MoJoClass
Twitter Class Hashtag: #ICParkSM

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course critically examines how journalists and news organizations are using emerging forms
of social media and mobile platforms. Students gain hands-on experience by experimenting with
social media and mobile devices for newsgathering, distribution, and audience engagement.
Students produce a portfolio of multimedia stories and build their own professional journalistic
brand. An emphasis is placed on critically assessing the credibility and authenticity of user-
generated content. Students will also learn how to use analytics tools to monitor and analyze the
effectiveness of their mobile and social media activity. (4 Credits)

COURSE OVERVIEW

Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. These are some of the social media tools altering how journalists
do their jobs and how people consume news today. This course prepares you to evaluate and use
social media and mobile devices as professional journalists. By the end of the course, you will
have the fundamental mobile and social media skills that news organizations are seeking from
today’s journalists. You will learn by “doing.” You will build your own professional social
media brand and produce a portfolio of stories using social media and mobile devices/apps.

You and your classmates are future industry leaders, so we will also critically assess future
developments related to mobile and social media in journalism. This course will foster your
ability to apply the core values of journalism to emerging media forms in productive, innovative,
and intelligent ways. The concepts and skills we will tackle include: maintaining a professional
social media brand; finding story ideas and sources via social media; using social media and
mobile devices/apps for newsgathering and production; social media ethics; audience
engagement; and analytics.

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 COURSE GOALS

• Effectively use social media for newsgathering, distribution, and audience engagement.
• Research and locate reliable information from social media to enhance your reporting, and at
the same time, identify misleading and unbalanced content.
• Gain the technical skills of mobile newsgathering through the use of mobile devices and apps
to gather, produce, and distribute news content.
• Create and enhance your own professional brand on social media platforms.
• Collaborate as a news team to contribute original reporting to Ithaca Week and to manage its
Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Become an engaged and active participant of the online community of the beat that you have
chosen.
• Use analytics platforms to monitor and analyze social media engagement and success.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of mobile and social media strategies and policies in news
organizations.
• Understand the public’s active role in the news production process, and the resulting impact
on journalism.
• Understand the flexibility, innovativeness, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to be successful
in this evolving industry.

REQUIRED READINGS & MATERIALS

• Mobile and Social Media Journalism: A Practical Guide for Multimedia Journalism 2nd
Edition (Routledge, 2021) by Anthony Adornato.
• You will be able to reserve, through PPECS, an iPad Mini and mobile journalism kit for the
entire semester.
• To be successful in this class and as a journalist, you must be well-informed about emerging
technologies and their impact on journalism. Here are my go-to sources to stay up-to-date on
the latest mobile and social media journalism trends, tips, and skills training. I’ve provided
Twitter handles, website links, and links for you to subscribe to e-newsletters.

Poynter
@Poynter and Poynter Newsletter

Pew Research Center

@pewjournalism and Pew Research Newsletter

Nieman Lab
@NiemanLab and Nieman Newsletter

First Draft News

@firstdraftnews, firstdraftnews.com, and First Draft Newsletter

NPR Training
@nprtraining, training.npr.org, and NPR Training Newsletter

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 BBC Academy
@BBCAcademy and https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/

MY CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY

First, a note on promptness: I expect you to be on time. Tardiness is not a matter of degree; you
either are late or you’re not. A late student will be considered absent. I don’t allow you to
make up work you miss because of your tardiness.

Second, a note on attendance: I expect you to attend every class and to be in attendance for the
duration of every class. Excused absences include religious observances, documented illness,
death of a family member or loved-one, and pre-approved school-related activities. In addition,
each student will be granted two unexcused absences for any reason. Homework due on days you
are absent must still be turned in by deadline. For each unexcused absence beyond the initial
two, I’ll deduct 5 points from your final grade. It’s your responsibility to let me know if
you’re not going to be in class.

ITHACA COLLEGE’S POLICY ON ATTENDANCE

Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes, and they are responsible for work
missed during any absence from class. At the beginning of each semester, instructors must
provide the students in their courses with written guidelines regarding possible grading penalties
for failure to attend class. Students should notify their instructors as soon as possible of any
anticipated absences. Written documentation that indicates the reason for being absent may be
required. These guidelines may vary from course to course but are subject to the following
restrictions:

• In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious
beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. The faculty member is
responsible for providing the student with an equivalent opportunity to make up any
examination, study, or work requirement that the student may have missed. It is
suggested that students notify their course instructors at least one week before any
anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any
missed work or examination. Any such work is to be completed within a reasonable
time frame, as determined by the faculty member.

