Fall 2008 Syllabus - News

RTN 565.02 Fall 2008
TV News Producing & Anchoring
Executive Producer: Chris Tuohey
Office: 337, NCCII
443-4118 [email protected]
Monday
565.02 Lab
10:00 - 5:30
Rm 482 N2
Tuesday
Office
11:00 - 1:00
565.04 Lec
2:00 - 4:40
Rm 491 N2
COM 100
5:00 - 6:20
Rm 203 N1
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
565.02 Lec
11:45 - 2:25
Rm 482A N2
Office
3:00 - 5:00
565.04 Lab
10:00 - 5:30
Rm 482 N2
Grading and
Stuff
Goals of this Course: Our main goal is to work as a team to
put together and present professional looking television
newscasts. In order to accomplish this you will learn and
perform all the different jobs that go into making a single
newscast.
All tasks are important, but developing the
skills needed to work as a newscast producer and newscast
anchor will get special attention.
Specifically, we will
emphasize: 1) working as effective and cooperative team
members, 2) exercising critical thinking and valid news
judgment, 3) producing, writing, reporting, shooting,
editing and anchoring skills, and 4) becoming proficient
with all aspects of the AP ENPS computer system.
We will
also discuss the challenges of covering a diverse, multicultural community.
Reporters will also be required to
write text versions of their stories to be posted on the
web along with the video package with links to additional
information.
This is standard procedure for most TV
reporters these days.
Lecture: In the beginning of the semester I will lecture on
many of the nuts and bolts that go into producing a
newscast.
Once we get rolling we will use this time to
critique all aspects of our newscasts (i.e., the producing,
writing, anchoring, story placement, etc.). I hope to have
several guests to discuss the news gathering and delivery
process and talk about the state of TV news and the job
market.
Lab: This is where we’ll really have some fun. Working as
two teams we will produce two separate and distinct
newscasts. You will perform different jobs from week to
week.
Students from RTN 265 will perform the technical
tasks such as floor director and camera operator. We’ll be
dealing with real world deadlines.
Whether you are ready
or not, the tape starts rolling when your newscast is
supposed to begin and stops when you are supposed to be
done, no exceptions.
Cameras: Digital cameras (Sony VX 2000 & 2100), tripods,
lights, etc. are set aside for our use on lab day. These
cameras are also available for reserve on non-lab days and
weekends for franchise and sports shoots.
Cameras are
always in high demand so do some advance planning and book
early!
Edit Suites: The linear (tape to tape) edit suites are
reserved for us during lab time.
When you need editing
facilitates at other times to work on franchise, sports or
any other pieces you must book a suite.
Again, lots of
people want to use this equipment so it is best to plan
ahead and book early!
As a general aside, there is never
“enough” equipment in any newsroom.
You have to figure
that into your planning because it makes for a poor excuse
for not getting things done.
You will also be taught how
to digitize your video packages and capture still images
using Avid Media Composer software.
Required Text: Power Producer (4rd edition) by our very own
Dow Smith (RTNDA). It’s available at the SU Bookstore.
Readings: I expect you to be an avid news consumer. Special
subscription rates for The New York Times are available.
You’ll also need to read either the Syracuse Post Standard
seven days a week. Reading off the web is required. You
should subscribe to Shoptalk; the daily TV news newsletter
put out by talent headhunter Don Fitzpatrick. Also, become
familiar with The Producer Page, NewsLab and Poynter.org. I
will make links available via Blackboard. Plus there will
be other good old-fashioned paper reading assignments along
the way.
We will be discussing these reading assignments
in class, so you need to read them and come to class with
something to say.
Broadcast Monitoring: I’m not going to give you a list of
who to watch and when to watch. Suffice to say you need to
be aware of the style and content of all local newscasts
and network news and news magazine programs.
If you
aren’t, you need to be watching more.
Some class
assignments require specific viewing instructions.
Attendance: In this class more than any other, failing to
show up during a lab session will destroy your grade.
The
only way the newscasts get on the air successfully is by
teamwork and that means the entire team has to be there.
Any unexcused absence from a lab will result in a zero for
that day; there is no way to make up that grade. I am the
sole arbiter of what is considered an excused absence. The
only way you have a chance to convince me your excuse is
valid is to let me know what is going on prior to the lab
in question.
Because your grade also depends on the
quality of your newscast critiques and class participation,
more than one unexcused absence from a lecture session will
result in a full letter grade reduction in your A/A/P
grade.
LAB NOTE: You should not have anything else scheduled
before 5:30 PM on lab days (Monday).
Officially the lab
starts at 11:00…but that’s too late to do everything that
needs to be done.
For some jobs (producer, reporter,
videographer) you should be in by 9:00 AM.
For all other
jobs you must be in lab, ready to go, by 10:00 AM.
If
don’t think you can’t meet this obligation, we need to
talk.
Nothing hurts the morale of this class as much as
people who consistently stroll in late.
SPECIAL NOTE CONCERNING LECTURES: For whatever reason,
students arriving late to class have become more and more
of a problem over the past few semesters. It’s disruptive,
insulting to me and, frankly, arriving late for work gets
you fired in the real world. Because of this I have been
forced to not only take attendance but to also note who
shows up late. Arriving late twice is equal to one missed
class. You won’t get any further warnings about this. Oh,
and turn off your cell phones.
“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
Woody Allen
Projects:
These make up the academic component of this
class, although each project is directly related to the
newscast work.
