Reading

Readings for the course include a text about medical statistics, a guide to writing nonfiction, an introduction to writing for broadcast news, a collection of stories about science and medicine, a history of the early years of the AIDS epidemic and a field guide for science writers.  I expect that you'll complete the readings before the appropriate classroom discussions.  In addition to the list below, I'll also supply additional source materials and articles from various publications.  The following books are all available at the student store and copies of most of the books below should be on reserve in the Park Library (second floor) in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication.

1) Blum, Deborah, Mary Knudson & Robin Marantz Henig, editors. A Field Guide for Science Writers (Second Edition), Oxford University Press (paperback), 2005, $19.95, ISBN: 0195174992.

2) Cohn, Victor and Lewis Cope.News & Numbers: A Guide to Reporting Statistical Claims and Controversies in Health and Other Fields, Iowa State University Press (paperback), Second Edition, 2001, 211 pp., ISBN: 0813814243.

3) Gawande, Atul. Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science, Picador (paperback), © 2002, 269 pp., $13.00, ISBN: 0-312-42170-2.

4) Nasar, Sylvia (Editor) and Jesse Cohen (Series Editor). The Best American Science Writing 2008, Harper Perennial, © 2008, 316 pp., $14.95, ISBN: 978-0-06-134041-3.

5) Shilts, Randy, And The Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic, St. Martin's Griffin, Revised Edition (November 27, 2007),© 1987, 1988, 656 pp., 978-0312374631.

6) Zinsser, William. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (30th Anniversary Edition, Collins, © 2006, 336 pp., ISBN: 978-0-06-089154-1.

Also starting with the class for Wednesday, September 23, students should begin reading the print version of the Tuesday Science Times section of the New York Times. On the assigned dates, students should bring the Science Times section to class.  Please consult the course schedule below for the exact dates for which the section should be read.  Please note that the online version of the New York Times is not an acceptable substitute since the online version lacks some graphics and other key layout features. The New York Times is available in the UNC Student Store and is also available at a reduced rate by subscription. To subscribe, you can call 1-800-NYTIMES and ask for college subscriptions.

Participation

A working medical journalist typically talks and discusses relevant issues with colleagues and others before preparing his or her report.  This class will be no different.  I'll expect you to share your thoughts with your peers and with me. Classroom discussion will help clarify your ideas and sharpen your focus.

Each student will be responsible for one 15- to 20-minute presentation on assigned reading.  As critical thinking and discussion with peers is such an integral part of being a journalist, I'll count the presentation as 15% of your final grade, with an additional 10% of your final grade based on your classroom participation throughout the semester.  I'll base the grade on the quality (not necessarily the quantity) of your discussion.  I'll judge quality on principally the following two criteria:

1) Whether it's clear that you've read and thought about the readings.

2) Your ability to integrate ideas gleaned from both readings and from contributions of your classmates.

After one unexcused absence, each absence will result in a drop of one letter grade. This is a mostly graduate-level seminar, and your presence and contribution is essential. You cannot pass the course with more than two unexcused absences.

Assignments

To succeed in medical journalism, you must write well.  Good writing requires an understanding of the material and the ability to communicate your ideas simply and clearly.

To sharpen your writing skills, you'll write three original stories: one 750-word newspaper story (typed, double-spaced) based on a journal article, a 900-word profile, and a 90-second television script. The first two assignments will be resubmitted for a second grading. The five writing assignments will count for 75% of your final grade.

All assignments are due at the start of class on the dates indicated.  Late papers will not be accepted without prior permission.  Even with prior permission, submission of late papers will result in a 10-point deduction per day.  Not turning in a paper within two days of the due date will result in a zero grade.  Misspelling of proper names will result in a 10-point deduction per misspelling.  Misspelling of other words will result in a two-point deduction for each word misspelled. The deduction for spelling errors also applies to the television script.  We'll follow the print style guidelines of the AP Style Guidebook and the broadcast style guidelines of the AP Broadcast News Handbook. If you intend to pursue journalism as a career, I strongly encourage you to purchase copies of the respective books. As per the usual practice in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, a major factual error will result in a failing grade for that particular assignment. Fabricating sources or quotations or engaging in plagiarism will constitute a violation of the Honor Code (for more information about the UNC Honor Code, go to http://instrument.unc.edu).

Exams

There will be no midterm or final exam.