• Any student who misses class due to a verifiable family or individual health emergency,
or to a required appearance in a court of law, shall be excused. Students should
communicate directly with the faculty member when they need to miss a class for health
or family emergencies, for court appearances, etc. Faculty members who require
documentation of student absences should communicate directly with their students. On-
campus residents who will be away from campus for an extended period of time should
notify the Office of Residential Life of their absence from campus by e-mailing
housing@ithaca.edu and including their building and room number in that message.
Students may need to consider a leave of absence, medical leave of absence, selected
course withdrawals, and so on, if they have missed a significant portion of class work.

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A student may be excused for participation in College-authorized co-curricular and
extracurricular activities if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the specific student's
or the other students' ability to succeed in the course.

For all absences, except those due to religious beliefs, the course instructor has the right to
determine if the number of absences has been excessive in view of the nature of the class that
was missed and the stated attendance policy. Depending on the individual situation, this can
result in the student being removed from or failing the course.

CLASS COMMUNICATION

Your success in this course will depend, in part, on good communication and understanding
what’s expected of you and when.

Class Website/Facebook page/Canvas: Course information, updates, and messages will be

posted to our class Facebook page and website. You’re expected to frequently check these
platforms. We’ll also use Canvas for the submission of some assignments.

Email: You’re expected to regularly check your Ithaca College email. Failure to do so puts you
at risk of missing important class instructions and announcements. We’ll use email for one-on-
one communication.

Social Media: This class is all about being social media savvy—as a journalist. Our class
hashtag on Twitter and other social media platforms is #ICParkSM. You’ll use the class hashtag
for most assignments, and I’ll use this hashtag when tweeting information relevant to this course.
So, make sure you are following the conversations by regularly searching for #ICParkSM.

CLASS ETIQUETTE

I want to stress these points:

• Laptops and mobile devices are to be used for class purposes during our meetings – not for
personal social interactions.
• In-class critiques of your classmates’ work will be constructive. Feedback should be about
the work and never personal. Be respectful of each other’s effort.

MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

Deadlines are exact—just like in the news business. If you turn any assignment in after the
assigned deadline, you’ll receive an “F” for the assignment.

Multimedia Packages (35% of grade): You will produce four stories. At least two must be
focused on your beat. For each story, you will use a mobile device and apps for the majority of
newsgathering and production. You will also be expected to use social media tools to engage
with your online community during the reporting process. I will post a weekly to-do list on our
website so that you know how many times and the type of content to share on social media while
you’re in the field reporting. Before going in the field, we will hold in-class editorial meetings.
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You must explain why the story matters, who is impacted, potential interviewees, and how you
will use social media and mobile apps in the newsgathering and production of the story, among
other items.

On the days your packages are due, you will:

• Have at least two classmates edit your story.
• Uploaded to Canvas the template submission form that I will give you for each reporting
round. The document must include: final text of the story, the link to the story on your
website, a list of sources consulted, and the names of your editors.
• Create a Wakelet that contains all the social media items required during the reporting
process. Include the Wakelet link in the template document you post to Canvas.

After publishing the stories to your personal website, I’ll let you know in my feedback if you
should also post them to Ithaca Week. Most stories are posted to Ithaca Week after a round or
two of editing.

Social Media Activity/Portfolio (30% of grade): You will develop your own professional
social media portfolio during this class. Your portfolio will include a blog as well as profiles and
engagement on social media sites. Part of your social media activity involves becoming active in
the online community of your beat. You should consistently engage with related social media
users (RTs, replies, and @ mentions) and use hashtags associated with your beat. During the
semester, we will conduct peer evaluations, so you and your classmates can give each other
feedback. Analytics will help to shed light on your effectiveness. At the end of the semester, you
will present your portfolio to the class. I will post a weekly to-do list on the class website. All
items must be completed by 11:59 p.m., Saturday. For this class, the week runs from Sunday to
Saturday.

