The Daily Plan-it / Dean of Students Blog, Columbia J-school

To All MS Students:
Welcome back to NYC, and if you’re still away, travel safely.

We want to let you know what is planned for Spring Prep Day, next Wednesday Jan. 23, to get your next semester underway. We’ve lined up a stellar day-long program of world-class prize-winning journalists to inspire you no matter your concentration or subject interest, prep you for the job search now and beyond, and provide you a chance to engage on critical issues facing journalism. We’ll built in a comfortable lunch break with several options, including a session to learn about attending the MA program. We’ll end the day with a nice reception to be hosted by our friends from Hearst. Follow the links to learn more about the projects they will discuss, and bring plenty of questions for the DuPont winners, the recent grads and other speakers.

NOTE: Attendance is mandatory by MS students, so plan to be there.

Spring Prep Day / Wednesday, January 23, 2013
8:15-9:00am
Welcome Breakfast – Discounted breakfast and coffee/tea at Brad’s Café

8:30-9:00am
Student Registration, Lobby. // Pick up your special nametag

9:00-9:45am: Lecture Hall
Welcome – Ernest R. Sotomayor, Dean of Student Affairs; Associate Dean Melanie Huff; Student Q&A

Winners Circle, presentation by awardees from Columbia’s Alfred I. DuPont competition / Intro by Abi Wright, director, DuPont & Chancellor Awards

10:00-11 am: Lecture Hall
USA Today: “Ghost Factories”
* Alison Young, reporter, USA TODAY
* John Hillkirk, managing editor for investigative and data journalism, USA TODAY
* Anthony DeBarros, Director-Content, Gannett Digital
* Shannon Green, video editor, USA TODAY
Moderator: Sheila Coronel, Professor, Columbia Journalism School, and director, Stabile Center for
Investigative Journalism

11am-Noon: Two Concurrent Events, two locations (Pick one)

Lecture Hall
Covering Conflict (SANA): Reporting on Syria
* Deb Amos, NPR coverage of Syria
* Clarissa Ward, CBS “Inside Syria”
Moderator: Ann Cooper, Professor, Columbia Journalism School

Stabile Student Center
Investigate This: Local Investigative Reporting (TURNER)
* Ross Jones and Heather Catallo, “Wayne County Confidential”
* Lee Zurik, “Dirty Deeds” & “Hiding Behind the Badge”
* Colleen McCarty, “Desert Underwater”
* Susan Phillips, “Shale Play”
Moderator: A’Lelia Bundles, J-School graduate and bestselling author, independent journalist and Trustee, Columbia University

12:00-1:30pm
* Lunch on your own, or:
* Attend Documentary panel with pizza to be served, courtesy the DuPont Awards, or
* Attend Information Session for the 2013 Master of Arts Program.

12:30-1:15 pm, Room 601B
Info session for students interested in applying to next year’s Master of Arts program. Hosted by Associate Dean Christine Souders & MA Program Director Tali Woodward. To attend, Register at http://fs18.formsite.com/CUJournalismAdmissions/MASession/index.html

12:30-1:25pm,Lecture Hall: Documentary: Social issues (SANA)
* Cynthia Lowen, Bully
* Alex Kotlowitz, The Interrupters
* Steve James, The Interrupters
* Alison Klayman, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Moderator: June Cross, Professor, Columbia Journalism School

1:30-2:15pm: Lecture Hall
Student Panel: Surviving and thriving in your final semester, by three May 2012 Grads who’ll share advice, tips and take your Qs.
* Carmel DeAmicis - Digital Media Associate, Columbia J-School
* Diane Jeantet – Freelancer writer, and part-time reporter, American Lawyer Daily
* Elizabeth Dilts – Reporter, Reuters Magazine and Editorial Research Asst. to Reuters Editor in
Chief Stephen Adler

2:15-3:15 pm: Lecture Hall
Planning your Spring Career Strategies and beyond
Associate Dean Julie Hartenstein and the Career Services Team. An early look at the March Career Expo, planning for OPT and more about what’s to come this spring

3:15-3:30pm: Break

3:30-4:45 pm: Lecture Hall
Hearst - Columbia Journalism Dialogues: A conversation about “Post-Industrial Journalism: Adapting to the Present,” and the implications for how you as new grads will practice journalism and build careers in an increasingly changing media world, with co-authors Columbia Journalism Professor and Tow Center Director Emily Bell, and College of Staten Island Asst. Professor Chris Anderson (CUJ Ph.D ’09). Moderated Columbia Journalism Academic Dean Bill Grueskin; followed by Q&A ( session will be webcast live)

5-6 pm: World Room
Reception, hosted by Hearst.

6-7 pm: Room 607B
Spring Information Session for Part-time Class, with Elena Cabral, Director, Part-Time Program. Refreshments to be served.

M.A. Spring Prep Follow-Up

Dear M.A. Students:

You will want to keep this note because it contains all the links you need to get ready for the spring term.

• ASSESSMENT: Students who have not submitted seminar Sample A and/or the final History assignment to the Assessment system will not be registered for the second semester until they submit. Students who have not submitted Sample B by January 4 will not be allowed to continue to the second semester.
  http://bit.ly/CUJLearning2013

• INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: All M.A. students traveling outside of the U.S. during winter break to do reporting for the thesis must submit an international registration form. Failure to do so will result in your not receiving your thesis grant.
  http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/IntlTravel/

• SPRING DIGITAL SKILLS: To request a spring skills class, please complete a ballot . Please note that your ballot must be submitted no later than November 26 at 10 a.m.
  http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/SP13_ballots/

• DIGITAL NEWS STRATEGIES or FORMATS, PROTOCOLS, ALGORITHMS: Please submit an Add/Drop form. The form goes live on January 7 at 7 a.m. Please note that Add/Drop is processed first-come, first-served.
  http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/AddDrop/
  You will need the course number, call number, section number and class name for each class that you will Add and Drop. Please see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/ for this information.

• OUTSIDE COURSES: Please see this link for the required form that must be signed by both your seminar professor and the outside course instruction.
  http://bit.ly/MA_outside

• DIPLOMA APPLICATION REMINDER: Diploma applications are due by December 1 for May 2013 graduates! This link will provide you with a pdf document that you may complete online, save to your computer, and then attach in an e-mail to diplomas@columbia.edu. If you are unable to save the completed form, you may print it and fax it to 212-854-8747.
  http://bit.ly/CU_DipAp

Welcome to the Spring Ballot for M.S., Knight Bagehot and JN/SEAS Students:

Please carefully follow the instructions below.

First, please read the Spring Curriculum thoroughly. Some information has been added and some changed since the document became available.

You may read students’ evaluations of many of the classes and professors at http://web.jrn.columbia.edu/students/view_evaluations.htm. You will have to log in using your UNI and password. Please note that some courses are being taught for the first time this spring. If you cannot find evaluations for a particular course, look instead for evaluations of other courses that professor has taught.

Please select the appropriate ballot for concentration/program. If you complete a ballot for a concentration/program other than your own, you will have your classes assigned randomly in the correct concentration/program.

Please note that if you began the program as a part-time student, you must ALWAYS use the part-time ballot even if you plan on accelerating to a full-time course load.

To complete the ballot you will need your Columbia e-mail address and PID (If you have lost your PID, please refer to http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2005/11/14/faq-how-do-i-find-my-pid/)

The ballots are NOT handled on a first-come, first-served basis. As long as you make the deadline (Monday, November 26, 10 a.m.) you have equal standing with all other students.

If you applied for an application class (Book Writing or Covering Religion), please do not complete your ballot until you have been notified about the results - November 23. Those accepted will not be balloting for that type of class.

NOTE: Ranking the same class as your first choice repeatedly DOES NOT increase your likelihood of getting into that class. Rather it means that we will randomly select your class if we are not able to give you your first choice.

