Course Description

Students will learn how to research, write and report different forms of electronic news stories including anchor readers, voiceovers and packages within a framework of news judgment and news ethics. Students will become familiar with the basics of shooting and editing electronic news stories; and produce two full news packages for television. The course will compare and contrast television news writing with news writing for radio and online.

Course Prerequisites

• Major status
• JOUR 3004W and JOUR 3101

Expected Competencies

Students who enroll in 3451 must have taken Jour 3004 and 3101. All students should have the following skills:

• An understanding of news values (relevance, proximity, timeliness, impact, prominence).
• An understanding of techniques for reporting, interviewing, and building sources.
• An introductory understanding of how to access public records and other documents.
• An ability to write clearly, with concise word choice and sentence construction.
• A command of proper grammar.
• An understanding of the importance of news source credibility, of fairness in news coverage, and of critical thinking skills applied to news events and information.

Competency Goals for 3451

Jour 3451 is the introductory electronic news writing and reporting course. It is the student’s introduction to

• the very different style of broadcast news writing
• digital video camera operation
• non-linear digital video editing

News writing

• broadcast news writing style, learning to distinguish between the writing styles required for electronic news and that which is acceptable or expected in print journalism
• ability to write various forms of electronic news stories (including anchor readers, voiceovers, packages for television)
• ability to produce stories matching copy to video, using clean, concise, conversational copy and video/audio that captures and conveys the message
• ability to exploit video and audio storytelling potential of the electronic news-gathering tools
• ability to report on a range of story types, including hard news, events and features
• ability to understand how a story would be reported differently in print, television, radio and online

Video photojournalism & editing

• how to operate digital video cameras
• match-cut sequences of wide shot, medium shot, tight shot
• match-cut sequences of action
• emphasis on steady-sequenced video (avoiding pans, zooms, tilts unless there is a sound reason for employing such camera/lens movement)
• use of neutral cutaway shots to avoid jump cuts in action
• proper video and audio transitions in shooting and editing
• honoring screen direction and the 180-degree rule (draw an imaginary line between two people involved in an interview or conversation; all camera angles should be taken from only one side of that line.)
• importance of natural sound in video scenes
• importance of composition of scenes (including the composition of interview framing)
• methods for working on and off the tripod
• pacing in the shooting and editing of a television news story

Reporting

• ability to report on a range of story types, including hard news, events and features
• ability to understand how a story would be reported differently in print, television, radio and onlineB

Accrediting Council on Education and Mass Communication

The national accrediting agency for journalism education has required that all accredited journalism schools assess student mastery of 12 core values and competencies that every graduate of a journalism and mass communication program should possess.  According to the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, all graduates, irrespective of their particular specialization, should be able to:
 
1. Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications;
4. demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society;
5. Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
6. Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
7. Think critically, creatively and independently;
8. Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
9. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
10. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
11. Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
12. Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

AC

my3451 sec 4 spring 2012

Assignments and Activities

Assignments and Activities

* Projects: Each student will write and produce

1 - Sequence Edit | 1 - Sequence Interview
3 - TV News Packages

Total points for these assignments include: the story pitch, the script review, and writing, producing, making deadline and present for in class critiques.

* Satisfactory completion of each the above projects is required to pass the course. In other words, if you miss deadline on the assignment and get zero points, you are still required to complete the assignment by the last day of scheduled classes with what would have been the equivalent of a C- to pass the course. Missing the assigned deadline on these projects is a 50% penalty of the grade if the project is turned in within 24 hours after deadline; a 75% penalty of the grade if the project is turned in after 24 hours of deadline. No credit if a week or more late.

and students will complete

News Analysis: Students will analyze three TV news stories. No credit will be given for missing deadline.
In-Class Writing Assignments: Given stories, students will write five graded writing assignments. ICW assignments cannot be made for unexcused absences.

Quizzes: Seven quizzes will be given, each based on the reading assignment for that day. Quizzes cannot be made up for unexcused absences.

TV Station Tour Observations: Students will write a 2-3 paper combining their observations from a visit to a local TV news station and the reading assignment for April 24.

Class Participation: Any good journalist is open to receiving constructive criticism of their work--that’s how they get better at what they do. Students will be asked to evaluate each others work in open class sessions and discuss ideas that would improve the project. Points are based on participation. You can get 85 points if you attend all class and lab sessions and are on time! Points can be deducted if you’re there and don’t contribute to class discussions; up to 10 points can be deducted each time you’re late or leave class early; and up to 20 points can be deducted for each unexcused absence from a the semester total for not attending a class or a lab—you can't participate if you're not here!

Note: Light rail construction will mean traffic change patterns throughout the semester. Students are responsible for being aware of the impact of the construction on their travel so as to be to class on time. “Construction caused me to be late” is not an acceptable excuse for being late or absent from class.

Grades

Workload

University policy states that students should expect three hours of work a week per credit. Jour 3451 is a three-credit class, therefore, students are expected to devote nine hours a week towards satisfactory course completion. For the typical 15-week semester that equates to 130 hours of work.

What Hasn't Been Said Yet

• Plan to write. And rewrite. Again. And again. And again.
• Class starts when the instructor starts the lecture.
• You can't just "get by" in this class--because you produce products you have to plan and management your time wisely. Remember--you have to shoot video, set up and conduct interviews, write, edit and file.
• At least one of your packages must substantially cover a community, issue or people of color or other underrepresented community.
• If you're not going to make it to class, please contact me prior to class by leaving a message on my cell phone or sending me an e-mail. If you are ill on the day the assignment is due, please make arrangements for the assignment to be delivered. All successful reporters and producers contact their supervisors when they can't make it to work and they figure out a way to deliver their projects on time.

Working in the Digital Media Studio

1. No food or beverages in the lab. It’s a lab policy. Period. Not negotiable. End of discussion.

2. Lab attendants are students too. Not all of them are proficient in any or all of the software programs. If you’re working in an open lab, don’t get frustrated if they’re not able to help you.

3. You are responsible for ensuring any gear you check out from the lab is operational before you leave the lab. If you get out on an assignment and find you’re missing a battery or its dead, don’t blame the lab. Do an “op-check” of the gear before you leave the lab.

4. Follow lab rules for checking out and returning equipment. Don’t ask for special favors. Time management is an important aspect of any job. If an emergency arises and you need equipment on short notice, see the instructor first. Don’t hassle the lab attendant.CK TO TOP

Meet the Instructor

Dana Benson is a 30-year veteran of Twin Cities television news. After an internship at WTCN-TV (now KARE) he was hired as a producer on the weekend newscasts. One year later Dana moved to WCCO-TV as Producer of the 6pm newscast. After 12 years and countless broadcasts Dana switched stations again to become Executive Producer at KMSP-TV. Within a year he was promoted to News Director and ran the newsroom for the next 10 years. Dana returned to WCCO in 2004 as Executive Producer of the 10pm news. In 2006 he accepted an offer from KSTP-TV to manage the newsroom’s Investigative Unit. Dana taught Jour 3451 for the spring semester 2009 and in July, 2009 was hired by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as a full time teaching specialist to teach the electronic news writing and reporting classes.