DRAFT
JRN378: Multimedia Journalism
Semester: Fall 2011
Time: 9:40 - 11:35 a.m.
Room: 126 Siceluff
Professor: Andrew R. Cline, Ph.D.
E-mail: acline@missouristate.edu
Office: 384 Craig
Office hours: MWF 10:30 - 11:30 (126 Siceluff) and
Office phone: 836-4923
URLs
IMPORTANT: You are responsible for all the information and instructions in this syllabus. Please read it carefully. Please ask questions about anything you do not understand.
Prerequisites: JRN270
Required Texts: The Elements of Journalism (2nd Ed.), by Kovach & Rosenstiel; Journalism Next, by Mark Briggs.
Additional required materials: A digital still camera with video mode and/or a digital video camera with a still mode suitable for making internet publication-quality photos (>3.0 megapixels), and a digital voice recorder compatible with either MAC or Windows (please check!). All-in-one devices and smart phones (e.g. iPhone, iPod Touch 4th Generation) meet these requirements.
You will also need a USB flash drive to store and transfer your work. I suggest getting at least an 8-gig drive. It would also be a good idea to install PortableApps on your drive (free!) including: Audacity and OpenOffice.
While you will be using the MacBook Pro in class (it can also boot Windows), please be prepared to do some class work on your home computer. You may also use your own laptop in class. Many students have found working with their own machines is the best way to go. It's entirely up to you. You will need:
Audacity for sound editing (free!)
A simple photo editor (IrfanView and Photoscape free!)
A video editor (avs4you.com offers a suite of multimedia editing software for a reasonable price)
There are also several HTML5 web apps you can use
Required web/social media capability: You will need free accounts on these web/social media services:
Twitter -- an account dedicated to this class
Vimeo and/or You Tube (video hosting)
iGoogle and other Google services (Docs, Gmail, Picasa, etc.)
Gravatar
Aviary online tools -- HTML5 editing suite
Presentation software (PowerPoint if OK, but Prezi is slicker and you get a free educational license)
For iPhone/iPod users:
I'm a big fan of the iPhone for multimedia journalism. If you have a 3GS or 4, you should consider these apps:
1stVideo by VeriCorder ($10): Shoot/edit video/stills. Voice recording/editing. Easy wifi upload.
Camera Plus Pro: The best photo app at a low cost
ReelDirector: video editing
ProShots: good, free photography app
ShareMedia: upload media files to your computer
iVideoCamera: a video app
PS express: free photo editing
WiFiPhoto: upload photos to your computer
iPodcaStudio: record and edit podcasts
iTalk: same as above
WordPress: blog from your iPhone
Andriod and Windows 7 smart phones have similar apps.
Description and Goals of JRN378:
This class will give you the opportunity to report and write/photograph/video/podcast for an online news magazine called Ozarks News Journal. This magazine will be a converged product with the Ozarks News Journal television show that airs on Ozarks Public Television and Mediacom 24. You will be working closely with ONJ TV students to produce a weekly news magazine worthy of public interest.
The following competencies will be the focus of this class and must be demonstrated by you in order to pass with a grade of ‘C’ or better:
1. the ability to report and write for internet publication
2. the ability to create multimedia internet news packages, including: writing, podcasts, digital photographs, and digital video.
3. the ability to use a standard news content management system to design and publish news packages.
4. the ability to use and develop new concepts and practices within a framework of the ethical craft of journalism, including meta-reporting and the "ethic of the link."
5. a professional understanding how to use social media to enhance journalism for an online news magazine.
6. a professional understanding of how news organizations can and should use the internet and social media as a medium for journalism.
7. a professional ability to work as part of a reporting team.
Educational Philosophy
JRN378 is a laboratory course in which you will learn by doing. You will be publishing a multimedia news magazine called Ozarks News Journal that will be the web arm of the Ozarks News Journal television show.
This class requires a large measure of gumption on your part. I begin each class with these assumptions:
1. You have read all assigned material.
2. You have at least checked into supplemental material.
3. You are working on your assignments in a timely manner.
4. You are prepared to discuss assignments and ask questions.
5. You are willing and able to work as part of a reporting team.
6. You are curious and interested in learning.
It is important for your success in this class to help make my assumptions come true.
Attendance
The Missouri State attendance policy states: “Because class attendance and course grade are demonstrably and positively related, the University expects students to attend all class sessions of courses in which they are enrolled.”