If you do not submit a ballot, you will be placed in classes on a space available basis. If you made a mistake or changed your mind, please resubmit your ballot. Your most recently-submitted ballot as of the deadline (Monday, November 26, 10 a.m.) will be the one processed.

All students who began the Master’s Project in the fall will be automatically registered for it in the spring. FT Stabile students will automatically be enrolled for the Stabile seminar and the Stabile elective.

If you experience any problems using the ballot, please send e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu Please note we cannot promise students they will gain a seat in any specific class.

Please note that you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing the ballot information you submitted. You will have to look through it carefully to find what you entered as the response includes both the pages you were required to complete and those you weren’t based on type of ballot.

Please answer all questions carefully.

Spring 2013 Ballot

Dear M.S. Students:

The Spring 2013 curriculum for M.S. students is now available at
http://bit.ly/MS_Spring13

Please review it carefully. The deans will be will be available throughout November to discuss your options and help you plan for the Spring, as are your RWI professors, who serve as your advisers the rest of your time here.

*MA Students will receive a Spring briefing on November 20.

Please make note of the following dates:

• Monday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m. Applications due for Covering Religion.

• Monday, Nov. 12, 6-7 p.m., Stabile Student Center: Disruption and Resurrection: Big Stories for the Digital Age - Info session on Long Form Digital with Prof. Michael Shapiro.

• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6-8 p.m., Lecture Hall: Spring Preview Session - an evening when professors who teach Spring seminars, workshops and new electives are invited to present three-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session. Please note that only a handful of classes have individual briefing sessions so it is critical that you attend this large gathering. Dean Huff will be available after the presentations to answer balloting and registration questions.

• Wednesday, November 14, 10 a.m.: Spring Ballots go live; close Monday, November 26, 10 a.m. You can submit ballots any time during that period - NOT first come, first served. If you applied for an application class, please do not submit your ballot until you have heard back about your acceptance.

• Wednesday, November 21, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Stabile Student Center: Pre-Thanksgiving Pies and Advice with Deans Sotomayor and Huff

• Friday, November 23: Students notified of application results for Book Writing & Covering Religion

• Monday, November 26, 10 a.m. Spring Ballots close.

• Monday, November 26, 10 a.m.: Deadline to confirm acceptance of spots offered in application courses.

• Tuesday, December 11, time TBA - Lucille’s Ball.

• Late December: Students will be registered for their Spring courses.

• December 16-Jan. 22: Winter Break; work on Master’s Projects for M.S. students (first draft due Tuesday, Jan. 22)

• January 7-February 1: Add/Drop period

• Tuesday, January 22: M.S. Master’s Project first drafts due; M.A., and other University classes begin.

• Wednesday, Jan. 23, 9:30-5:00: ALL-CLASS EVENT: SPRING PREP DAY: “An annual day of academic, career and writing/reporting tips and advice, before the semester formally begins. Brought to you by Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Career Services “ - mandatory for all full-time MS students and MA students (except those MA students whose outside classes begin then); all others welcome. Presented by DOS Office and Career Services.

• Thursday & Friday, Jan. 24 & 25: M.S. Workshops begin.

• Monday & Tuesday, Jan. 28 & 29: M.S. Seminars begin.

• Wednesday, Jan. 30: M.S. Electives begin.

• Spring Break: March 18-22. Please note final submission of your completed Master’s Project is March 25

• GRADUATION: Tuesday, May 21 is Journalism Day; University and Journalism School graduation celebrations are on Wednesday, May 22. More details about graduation and registration for continuing students en route.

Dear Students:

I wanted to let you know about something new in the Covering Education seminar this spring, something I probably will not have time to explain in the three minutes we longwinded profs are given next Tuesday.

The goal of the course remains the same: to introduce students to the rich and contentious landscape of education reporting at its most expansive–its history, ethics, ideas, research, and fun stories.

What is different this year is our outside news partner. We have an ongoing relationship with the Hechinger Report and NYTimes/Schoolbook. This year, the class will work closely with editors at GothamSchools.org. Its team of reporters does the smartest job of covering education in the city, in my humble opinion. The site has expanded into Denver and Houston, and is working on making connections in Newark, NJ as well. There will be lots of opportunities for you to report and write news stories and enterprise projects in conjunction with the editors there.

For example, for news experience, I plan to send students to some of the 40 schools scheduled to be shut down to report on the fireworks that are likely to flare up just as our semester begins. As for projects, GothamSchools editors are interested in issues ranging from how writing is taught to why some high schools do a great job preparing their graduates for college, while others (three-quarters, if you can believe it) are abysmal. Honestly, the former is a new hot topic, and there’s new data on the latter. I’m open, of course, to all your interests and ideas.

And please don’t worry if you bloodied your knuckles in RW1 trying to pry open the door of a school to peep inside. It really doesn’t have to be that hard. Each student will spend time each week in an elementary, charter, middle or high school, making contacts, percolating story ideas, and learning from the various students, teachers and principals who will not toss you out. I promise. Additions to the embed list, are four charter schools, plus P-Tech High in Brooklyn, Urban Assembly School for Math and Science in the Bronx, I.S. 61 in Queens, Academy for Careers in TV and Film, Queens, World Journalism Prep, Queens, and more.

I am happy to answer any of your questions in person or over email. I am in 805, lh50@columbia.edu. Meanwhile check out past student work.

Cheers,
Prof. LynNell Hancock

SPRING SEMESTER PREP (updated several times a week) Here’s the schedule for Spring Semester Prep - events and dates to help you prepare for the Spring Semester. All the information will be available electronically, but you are encouraged to attend any events/briefing sessions you can. Please note we are offering events on a variety of dates and times. All this is subject to change, so please check back often.

The deans will be available throughout November to discuss your options and help you plan for the Spring, as are your RWI professors, who serve as your advisers the rest of your time here.

PLEASE NOTE: This information is for M.S. students. There will be an M.A. briefing session on Tuesday, November 20, 2-3:30., World Room. Tali Woodward and Melanie Huff will go over Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall final evaluations.

We expect to have the Spring 2013 M.S. curriculum available on Friday, November 9. Until then, you may refer to the Spring 2012 curriculum to get a sense of what we will likely be offering.

The Spring 2013 Curriculum is now available at http://bit.ly/MS_Spring13

If you want to check out evaluations of past spring classes, go to http://web.jrn.columbia.edu/students/view_evaluations.htm

All dates can be imported into your Google calendar via bit.ly/columbiajcal

• Thurs., Nov. 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Stabile Student Center: Spring prep meeting with focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester and final evaluations.

• Friday, November 9: Spring 2013 M.S. curriculum announced
• Monday, November 12: Applications due for Covering Religion
• Monday, Nov. 12, 6-7 p.m., Stabile Student Center Disruption and Resurrection: Big Stories for the Digital Age - Info session on Long Form Digital with Prof. Michael Shapiro.
• Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6-8 p.m., Lecture Hall: Spring Preview Session - an evening when professors who teach Spring seminars, workshops and new electives are invited to present three-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session. Please note that only a handful of classes have individual briefing sessions (as listed above), so it is critical that you attend this large gathering
• Wednesday, November 14, 10 a.m.: Spring Ballots go live; close Monday, November 26, 10 a.m. noon You can submit ballots any time during that period - NOT first come, first served. If you applied for an application class, please do not submit your ballot until you have heard back about your acceptance.
• Wednesday, November 21, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Stabile Student Center: Pre-Thanksgiving Pies and Advice with Deans Sotomayor and Huff
• Friday, November 23: Students notified of application results for Book Writing and Covering Religion
• Monday, Nov 26, 10 a.m. Spring Ballots close.
• Monday, Nov 26, 10 a.m. DEADLINE to confirm your acceptance of spots in application classes
  [ And don’t forget Lucille’s Ball, the annual J-School Holiday Party & Faculty Roast - on Tuesday, December 11- you absolutely have to be there!]
• Late December: Students will be registered for their Spring courses.
• December 16-Jan. 22: Winter Break; work on Master’s Projects for M.S. students (first draft due Tuesday, Jan. 22)
• January 7-February 1: Add/Drop period
• Tuesday, January 22: M.A., and other University classes begin.
• Wednesday, Jan. 23 9:30-5:00: ALL-CLASS EVENT: SPRING PREP DAY: “An annual day of academic, career and writing/reporting tips and advice, before the semester formally begins. Brought to you by Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Career Services “ - mandatory for all full-time MS students and MA students (except those MA students whose outside classes begin then); all others welcome. Presented by Student Affairs and Career Services.
• Thursday & Friday, Jan. 24 & 25: M.S. Workshops begin

