Syllabus
Course Description
A basic course in the techniques of electronic news gathering (ENG) and electronic field production (EFP). Includes the study and use of ENG/EFP cameras and lighting. ENG/EFP shooting and editing experiences provided.
Students enrolling in ENG/EFP should have completed appropriate RTV courses, including Broadcast News I (RTV 2323) and Television Production (RTV 2333).
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1) define various terms used in ENG/EFP production and be able to demonstrate this knowledge through written examinations and classroom projects.
2) demonstrate various ENG/EFP production techniques, including camera operation, editing, miking, and lighting, through the use of production equipment.
3) demonstrate an understanding of issues related to message content and structure in a television news package or other video production. Of particularly importance will be those issues related to employee and audience diversity and gender.
4) demonstrate the integration of text knowledge and technical knowledge through the successful completion of the assigned projects.
5) produce news packages or field production assignments through the use of appropriate camera techniques, editing procedures, and script writing.
To help meet these objectives, we will employ class lectures and demonstrations, textbook readings, articles and handouts, out-of-class projects and written assignments and examinations. TEXT: Video Field Production and Editing by Compesi and Sherriffs.
Class Attendance
A general manager expects the production staff to report to work each day. Therefore, I expect you to attend class regularly. Penalties will be imposed for excessive absenteeism. After the fifth absence (MWF classes) or fourth absence (TTH classes), the student's average will be lowered by four points; after a total of eight absences the student's final grade average will be lowered an additional four points. Work missed due to absence cannot be made up. Should you have problems attending class please contact the instructor. Five tardies will be considered equal to one absence. Should you have problems attending class please contact the instructor. It is important that you attend all production sessions; your colleagues will need your help, either as camera operator, talent or in some other capacity. Your absence could result in a lower grade not only for yourself but for your colleagues as well. If you are absent and a colleague has to perform your role, there is NO possible way this assignment can be made up. DO NOT ask me for make up work. Students having trouble working together should let me know.
Because this is a production class, requiring a significant amount of outside time, there will be some scheduled release time to assist you in completing your projects.
Quizzes or graded work missed due to absence from class will have zero scores recorded for those assignments.
Students who plan involvement in some activity which will prevent their regular attendance of class lectures should take this course at a later time when attendance can be assured.
University policies regarding withdrawal from this course will be strictly adhered to. Please consult the student handbook if you have questions about the withdrawal policy. An "I" will be assigned only if the student and I agree there is a reasonable prospect that the work can be made up and I agree to allow the student to make the work up.
Plagiarism
It is unethical to use as your own an assignment prepared, in whole or in part, by someone else. To do so is grounds for failure in this course and referral to the appropriate university disciplinary body. It is unethical to abstract material from a book, magazine or broadcast and claim it is your own work. It is unethical to submit an audio or video tape, produced or edited by someone else, as your own work.
Grading Policies
All projects and written work will be due at the beginning of the class hour on the date due. Should a project be due on a day other than a regular meeting day, it should be turned in by 4:00 p.m. in my box in room 152. Broadcast stations or cable systems cannot create more time to replace time lost for spots or stories that did not run. Missing a deadline costs the station money and it will cost you points. Any project turned in late will have the point value reduced by 25% of the earned value (an earned grade of 82% will be recorded as 61.5 %). No late projects will be accepted more than five days past the due data.
I expect students to use broadcast format for all scripts. All written assignments should be typed or keyboarded, with no grammatical or spelling errors. A grade of zero (0) will be recorded for all scripts or critiques that are not typed. Let me encourage you to learn to use personal computers with word processing software. Please review your notes and textbooks from previous classes for style guidelines.
Letter grades will be assigned according to the student's execution of the course assignment requirements. For major projects, I will provide a written explanation of the assignment. We will spend class time discussing each assignment. Grades are not given in my classes; they are earned. According to the ASU catalog, an "A" means excellent performance. A "B" means good performance. A "C" means satisfactory performance. A "D" means poor but passing performance. An "F" means failure. Respect the equipment; treat it as if it were your most prized possession. I recognize that video equipment may sometimes fail to function. In the event of legitimate equipment malfunctions, I will attempt to adjust the course requirements.
Final Course Grade: Determined by your performance on the following activities:
Project 1
Shooting in and out of sequence. Shoot the script that I will provide in and out of sequence, and with matching ambient sound.