Excellent attendance is necessary to pass this course. I do not, however, have a specific attendance policy designed to penalize you for lack of attendance. As far as I'm concerned, you attend at your choice (i.e. you reap the rewards or suffer the consequences of your choices).
Regarding attendance and illness: If you have symptoms of a communicable illness (e.g. fever or a severe cough), for the sake of your health and the health of your classmates, please stay home and take care of yourself. I will excuse you from class work. Make arrangements with me to make up missed in-class activities. I will grant no excuse unless you contact me that day by e-mail or phone. I also excuse for family emergencies.
Regarding sports and other official Missouri State functions: You are excused to attend events sponsored by Missouri State in which you play an important role, e.g. an athlete traveling to play a sport. Please let me know about your participation before your absence.
Grading
Many students think grades are painful to receive. Trust me, they are just as painful to give. So we're in this together. Considering the current structure of the academy and our society, it is necessary for me to rank your performance by assigning you letter grades based on my assessment of your work. Grades do not reflect your worth as a human being or even your potential to become a successful media professional (however you define that). A grade is a sign of a single performance in a class--nothing more.
A 'C' signifies average work/accomplishment. A 'C' is not a bad grade. I know some of you think is a bad grade. And if you're one of those students who absolutely must earn an 'A' (for whatever reason), then I suggest you do excellent work.
I believe you are largely in control of the grade you earn in my class. Certainly, outside pressures intrude. You will find that I am happy to work with you so that you may achieve the level of success you seek. But this is important for you to understand: I place a much higher priority on learning and understanding than I do on grades. This means that if you approach this class with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to learn, your grade should take care of itself.
You will work in reporting teams of 4 persons. There will be 4 teams. Each team will be responsible for reporting and producing one multimedia package every two weeks. The grading structure of this class is set up to reward both individual and group effort.
No one enjoys working in teams with grades on the line. But this is how the real world works. Journalists do not work alone. Journalism produced by news organizations is always the product of a group effort. This also applies to public relations work. The time to get used to working in teams is now.
Grading areas:
5 multimedia packages (group grade): 10%
ONJ blog posts: 30%
E-portfolio of selected individual work: 40%
Mid-term essay exam (The Elements of Journalism): 10%
Final synthesis essay (counts as the final exam): 10%
You may also earn an optional 20% semester bonus. See the assignments section for details.
Each team will produce news packages by splitting the work based on individual preferences and abilities. You will use your byline/credit line to identify individual contributions. Because you are working together (i.e. helping each other), you are responsible for the quality of the entire package, thus the 10% of your semester grade. This means the entire team is responsible for creating, editing, and promoting the package.
To help you and me keep track of work, each reporting team will keep a work-tracking and self-assessment sheet to be turned in at deadline. This sheet will log who did what and your initial assessment of the news package.
The final word on grades: I think the mark of a serious student is the willingness to seek help, assessment, and advice in person. That means if you hope to be a serious student of the mass media and journalism (and if you expect me to think of you that way), then I expect to see you in my office. I expect to converse with you regularly about class, Missouri State University, our local community, and the world at large. If you show interest and desire, I will not let you fail.
Deadlines: Journalism and public relations are deadline-driven businesses. You cannot hope to succeed unless you train yourself to meet deadlines. This class is a news organization, so you must meet all deadlines. If you suspect you may miss a deadline for some reason, hand in your work early.
MSU Policies:
Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at www.missouristate.edu/policy/academicintegritystudents.htm. You are also responsible for understanding and following any additional academic integrity policies specific to this class (as outlined by the instructor). Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy. If you are accused of violating this policy and are in the appeals process, you should continue participating in the class.
Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the Disability Resource Center, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.
As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must
discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Services. If you have
emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment
with me as soon as possible.
For additional information students should contact the
Disability Resource Center,
836-4192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of
Public Safety and
Transportation
at 836-6576.
For further information on Missouri State University’s Emergency Response Plan,
please refer to the following web site:
http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm
It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520.
Class Behavior: Please do not 1) Sleep in class; 2) Do other homework in class; or 3) Engage in willful ignorance.