Grading Scale (for undergraduates)

98 - 100 A+
94 - 97 A
91 - 93 A-
88 - 90 B+
84 - 87 B
81 - 83 B-
78 - 80 C+
74 - 77 C
71 - 73 C-
68 - 70 D+
64 - 67 D
61 - 63 D-
60 and below F

Grading Scale (for graduate students)

93 - 100 Honors
74 - 92 Pass
61 - 73 Low Pass
60 and below F

How To Succeed in This Course

• Attend classes consistently.

• Complete readings before the appropriate classroom discussions.

• Participate actively in class.

• Ask the Professor questions either during class or during office hours if you're unclear about any aspect of this course.

• Turn papers in on time.

• Check online syllabus frequently throughout the semester (preferably before each class) as assignments and topics may change without e-mail notice.

 

Course Schedule

WEEK 1:

AUG. 26: INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL JOURNALISM

* Overview of the course.

Reading:

Linden, Thomas, "Learning To Be a Medical Journalist," Nieman Reports, Vol. 57, No. 2, Summer 2003, pp.66-67.

Schwitzer, Gary, "The Seven Words You Shouldn't Use in Medical News," (First published on the predecessor to MayoClinic.com -- www.mayohealth.org -- on February 1, 2000).

WEEK 2:

Aug. 31: A GUIDE TO WRITING NONFICTION

* Learn the basics of writing non-fiction.

Reading:

Zinsser, William, On Writing Well, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

SEPT. 2: ETHICS OF MEDICAL JOURNALISM

* Learn the codes of medical journalism ethics.

Reading:

Alexander, Andrew, "A Sponsorship Scandal at the Post," Washington Post, July 12, 2009.

Fink, Sheri, "Investigations -- The Deadly Choices at Memorial," http://www.propublica.org/feature/the-deadly-choices-at-memorial-826/P1, published Aug. 27, 2009.

Kirby, Kathleen, RTNDA'S Guide to Health Coverage Under HIPAA: http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/rtndas-guide-to-health-coverage-under-hipaa427.php.

Mar, Andrews & Alison Page Howard, "HIPAA & Newsgathering: Overview,"http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org//press/topic.aspx?topic=hipaa_news&SearchString=hipaa.

Scanlan, Chip, "The First Peril: Fabrication," Poynteronline, (Adapted from Reporting and Writing: Basics for the 21st Century, Oxford University Press, 2000).

SPJ Code of Ethics: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp?

WEEK 3:

SEPT. 14: INTERPRETATION OF MEDICAL STATISTICS (cont.)

* Learn how to evaluate medical statistics.

Reading:

Cohn, & Cope, News  & Numbers: A Guide to Reporting Statistical Claims and Controversies in Health and Other Fields, pp. 107-181.

Kolata, Gina, "Forty Years' War -- Advances Elusive in the Drive to Cure Cancer" New York Times, published April 23, 2009.

Rosenthal, Elisabeth, "The Evidence Gap: Drug Makers' Push Leads to Cancer Vaccines' Rise," New York Times, published Aug. 19, 2008.

SEPT. 16: REPORTING FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (Medical Journalism Program Guest Lecturer: Judith E. Tintinalli, MD, MS, Professor & Chair, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, UNC-CH). Please meet in waiting room of the UNC Emergency Department (Neurosciences Building).

Assignment #1: 900-word story about the UNC Emergency Department due Monday, Sept. 28.

WEEK 5:

OCT. 7: HOW TO DISSECT A MEDICAL JOURNAL ARTICLE & EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH INFORMATION IN THE MASS MEDIA

Reading:

In the "Health News Review" site on the web <http://healthnewsreview.org/>, read the critiques and original news stories for the four latest articles (by date) that appear on the HealthNewsReview site as of Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Blum, Deborah & Mary Knudson, editors. A Field Guide for Science Writers, Ch. 17 (pp. 111-117).

Kiernan, Vincent, "The Embargo Should Go," http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2006/08/21/kiernan, published August 21, 2006.

OCT. 12: Classes cancelled during University Day ceremony from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Reading for Wednesday class:

Shilts, And The Band Played On, Prologue and Chapters 1 through 12.

OCT. 14: NARRATIVE NON-FICTION

* Analyze the elements of narrative science writing.

Assignment #2 (Rewrite of Assignment #1) due today.

Reading:

Shilts, And The Band Played On, Prologue and Chapters 1 through 12.

Assignment #3: Next story assignment due Wednesday, Oct. 28.

