Course overview & requirements
Overview
This course is about telling stories and sharing information. We will explore effective storytelling using video and audio along with photos and the written word. We will delve into ways of distributing content including blogs and social media.
This is not a web design class. It’s a journalism course to prepare you to integrate new skills with the many things you’ve already learned about journalism – researching, reporting and storytelling – into a world in which everyone is a publisher. You will apply standards of journalistic reporting to your work throughout the semester. All writing must be in AP style.
The class will be conducted as though you are working in a professional newsroom where meeting deadlines is critical. All work must be publishable on a professional news website. Deadlines are critical. Attendance and participation in class discussions are essential. You must come to class prepared. Being late, missing class or being distracted during class will be detrimental. You will build upon your skills throughout the semester as you take on more ambitious projects.
Students completing this course will be able to:
- Shoot video suitable for online distribution
- Edit video with non-linear editing (NLE) program
- Understand how sound, images and video work online and when they should be used
- Understand how to tell stories using multimedia tools
You won’t be an expert at these tasks unless you practice them many times. In this course, you’ll learn the basics. It will be up to you to apply what you have learned if you want to become proficient.
Required Materials
There will be no required books for this course. However, there will be weekly reading, writing and/or media assignments and occasional class presentations. Readings will be linked on the syllabus assignment page with the due dates. It is expected that you will read or view the assigned material before class so that you are prepared for the day’s work.
Required Equipment
- 500-gigabyte or larger portable external hard drive preferably with FireWire 800 cable.
- Sony DVC digital video cassette tape (at least three tapes)
- Over-the-ear headphones
Required Web accounts
- WordPress.com
- Vimeo.com
- Twitter.com
Grading
20 points – readings and other homework assignments
25 points – Multimedia project 1
25 points – Multimedia project 2
30 points – Attendance (1 point per class; points will be deducted for lateness, leaving early or inattention during class)
