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Anticipate Better

Fight Narrow Interests

Make Wise Decisions
 

Current Events
(Good info sources)

KCBS Newsradio
CNN.com
NY Times
SJ Mercury News
KTVU Ch 2

RTVJ Style Rules


Professional
CODES
OF ETHICS
 

Electronic or Broadcast
Radio & TV News Directors Association (RTNDA)

Professional Conduct

Print or Newspaper/Magazine
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

Class Procedure Violations: 

No student should e-mail-in notice
of their absence from a ProfBob class...EVER!

.
E-mails have their place and role. This is not one of them.

Make a telephone call to Prof. Rucker's office
just like professionals do on their jobs.

When you are sick or have an emergency which
SJSU SANCTIONS & ACCEPTS...call Prof. Bob's office,
and offer a brief explanation for your class absence.

All other reasons, including job conflicts, personal
or family choices, pet problems, etc.
may be considered unexcused absences.

A student in Prof. Bob's classes
who misses a class or an assignment for these
reasons should expect NO make-up opportunity.
The absent student must seek out a classmate for an
update on what was missed.

Students who miss due to an unexcused absence
may NOT have another student submit any
assignment in that class meeting.
Both students could be subject to a grade penalty.
 

Since most SJSU student work to pay college bills,
job conflicts are very common and expected from time to time.
Before going to a university and picking a course of study and classes,
it has always been the student's responsibility to think all
these possible conflicts and concerns carefully.

If getting a college education is very important to you and
your future, then prioritize it!
Never expect faculty or other students to rescue you or bail you
out of conflicts you should have anticipated upfront.

Make responsible & informed decisions from the start,
knowing you may have to live with conflicts, missed opportunities
 and consequences. Finding a way to meet your current needs for survival
while prioritizing and protecting  goals for your future
has long been a traditional part of the university educational experience.
You are not the first student to face to these difficult concerns.

Successful SJSU graduates say they were taught to use critical thinking
to help resolve all types of conflicts and situations, from media assignments
to personal life choices. Start now to meet this lifelong expectation.

 

Do NOT call to apologize to Prof. Bob for
missing class or an assignment.

While expressions of apology are nice, they really
should be offered and very carefully considered by a
much more appropriate recipient, YOU, the student.

 By missing any class you lose out
on gaining part of the knowledge and experience you
have determined to be valuable for your future.

You are also electing to
forfeit part of your hard earned income you've set aside to
pay the ever increasing cost of your higher education.

 

Make well thought-out choices,
then keep your priorities straight !

For some that may mean planning ahead to
get a new job which better accommodates
your academic goals. For others it
might mean more responsible
thinking and disciplining your actions
 versus trying to have everything you want.
 

Prioritize Professional Courtesy FOR ALL!

 Treat faculty, staff and students all with respect.
Listen well and learn from others.
Take good notes and remember key dates, events, times,
sources, etc. who can help you.

Don't ever wait for someone to just hand things to you!

A former boss of mine in TV news used to say to us bluntly,
"The only people impressed that you were born are your parents,
family and friends. Everyone else cares more about
'what have you done for me lately?'"

That normally unspoken philosophy is very much true for many
businesses and professional opportunities.
People there are expecting college students to come
realize and appreciate this before they coming knocking
on the door for a job.

Now, with the current economic
downturn and lost revenues, finding work is going
to be more challenging, and competition more fierce.
If all resumes are equal in content, some employers
look more closely at the potential hire's thinking
and decision-making. Self-starters who use critical thinking
to problem-solve standout out and impress more.

Figure out how to effectively do that for everything you
do while at this university. Don't expect to learn it on the job later.


Be willing to face and discuss obvious concerns or problems with our department faculty.

Each of us has been in your situation and, most times,
had someone to turn to while in college to help us find ways to
succeed. We are working here at SJSU to offer you
the same support.

Expect straight talk! Sugar-coating things is not always the best
to face reality.

Be open to candid discussions, don't shy away from them
with wimpy excuses like "He's too scary, or I am afraid of her."

Stop making lame excuses.
As President Obama said in his Inaugural Address:

President Obama Inaugural Address January 20, 2009

"Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less.  It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those that prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame...  for the world has changed, and we must change with it... We have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task."

Finally ....Always remember:

Last minute requests to
Professor Rucker for meetings, signatures on forms, letters, deadline concerns
etc. may not always be accommodated.

Advanced thinking, planning, and pertinent
research by all students is always expected and STRONGLY encouraged.

Students should NEVER expect faculty
to be available at any time convenient
to students. It does not work that way.

Given the numerous duties faculty have in our primary
teaching assignment at SJSU, plus professional obligations and duties,
students should never expect immediate access or responses.

Writing letters of recommendation is NEVER a given. No one
is required by job contract to write letters for anyone.
 
Students should privately speak directly to a faculty member in person
and ASK for it.
Never say "I need a letter..." because that sounds like we owe it to you.

Faculty may turn down requests to write recommendation
letters for anyone, and without explanation.
Faculty are not required to provide anyone a recommendation.
Such "professional endorsements" are always subject to individual
choice and discretion.

Faculty are not obligated to meet any recommendation time deadline.
Faculty are not obligated to go online to offer any information or recommendation.

Grades may not be sent by e-mail or posted publicly
anywhere. Student privacy rights apply.
 

Just some things to remember as you learn about the media
in Professor Rucker's classes. Thanks.
Thank you.

Don't turn
your life
or everything
you do
completely
over to this
thing.


That's
annoying!

Even electronic
media
professionals
expect
traditional
courtesy
to be followed
by all!

 

Journalism
School
Degree
Advising:

Advertising, PR
Journalism

See
Dr. Kathleen
Martinelli

Go over your
units & see
her early on
not late
or close to
graduation.