Multimedia Journalism
JMC 3003-003 – Spring 2011
10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. TR
Room 1040, Gaylord Hall
Instructor:
Kenna Griffin
E-mail: Kenna.R.Griffin-1@ou.edu
Office: Graduate suite, third floor - Gaylord Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, before or after class. Appointments are encouraged.
I am happy to discuss journalism with you at any opportunity. However, if you want to guarantee an uninterrupted one-on-one that will take longer than 15 minutes, I encourage you to schedule an appointment. E-mail is the best way to communicate with me when I am not on campus. I will attempt to answer e-mail within 24 hours of receipt.
Course Objective:
This course will introduce you to the basic concepts and skills necessary to create news stories for online content. During the semester, you will learn and practice visual and audio newsgathering, software knowledge, news writing, and story structure across platforms. Conceptual content also will be covered regarding online media ethics and the function of journalism and how it may – or may not – be changing in a digital age. While this course includes software instruction, I am not an IT expert. I am an educator and former professional journalists with a great deal of news know-how and a working knowledge of the software covered in this course. It is likely that technical issues will arise that will be beyond my skill level. When this occurs, we will work together (and bring in outside resources as needed) to find solutions. Most importantly, you should remember that this is a journalism course, which means you are expected to produce solid news content, regardless of your tech savvy.
Required Readings & Texts:
“Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect,” Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel.
“Excellence in Online Journalism: Exploring Current Practices in an Evolving Environment,” David Craig.
Associated Press Stylebook
Supplemental readings posted on D2L or the course blog, www.jmc3003s11.blogspot.com
Required Equipment:
You are required to purchase and bring with you to all classes:
· External hard drive (needed by Week 3)
· Headphones (not earbuds)
· Mini-DV tapes (at least three; needed by Week 3)
· 400/800 Firewire adaptor
· Blogger account (https://www.blogger.com/start)
Gaylord Equipment:
In addition to the required equipment, you may borrow the following equipment from the Gaylord College:
· Digital video camera
· External microphone
· Tripod
· Web space (for Spring 2011 only)
NOTE: You may check out equipment from the checkout counter in the Creative Lab (GH 2150) during normal operating hours (8 a.m. to 10 p.m. M-Th, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Sunday). I will not consider failure to check out the equipment in a timely manner to complete assignments as a legitimate reason for submission of late work.
You may use the Gaylord equipment only if you are in compliance with the rental agreement. If you fail to comply with the rental agreement, you will lose your privileges. This will make it impossible for you to pass this course without purchasing equipment or renting/borrowing it from an alternate source.
Optional Equipment:
The Gaylord College will provide web space for your blog for the Spring 2011 semester only. If you want to maintain your blog after the course is complete, you need to purchase online web space. Options available to support audio and video content include the premium version of WordPress ($20 a year) or Mac’s iDisk ($99 a year).
Coursework:
Course assignments are designed to ensure that you are developing multimedia journalism skills and understanding the concepts we are learning in class. Course assignments are divided into five categories:
1. Readings
Readings are from the required texts listed above. They are scheduled below in the course schedule, with the exception of posts to the course blog. You should check the course blog regularly (I recommend registering for e-mail alerts) to ensure that you don’t miss any posts added there.
You will bring a summary (or more than one, if assigned) of the assigned readings to each class session. The summary should be typed, stapled (if necessary) and include the following:
· One or two paragraphs summarizing the content,
· A paragraph on what surprised you or caught your attention in the readings, and
· A reflective paragraph that ties the readings back to the course and your future role as a media practitioner.
I will collect these summaries at the beginning of each class session. Each summary is worth 100 points. Summaries are “all or nothing” credit. If you are present on time and your summary is correct, you will receive full credit. If you are late or if your summary is poorly written (not clear, concise or containing good grammar), incomplete or inaccurate, you will receive no credit.
