MCJ 300 syllabus
Overview
This course will provide students with an opportunity to experiment with various platforms from which to tell stories. These platforms include photography, audio, print, video and social media.
Learning Objectives:
· Explore best uses for multiple storytelling platforms and which is most appropriate for each story.
· Constructively critique your own work and the work of other students.
· Hone technical skills with Adobe Photoshop, Apple iMovie and Audacity.
· Learn basic photography skills to tell a story via photos and captions.
· Learn to record professional audio to produce effective audio stories.
· Learn the basics of video for news in a documentary style.
· Know how to pitch a multimedia story ideas that focus on the human diversity of USM and Hattiesburg communities.
Class blog
You will post all of your work to the class blog. This is how your assignments will be turned in and how you will respond to your classmates’ work. The class blog is www.usmmcj300.weebly.com. Both sections of MCJ 300 will share the same class blog. You will comment on work done in both sections.
Required Readings
The Multimedia Journalist by Jennifer George-Palilonis
The Associated Press Stylebook
Suggested reading
“The Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Profeciency” http://www.jou.ufl.edu/faculty/mmcadams/PDFs/RGMPbook.pdf
Online sources
There are tons of online sources for this type of work especially when dealing with software issues and tutorials. We will also view and critique multiple real-world multimedia news stories during the semester. The National Press Photographers Association host a monthly contest for multimedia journalists. The winners are posted on the organization’s website.
Equipment checkout
You will be able to checkout equipment from the MCJ equipment room this semester to complete your assignments. Make sure you are familiar with the equipment room handbook. Equipment checkout is done via the department’s website.
Important Information: New Drop/Withdrawal Deadlines & Policies:
As of fall 2014, the University has approved new policies for when students can drop/withdraw from classes. Please note that
1. You only have one week to drop classes on SOAR and get ANY money back. After Tuesday, January 20, you will not be able to drop in SOAR.
2. Between January 21 and April 1, you can withdraw from an individual course, if your professor gives you permission, but you will have a W on your transcript and you will not get any money back.
3. There are no more WP and WF grades. The W will not figure in to your GPA, but it might impact your financial aid – so be careful and talk to the financial aid office if you are concerned.
4. After April 1, you cannot withdraw from an individual class – all classes for which you are registered will get a letter grade (not a W).
Rules of Conduct in Class
Phones: Should be off or on vibrate and out of sight. Please do not leave your phone out on your desk or workspace. They are a distraction to you and me.
Other: Surfing the web or playing games or music is not permitted.
Attendance: Is mandatory. You will lose participation points if you do not attend. Each absence will be a deduction of five points from your participation grade. Therefore, every two absences will result in a deduction of a letter grade.
Notification: If you must be absent, you must let me know BEFORE class starts by phone, email, or text. YOU are responsible for finding out what you missed.
Deadlines: Assignments should posted to the class blog by listed deadlines. Late assignments are death for journalists. I START GRADING LATE ASSIGNMENTS AT 50%.
Fact errors: Accuracy is key in journalism. You will receive a 10-point reduction in your grade for each factual error, including misspelled names, incorrect locations, and incorrect titles. You must turn in names and contact information for all sources in every story.
Grading
This class follows the departmental grading guidelines:
A=90-100% (Superior work that could be published as is.)
B=80-89% (Good work that needs revision.)
C=70-79% (Includes multiple problems.)
D=60-69% (Unacceptable work.)
F< 60 (Failure to grasp any concepts.)
Late work = I start grading at 50%.
What Assignments Are Worth
5% Class participation this includes your attendance and the comments you provide on your classmates’ work via the class blog.
5% Five-shot slideshow will be due Jan. 20 on the class blog.
10% Photo slideshow this will be due on the blog before the beginning of class on Feb. 10
10% Audio package this will be due on the blog before the beginning of class on Feb. 24
20% Audio slideshow this will be due on the blog before the beginning of class on March 24
10% Social media assignment this will be handed in at the beginning of class on April 14
10% Video package rough cut rough cut of your final project will be due on April 16
30% Video package final due on the class blog before the beginning of class on April 30, you will present to class that day too
Academic Integrity
“When cheating is discovered, the faculty member may give the student an F on the work involved or in the course. If further disciplinary action is deemed appropriate, the student should be reported to the dean of students. In addition to be a violation of academic honesty, cheating violates the code of student conduct and may be grounds for probation, suspension, and/or expulsion. Students on disciplinary suspension may not enroll in any courses offered by The University of Southern Mississippi.”
What Constitutes Cheating
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodation, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodation (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by the ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health concerns. Students should contact the ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.
Address: The University of Southern Mississippi
Office of Disability Accommodations
118 College Drive #8586
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Voice Phone: 601.266.5024 or 228.214.3232
Individuals with hearing impairments can contact OCA using the Mississippi Relay Service at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY) or email Suzy Hebert at [email protected]
ABBREVIATED CLASS SCHEDULE
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Week 1 Getting Started (1/13&15)
· Syllabus (1/13)
· Introductions (1/13)
· What is Multimedia Storytelling? Chapter 1 George-Palilonis in (1/15)
· The Five-Shot photo slideshow (1/15)
Week 2 Photojournalism (1/19&21)
· Read/discuss chapter 3 & 6 George-Palilonis (1/19)
o Writing refresher
· Read/discuss Chapter 7 George-Palilonis (1/21)
o Photojournalism
o Photoshop refresher
Week 3: Photo Field Work
· Photo shoot day (1/27) (outside classroom, meet on first floor of College Hall, bring an SD card for the digital cameras)
· Photo editing day (1/29) We will edit the photos you took on Tuesday in class.