INFORMATION SHEET AND APPLICATION FOR COVERING RELIGION SPRING 2013

PROFESSORS ARI L. GOLDMAN & ALEXANDER STILLE
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

“Covering Religion” aims at preparing students to write about religion for secular newspapers and magazines or for broadcast and digital media outlets. In the Spring 2013 semester the class will focus on the diversity of religious faiths found in Italy. Thanks to a generous grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the course will include a 10-day study-tour of Italy at no cost to students.

The study-tour will take place over spring break. The first seven weeks of the course will be spent reporting on religion in the New York area. Each student is assigned a faith or a sect of a faith in which to specialize. While a major focus of the semester will be on the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican, the class will also look at minority faiths in Italy, including Jews, Protestants and Muslims. In addition to writing assignments, each student will make an oral presentation in class about the coverage of his or her assigned faith. While still in New York, students will select and begin to report on the stories that they want to cover while abroad.

In past years, the class visited Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Jordan, Ireland and India. In each of these places, the group met with religious leaders and visited synagogues, mosques, churches, temples and shrines. Several days were also designated as “reporting days” for students to work on their projects.

During the 2013 trip, the class will maintain a Website that includes daily updates from our travels. Each day one student is responsible for reporting on that day’s activities and posting the story on the Web. In addition, two students serve as Webmasters and another coordinates photographs. Upon return from the study-tour students put additional stories and digital media projects on the Web. (The Websites from previous years can be found at www.coveringreligion.org.)

Here are a few additional points —

• Class size: the class is limited to 16 students.
• Dates for the trip: The trip roughly takes place over spring break, making use of the weekends before and after for travel time.
• Requirements: Full-time students accepted to the class must submit the final draft of their Master’s Project to the Dean Huff no later than March 13th, which is nearly two weeks before the regular deadline. In addition, all students must be up-to-date on deadlines for all other classes. No student on academic probation or academic warning will be allowed to go on the trip.
• Full-time and part-time students are eligible, whether concentrating in print, digital media or broadcast.
  Composition of the class: We are looking for a group of students that will reflect the diversity of the school in terms of gender, language skills, international travel experience, region of the United States and country of origin.
• Health insurance: Students are responsible to be sure that they are covered while traveling abroad.
• Cost to students: The foundation pays for airfare, hotels, transfers and at least one meal a day. Students should bring enough money for two meals a day plus money for any personal items or souvenirs they wish to purchase. Students are responsible for getting their own passports in order and for paying for any visa fees. Students will have to arrange their own travel to and from the airport in New York.

Application process: Please fill out the on-line application. It asks for a 500-word essay on why you would like to be considered for the class. It should include personal information as well as a statement about what contemporary religion story you would cover in Italy if you had the opportunity.

Good luck. We look forward to reading your application.

DEADLINE: November 12, 2012, 5 p.m.

Dear M.S. Students

I am writing to notify you of some upcoming action itesms.

• Next Assessment Deadline: All full-time M.S. students in sections of Ethics that end on October 19 are to submit your final assignment via the Assessment system at http://bit.ly/CUJLearning2013

• First Session Essentials & Skills evaluations: Those of you who have completed sections of skills and Essentials will be sent an online link by which to evaluate those classes.

• RWI Mid-term evaluations: All full-time M.S. students taking RWI this fall will receive a written mid-term evaluation from your professors this week or next.

• Honors-in-Class or Low Pass Designations for Essentials: As you will recall from Dean Grueskin’s welcome letter (http://bit.ly/MS_F12_Welcome), professors in all classes except for skills have the option of awarding honors-in-class for top notch performance. Journalism Essentials professors also have the option of awarding a low pass to students who do the bare minimum of work but otherwise turn in an undistinguished performance. Those of you receiving either of these will be notified via email over the next two weeks. Please note that neither designation will appear on your official transcript but will be taken into consideration for year-end awards.

• Spring Planning: Next week you will receive a detailed memo about spring planning dates and events.

Questions to dos@jrn.columbia.edu

Personal & Professional Style
Judith Crist & Helen Benedict

In the fall semester, this class is a three-point seminar open to Master of Science students.

The nature and demands of this course make it necessary to limit the class size.

It is offered to students who have mastered the basic mechanics and techniques of journalistic prose and are interested in developing and refining a personal literary style within a journalistic framework, appropriate to editorials, columns and reviews.

The emphasis is on form, structure and semantics for effective and original approaches to specialized writing in areas too long cliché-ridden. There are basic assignments and free-choice exercises, with concentration on self- and intra-group criticism. Not for the faint of heart.

Prospective students must complete the application (link below).

The forms asks for one sample of your best writing and a short a statement (no more than 350 words) of your interest in the course. The deadline to apply is Thursday, July 5, 10 a.m.

http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/PPStyle/index.html

Dear M.S. Students:

The Spring 2012 curriculum for M.S. students is now available at http://bit.ly/MS_Spring12

Please review it carefully. The deans will be will be available throughout November to discuss your options and help you plan for the Spring, as are your RWI professors, who serve as your advisers the rest of your time here.

*MA Students will receive a Spring briefing next Thursday, November 17, following E&I.

Please make note of the following dates:

• Monday, Nov. 14, 5 p.m. Applications due for Covering Religion and Personal & Professional Style
• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6-8 p.m., Lecture Hall: Spring Preview Session - an evening when professors who teach Spring seminars, workshops and new electives are invited to present three-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session. Please note that only a handful of classes have individual briefing sessions so it is critical that you attend this large gathering.
• Wednesday, November 16, 10 a.m.: Spring Ballots go live; close Monday, November 28, 10 a.m. noon You can submit ballots any time during that period - NOT first come, first served. If you applied for an application class, please do not submit your ballot until you have heard back about your acceptance.
• Wednesday, November 23, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Stabile Student Center: Pre-Thanksgiving Pies and Advice with Deans Sree & Huff
• Friday, November 25: Students notified of application results for Book Writing; Covering Religion; Personal & Professional Style
• Monday, November 28, 10 a.m. Spring Ballots close.
• Tuesday, December 13, time TBA - Lucille’s Ball
• Late December: Students will be registered for their Spring courses.
• December 18-Jan. 16: Winter Break; work on Master’s Projects for M.S. students (first draft due Tuesday, Jan. 17)
• January 4-January 27: Add/Drop period
• Wednesday, Jan. 18, 9:30-5:00: ALL-CLASS EVENT: SPRING PREP DAY: “An annual day of academic, career and writing/reporting tips and advice, before the semester formally begins. Brought to you by Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Career Services “ - mandatory for all full-time MS students and MA students (except those MA students whose outside classes begin then); all others welcome. Presented by DOS Office and Career Services.
• Tuesday, January 17: M.A., and other University classes begin.
• Thursday & Friday, Jan. 19 & 20: M.S. Workshops begin.
• Spring Break: March 12-16. Please note final submission of your completed Master’s Project is March 19.
• GRADUATION: Tuesday, May 15 is Journalism Day; University and Journalism School graduation celebrations are on Wednesday, May 16. More details en route.