WEEK 9:

OCT. 19: IN-CLASS CRITIQUE OF ASSIGNMENT #2 (Emergency Department story rewrite)

OCT. 21: NARRATIVE NON-FICTION (cont.)

* View ABC News report about AIDS from October 18, 1982.

Reading:

Shilts, And The Band Played On, Prologue and Chapters 13 through 27.

WEEK 10:

OCT. 26: NARRATIVE NON-FICTION (cont.)

* Watch "The Age of AIDS," Part 1.

Reading:

Shilts, And The Band Played On, Prologue and Chapters 28 through 39.

OCT. 28: IN-CLASS CRITIQUE OF ASSIGNMENT #3

Assignment #3 due today.

  Assignment #4: Rewrite of assignment #3 due Nov. 9.

WEEK 11:

NOV. 2: SCIENCE BLOGGING (Medical Journalism Program Guest Lecturer: David J. Kroll, Ph.D., Chairman, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences/BRITE, North Carolina Central University)

NOV. 4: MEDICAL REPORTING FOR RADIO

* Learn the basic elements in producing a medical radio report.

Listen to "My Lobotomy."

WEEK 12:

NOV. 9: WRITING THE TELEVISION SCRIPT

* Learn the basic elements in writing news for broadcast.

Assignment #4 (rewrite of assignment #3) due today.

Reading:

Blum, Deborah & Mary Knudson, editors, A Field Guide for Science Writers, pp. 35-38, 39-44, 73 - 78.

Linden, Tom, "Medical Reporting for the Electronic Media," in Barbara Gastel's Health Writer's Handbook (Second Edition), chapter on Blackboard.

NOV. 11: IN-CLASS CRITIQUE OF ASSIGNMENT #4

WEEK 13:

NOV. 16: WRITING THE TELEVISION SCRIPT (Medical Journalism Program Guest Lecturer: Helen Chickering, Medical Reporter, NBC Newchannel)

* Learn the basic elements in writing news for broadcast.

Assignment #5: Please see Assignments folder in Blackboard for TV script assignment due Monday, Nov. 30.

NOV. 18: CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN MEDICAL JOURNALISM (Medical Journalism Program Guest Lecturer: Paula Spencer, medical journalist and author)

Reading:

Backgrounder on Paula Spencer's work:http://www.paulaspencer.com; browse Caring.com; read Caring.com's Caring Currents blog: http://www.caring.com/blogs/caring-currents.
Visit a bookstore and explore medical books for consumers: note varied arrangements for bylines, author bios, acknowledgements.

Optional but recommended:
The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing (ed. Timothy Harper, St. Martin's Griffin, 2003); chapter "How to Sell a Book"
http://www.amazon.com/ASJA-Guide-Freelance-Writing-Professional/dp/0312318529/sr=1-1/qid=1164126785/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7647914-4622506?ie=UTF8&s=books
The Art of the Book Proposal (Eric Maisel, Ph.D., Tarcher-Penguin, 2004)
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Book-Proposal-Eric-Maisel/dp/1585423343/sr=1-6/qid=1164126978/ref=sr_1_6/102-7647914-4622506?ie=UTF8&s=books

WEEK 14:  

NOV. 23: FREELANCE WRITING (Medical Journalism Program Guest Lecturer: Carol Krucoff, health author and former syndicated health columnist for the Washington Post)

* Learn how to break into the freelance market and also how to incorporate your own expertise into your writing.

Reading:

Carol Krucoff's bio.

The following articles by Carol Krucoff in betterhealthandliving.com web site:

"Yoga Takes A New Twist," "The Joys of Jumping," "Relieve Your Aching Back."

NOV. 25: NO CLASS (HAPPY THANKSGIVING)

WEEK 15:

NOV. 30: IN-CLASS CRITIQUE OF ASSIGNMENT #5 (Medical television news script)

Assignment #5 due today.

DEC. 2: NO CLASS.

WEEK 16:

Dec. 7: MEDICAL TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY

Dec. 9: Class wrap-up and evaluation

The Honor Code

The Honor Code is in effect in this class and all others at the University. I am committed to treating Honor Code violations seriously and urge all students to become familiar with its terms set out at http://instrument.unc.edu. If you have questions, it is your responsibility to ask me about the Code’s application. All exams, written work, and other projects must be submitted with a statement that you have complied with the requirements of the Honor Code in all aspects of the submitted work.

--syllabus revised November 15, 2009