· iMovie refresher course for slideshows.
Week 4: Audio Journalism
· Read/discuss chapter 8 George-Palilonis (on Blackboard) 2/3
o Discuss/demonstrate mic and recorder
· Workshop day for Photo slideshow 2/5
Week 5: Audio/Audacity
· Photo slideshow due by beginning of class (2/10)
· Present photo slideshow to class (2/10)
· Audacity refresher day & activity (2/10)
· Audio Practice Day (2/12)
Week 6: Mardi Gras Week
· No Class (2/17)
· Work day for Audio Package (2/19)
Week 7 Audio Wrap Up
· Audio Package due before the beginning of class (2/24)
· Present Audio Package to Class (2/24)
· Discuss Audio Slideshow project (2/24)
Week 8 Video
· Read/Discuss Chapter 9: Video in text (3/3)
· Work day for Audio Slideshow (3/5)
Week 9 Spring Break
· No class (3/10&12
Week 10 Individual Meetings
· Audio slideshow individual meetings (3/17&19)
Week 11 Audio Slideshow Wrap Up
· Audio slideshow due before the beginning of class on blog (3/24)
· Present audio slideshow to class/ discuss (3/24)
· Discuss final projects/pitch ideas for stories (3/26)
Week 12 Data visualization/Social media
· Read/Discuss Chapter 10 in text (3/31)
· Discuss Social Media (3/31)
· Social media in-class assignment (4/2)
· Schedule individual meetings to discuss rough-cut of final project. You must have something to show me during the meeting (shot list, storyboard, script, rough footage for package) (4/2)
Week 13
· Social media assignment due at the beginning of class (4/7)
· Video package workshop (4/9)
Week 14 Video Rough Cuts
· Rough-cut of final project (Video package) individual meetings with me (4/7&9)
Week 15 Work Week
· Video Package Work Days (4/21&23)
Week 16 Final Projects Due
· Final project due on blog before the beginning of class (4/30)
· Present final project to class (4/30)
This course will provide students with an opportunity to experiment with various platforms from which to tell stories. These platforms include photography, audio, print, video and social media.
Learning Objectives:
· Explore best uses for multiple storytelling platforms and which is most appropriate for each story.
· Constructively critique your own work and the work of other students.
· Hone technical skills with Adobe Photoshop, Apple iMovie and Audacity.
· Learn basic photography skills to tell a story via photos and captions.
· Learn to record professional audio to produce effective audio stories.
· Learn the basics of video for news in a documentary style.
· Know how to pitch a multimedia story ideas that focus on the human diversity of USM and Hattiesburg communities.
Class blog
You will post all of your work to the class blog. This is how your assignments will be turned in and how you will respond to your classmates’ work. The class blog is www.usmmcj300.weebly.com. Both sections of MCJ 300 will share the same class blog. You will comment on work done in both sections.
Required Readings
The Multimedia Journalist by Jennifer George-Palilonis
The Associated Press Stylebook
Suggested reading
“The Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Profeciency” http://www.jou.ufl.edu/faculty/mmcadams/PDFs/RGMPbook.pdf
Online sources
There are tons of online sources for this type of work especially when dealing with software issues and tutorials. We will also view and critique multiple real-world multimedia news stories during the semester. The National Press Photographers Association host a monthly contest for multimedia journalists. The winners are posted on the organization’s website.
Equipment checkout
You will be able to checkout equipment from the MCJ equipment room this semester to complete your assignments. Make sure you are familiar with the equipment room handbook. Equipment checkout is done via the department’s website.
Important Information: New Drop/Withdrawal Deadlines & Policies:
As of fall 2014, the University has approved new policies for when students can drop/withdraw from classes. Please note that
1. You only have one week to drop classes on SOAR and get ANY money back. After Tuesday, January 20, you will not be able to drop in SOAR.
2. Between January 21 and April 1, you can withdraw from an individual course, if your professor gives you permission, but you will have a W on your transcript and you will not get any money back.
3. There are no more WP and WF grades. The W will not figure in to your GPA, but it might impact your financial aid – so be careful and talk to the financial aid office if you are concerned.
4. After April 1, you cannot withdraw from an individual class – all classes for which you are registered will get a letter grade (not a W).
Rules of Conduct in Class
Phones: Should be off or on vibrate and out of sight. Please do not leave your phone out on your desk or workspace. They are a distraction to you and me.
Other: Surfing the web or playing games or music is not permitted.
Attendance: Is mandatory. You will lose participation points if you do not attend. Each absence will be a deduction of five points from your participation grade. Therefore, every two absences will result in a deduction of a letter grade.