Dear M.S. Students,

There are three spring seminars for which students must submit applications to be submitted:

• Book Writing
• Covering Religion
• Personal & Professional Style

Covering Religion and Personal & Professional Style both have applications that must be submitted by November 14, at 5 p.m.

Book Writing has its own application process which will be explained at the class information session on Friday, Nov. 4, 8:15 a.m., Stabile Student Center.

Please click on the class links for instructions.

Audio from Spring Class Preview, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009:
http://qtstreaming.jrn.columbia.edu/lectures/2009/springpreview1113.mov

Ballots go live at 8 p.m on Friday, November 13 are now live!!!! See link below.

Welcome to the Spring Ballots for M.S., and Knight Bagehot Students

Please carefully follow the instructions below.

1. First, please read the Spring Curriculum thoroughly. Some information has been added and some changed since the document became available.
2. You may read students’ evaluations of many of the classes and professors at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/. You will have to log in using your UNI and password.
3. Please select from the list below the ballot option that best describes your status.
4. To complete the ballot you will need your Columbia e-mail address and PID (If you have lost your PID, please refer to http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2005/11/14/faq-how-do-i-find-my-pid/)
5. The ballots are NOT handled on a first-come, first-served basis. As long as you make the deadline (Tuesday, November 17, 8 a.m.) you have equal standing with all other students.
6. If your ballot is received after the deadline, you will be placed in classes on a space available basis.
7. If you made a mistake or changed your mind, please resubmit your ballot. Your most recently-submitted ballot as of the deadline (Tuesday, November 17, 8 a.m.) will be the one processed.
8. If you experience any problems using the ballot, please send e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu
9. Please note we cannot promise students they will gain a seat in any specific class.
10. Students continuing with the Master’s Project will be automatically registered for it.
11. Students may only take one class that meets on Monday/Tuesday and one that meets on Thursday/Friday. This means that if your seminar is on a Monday, your workshop has to be on a Thursday/Friday. Or if your workshop is on a Thursday or Friday, your seminar has to be on a Monday or Tuesday.

Please answer all questions carefully.
Spring 2010 M.S. Ballot

Investigative Project (non-Stabile)
Walt Bogdanich

This six-point seminar open to Master of Science students is taught by professor Walt Bogdanich (bio - http://snurl.com/bogdanich ), Pulitzer-Prize winning assistant editor for The New York Times Investigations Desk.

The mission, methods and history of investigative reporting, as seen in part through a semester-long project examining a single subject. The goal will be to break news exploring the underside of an overarching state or municipal issue and to expose in engaging detail “the effort required,” as Lincoln Steffens put it, “to make the world go wrong.” The class will include a mix of investigative lecturers–from reporters to law enforcement agents to private investigators–as well as government officials and other experts on the project theme.

The subjects of investigative stories will also discuss how reporters are handled at the receiving end. The purpose of the class will be to acquire investigative skills by using them in a team approach designed to have an impact on one of the city’s great, under-explored, issues.

To apply for admission to this class, please complete the application available at http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/investigative/

Deadline to apply is Friday, November 6, 5 p.m.

SPRING SEMESTER KICKOFF DAY
An annual day of academic, career and writing/reporting tips and advice, before the semester formally begins. Brought to you by Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Career Services

Mandatory for full-time MS and MA students; all other students, faculty, staff are encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009

10-10:30 am: Breakfast served - coffee, tea, muffin and bagel baskets

10:30-11:15 am: WELCOME: Deans Grueskin & Sreenivasan

DISCUSSION: Career Planning Strategies
Dean Sotomayor & the Career Services Team
- how to make best use of the Spring semester for job hunting and job planning

11:15-11:45: DISCUSSION: Surviving & Thriving in the Spring Semester
Deans Huff & Sreenivasan
- how to excel in the Spring, academically and otherwise
- preparing for graduation (never too early!)
- explanation of year-end prizes
[be sure to read Spring survival tips from alumni]
(more…)

Get a taste of the Columbia J-school’s M.S. Curriculum for Spring 2009 by listening to a webcast of the “Spring Preview” session of Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008. More than 30 professors were alloted three minutes each to talk about their courses (out of more than 50 offered in the Spring). While hearing this may not give you full understanding of the courses, you will get some insight into the range and experience of the Faculty. And you’ll hear from many of America’s best-known journalists in various fields come up to the mic, one after the other… Even if you will never take a class with most of these folks, just listening to the lineup is instructive and interesting. And the fact that they all showed up on the Tuesday night of Thanksgiving is all the more impressive.

See the lineup below (there are another 20 profs were NOT in attendance).

See full M.S. curriculum: http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/Spring09_curriculum

See faculty bios: http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/faculty

You can listen to the embedded version here (or a faster way: download the MP3 at this link):

International Newsroom > Seminar > Ann Cooper
Producing a Magazine > Workshop > Victor Navasky
Bronx Beat > Workshop > Rimmer/Leung
New Media Workshop A > Workshop > Duy Lihn Tu
New Media Workshop B >Workshop > Chun/Glenn
Decision Making in the Newsroom Elective > Michael Shapiro
Journalism of Tomorrow > Seminar > Stephen Isaacs
Rethinking Television News >Seminar > David Klatell
Business & Economics Reporting > New Elective > Cheryl Einhorn
Issues in Modern Media > New Elective > Grueskin/Kann
Business seminar > Seminar > Tom Herman/Grueskin Speaking
Covering Education > Seminar > LynNell Hancock
Beyond Borders > Seminar > Mirta Ojito
Video Storytelling > Workshop > Betsy West
Opinion Writing > New Elective > Seth Lipsky
Writing about the Arts > Seminar > David Hajdu
Foreign Reporting > New Elective > Kati Marton
Radio Workshop Workshop > John Dinges/ANN COOPER
Graphics in the Newsroom > Elective > Hannah Fairfield-Wallander
Producing a Magazine B > Workshop > Cyndi Stivers
Reporting China > Seminar > Howard French
Journalism of Ideas > New Elective > Alissa Quart
Covering Conflict > New Elective > Judith Matloff
Reporting Advances Modern Newsroom > New Elective > Tom Torok
Magazine Writing A > Workshop > John Bennet
Columbia News Service > Workshop > David Blum
National Affairs A > Seminar > John Martin
Managing Bcast Newsrooms in Digital Age > New Elective > David McCormick
Investigative Project > Seminar > Walt Bogdanich
Covering Race/Ethnicty > Seminar > Pifer, Alice

See full M.S. curriculum: http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/Spring09_curriculum

See faculty bios: http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/faculty

Please note that this document is updated regularly! Last updated 12/13, 2:48 p.m.

12/13/2007 Updates

• Producing a Magazine B with Jim Kelly will meet on Fridays, 2:30-5:30 pm

12/12/2007 Updates

• Second section of Business Reporting added - Prof. Paul Ingrassia

11/27/2007 Updates

• Literary Journalism will meet Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

11/26/2007 Updates

• Christopher Lehmann-Haupt will teach the Literary Journalism workshop
• Elizabeth Pochoda will teach the Magazine Editing elective

M.S. Spring 2008 Curriculum Guide

TO: All M.S. Students
FROM: David A. Klatell, Vice Dean
RE: Spring Curriculum

Here is the program of instruction for the spring term. Full-time M.S. students are required to take a 6-credit Reporting and Writing Seminar, a 6-credit Media Workshop, the Master’s Project and fulfill the requirement for a 3-credit journalism elective or an approved 3-credit graduate course outside the school.

In addition, all full-time magazine concentrators will be automatically enrolled the Delacorte Evening Lecture Series (one-half credit). Part-time students concentrating in magazine may elect to take the lecture series in spring 2008 or 2009.

Students should read this material thoroughly and, after discussing the options with their advisers and the various instructors, rank their preferences on the online ballot (available as of November 21, 7:00 a.m. from the DOS Blog).

