MCOM 251: RADIO BROADCASTING Fall Semester, 2016

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1 MCOM 251: RADIO BROADCASTING Fall Semester, 2016 Instructor: Joan Wesman Office: Merrick 165 Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. noon And by appointment Contact Information: Ext Mobile: Studio emergency contact: Darin Pierce PIR technician Basic Course Information: 3.0 SH No prerequisites Meets Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:20-4:10 p.m. Classroom Merrick 150 Course description from Catalog: Exploration of the production of radio station content. Using Principia Internet Radio (PIR) facilities, students create, produce, direct, voice, and operate their own live radio programs and create promotional materials in a variety of formats. Emphasis on effective communication of ideas. Students in the workshop also assist each other in critiquing and improving their work on a regular basis. Textbook: Digital Radio Production, Second Edition by Donald Connelly, Waveland Press, Inc., 2012 ISBN- 10: ISBN- 13:

2 Additional Course Description: In this course you will be developing the skills necessary to function in a contemporary radio on- air and production environment. Through producing promotional spots, interviews, and live radio programs, you will learn technical skills such as editing, mixing, recording and reading copy to time. In addition, you will grow in qualities critical for many careers including: overcoming the fear of technology as well as live performance, multi- tasking, verbal articulation, directing others, creative use of music, and meeting deadlines all in a challenging and demanding environment. During Week 11, students will be required to participate in a special PIR Election Night broadcast, in collaboration with students from the Political Science department. Course Outcomes: Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of the skills and technology necessary to produce a live one- hour radio broadcast Students will learn how to communicate their ideas clearly live on- air. Skills will include verbal articulation and clarity of speech, as well as clear and compelling expression of topics discussed on the student s radio show Students will overcome fear of technology and of performing in front of a microphone, and will learn how to think on their feet in a live, on- air environment (Meets Program Outcome #4: Students will demonstrate proficiency in communicating ideas using a range of media platforms.) Key course assignments: Students will produce six live radio programs, along with promotional spots for each show. Tentative dates for shows are: Week 5 Week 7 Week 8 Week 10 Week 13 Week 14 There will also be regular quizzes based on readings from our textbook and classroom lectures.

3 Your SHOWS will be graded according to the following criteria: Research, planning, organization, and writing Creativity Direction of talent - including yourself Technical quality and precision of execution Voice quality and delivery Show promotion Progress, judged by incorporation of critiques Your PROMOS will be graded according to the following criteria: Research, planning, organization and writing Creativity Technical quality and precision of execution Voice quality and delivery Overall energy level Grading factors: Class participation (includes giving & receiving critiques) 15% Quizzes (primarily from textbook) 15% Evaluation of your radio programs 50% Evaluation of your promotional spots 20% All work will be graded according to the following curve: SCORE GRADE DESCRIPTION A A- Excellent Moderately Excellent B+ Very Good B Good B- Moderately Good C+ Very Satisfactory C Satisfactory C- Moderately Satisfactory D+ Moderately Deficient

4 63-66 D D- Deficient Very Deficient 59 & below F Failure COURSE POLICIES Attendance and tardiness: Because this is a workshop class, missing or being late to a class has a serious impact on the other students in the class, since part of your grade will be based on the feedback you give other students about their shows. Showing up on time is also critical in the field of radio broadcasting, where the result of unplanned lateness or absence is dead air, and the possible loss of a job. Students demonstrating lack of professionalism by arriving late run the risk of being locked out of the class for the day. Attendance will be taken for each class, and will directly impact your class participation grade. A note about absences for scheduled Principia College athletic events. If you are on a varsity team and will have games or meets that conflict with our class schedule, you are required to give me the form showing when and where these events are. Beyond this, however, even though you are excused from being in class on that day, you are NOT excused from the content of what takes place in the class. It is your responsibility to plan ahead, talk to me prior to each event and take the initiative to arrange a way to complete the work either ahead of time or on a date we agree on. Late promos/missed quizzes: In the media world, deadlines are real and missing them has significant consequences. Late promos will be marked down a full grade for each day they are late, and will obviously not be accepted once your show has aired. Quizzes missed due to unexcused absences may not be made up and in any case must be made up within a week of when they are given. Cell phones, Laptops, ipods, ipads, etc. All electronic devices must be put away before the start of class unless I give you permission to use them for a class activity. If I find you using an electronic device during class such as texting, checking Facebook, listening to music, etc I may ask you to leave the class and that day will be counted as an unexcused absence. *I reserve the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class.

5 MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT PROGRAM OUTCOMES 1. Students will show comprehension of the historical foundations of mass media. 2. Students will show comprehension of the theoretical foundations of mass media. 3. Students will show comprehension of contemporary issues prominent in the media. 4. Students will demonstrate proficiency in communicating ideas using a range of media platforms. 5. Students will demonstrate awareness of professional ethical standards and Christian Science values in their media- related work.

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