Mass Communication 3312
TV News

PREREQUISITES:

Minimum grade of C in Mass Communication 1313, 3306 and 3311.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The emphasis of this course will be to create a television news production, including writing copy to match pictures and incorporating video and sound in TV news stories. Students will work on the campus cable television news program. Lab assignments may include night or weekend work.

This class consists of one lecture period and two lab sessions each week. Students will report, write, produce and edit news stories for Bobcat Update, the cable television program that airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. At the end of the semester, each student should be able to videotape and edit television news stories, write television copy to match pictures, write lead-ins for stories, produce newscasts, and perform various on- and off-camera roles.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course serves the dual purpose of a) providing advanced instruction in news writing and b) teaching the basics of field reporting and news editing. It is structured to build on the broadcast writing style taught in Mass Communication 3306 and 3310 and the production techniques taught in Mass Communication 3311. In this course, students will learn how to match words and video effectively in a television news format, will conduct research for news stories and evaluate information for factual accuracy, and will strive to compose news stories that are clear, concise and grammatically correct.

Students who can demonstrate a high level of competency in reaching these course objectives will complete MC 3312 successfully and will be prepared for entry-level positions in television journalism.

REQUIRED TEXT:

Television News: A Handbook for Writing, Reporting, Shooting & Editing, Teresa Keller and Steve Hawkins, 3rd Ed., Holcomb Hathaway Publishers, 2009.

COURSE OUTLINE/TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

After a three-week orientation in the TV lab, you will be assigned to perform field reporting, producing, and studio roles. When assigned to do field reporting, you will serve as a photographer, tape editor, and/or writer. When assigned to producing, you will help write, organize, and anchor the newscasts.

During the fourth week of the semester, auditions will be held for those wishing to do newscast anchoring.

Live newscasts will begin during the fifth week and will be scheduled weekly for the remainder of the semester.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Departmental policy permits faculty members to lower a student's final grade for absences or tardiness.

Lab attendance is mandatory. Any absence will be recorded as an F for that week unless the student informs the instructor in advance of the absence. If the instructor deems the absence as excusable, the student will then be expected to make up the work at a later date to avoid a recorded F.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

You will need to purchase one blank digital tape (mini-DV) and one blank DVD-R. The digital tape is needed by the third week of class. The DVD-R will be needed in late November.

Attire: You must dress appropriately on those days when you are scheduled to appear on-camera or conduct interviews. Business dress is required for studio appearances and interview assignments.

STORY ASSIGNMENTS:

The instructor and lab assistants may assign stories to you for inclusion in the Bobcat Update newscast, but in the absence of specific story assignments, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO ENTERPRISE your own. Prior approval of the instructor or lab assistants is required before proceeding. Stories must have a solid news angle and be feasible to obtain. Daily newspapers, the wire services, and news releases sent to Bobcat Update may be used to generate story ideas.

The date of assignment begins when the instructor has approved a reporter's story.

Students who are assigned to do voice-overs MUST COMPLETE the production by deadline: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

LAB:
Your lab work will be evaluated on a weekly basis. Grades of A-F are possible. An A will have the numerical equivalent of 95 (excellent); a B equals 85 (good); a C equals 75 (mediocre); and a D equals 65 (poor). An F will have the numerical equivalent of 0. A grade of F is assured if a story you are assigned is produced or written in such a way that subjects Bobcat Update to potential legal action. If you have any questions about a story, ask. The instructor and lab assistants are here to guide you. Seek their counsel before submitting questionable stories. A grade of F is also assured if a story you are assigned is unsuitable for airing due to poor quality, technical execution or factual errors. Also, deadlines are to be taken very seriously in this course. FAILURE TO MEET STORY DEADLINES -- without ample justification -- will result in a grade of F.

QUIZZES:
Quizzes will consist of questions taken from the assigned textbook chapters.

FINAL (Chapters 11-12-13/Current Events):
M-W section:  Monday, Nov. 30, 5 p.m.
T-Th section, Thursday, Dec. 3, 5 p.m.

The final will cover the last three chapters and current events.

FINAL PROJECT:

Deadline: Dec.11, noon.

Your final is a resume project that serves as your Senior Portfolio.  The project consists of a resume DVD and a binder (please see the instructor to obtain a binder -- there's no need to buy one) containing a cover letter, a one-page resume, a reference sheet and several writing samples. Prepare the portfolio for submitting to a potential employer who is seeking applicants in a current edition of either the RTNDA Jobs Bulletin, the TAB Job Bulletin, Broadcasting and Cable magazine, or some other publication that regularly lists job openings. More details on how to format your letter, resume, and DVD will be provided later.

After the instructor reviews your portfolio, it will be placed in a blue box outside of Room 306 for you to retrieve along with your resume DVD. The resume DVD and portfolio will be left in the box until Jan. 30, 2010, so please pick them up before then.

All elements of your portfolio -- the DVD, letter, resume and writing samples -- are given equal weight..

DROP DATES:

Sept. 11 - Last day to drop with 100% refund
Oct. 26 - Automatic W deadline. Last day to drop a class.
Nov. 23- Withdrawal deadline. Go to zero hours enrolled.

If you are a student with a disability certified by the Office of Disability Services and you require accommodation in my class, it is your responsibility to tell me at the beginning of the semester so that accommodation can be provided promptly.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication commits itself to the preparation of ethical mass media professionals and scholars. Such a mission demands the highest standard of academic honesty and integrity. Violations of academic honesty, including but not limited to plagiarism, collusion, deception, conflict of interest and theft, are not tolerated and can lead to severe penalties. Disciplinary actions for violations of the standards for academic honesty are outlined in http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-07-10-01.html