Enrollment in classes may be subject to the consent of instructors and most course enrollments are necessarily limited. As a result, some students may be assigned to classes that may not be among their top three picks. This is done as fairly and equitably as possible. If circumstances warrant, it may be possible to add a second section for certain classes, with different instructors. However, we cannot guarantee that we will add sections to any course, no matter the demand.

The curriculum reflects the best judgment of the faculty and administration, based on our many years of experience, and is not a popularity contest. We reserve the right to add, delete or move courses (though we try to keep this to a minimum) and sometimes have to change instructors if schedule conflicts become intractable. Students are required to rank their preferences for seminars, workshops, and electives.

Students should be aware that evaluations of courses by students in previous years are available for your perusal; they are available at www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/.

The on-line ballot will be activated at 7:00 a.m., November 21. Your completed ballot must be submitted on line no later than November 28, 7 a.m. All ballots received during this time will be considered equal – this is not a “first-come, first-served” process.

The Journalism School’s spring semester begins Tuesday, January 22, when the first draft of Master’s Projects must be submitted to your adviser by 10 a.m. Students completing broadcast or new media projects should consult with their advisers regarding the format of the first draft. Deadlines for subsequent master’s drafts have been set for February 25 and March 24, both days at 10 a.m. You will receive detailed instructions as those dates grow closer.

Please Note: Wednesday, January 23 there will be a full-day of mandatory programming for full-time M.S. students; all others are welcome. Workshops begin Thursday, January 24 or Friday, January 25. Seminars begin either Monday, January 28 or Tuesday, January 29. Journalism School electives start Wednesday, January 30.

Classes taught elsewhere in the University begin the week of January 22 (except for Law & Business School courses which may begin earlier). Be sure to check with your instructors for exact dates and times.

Required courses for full-time students:
1. Advanced Reporting and Writing Seminars (J6002y), 6 credits
2. Media Workshops (J6011y), 6 credits
3. Master’s Project II (J6041y), 3 credits
4. Spring term electives (J6010y), 3 credits

How a Week Looks in the Spring:

• Monday and Tuesday: Reporting and writing Seminars
• Wednesday: Most Electives and time for Master’s Projects
• Thursday and Friday: Most Workshops
• Saturday and Sunday: Some Electives and Workshops

Note: Many courses require special class meetings (field trips, editorial meetings, etc.) in addition to the listed class time. All students, particularly those in the part-time program, should check with the faculty to ascertain if their course has such additional requirements. Many faculty members have posted these on the school web site, linked to their name on the faculty page or to the course description in this document.

Advanced Reporting and Writing Seminars
J6002y (6 credits)
The disciplines of reporting and writing are structured around specialized subject areas or style techniques. These seminars usually require two full days each week on Monday and Tuesday - you should carefully check the schedule of each course by consulting the faculty or their class schedules posted on the web site.
They are listed below with the instructors (see later pages for fuller course descriptions). Because accommodating all first choices is unlikely, students must indicate six choices. In filling out the ballots, students should list specific seminars in order of their preferences.
Note: Admission to some seminars requires the instructor’s approval in advance (see course descriptions below). If you have been selected by Judith Crist, Sam Freedman, or Ari Goldman you will be asked to indicate so on your ballot. These classes will be filled prior to the ballot, so if you have not been pre-selected by the professor, you will not be able to submit a ballot requesting those classes.

All professors are allowed to select 10 of the students who ballot for their class as a first choice; the remaining seats are filled by the Dean of Students office in a manner that is intended to equalize students’ success in getting at least some of their first-choice classes.

The Seminars (J6002y):

• Book Writing – Sam Freedman
• Business & Economics Reporting – Cheryl Strauss Einhorn
• Covering Education – LynNell Hancock
• Covering Religion – Ari Goldman
• Writing About the Arts – Claudia Roth Pierpont
• The Deadline in Depth – Laura Muha
• Human Rights Reporting – Bill Berkeley
• Covering Race and Ethnicity With an Authentic Voice – Arlene Morgan and Alice Pifer
• International Affairs Reporting – Josh Friedman
• The Investigative Project – Walt Bogdanich
• The Journalism of Tomorrow – Stephen Isaacs
• National Affairs Reporting A – John Martin
• National Affairs Reporting B – Richard Wald
• Covering Conflict – Judith Matloff
• Personal & Professional Style – Judith Crist
• Science Reporting – Steve Hall
• Stabile Investigative Seminar – Sheila Coronel
• Business & Economics Reporting - Paul Ingrassia

Workshops
J6011y (6 credits):
Media workshops include a number of options: broadcast (TV — Nightly News, Documentary, Magazine Production, and Radio), newspaper (Bronx Beat, Columbia News Service), magazine (Producing a Magazine, Magazine Writing, Literary Journalism) and New Media. Students devote at least two days each week, usually Thursday and Friday, to the workshop. Note: schedules vary widely, so you should check with the faculty member for details or his/her posting on the web site.

All professors allowed to select 10 of the students who ballot for their class as a first choice; the remaining seats are filled by the Dean of Students office in a manner that is intended to equalize students’ success in getting at least some of their first-choice classes.

The Workshops (J6011y)

• Television Documentary – Jon Alpert
• Nightly News – William Wheatley
• Radio - John Dinges
• Television News Magazines – Betsy West
• Literary Journalism – Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
• Magazine Writing A - John Bennet
• Magazine Writing B – Stephen Fried
• Magazine Writing C – Cathleen McGuigan
• Producing a Magazine A - Victor Navasky
• Producing a Magazine B – Jim Kelly
• New Media A– Duy Linh Tu and Carla Baranauckas
• New Media B –Adam Glenn and Russell Chun
• Bronx Beat – Addie Rimmer
• Columbia News Service – Bruce Porter

Master’s Project II
J6041y (3 credits) — a continuation of Journalism J6040x

Master’s Project Deadlines:

• Jan. 22: First draft of all Master’s Projects (for audio/video projects, the “work cut”) will be handed in to your advisor by 10 a.m.
• Feb. 25: Second draft of all Projects (for video projects, a “rough cut”) will be handed in to your advisor by 10 a.m.
• Mar. 24: Final versions of all Projects handed to the Academic Dean’s office, in Room 701, by 10 a.m. No changes are allowed after this deadline. This copy is ultimately filed in the library.

Note: These deadlines are strict and must be met. Your adviser may require additional deadlines and drafts.

Electives
6014y (3 credits)
All full-time M.S. students are required to take an elective for at least three credits at the graduate level in the spring term — either inside or outside the school. Most Journalism electives meet once a week for lectures and/or seminar discussions, and require reading as well as written assignments. Outside electives must be approved by the Dean of Students office.

For outside course information, please see: http://snipurl.com/1tn6z

The Electives (6014y)

Advanced Computer Assisted Reporting – Tom Torok
• Advanced Photojournalism - Sara Barrett
• Broadcast News Management - David McCormick and Lloyd Siegel
• Feature Writing A - Alexandra Peers
• Feature Writing B – Hugh Eakin
• Graphics in the Newsroom - Hannah Fairfield Wallander
• The International Newsroom – Ann Cooper
• Magazine Editing – Elizabeth Pochoda
• Narrative Writing A - Kevin Coyne
• Narrative Writing B – Jacob Levenson
• New Media Elective – Jennifer Brown & Jennifer Johnson
• News Editing – Nancy Sharkey
• Opinion Writing – Gwenda Blair
• Politics and the Press in America - Evan Cornog
• Radio Documentary – Alex Blumberg
• Sports Journalism – Sandy Padwe
• Stabile Investigative Techniques - J. Robert Port
• Tough Choices: Decision-Making in Journalism – Michael Shapiro
• History of American Journalism – Andie Tucher
• Covering Ideas – Alexander Stille
• 20th Century Politics, Revolution and Literary Journalism – Michael Janeway

Delacorte Evening Lecture Series
J6050y (1/2 credit)
Thursday 7pm - 8:30 p.m.
FT magazine concentrators are automatically enrolled in the Delacorte Magazine Lectures, to be offered Thursday evenings 7-8:30 p.m. from February 7 through April 24. All other students are invited to attend. Part-time students concentrating in magazine may elect to take the Lecture Series in spring 2008 or 2009.

