JMC 4970 Multimedia Journalism
Fall 2008
Section 007 meets MW 10:30 – 12:20 p.m.
Section 008 meets MW 3:00 – 4:50 p.m.
Section 903 meets MW 5:30 – 7:20 p.m.
1030 Gaylord Hall
Warren Vieth
Office: 3027 Gaylord Hall
Cell phone: 501-3374
Home phone: 771-4865
E-mail: wvieth@ou.edu
Office hours: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Friday and by appointment
Julie Jones
Office: 3517 Gaylord Hall
Phone: 325-4137
Email: juliejones@ou.edu
Office hours: MW 1:30-3:30 p.m. and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to launch your career in the new world of converged, multimedia journalism. Technological advances, combined with changing audience demographics and preferences, have altered how news stories are produced, presented, and consumed. This course will enable you to generate online stories beyond the traditional confines of print or broadcast. You will also participate in an ongoing discussion of the evolving nature of news in the digital age.
This class is:
. a skills-based course. It includes a heavy component of software that you will be expected to master at a functional level.
. a conceptual course. You will be challenged to determine the guiding principles of media convergence and good multimedia storytelling.
This class is NOT:
. a lecture-based course. You are expected to participate in class discussions and group projects.
. an equipment/software training academy. We are journalists, not IT instructors. We will try to assist you in finding answers to questions beyond our expertise.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
In this class you will:
. produce news stories in an online multimedia format.
. master the basics of five software programs:
Photoshop
Audacity
Soundslides
Final Cut Pro
Wordpress
. produce an online portfolio of your work in this class.
. be an active contributor to at least one group presentation.
In addition, we will discuss:
. digital ethics including issues of diversity in images
. changing audience practices including social networks and generational shifts
. principles of visual storytelling including informational graphics
TEXTBOOKS AND READING MATERIAL
Principles of Convergent Journalism, by Wilkinson, Grant and Fisher
Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual
Other readings assigned by your professors
MULTIMEDIA EQUIPMENT
You must provide at your own expense:
. at least one mini-DV videocassette tape
. a small set of headphones
. a bus-powered, USB 2.0 external hard drive
. headphone splitters for producing video projects in teams
Gaylord College will provide the following equipment, which you may check out to complete assignments. If you wish, you may choose to provide your own:
. digital audio recorder with USB connector
. digital camera with full manual controls
. digital camcorder with FireWire connector (mini-DV preferred)
. external microphone with mini-jack connector
. tripod
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
To take full advantage of your time this semester, you should:
Arrive on time, pay attention and speak up. This class is an open discussion, so participate aggressively. No one has all the answers, and your contribution is valued.
Attend every class. Each session is meant to build a foundation for later work. Missing one class means you have placed yourself behind for the next.
Treat others with respect. Put away your cell phone, keep your hands off the keyboard and listen attentively when your professor and other students are speaking.
Work hard and plan early. Projects in this class will demand substantial work outside of class. Plan ahead and think conceptually so you can maximize your productivity.
Enjoy yourself. Multimedia storytelling might seem overwhelming at first, but you are learning new ways of communicating that are – well, hip and cool. Have fun!
WORKLOAD POLICY
For undergraduate courses, a student taking a three-credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom. You should expect to spend about nine hours in learning efforts per week inside and outside the class to satisfactorily complete this course.
GRADING CRITERIA
Your work in the class will be graded according to the following criteria:
A = Achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
B = Achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
C = Achievement that meets course requirements in every respect.
D = Achievement worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
F = Work that is not completed or fails to achieve a level of achievement worthy of credit.
Final course grades will be assigned as follows:
A 90% – 100%
B 80% – 89.99%
C 70% – 79.99%
D 60% – 69.99%
F 59.99% and below
Final grades will be based on the following allocation:
Exams & Quizzes 25%
Participation & Presentations 25%
Projects 50%
STYLE AND FACTUAL ERRORS
Style errors will count against your grade. They include spelling, punctuation and usage errors in written assignments, incorrect pronunciations or inability to speak clearly in audio and video assignments, and format errors with photographs and graphics. Each style error will count one-quarter of a letter grade.
Factual errors will count heavily against your grade. They include misspellings of proper names, erroneous dates and incorrect identification of people. A single factual error will result in an assignment receiving a grade no higher than a D. Multiple factual errors will result in a failing grade on an assignment.
ETHICS AND DIVERSITY
Maintaining the highest ethical standards and demonstrating sensitivity to the diversity of our society are essential elements of multimedia journalism. At several points in this course, we will explore how journalists can address the special challenges of addressing issues of ethics and diversity in an increasingly fast-paced and highly participatory online news environment.
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT
Your WordPress site will serve as your assignment for permanent storage in your Gaylord College digital portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio assignment is to assess your mastery of key concepts, skills and objectives of this and other courses you complete as an undergraduate. If you fail to submit your portfolio assignment, you will receive an incomplete regardless of your fulfillment of other course requirements. You will receive submission instructions as we approach the end of the semester.
ATTENDANCE
You are allowed four absences over the course of the semester. If you miss more than four sessions, your course grade will drop by one letter grade for each absence. More than eight absences will cause you to fail. If you repeatedly arrive late, your grade will be reduced. Make-up work for in-class assignments will be allowed only for documented medical reasons, religious holidays, jury duty, emergency military service and provost-approved, university-sponsored activities. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to consult with other students to obtain notes and assignment information.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
It is the policy of the university to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays.
DEADLINES
Late work will be penalized 10% per day.
FILE STORAGE
You will not be able to store assignment and project files on classroom computers. You must provide your own external disk drive for file storage. Saving copies of your work is your responsibility, not ours.
ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Plagiarism, the unacknowledged use of someone else’s work, or cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Plagiarism and cheating may result in a failing grade for the course and possible university suspension. University policies outlined in the student handbook will apply.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
The use of laptop computers, iPods, cell phones or other electronic devices during class is prohibited. The use of university computers for personal purposes, such as checking email or web surfing unrelated to class work is prohibited. Violations of this policy will adversely affect your grade.
ACCESS
If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify your professor so accommodations can be made.
revised 08/23/08