Blog Posts (20% of grade): During most weeks that stories are not due, you will complete two
blog posts (approx. 400 words each). The topics of the posts will vary. Sometimes you will have
to address a specific question related to social media, other times you’re free to post about any
topic related to your beat or mobile and social media journalism. The goal is to develop your
own blog voice and thoughtful discussions. Your blog posts will also allow you to reflect on
your work in this class.

Editor Role (10% of grade): You will be assigned to a team of editors who will manage the
Ithaca Week social media platforms during a specified period. The team of editors will develop
and execute a social media plan for Ithaca Week. During this reporting period, you will not be
responsible for producing an individual story.

Teaching Moment (5% of grade): This is your opportunity to teach us! In teams of two, you
will lead a 20-minute class presentation/discussion about a current topic related to mobile and
social media journalism. Weekly course readings and content from professional journalism
groups (such as Poynter, Nieman, and First Draft News) will provide you with potential ideas.
Topics might include how a news outlet uses social media, an ethical issue related to social
media and journalism, or ideas on how journalists could use a particular mobile or social media
tool.

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 BASIC GRADING CRITERIA

Below is the basic grading criteria. For each major assignment, I’ll provide more detailed
grading criteria/rubric in class. Generally, you’ll be graded on clarity, organization, accuracy,
fairness/balance, completeness/omissions, grammar, spelling, and ability to meet deadlines. My
grading in this course will also take in to account your creativity and innovativeness.

In the journalism business there are no absolutes. Some things may work, others may not. It’s my
duty to determine your effectiveness in turning an idea (the abstract) into a finished project that
will be acceptable by industry standards. You have to rely on my experience in the industry, and
academe, to provide you with the most accurate representation of feedback you’ll receive in a
newsroom.

A 95-100% | A- 90-94%
Mastery of course content at the highest level of attainment. Accurate, clear, and comprehensive
work. Stories are well-written, well-researched, and require only minor copy editing (i.e., they
would be published).

B+ 87-89% | B 84-86% | B- 80-83%

Strong performance demonstrating a satisfactory level of attainment. Stories require more than
minor editing and have a few style or spelling errors or one significant error of omission.

C+ 77-79% | C 74-76% | C- 70-73%

Needs work. Stories need considerable editing or rewriting and/or have many spelling, style or
omission errors.

D+ 67-69% | D 64-66% | D- 60-63

A marginal performance. Work requires excessive rewriting and has numerous errors, and should
not have been submitted.

F 59% and below

An unacceptable performance. Work failed to meet the major criteria of the assignment, has
numerous errors, or both. A story that has even a single factual error that is material to the story
merits an “F.” Example: you get the street name wrong in a story about an accident. That will
mean an “F.” Proper names, locations, and titles have to be accurate and spelled correctly.

USE OF STUDENT WORK

Never tell an interview subject your story will only be seen in class. Your work will be
published on your professional website, and it may also be published on Ithaca Week.

IN-CLASS CRITIQUES AND FEEDBACK ON ASSIGNMENTS

There will be regular in-class critiques of your work. You should offer constructive, honest

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comments on a project as it’s shown in class. Pay close attention to the comments I make during
class critiques. My remarks often can be applied to your work, even if it’s someone else’s work
that’s being reviewed.

ITHACA COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM PLAGIARISM POLICY

The Department of Journalism Plagiarism Policy is a supplement to the Ithaca College

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty Policy. Department of Journalism students are expected to
review and understand both policies.

Plagiarism is the cardinal sin of journalism. It undermines your integrity and that of the
profession. The Department of Journalism does not tolerate plagiarism. A committee comprised
of Department of Journalism faculty will review each case of plagiarism. The Dean’s office at
the Park School will also be made aware of each case.

Penalties for plagiarism can include:

• a failing grade for the plagiarized assignment
• a failing grade for the course
• suspension
• expulsion

Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s work without giving credit. Use of words, phrases,
sentences, ideas, photos or other kinds of content without proper attribution and copyright
permission is plagiarism. This is true whether you do it intentionally or not. If such credit is not
given for another’s work, it’s considered plagiarism.

Department of Journalism students are required to produce original work without plagiarizing
previously published work, including: online and print articles, broadcast stories, scholarly
publications, and other students’ assignments.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Directly copying content from online sources and pasting it into your own work without
proper attribution.
• Paraphrasing content from online sources and pasting it into your own work without
proper attribution.
• Copying quotes from stories produced by someone else and using them in your own
work. You are expected to interview sources on your own.
• Passing off another student’s work as your own.
• Submitting the same piece of work to instructors in two or more courses.