InternshipJ6099y (1/2 credit, optional)
Internships must be pre-approved by the Office of Career Services and the Dean of Students office. A student who undertakes an internship at a media organization can earn an additional academic one-half credit if the work consists of serious journalistic enterprise. At the conclusion of the internship, the student must submit a written description of what he or she has accomplished and learned in the internship, and an official of the media company must send a separate letter corroborating that and evaluating the student’s performance.

SEE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS AFTER THE JUMP.
(more…)

Here are the three Spring 2008 M.S. classes for which there is an application process. With each is information on how to apply. You need NOT have attended the sessions to apply.You will know the results of the application process before the balloting begins.

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 5 P.M.

1. Book Writing - PROCEDURE (from FAQ section of Prof. Freedman’s site):

   You email me a brief memo about it– anywhere from 100 to 300 words. Do not ask for a conference; it is your job to frame the idea. Send me the email at sgf1[at]columbia.edu. And if I respond by asking for changes or clarifications — and the odds are that I will — make sure that you send your reply to me promptly. Remember, you cannot be admitted into the course without my permission.

2. Covering Religion - PROCEDURE:
   Read about the course and apply online

3. Personal & Professional Style - PROCEDURE:
   Please see details here: Personal & Professional Style Information & Application Instructions

Personal and Professional Style with Judith Crist

The nature and demands of this course make it necessary to limit the class size.

It is offered to students who have mastered the basic mechanics and techniques of journalistic prose and are interested in developing and refining a personal literary style within a journalistic framework, appropriate to editorials, columns and reviews.

There are basic assignments and free-choice exercises, with concentration on intra-group and self criticism, and good reporting. This class is not for the thin of skin!

Students must submit one sample of their best writing and, in no more than 350 words, a statement of their interest in the course. These are to be emailed in the body of the message to Dean Huff, at mgh2@columbia.edu, who must receive them by 5 p.m., Monday, November 12, 2007.

The ballots for Spring 2007 go live at noon on Friday, November 24, at
http://fs8.formsite.com/cjdos/Spring07Ballots/

Please carefully read and follow the instructions.

• First, please read the Fall Curriculum thoroughly (http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/students/courses/spring2007/index.asp. Some information has been added and some changed since the document became available.
• You may read students’ evaluations of many of the classes and professors at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/. You will have to log in using your UNI and password.
• Please select the ballot option that best describes your status.
• To complete the ballot you will need your Columbia e-mail address and PID (If you have lost your PID, please refer to http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2005/11/14/faq-how-do-i-find-my-pid/)
• The ballots are NOT handled on a first-come, first-served basis. As long as you make the deadline (Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. ) you have equal standing with all other students.
• If your ballot is received after the deadline, you will be placed in classes on a space-available basis.
  If you made a mistake or changed your mind, please resubmit your ballot. Your most recently-submitted ballot as of the deadline (Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m.) will be the one processed.

If you experience any problems using the ballot, please send e-mail to dos@jrn.columbia.edu

Please note we cannot promise students they will gain a seat in any specific class.

Please answer all questions carefully.

The main Spring Prep memo, with all the important dates:
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2006/10/25/memo-spring-prep/

The Spring Curriculum Guide from Dean Klatell:
http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/students/courses/spring2007/index.asp

Application procedure for the six classes that require applications:
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2006/11/12/spring-prep-the-six-application-classes/

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Lecture Hall

Professors who teach Spring seminars and workshops (and a handful of electives) are invited to present three- or five-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session.

Here is the lineup:

• Ann Cooper (Elective)
• Josh Friedman (Seminar)
• Sandy Padwe (Elective)
• Hannah Fairfield Wallender (Elective)
• Diane Solway (Seminar)
• Mirta Ojito (Seminar)
• Wayne Barrett (Seminar)
• LynNell Hancock (Seminar)
• Bill Berkeley (Seminar)
• Rob Norton (Seminar)
• Tom Edsall (Seminar)
• Bruce Porter (Workshop)
• Laura Muha (Seminar)
• Rhoda Lipton (Workshop)
• Pam Frederick (Workshop)/Sig Gissler re: Bronx Beat
• June Cross (Workshop)
• Mel McCray & George Rivera (Workshop)
• Rick Karr (for Dinges) (Workshop)
• Duy Lin Tuh (Workshop)
• Sreenath Sreenivasan (re: New Media elective)

SPRING SEMESTER PREP (updated several times a week)
Here’s the schedule for Spring Semester Prep - events and dates to help you prepare for the Spring Semester. All the information will be available electronically, but you are encouraged to attend any events/briefing sessions you can. Please note we are offering events on a variety of dates and times. All this is subject to change, so please check back often. Most of this is aimed at M.S. students, but others are welcome to attend. M.A. students (who typically have more of a fixed set of courses) will receive their own, specialized briefings.

Dean Klatell’s in-depth Spring Curriculum Guide, with course details and timings is at http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/students/courses/spring2007/index.asp. If you want to check out evaluations of past spring classes, go to http://www.columbia.edu/cu/journalism/evaluations/ (please note that the new evaluation system has the evaluations of last spring’s classes.

[The photo below is from our first briefing, on Oct. 30 - about 40 students stopped by.]

• Mon, Oct. 30, 12:30-1:30 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester and final evaluations. *Bring your lunch; cookies, chips, soda and water will be served.
• [NON SPRING PREP EVENT: Thurs, Nov. 2, 8:15-9:15 a.m., room 601B: M.S. students learn about the M.A. program]
• Thurs, Nov. 2, 12:30-2 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester and final evaluations. *Bring your sandwich; cookies, chips, soda and water will be served.
• Monday, Nov. 6: Spring Curriculum letter live at
  http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/students/courses/spring2007/index.asp
• Monday, Nov. 6, 6-7 p.m., Lecture Hall: Covering Religion Seminar Briefing . See last year’s class site: http://www.CoveringReligion.org.
  See application info and more details.
• Tues, Nov. 7, 6 p.m., room 601B: Spring Briefing session (aimed at Part-time students, but all are welcome). *Light refreshments served.
• [NON SPRING PREP EVENT - Wed, Nov. 8, 4-5 p.m., 601B: M.A. Tea with the Deans (M.A. students only)]
• Fri, Nov. 10, 8:15 a.m., room 607B:Book Writing Seminar Preview & Application Instruction session with Prof. Sam Freedman. See application instructions.
• Friday, Nov. 10: 11:30-12:15 p.m., room 607B: Producing a Magazine Preview and Application Instruction session with Professors Navasky and Shapiro. See application instructions.
• Fri, Nov. 10, 3 p.m., room 601B: Literary Journalism Preview & Application Instruction session with Prof. Helen Benedict
  See application instructions.
• Monday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m.: Applications due for Covering Religion; Literary Journalism; Personal & Professional Style;
• Tues, Nov. 14, 8:15-9:15, room 601B: Bronx Beat Preview (8:15-8:45) and Covering Education Preview (8:45-9:15). *Light breakfast served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m.: Applications due Producing a Magazine A and Producing a Magazine B
• Thurs, Nov. 16, 8:15-9:15 a.m., room 607B: Breakfast with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions. *Light breakfast served.
• Thurs, Nov. 16, 6-7 p.m., room 601B: Spring Briefing session (aimed at Part-time students, but all are welcome). *Light refreshments served.
• Friday, Nov. 17: Students notified of MOST application results for Book Writing; Covering Religion; Literary Journalism; Personal & Professional Style; Producing a Magazine A & B
• Tuesday, Nov. 21, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 502: Spring overview of television news magazine with Mel McCray and George Rivera
• Tuesday, Nov. 21, 5:30-6:45 p.m., Lecture Hall: Spring Preview Session - an evening when professors who teach Spring seminars and workshops are invited to present three- or five-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session. Please note that only a handful of classes have individual briefing sessions (as listed above), so it is critical that you attend this large gathering.
• TBA: Spring Ballots go live; close Wednesday, Nov. 29, 10 p.m. at 10 p.m. You can submit ballots any time during that period - NOT first come, first served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 29, 10 p.m.: Spring Ballots close.
• [NON SPRING PREP EVENT - Mon, Dec. 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch M.A. info session (M.S. students learn about the M.A. program0]
• [ And don’t forget Lucille’s Ball, the annual J-School Holiday Party & Faculty Roast on
  Thursday, Dec. 14. You absolutely have to be there! Details coming from
  Aaron Cahall , SPJ events director. ]