This is an overview of each project; we
will discuss specifics in class.
I reserve the right to
add a project or two if I feel it is appropriate.
*Job description Tip Sheet.
The Positions handout only
scratches the surface of what is expected from each person.
Following the practice newscasts you must write up a onepage tip sheet on the position you filled for that lab. I
will put the Tip Sheets together in a manual for you to
refer to during the semester.
*Local Newscast Analysis. I will assign you one of the five
Syracuse late newscasts to watch on a specific date. Using
a charting sheet I will give you, you must detail every
element in the newscast and provide a comprehensive content
analysis. We will discuss the results in class. You will
have to make arrangements to videotape your assigned
newscast, as this assignment will be impossible to do in
real time.
*Home Market Newscast Analysis.
The same as the above
except you will select the newscast to analyze from one of
your home market TV stations and you will do a brief class
presentation using video of the newscast under analysis.
In addition to the class presentation you must also hand in
a five to seven page-typed report along with the tape. We
will discuss other details of this assignment in class. If
it is not possible to get a tape from your home market or
if your home market is Syracuse, see me to discuss
alternatives.
Foreign news organizations are okay to use
for this assignment; in fact, these are some of the most
interesting presentations.
*Producer Reports. After every newscast where you fill the
producer position you must write up a two to three page
report detailing at least six things that went right with
your
newscast
and six
things you might have done
differently. You should also evaluate your own management
style. These reports are due the first class meeting after
your newscast and we will use them as part of the in-class
critique.
Note:
Your grade on the Producer Report is
separate from the grade you get on your newscast. In other
words, even a disastrous newscast can yield a good report.
From my own experience the disasters make for more
interesting reading anyway.
Grading:
scale.
Final
grades
are
calculated
Newscast/Web work:
Projects/Other Assignments:
Attendance/Attitude/Professionalism:
on
the
following
50 %
30 %
20 %
EQUIPMENT
Required:
* Stopwatch. A watch with a second hand is not good enough.
* Syracuse and Central New York maps.
* Field Tapes. The cameras we’re using in this class take a
smaller format digital tape (MiniDV) than the DVCPro
cameras you used in 564.
However, using an adaptor, they
work in our edit decks.
They’re much cheaper than DVCPro
tapes and can be found at just about any store that sells
video and audio tapes.
You should buy at least two of
them.
* Two DVCPro tapes.
Even though we’re using the MiniDV
tapes in the field, you still need to edit on to DVCPro
tapes. You’ll need one work tape and one master for your
pkgs.
* VHS tape or Recordable DVD for recording newscast
analysis assignments.
* USB Flash Drive.
You will need this to digitize your
packages and capture still images to post on the web.
Optional:
* VHS tapes to record the newscast you produce or, if there
are enough record decks left, your anchoring performance.
* Earpiece for IFB.
You can have an earpiece custom made
at Miracle Ear on Erie Blvd. I’m not sure of the cost, but
it is probably worth the investment.
In addition to
avoiding the generations of ear wax on the standard issue
earpiece, a custom made one will fit better and depending
on the budget at your first TV station, it might just be
the only custom made earpiece you have for a while.
* Pancake makeup and sponge (Now you really know you are in
television!)
I’m told Max Factor Tan #2 works for most
people.
If you’re serious about doing on-air work, I
suggest you get a recommendation from a make-up expert.
Other Items
Professional Conduct and Ethics:
Please be familiar with the RTNDA Code of Broadcast News
Ethics included with this syllabus.
All work you produce
for this class must be solely your own unless you get prior
permission from me.
Academic Integrity: Syracuse University defines plagiarism
this way:
1. Plagiarism is the use of someone else's language,
ideas, information, or original material without
acknowledging the source.
a. Examples of plagiarism:
i. Paper is downloaded from an Internet source and/or
obtained from a paper mill.
ii. Paper contains part or all of the writings of
another person (including another student), without
citation.
iii. Paper contains passages that were cut and pasted
from an Internet source, without citation.
There are severe implications for violating university
rules when it comes to cheating of any kind.
Please be
familiar with these rules and policies. You can get to the
following link via Blackboard.
http://provost.syr.edu/academicintegrity_office.asp#integri
ty_policy
If the fear of destroying your academic career isn’t
incentive enough to play by the rules…consider the impact
of having the reputation as someone who cuts corners might
have on your being hired as a journalist (or any
occupation, really).
Special Needs: Any student needing special accommodation
for this class due to a disability should inform me in the
first week of classes.
Safety: Sometimes the news gathering business can become
dangerous.
This class is not the place to show how brave
you are. Do not risk your personal safety in an effort to
shoot videotape or otherwise gather elements for your
stories.
Equipment:
You will use some very expensive equipment in
this class.
Treat it with respect.
You must return all
equipment in the same shape it was in when you took it out.
Make sure you report any problems so the engineers can fix
them before the next person uses the equipment. You may be
billed for abused or missing equipment.
Video Sales Policy: You may not sell any material produced
for this class.
Syracuse University prohibits this
practice.
Your work in this class is for educational
purposes only.
Using student work: I may save copies or dubs of student
work to use in future classes.
Also, your work may be
“published” on the Newhouse Web page. Please be aware your
work may be used in this way.
Lab fees: Your lab fee goes to maintenance and paper for
the computer system and other lab supplies.
Radio-Television News Directors Association: Students are
encouraged (but not required) to join the Syracuse
University chapter of RTNDA. Info at: www.rtnda.org