Module 5 October to December

 

The Editorial process: (Editing, Layout and Design)

Instructor: Stanford Mukasa

 

 

 

Week

 Lecture

Assignment
  1.  

The role of the editor. (1) story selection (2) editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling and style

Assignment 1. A. Take a look at your local newspaper. List stories on the front page, Page 2 and Page 3. B. Listen to a radio or TV news broadcast. List the stories that were broadcast.

  1.  

The role of the editor. (1) story selection (2) editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling and style

Assignment 2.  Interview a person in the news. Or attend a community meeting and write a story to be published in the African Star
  1.  

Photojournalism

 
  1.  

Introduction to layout and design

 
  1.  

Planning a paper. Editorial roles

Assignment 3: Meet as a class to plan a paper. Paper will have 8 pages. Give your paper a name. Each page will have an editor and copy editors and photo editor. Appoint an editor, copy editors and layout editors. Draw up  a list of events happening in your community and give reporting assignments to students.
  1.  

Work on your newspaper project

Assignment 4. Students will produce their own paper. They will also go to cover  news events in the community as well as take pictures.
  1.  

Work on your newspaper project
  1.  

Work on your newspaper project
  1.  

Work on your newspaper project
  1.  

Work on your newspaper project

 

The course will introduce journalists and information practitioners  to the editorial process: editing, layout and design. Particular emphasis will be focused on the editorial process, which includes: (1) story selection (2) editing for grammar, punctuation, spelling and style (3) basic principles of layout and designing a publication. This course is important in that it gives reporters and editors professional skills in information management, packaging and production.

            Participants will also learn how to use some design software like PageMaker.

 
  1. General Objectives

 

This course gives both journalists and individuals in editorial positions basic skills in the art and science of the editorial process and all that it entails, namely the ability to select relevant stories, edit them properly and package the information in a way that is attractive to readers.

 
  1. Organization

 

The course will consist of three sections.

Section One

Will be an overview of editing in the 21st Century as well as the management structure of a newspaper and the roles of editors and copy editors. The section will also focus on understanding readers and readership habits, and selecting stories that are relevant and of interest to readers. The section will stress the importance of editorial independence, objectivity, fairness in story selection and editing

Section Two

Will focus on editing for grammar, style, punctuation, spelling and content. Here the editor will pay particular attention to not only the organization of a story but also ensure that the story is error free in grammar, spelling, and punctuation; and that the story adheres to a journalistic style in terms of consistency in use of titles, abbreviations, dates, places and names.  

Section Three

Will deal with principles of layout and design and how to manipulate ART, that is, graphics, photos and charts.

 
 
 
  1. Objectives

 

At the end of the course participants will gain the following skills and knowledge:

a

The tasks and challenges of editing in the 21st Century information age;

b

Participants will be able to identify community information needs and select stories that are consistent with those needs;

c

Participants will learn and develop practical knowledge in the various roles of editors, e.g. news editor, layout and design editor, headline editor, rewrite editor, copy editor, etc.

d

Participants will be proficient in the editorial process that involves selecting stories, copyediting and determining page placement, doing layout and computer- aided design-using software such as PageMaker.