• Late December: Students will be registered for their Spring courses.
• December 22-Jan. 15: Winter Break; work on Master’s Projects for M.S. students (first draft due Tuesday, Jan. 16)
• January 5-January 26: Add/Drop period
• Wednesday, Jan. 17, 9:30-noon: ALL-CLASS EVENT: “Surviving & Thriving in the Spring Semester: Making the Best Use of Your Remaining Months at Columbia” - Mandatory for FULL-TIME M.S. students; others welcome. Presented by DOS Office and Career Services.*Light refreshments served.
• Tuesday, January 16: M.A., and other University classes begin
• Thursday & Friday, Jan. 18 & 19: M.S. Workshops begin
• Monday & Tuesday, Jan. 22 & 23: M.S. Seminars begin
• Wednesday, Jan. 24: M.S. Electives begin

Here are the six classes for which there is an application process:

Book Writing
Covering Religion
Personal & Professional Style
Literary Journalism
Producing a Magazine (sections A & B)

See application instructions.
You will know the results of the application process before the balloting begins.

Also see:

FAQ: How do I switch concentrations?
FAQ: How do I take an outside elective?

TIP: In the Spring semester at J-School, I wish I had… (alumni tips)

Deans Sreenivasan and Huff are available throughout November to discuss your options and help you plan for the Spring, as are your RWI professors, who serve as your advisers the rest of your time here.

The Daily Plan-it is asking recent alumni and graduating students to share tips about surviving and thriving in the Spring semester. Responses (some of them contradicting each other, some of them repetitive, many not endorsed by the J-school) will be added here throughout the semester, lightly edited for clarity and style (the newest ones on top).

Please send your suggestions (for either semester) to ss221@columbia.edu.

1/3/2006 UPDATE: The Add/Drop Request Form is live at the following address:
http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/courses/adddrop.asp
PLEASE IGNORE the sentence up top that says the deadline has passed. The
form went live at 9 a.m. today and expires Jan. 27.

- Dean Sreenivasan

From Dean Huff, dos[at]jrn.columbia.edu

ADD/DROP & OUTSIDE CLASSES: If you wish to request changes to your schedule, including taking outside courses, (we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fill any request), you may do so during the Add/Drop request period, which begins Tuesday, January 3, at 9 a.m. It ends on Friday, January 27, at 9 a.m. For outside classes please refer to the outside course instructions.

During the add/drop period you will also be able to submit an add/drop form for admission to an additional class we have added to the list of Spring electives, Feature Writing with Alexandra Peers.

Those submitting an add/drop request for Advanced Photojournalism must either have taken photo skills or have had Profs. Barrett or Laforet e-mail Dean Huff with approval for enrollment.

Please carefully read the information below before submitting an add/drop form:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ADD/DROP REQUESTS: Tuesday, January 3, 9 a.m. to January 27, 9 a.m.

On each add/drop request form you may request to add one class AND drop one class! If you are a part-time student and simply want to add or drop something, please just complete that portion of the form. PLEASE NOTE: Add/Drop forms ARE processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

If your form is submitted correctly you will receive a request confirmation e-mail within 24 hours.

You will NOT receive an e-mail from me saying that your request was granted or not granted. If you submit a request you must keep checking your class schedule on the web using STUDENT SERVICES ONLINE.

All requests remain on file during the add/drop period. You do not need to submit multiple forms for the same add/drop request. If I am able to grant requests I do it as soon as possible but sometimes it takes days for a space to open in a class. Sometimes the space never opens up. In most cases, if you want to add a class I have to wait to see whether someone else wants to drop it.

Please remember that you are submitting an add/drop REQUEST. There is no guarantee that I will be able to approve your request. Until you see a change reflected on your class schedule on STUDENT SERVICES ONLINE, your request has not been approved.

I will NOT drop you from a required course unless I can get you into the course you have requested.

If you have more than one preference for a given course, you may indicate so in the notes section of the add/drop form. Simply complete the add portion of the form with your first preference and in the notes section give me the same info about your second, third, etc., choices. You must include the call and course numbers if you indicate other preferences in the notes section.

And finally, remember that if you are requesting to add a course, you are also probably planning to drop a course. DON’T forget to request to drop the course and please do it on the same form you use to request a class. The only way I will be able to approve most requests is by knowing which courses will be dropped by students.

SAMPLE FORM BELOW (information is fictional)

Please fill out all the fields in sections 1-3. Section 4 is optional.

I. Please enter your personal details below:

Your Name: SUSIE J-SCHOOLER
Your Email Address: sjs20091@columbia.edu
PID Number: C000213126
Choose your Program Type: Full-Time Master’s Degree

II. Please enter the details of the course you would like to drop:
(information for completing this section is at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/ - see instructions at the top of the add/drop form)

Class Number: J6001
Section Number: 14
Title of Course: Reporting and Writing I
Call Number: 81350

III. Please enter the details of the course you would like to add:
(information for completing this section is at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/ - see instructions at the top of the add/drop form)

Class Number: J6001
Section Number: 15
Title of Course: Reporting and Writing I
Call Number: 72241

For M.A. students only: Dean Lemann, Klatell, Cornog, Fishman, Huff and Sreenivasan will be hosting a spring briefing session on Wed, Dec. 7, 11 am-noon, Room 607B. No RSVP required. Just bring your questions and comments.

Don’t forget the last Nick@Night of the fall semester is on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the 7th floor.

Here’s the schedule for Spring Semester Prep - events and dates to help you prepare for the Spring Semester. All the information will be available electronically, but you are encouraged to attend any events/briefing sessions you can. Please note we are offering events on a variety of dates and times. These are aimed at the M.S. students (though many of the classes are available to other students within the school). The M.A. students will receive separate briefings.

• The M.S./Knight-Bagehot Spring Ballot is now available at http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/courses/spring2006/ballot/


• The Spring Letter is now available at http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/admissions/programs/courses/

SPRING PREP (watch for additional dates)

• Tue, Nov. 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester evaluations
• Tue, Nov. 1, 7:30-8:30 p.m., room 607B: Immigrant America - a preview class by Prof. Mirta Ojito; this is a brand-new seminar.
• Wed, Nov. 2, 12:30-2 p.m., room 601B: Brown Bag Lunch with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions and dealing with Fall RWI mid-semester evaluations
• Fri, Nov. 4, 8:15-9 a.m., room 601B : Book Seminar - briefing session for anyone planning to apply for Prof. Sam Freedman’s seminar - Application required
• Wed, Nov. 9, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Lecture Hall: Producing a Magazine Workshops - a briefing session for those interested in these classes taught by Prof. Michael Shapiro and Prof. Victor Navasky
• Wed, Nov. 9, 6:15-7 p.m., Lecture Hall: Covering Religion Seminar - a briefing session for anyone planning to apply for the class taught by Profs. Ari Goldman and Sree Sreenivasan. See last year’s class site (includes report from Spring Break group reporting trip to Israel; this year’s trip is to India): CoveringReligion.org - Application required. See description and application form here.
• Tues, Nov. 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Room 601B: News21 Investigative Business Reporting - briefing session about new course taught by Prof. Judith Dobrzynski; she will also explain the News21 summer project, for which we will be hiring 10 students to work for 10 weeks at the J-school May 22-July 31, 2006 - Application required, see News21 details here.
• Thurs, Nov. 17, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Room 607B: Breakfast with the Deans - focus on Spring Semester questions.
• Thurs, Nov. 17, 6-7 p.m., Room 601B: Spring Briefing session (aimed at Part-time students, but all are welcome).
• Tuesday, Nov. 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lecture Hall: Spring Preview Session - an evening when professors who teach Spring seminars and workshops are invited to present three- or five-minute previews of their classes. Typically, most professors present and all M.S. students gather for this session. Please note that only a handful of classes have individual briefing sessions (as listed above), so it is critical that you attend this large gathering.
  