Notification: If you must be absent, you must let me know BEFORE class starts by phone, email, or text. YOU are responsible for finding out what you missed.
Deadlines: Assignments should posted to the class blog by listed deadlines. Late assignments are death for journalists. I START GRADING LATE ASSIGNMENTS AT 50%.
Fact errors: Accuracy is key in journalism. You will receive a 10-point reduction in your grade for each factual error, including misspelled names, incorrect locations, and incorrect titles. You must turn in names and contact information for all sources in every story.
Grading
This class follows the departmental grading guidelines:
A=90-100% (Superior work that could be published as is.)
B=80-89% (Good work that needs revision.)
C=70-79% (Includes multiple problems.)
D=60-69% (Unacceptable work.)
F< 60 (Failure to grasp any concepts.)
Late work = I start grading at 50%.
What Assignments Are Worth
5% Class participation this includes your attendance and the comments you provide on your classmates’ work via the class blog.
5% Five-shot slideshow will be due Jan. 20 on the class blog.
10% Photo slideshow this will be due on the blog before the beginning of class on Feb. 10
10% Audio package this will be due on the blog before the beginning of class on Feb. 24
20% Audio slideshow this will be due on the blog before the beginning of class on March 24
10% Social media assignment this will be handed in at the beginning of class on April 14
10% Video package rough cut rough cut of your final project will be due on April 16
30% Video package final due on the class blog before the beginning of class on April 30, you will present to class that day too
Academic Integrity
“When cheating is discovered, the faculty member may give the student an F on the work involved or in the course. If further disciplinary action is deemed appropriate, the student should be reported to the dean of students. In addition to be a violation of academic honesty, cheating violates the code of student conduct and may be grounds for probation, suspension, and/or expulsion. Students on disciplinary suspension may not enroll in any courses offered by The University of Southern Mississippi.”
What Constitutes Cheating
- Submitting as your own work anything that is not COMPLETELY your own work.
- Submitting as your own work another student’s work from another class.
- Submitting work of your own from another class for this class.
- Obtaining from the Web any text, photos, videos that are not yours and submitting them as your own.
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodation, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodation (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by the ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health concerns. Students should contact the ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.
Address: The University of Southern Mississippi
Office of Disability Accommodations
118 College Drive #8586
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Voice Phone: 601.266.5024 or 228.214.3232
Individuals with hearing impairments can contact OCA using the Mississippi Relay Service at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY) or email Suzy Hebert at [email protected]
ABBREVIATED CLASS SCHEDULE
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Week 1 Getting Started (1/13&15)
· Syllabus (1/13)
· Introductions (1/13)
· What is Multimedia Storytelling? Chapter 1 George-Palilonis in (1/15)
· The Five-Shot photo slideshow (1/15)
Week 2 Photojournalism (1/19&21)
· Read/discuss chapter 3 & 6 George-Palilonis (1/19)
o Writing refresher
· Read/discuss Chapter 7 George-Palilonis (1/21)
o Photojournalism
o Photoshop refresher
Week 3: Photo Field Work
· Photo shoot day (1/27) (outside classroom, meet on first floor of College Hall, bring an SD card for the digital cameras)
· Photo editing day (1/29) We will edit the photos you took on Tuesday in class.
· iMovie refresher course for slideshows.
Week 4: Audio Journalism
· Read/discuss chapter 8 George-Palilonis (on Blackboard) 2/3
o Discuss/demonstrate mic and recorder
· Workshop day for Photo slideshow 2/5
Week 5: Audio/Audacity
· Photo slideshow due by beginning of class (2/10)
· Present photo slideshow to class (2/10)
· Audacity refresher day & activity (2/10)
· Audio Practice Day (2/12)
Week 6: Mardi Gras Week
· No Class (2/17)
· Work day for Audio Package (2/19)
Week 7 Audio Wrap Up
· Audio Package due before the beginning of class (2/24)
· Present Audio Package to Class (2/24)
· Discuss Audio Slideshow project (2/24)
Week 8 Video
· Read/Discuss Chapter 9: Video in text (3/3)
· Work day for Audio Slideshow (3/5)
Week 9 Spring Break
· No class (3/10&12
Week 10 Individual Meetings
· Audio slideshow individual meetings (3/17&19)
Week 11 Audio Slideshow Wrap Up
· Audio slideshow due before the beginning of class on blog (3/24)
· Present audio slideshow to class/ discuss (3/24)
· Discuss final projects/pitch ideas for stories (3/26)
Week 12 Data visualization/Social media
· Read/Discuss Chapter 10 in text (3/31)
· Discuss Social Media (3/31)
· Social media in-class assignment (4/2)
· Schedule individual meetings to discuss rough-cut of final project. You must have something to show me during the meeting (shot list, storyboard, script, rough footage for package) (4/2)
Week 13
· Social media assignment due at the beginning of class (4/7)
· Video package workshop (4/9)
Week 14 Video Rough Cuts
· Rough-cut of final project (Video package) individual meetings with me (4/7&9)
Week 15 Work Week
· Video Package Work Days (4/21&23)
Week 16 Final Projects Due
· Final project due on blog before the beginning of class (4/30)
· Present final project to class (4/30)