2. Quizzes
You will take a short quiz every week. A typical quiz will consist of five questions focusing on your class readings, the skills you are learning, AP Style, and current events. Some of the questions will be based on the JMC PaceSetter tutorials you will be assigned to supplement your skill instruction.
3. Blogs
You are expected to create and update a news blog throughout the course. This should not be a personal, diary-like blog where you share your thoughts and opinions. Your blog is an original news blog, based on a beat of your choice with an identifiable and justifiable audience. All still photos and other multimedia elements on your blog must be original content. You will not receive credit for material copied from other sources. I expect you to interview and quote people who are not your friends, relatives or roommates. In other words, I expect you to talk to strangers. You will not receive credit for pulling quotes from media briefings you did not attend in person. You will design your blog on blogger.com. You are required to update your blog at least once a week (sometime between 12:01 a.m. Monday and midnight Sunday), although you may choose to update more. You are encouraged to consider the update time and date that might attract the most traffic, given what you know about your audience. Your blog entries are expected to apply all journalistic writing, ethical and legal standards. The news stories you post will be about four or five paragraphs in length. You must use the First Five Graph format/technique to report and write theses stories. You will receive up to 100 points a week for updating the blog. Although writing blog posts are worth 100 points, I do not give 100s on writing. Quite simply, writing is never perfect the first time. However, it can be (and should be) “A” quality. By the end of the semester, you will have added photos, sound and video to your blog posts.
4. Exam projects
Your midterm and final project assignments will be long-form stories using the First Five Graph technique and solid visual storytelling. You will post these original stories on your news site the week they are due. They must include the written story and every multimedia element you’ve learned in class. They also must support your blog’s beat and audience needs. I will provide an assignment sheet for each of the projects prior to their due dates. Each is worth 100 points.
5. Media assignments
Media assignments are small tasks meant to advance a particular aspect of newsgathering (photo principles, interviewing, etc.) or software learning. You will receive these throughout the semester. I will provide an assignment sheet for each of these assignments approach.
JMC Portfolio:
In addition to class assignments, the college requires you to submit a piece of your semester's work to the Gaylord College digital portfolio. You will choose one of your exam projects as your designated assignment for permanent storage in the portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio assignment is to assess your mastery of key concepts, skills and objectives of this and other courses you complete as an undergraduate. If you fail to submit your portfolio assignment, you will receive an incomplete, regardless of your fulfillment of other course requirements.
Griffin’s Grades:
It is important to me that you understand that my grading of writing is not arbitrary. I award writing grades based on the following standards:
· A – Copy is publishable with little editing and includes at least two multimedia elements.
· B – Copy is publishable with minor editing and revisions and includes at least one multimedia element.
· C – Portions of the copy would need to be rewritten and closely edited before the piece could be published. No multimedia elements are included.
· D – Copy contains major factual, structural, writing, and usage flaws. It is doubtful whether it could be published. It definitely could not be published without major work.
· F – Copy is non-existent or does not meet even minimal standards for the assignment. This grade also is received if a name is misspelled in the writing. Remember that if you don’t correctly name sources it’s pointless to have written the piece at all.
NOTE: The AP Stylebook should be used for all writing assignments. You are responsible for correct spelling, grammar and AP Style usage from the start of the semester. You are not responsible for the multimedia elements of posts until we have learned how to do them in class.
Grading:
Your grade for this course will consist of grades in six categories:
· Blog – 30 %
· Projects – 20 %
· Quizzes – 15 %
· Reading summaries – 15 %
· Assignments – 10 %
· Attendance/participation –10%
Attendance:
Course attendance and participation are required and will be counted as 10 percent of your final grade. I will take attendance at the beginning of each class session. You are expected to arrive to class on time and leave when class is complete. You should plan to attend every class session. At this point in your academic career you should understand the concept of decisions and consequences. You are free to make your own decisions regarding your attendance. However, it’s important that you are aware that lack of attendance in any class will result in you missing important material that will not be repeated. In addition, repeated absences will result in the lowering of your final grade. If you cannot avoid missing class, you must notify me prior to the class session. Do not assume that I know you will not be present. Communicate with me regarding every necessary absence. Notification of an absence from anyone but yourself will not be considered adequate. Do not send word of your absence via another classmate. I will give excused absences on a case-by-case basis. Any student who misses more than four classes, regardless of the nature of those absences, will fail the course. Remember: You make choices. You live with the consequences.