  
• Tuesday, Nov. 22, 10 p.m.: Spring Ballot goes live; closes Monday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. You can submit ballots any time during that period - NOT first come, first served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 23, 10-11 a.m., 709C: Final prep session
to meet with Deans Sreenivasan and Huff with questions about the spring. Donuts will be served.
• Monday, Nov. 28, 9-6 p.m. Deans Sreenivasan and Huff available for individual meetings.
• Monday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m.: Spring Ballot closes.

  Here are the four classes for which there will be an application process:

  Book Writing
  Covering Religion
  News 21 Investigative Business Reporting
  Personal & Professional Style
  Literary Journalism
  You will know the results of the application process for Covering Religion and Book Writing before the balloting begins.

  Also see:

  • FAQ: How do I switch concentrations?
  • FAQ: How do I take an outside elective?

  Deans Sreenivasan and Huff are available throughout November to discuss your options and help you plan for the Spring, as are your RWI professors, who serve as your advisers the rest of your time here.

When the ballot went live, it incorrectly listed CAR in place of New Media in the skills options for the Spring. We have had the problem fixed. If you completed a ballot expressing an interest in CAR and want instead to express an interest in the other skills options, please resubmit your ballot.

Our apologies for the error.

Please note that we are offering the following skills classes this spring - all after spring break:

• Section 1: New Media - TBA (Saturdays, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: 3/25; 4/1; 4/22; 4/29; 5/6)
• Section 2: Photography - Sara Barrett (Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m.: 3/28; 4/4; 4/11; 4/18; 4/25)
• Section 3: Radio - TBA (Saturdays, 2-6 p.m.: 3/25; 4/1; 4/8; 4/22; 4/29)

Q: How do I take an outside elective?

A: M.S. students are encouraged to make use of the greater Columbia University course offerings to further their knowledge base in areas of particular interest and relevance to their journalistic goals. Classes (except for languages) must be graduate level and must be approved by the Dean of Students office.

M.A. students are required to take outside electives each semester. Classes must be graduate level and must be approved by your discipline professor.

For further information, please go to http://snurl.com/outside_classes

Please note that M.S. students must complete our course preference balloting and registration process with the intention of taking all your classes at the Journalism School (since cross-registrations aren’t always possible, you should carefully complete your ballot). Registration for outside courses is a function of add/drop.

As a followup to Dean Klatell’s introductory memo (below) and the Tuesday briefing for News21, here is how you can apply for the News21 project.

You will be taking two courses:
SEMINAR: Business and Economic Journalism with Prof. Rob Norton
ELECTIVE: Investigative Business Reporting with Prof. Judith Dobrzynski

You must take both to be considered for the News21 project and to be part of
the 16-student pool from which 10 fellows will be selected for the summer.

FORM: You must fill in the News21 application form at
http://www.formsite.com/columbiaspj/news21 (live now)

Deadline for this form is Wednesday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. Selected students
will be informed by noon on Monday, Nov. 28, the same day the Spring
Ballot is due (at 7 pm). We suggest you hold off till after 12 p.m. on
Monday, Nov. 28, to fill in the Spring Ballot, so that if you don’t get
into News21, you can put a different first choice for your Seminar and
Elective.

Timeline for the project:

Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m.: News21 in overall Spring Preview
Nov. 23, 10 a.m.: Application form deadline
Nov. 28, noon: Selected students named
Nov. 28, 7 pm: Deadline for students to fill in Spring Ballots
Week of Jan. 23: Start of classes
Late March/early April: Selection of 10 Fellows
May 17: Graduation

May 22: Start of 10-week Fellowship

Mid-June: News21 weekend retreat for 44 national Fellows at Berkeley (paid
for by project)

Week of July 24: End of 10 weeks

———- Forwarded message ———-

Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 13:30:01 -0500
From: David A. Klatell
Subject: News 21 - An Exciting New Combinaion of Study and Employment

This spring, the school will offer an exciting initiative in business and
economics journalism, called News 21. Funded through grants from the Knight
Foundation and Carnegie Corporation, News 21 is part of a consortium among
this School, the schools of journalism at Berkeley, Northwestern, Southern
California and the Shorenstein Center at Harvard. Its aim is to develop
exciting curriculum initiatives while simultaneously producing first-rate
journalism through the combined efforts of students and faculty at these
schools.

The overall theme of the News 21 project this year is “Liberty and
Security”; each of the participating universities have chosen a different
sub-set of that overall story and a different media format. Columbia has
decided to investigate what has changed since 9/11 in the government’s
access to private or corporate financial information, under the rubric of
the fight against terrorism. We want to know what, exactly, has the
government been doing, what has it learned, what has it done with that
information, and to hat extent has it challenged important concepts of
privacy and liberty. We have selected on-line journalism as our preferred
publication format.

There are three important components to this project: a required spring
6-credit Seminar (Business and Economic Journalism - emphasizing the News 21
subject matter, with Professor Norton), a required 3-credit Elective
(Investigative Business Reporting with Judith Dobrzynski), and a 10-week paid
internship ($7,500 per student) reporting and writing stories under the
guidance of the faculty, including Ms Dobrzynski, Louise Story, Dorian Benkoil
and others. There is money available for travel - reporting trips and to meet
with colleagues from the collaborating schools, as well as funds for some
investigative expenses (document searches, court or FOI filings, etc.).

Students interested in participating in the summer reporting project must
(with the exception of night-Bagehot Fellows) enroll in both the Seminar and
Elective noted above. The 10 best-performing students from those classes
will be offered the opportunity to continue working through the summer and,
of course, get paid. Students who take the courses but are not selected may
nevertheless have the opportunity to have their best work published. It is
possible to enroll in these courses (up to the limit of 16 in each) without
becoming a candidate for the summer job.

In the coming days I will provide more information, and we will flesh out
the course descriptions in the Spring Letter, but I wanted to get this
message to you in advance of any course decisions you may be making about
the spring term.

SO HERE’S THE DEAL, PLEASE DON’T ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE A DIFFERENT ONE: WE HAVE COMMITED TO THE FUNDATIONS AND THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES THAT THESE COURSES WILL BE REQUIRED OF ALL PARTICIPANTS; THE FACULTY WILL HAVE FINAL SAY OVER THE SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE SUMMER JOBS; ANY STUDENT SELECTED MUST MAKE A BINDING COMMITMENT TO REMAIN WORKING ON THE NEWS 21 REPORTING PROJECT FOR AT LEAST THE 10-WEEK PERIOD OF SUMMER REPORTING.

This is a great opportunity for those interested in following the money
trail all the way from individual accounts (ex: “Islamic charities” that
were initially targeted by Homeland Security) to the government agencies
mining, analyzing and acting upon the data. If this is not what you want to
do, please don’t let the appeal of a well-paid internship at the School sway
your judgment; this is serious business and we want only those who will make
and keep the commitments required of participants.

Regards,
DK

Q: How do I consider taking an internship in the spring?

A: See this site for for info: http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/admissions/programs/courses/