Project 2
Shooting SOT or VO. Shoot the script that I will provide in sequence, but without ambient sound. Provide a narrative SOT and VO.
Project 3
Editing video. Shoot and edit a 30 second commercial, promotional announcement or public service announcement. You should select a legitimate organization, event or company. (No parodies.)
The spot should include between appropriate camera angles, between 6 and 8 camera shots and a voice-over. This assignment will be completed in teams of two, but each team member is required to submit a their own copies of the assignment. Since the emphasis is on editing, assemblage of shots must be done from individual perspectives. All team members must serve as talent; a two-person team will thus submit two versions of the completed assignment. An appropriate television script is also required with the edited project.
Project 4
1:10-1:25 news package. Identify and cover a hard or soft local news event. If you have trouble identifying a topic, I will be happy to make an assignment. The package should include at least one sound bite and stand-up. Voice over narration of the video i expected. Use only video you or your partner shot; archive or file video obtained from other sources may not be used. All team members must serve as talent; a two-person team will thus submit two versions of the completed assignment. An appropriate television news script is also required with the edited project.
Project 5
3-5 minute chase scene. Produce a 3-5 minute chase scene that uses an appropriate setting, story, characters and perspective. The scene should be logical and incorporate POV shots where appropriate. Editing should be used to dramatize the scene through pacing and music. You may write your own scene or choose a scene from an existing script. However, your script must be approved by me prior to production. The production of unapproved scripts will result in a grade of zero for the assignment. The purpose of the chase scene is to allow you to make creative use of natural sound, unusual camera shots and camera perspectives. Plan a scouting trip--perhaps several trips--to check out the event or location before you arrive to tape. Where appropriate, you will need to secure permission to use other people's property. You may use your class mates as talents or other actors. This assignment will be done in teams of three, but each team member must submit his/or her versions of the completed assignment. The team format is used to provide help during the production. You must submit a script with is also required with the edited project.
Critique: Students will critique all exhibited works when possible.
Writing exercises/classwork:
If you can't organize facts for a written story you will not be a successful broadcast reporter/ producer/editor/photographer. The 100 points worth of assignments is a fixed value; that is, you might actually write eight stories, worth 20 points each, for a total of 160 points. I will record your score however as a percentage score out of 100 points. Students will be required to attend a Jonesboro City Council meeting and write an accompanying news story.
Grading Scale:
A = 93-100% Excellent performance
B = 83-92% Good performance
C = 73-82% Satisfactory performance
D = 63-72% Poor but passing performance
F = Below 63% Failure
Project 1: 50 points
Project 2: 50 points
Project 3: 100 points
Project 4: 150 points
Project 5: 250 points
Critiques 50 points
Classwork/Writing assignments 100 points
*Midterm 100 points
*Final exam: December 13 150 points
Total 1000 points
*STUDENTS MUST HAVE A COMBINED PASSING AVERAGE ON THE MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAM TO PASS THIS CLASS.
Inclement Weather
Unless extreme weather conditions occur, the university will remain open during inclement weather and faculty members are expected to meet classes.
When extreme weather conditions have caused student absences, it is the responsibility of the student to contact each of his or her instructors upon return to campus to explain the circumstances and to determine the need to complete missed assignments. If the president decides that the university should be closed because of weather conditions, the news media will be notified. VII. Office Hours: Office hours are listed at the top of the syllabus. Please DO NOT hesitate to call me at the office or to stop by during office hours. If my office hours are not convenient, let me know and I will arrange another time. If you stop by during other times, I may not be able to meet with you.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1 : Introduction to course and videotape recording; read chap. 1.
Week 2 : News Ethics--Handouts; Diversity in news--Handouts
Week 3 : Videotape recording & writing refresher; read chap. 4.
Week 4 : Videotape editing; read chap. 8. Assign Proj. 1.
Week 5 : Videotape editing; read chap. 9.
Week 6 : Portable video cameras & lenses; read chaps. 2 & 3. Assign Proj. 2
Week 7 : Portable video recorders; read chap. 5. Assign Proj. 3
Week 8 : Lighting and Sound; read chap. 6 and chap. 7
Week 9 : Field Exercise
Week 10 : Corporate video; read chaps. 10 & 12. Assign Proj. 4
Week 11 : Critique news stories.
Week 12 : News ethics; read handouts. Assign Proj. 5
Week 13 : Jobs & Internships
Week 14 : The news "profession"
Week 15 : Review writing & material for final
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