Late or Missed Assignments:
I will not accept late work. Work is late if it is not submitted at the beginning of the class session. Missed assignments cannot be made up without my approval. I will not accept assignments sent to class with peers. If you miss class it is your responsibility to obtain any assignments, handouts and notes that you miss. I will not contact you regarding your absence. I also will not save copies of course materials distributed during individual class periods. If you need an extension on an assignment because of an absence you must schedule a time to privately discuss these issues with me. If you miss an assignment and are allowed to make it up you must do so at the scheduled time or you will not receive credit.
Participation:
You are required to participate in class. Participation could include commenting on readings and interactive lecture. Asking questions always is encouraged. Discussion of things unrelated to class is discouraged. You are not allowed to be disruptive in any way that takes class value away from your classmates. You must always attend class prepared for participation. This includes having paper, writing utensils, books, equipment, etc. during every class session. If you fail to participate in class, it will be reflected in 10 percent of your final grade in the course.
Technology:
You are not allowed to use cell phones, MP3 players, laptops or other electronic devices for personal purposes during the class. The use of university computers in the classroom for personal purposes like checking e-mail or surfing the web also is prohibited. Students found using electronic devices inappropriately during class will be asked to leave and will not receive attendance or participation points for that class session. Cell phones are not allowed to be on during class. Violations of these policies will adversely affect your grade and your working relationship with me.
Assignments must be completed outside of class. All assignments must be typed. You will not be excused from class to print assignments. Do not come to class to discuss printing with me or expect the class to wait for you to print. It is up to you to determine if you should be late to class to print. Printer and/or computer malfunctions (even those in Gaylord labs) will not be accepted as an excuse for tardiness or late work.
Materials for this course will be posted on a university learning Web site, Desire 2 Learn. You can access the D2L site at learn.ou.edu. I will post supplemental materials, grades, etc. on the site. I will make every effort to update the site as much in advance as possible. However, I will only guarantee that course materials for the week will be posted by midnight each Sunday. I encourage you to check the site before each class because I also will post course announcements there. You are responsible for printing and bringing any course materials from the site to class. I will not make handouts of the items I post on D2L. However, it is extremely likely that you will need these materials in class. You will not be allowed to log on to D2L during the course session to review materials there.
Academic Honesty:
Honesty is basic to the credibility of journalism and journalists and it is expected on tests and graded assignments. At times in this class you may consult with one another on assignments, but your work is expected to be your own. This includes media clips such as photos from other sources that are presented as your own work. Any cheating, plagiarism, purposeful falsification or misrepresentation, or other form of academic dishonesty is subject to a failing grade in the class and to disciplinary action in accordance with university regulations, which may mean dismissal from the university. For information about university policy on academic integrity, you may refer to either of the following Web sites: www.ou.edu/provost/integrity or www.ou.edu/provost/ integrity-rights
Diversity:
Content providers/editors possess the power to influence people’s perceptions about themselves and others. In this class, we will explore how sensitive storytelling and editing can reflect the views of diverse groups in our culture with respect to age, ability, gender, race and ethnicity, religion and philosophy.
Students with Disabilities:
If any member of the class is disabled and is in need of special accommodations, the instructor and the Office of Disability Services will work with you to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform well in this class. Please advise me of such a disability, subject to verification, and the desired accommodations as soon as possible.
Religious Holidays:
“It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays.” (Section 3.13.2, OU Faculty Handbook)