The best practice to follow: Whenever in doubt, cite the source and ask your professor for
guidance.

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 ITHACA COLLEGE PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY

Whether intended or not, plagiarism is a serious offense against academic honesty. Under any
circumstances, it is deceitful to represent as one's own work, writing or ideas that belong to
another person. Students should be aware of how this offense is defined. Plagiarism is the
unacknowledged use of someone else's published or unpublished ideas, whether this use consists
of directly quoted material or paraphrased ideas. Although various disciplines follow styles of
documentation that differ in some details, all forms of documentation make the following
demands:
• That each quotation or paraphrase be acknowledged with a footnote or in-text citation;
• That direct quotations be enclosed in quotation marks and be absolutely faithful to the
wording of the source;
• That paraphrased ideas be stated in language entirely different from the language of the
source;
• That a sequence of ideas identical to that of a source be attributed to that source;
• That sources of reprinted charts or graphs be cited in the text;
• That all the sources the writer has drawn from in paraphrase or direct quotation or a
combination of paraphrase and quotation be listed at the end of the paper under
“Bibliography,” “References,” or “Works Cited,” whichever heading the particular style
of documentation requires.

A student is guilty of plagiarism if the student fails, intentionally or not, to follow any of these
standard requirements of documentation.

In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic
misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and
fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has
occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.

What, then, do students not have to document? They need not cite their own ideas, or references
to their own experiences, or information that falls in the category of uncontroversial common
knowledge (what a person reasonably well-informed about a subject might be expected to know).
They should acknowledge anything else.

7.1.4.2 Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty

Other violations of academic honesty include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:
• Handing in to a class a paper written by someone else;
• Handing in as an original work for a class a paper one has already submitted to another
course;
• Handing in the same paper simultaneously to two courses without the full knowledge and
explicit consent of all the faculty members involved;
• Having someone else rewrite or clean up a rough draft and submitting those revisions as
one’s own work.
These offenses violate the atmosphere of trust and mutual respect necessary the process of
learning.

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 PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICS

Students are expected to follow the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics in
this class. I expect that you’ll be exceedingly honest, fair, and responsible. View policy:
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp.

PROFESSIONAL DRESS AND COMMUNICATION POLICY

When arranging and conducting interviews for class, act professionally. Address people on the
phone or via email in a courteous, business-like manner. When you in the field to report, dress
appropriately. By conducting yourself in a professional manner, people will take you more
seriously and afford you more respect.

DIVERSITY

It’s important to broaden your journalism experiences, with guidance from me, by including in
coursework ethnic, racial and religious minorities, people with disabilities, gay men and lesbians
and other similar groups and issues that affect these groups. This includes, but is not limited to,
developing sensitivity to language and images. The intent is to ensure your work reflects the
diversity of the community and that you’re exposed to diverse ideas and perspectives.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented
disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Students must register with Student Disability Services and
provide appropriate documentation to Ithaca College before any academic adjustment will be
provided. You’re also welcome to contact me privately to discuss your academic needs, although
faculty cannot arrange for disability-related accommodations.

TITLE IX REPORTING

Please note that if you disclose an experience related to sexual misconduct (including sexual
assault, dating violence, and/or stalking, sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination), your
professor is obligated to inform the Title IX coordinator, lkoenig@ithaca.edu, of all relevant
information, including your name. The college will take initial steps to address the incident(s),
protect, and, support those directly affected, and enhance the safety of our community. The Title
IX coordinator will work with you to determine the best way to proceed. Information shared in
class assignments, class discussions, and at public events do not constitute an official disclosure,
and faculty and staff do not have to report these to the Title IX Coordinator.

MATTERS OF STUDENT SAFETY

You must respond to and report conditions and actions that may jeopardize your safety, or that of
other people and/or equipment. Report to the responsible College employee. During class
sessions that person would be your instructor or lab assistant. Outside of class the person might

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be your instructor, lab supervisor, co-curricular manager, equipment and facilities manager, or
one of the engineering support staff. You must be aware that misuse of equipment or use of
damaged equipment can create the risk of serious injury, infectious contamination, and expensive
damage. You may be liable for damage or injury resulting from such use. Unsupervised use of
facilities puts you at risk. Failure to be alert to safety problems, or to report them, may have
serious consequences for you or others.