Syllabus (subject to change)
Important Resources (please register with these sites where applicable):
Week 1
Read: Begin reading The Elements of Journalism and Journalism Next
Class introduction; tech introduction
Week 2
Help is on the way:
Podcasting Tutorial (see also: Audacity tutorial video)
Week 3
Finish tech prep -- begin reporting plans
Weeks 4 through 15
Produce the ONJ website
Week 16
Synthesis essay and e-portfolios due on Monday
Final Exam: Return/discuss synthesis essay
Assignments
FEATURED PACKAGES
You will report and produce the Ozarks News Journal website as part of a reporting team. Each team will produce one multimedia package roughly every two weeks. Some news packages may be coordinated with ONJ TV.
Each multimedia package should include those elements that help tell the story, such as:
A news/feature story written for web publication
A photo slideshow with captions and cutlines
A digital video appropriate to the topic
Audio interview (podcast)
A multimedia presentation (PowerPoint or Prezi)
An interactive map (Google) including geo-tagged photos.
Choose elements based on the needs of the story you're trying to tell. In any case, each package should contain a minimum of two story-telling elements.
Required on all featured packages:
A thumbnail image (aka. featured image) for package promotion
Source list with links
Text links
Social media promotion of the package
Concepts evident in each package:
Meta-reporting
Supplemental blogging
Filtering
The ethic of the link
Transparency
Narrative cues in video, including voice over, titles, and text
Good composition and news content in digital photos
Good sound quality podcast
Appropriate headlines and cutlines
Social media integration
Other concepts as developed by the class
IMPORTANT: The ONJ site layout displays featured content in a slide box below the flag. Making it into the featured position is not guaranteed and will be competitive. Packages that do not meet high standards for journalism as defined in The Elements of Journalism will be linked in the Latest Headlines box at the bottom of the page. The editor or publisher may choose to feature excellent individual blog posts (see below). Making it into the featured position with a blog post is a sure sign that you are doing superior work.
STUDENT BLOGS ON ONJ:
Each student (including the editor) will write a blog for the ONJ site. You are responsible for 1 entry per week.
Blog entries can be a supplemental post for your feature package about some aspect of the story. These posts can provide (among other things): depth, background, context, extra interviews, and opinion (based on good reporting).
You are also free to post about anything of interest to a Springfield audience.
Your blog offers a great opportunity to practice your multimedia skills. Please be sure to use at least two multimedia modes (text, pictures, audio, video, map, presentation) in each blog post. By the end of the semester, you should have published at least 3 examples of each multimedia type other than text.
One post per week is required. You may, however, post as much as you wish as often as you wish on your ONJ blog. The more you publish -- assuming you do a good job -- the better your skills will develop and the more material you'll have for your portfolio.
Please avoid publishing on Sunday nights. Try to vary the day and time that you post each week. I will take a dim view of chronic Sunday-night publishing.
E-PORTFOLIO
You will prepare an e-portfolio of the 10 best examples of your work for the semester. Your portfolio should use a presentation package (such as PowerPoint or Prezi) and be posted to the web or handed in by CD. Your portfolio should include at least one example of these multimedia forms:
A featured story or other reporting-based text (not opinion)
One reporting-based opinion text
A series of 5 photos and cutlines (photo story or single topic)
A video
A podcast
An interactive map
Be sure all links are active in your presentation.
20 PERCENT DEVELOPMENT BONUS
Each student will have the opportunity to earn a development bonus worth an extra 20 percent of the total semester grade. Earning this bonus will not be easy.
Requirements:
1. Develop and justify a procedure for the journalistic use of a new technology (app, web service, etc.).
If your procedure meets the approval of the editor and publisher, you move on to requirement #2.
2. Implement the procedure for Ozarks News Journal.
If the procedure can be successfully added to the ONJ web site (or used by ONJ journalists), you move on to requirement #3.
3. Teach the procedure to the class.
Upon successful completion of #3, you earn an 'A' for the extra 20 percent of the semester grade.
Examples: How can journalists use Foursquare? What can journalists do with QR codes? How can geo-tagging be used? How can ONJ be made more interactive and mobile?
Please check with me and the editor before beginning any work for this bonus.
IMPORTANT: You MAY NOT use the bonus to blow-off another portion of the class.
SYNTHESIS ESSAY
Students will write a synthesis essay instead of taking a final exam. We will use the mandatory final exam period to discuss the synthesis essay.
I will give you details about this assignment in class. You will need to have read, and put into practice, the lessons in the class textbooks before writing the synthesis essay.