We’re about to meet for the first time in person, but now — while things are still relatively quiet — I thought I would welcome you to a space you’ll be spending a lot of time in this semester: my blog. This is where you will find almost everything you need to read to be prepared for class. Here, I have posted (at the top, under “About Reporting”):

• the syllabus
• the lecture schedule (in the works)
• the grading rubric
• information about the graduate student project
• information about plagiarism
• information about requesting documents under the Sunshine Law
• Do-It-Yourself links to helpful advice about multimedia reporting

Quite soon, I will also begin posting thoughts about journalism — yours and others from various news sources — as well as suggested reading, discussion questions, new resources and links to examples of great/not-so-great journalism.

I may also post an ethical question for you to consider. Or a cartoon from The New Yorker. Depends.

The best way to stay on top of all of this is to SUBSCRIBE to this blog. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the blog and look to the left: Sign up and you will be be notified via your favorite email address that I have just posted on the blog.

If you follow me on Twitter, you will know when I have posted. Follow me at reedkath.

Meanwhile, here’s some advice a previous student offered about this class when she was done and looking back, and it’s a good thing to remember as you get started:

Don’t shy away during the first few weeks. The editors want you to succeed. They will be tough on you but that’s not because they do not like you–it’s because they want you to write the best article possible.

This is true. We’re here for you, but — to paraphrase Woody Allen — 80 percent of success is showing up. Be a part of what we’re doing and you will succeed.

See you all soon.