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or
problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance. The
source of symptoms might be related to your course work; if so, please speak with me. However,
problems with relationships, family worries, loss, or a personal struggle or crisis can also
contribute to decreased academic performance. Ithaca College provides cost-free mental health
services through the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to help you
manage personal challenges that threaten your personal or academic well-being. In the event I
suspect you need additional support, expect that I will express to you my concerns and the
reasons for them. It is not my intent to know the details of what might be troubling you, but
simply to let you know I am concerned and that help (e.g., CAPS, Health Center, Chaplains,
etc.), if needed, is available. Remember, getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do—for
yourself and for your loved ones.

CLASS SCHEDULE

(This schedule is a flexible outline of the material we expect to cover in this class. Expect
changes, additions, and deletions as the needs of this class and other circumstances dictate.)

WEEK ONE (Aug. 23 & 25)

--Forces at the Gate: An Active Audience
--Navigating Change: The Mobile-First Newsroom
--Your Social Media Brand: Who Do You Want To Be?
--Finding a Niche/Beat

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List

WEEK TWO (Aug. 30 & Sept. 1)

--Finding a Niche/Beat Continued
--Social Media Audit
--Personal Website and Ithaca Week Set-up
--Introduction to Blogging

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List

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*Two blog posts next week

WEEK THREE (Sept. 8)

--Navigating Change: The Mobile-First Newsroom Revisited
--Writing and Video Fundamentals
--The Mobile Journalist and Must-have Apps
--Twitter Lists

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Three story pitches

WEEK FOUR (Sept. 13 & 15)

--Story Pitches
--Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Social Media Optimization/Engagement (SMO)
--Social Newsgathering and Listening: Story Ideas, Sources, and Content
--Social Collaboration and Curation: Crowdsourcing

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Package #1 due next Wednesday

WEEK FIVE (Sept. 20 & 22)

--Writing Mobile-Friendly Web Stories
--Publishing to Ithaca Week
--Package #1 due Wednesday

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Two blog posts next week and three story pitches

WEEK SIX (Sept. 27 & 29)

--Review Stories and Story Pitches
--Writing Check-up
--Readable Videos and Social Graphics
--Twitter Cards
--Tweeting Your Beat Tips

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Package #2 due next Wednesday

WEEK SEVEN (Oct. 4 & 6)

--Audience Analytics
--Using Mobile Devices and Social Media During Live Events/Breaking News
--Emerging Forms of News Engagement: IGTV, TikTok, smart speakers, e-newsletters, etc.

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--Package #2 due Wednesday

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Two blog posts next week and three story ideas

WEEK EIGHT (Oct. 11 & 13)

--Review Stories and Story Pitches
--Social Media Policies and Ethics
--Verification and Authenticity of Information
--Location, Location, Location: Geo-location Sleuthing

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Package #3 due next Wednesday

WEEK NINE (Oct. 18 & 20)

--Fake News: The Spread of Misinformation and Disinformation
--Social Media Analytics Revisited
--Package #3 due Wednesday

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do list
*Two blog posts next week and three story ideas

WEEK TEN (Oct. 25 & 27)

--Review Stories and Story Pitches
--Mobile and Social Media Jobs in Newsrooms

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Package #4 due next Wednesday

WEEK ELEVEN (Nov. 1 & 3)

--Package #4 due Wednesday

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List

WEEK TWELVE (Nov. 8 & 10)

--Review Stories
--Guest Speaker
--Discussion of your social media brand and analytics

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List

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*Two blog posts next week

WEEK THIRTEEN (Nov. 15 & 17)

--Website check-up
--Discussion of your social media brand and analytics

Assignment:
*Weekly To-do List
*Three story ideas due after break

WEEK FOURTEEN
THANKSGIVING BREAK

WEEK FIFTEEN (Nov. 29 & Dec. 1)

--Story Pitches
--Mobile and Social Media In Your Career
--Landing a Job with a Newsroom’s Mobile and Social Team

Assignment:
*Package #5 due next Monday
*Social Media Portfolio Memo due next Monday
*Weekly To-do List

WEEK SIXTEEN (Dec. 6)

--Package #5 due Monday
--Class Wrap-Up

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