INTRODUCTION TO ONLINE REPORTING & PRODUCTION JOUR 280 Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 14 E. Jackson, Room 1230 Instructor Email Phone Office Hours Hai L. Tran, Ph.D. htran10@depaul.edu 312-362-6064 14 E. Jackson Blvd., Ste. 1251 Mon: noon 1:00 p.m. & Wed: 3:30 4:30 p.m and by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION This course introduces students to the principles and practices of online journalism. Students learn both conceptual and technical skills in multimedia reporting. Although the course provides groundwork in using digital tools to produce online content, the focus is on journalism. As much as possible, assignments will allow students to grasp online journalism concepts and apply them to real-world scenarios. This class uses Chicago as a testing ground for innovative reporting ideas. Outstanding work will be posted on the class website. PREREQUISITES: JOUR 275, JOUR 278 LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the successful completion of the course, you will be able to: 1) gather information, write and edit online news 2) use digital tools for capturing and editing audio and visual material (photo, video) in a journalistic context 3) create, design and develop content for journalism blogs and news sites 4) incorporate social media tools into online reporting 5) explain important concepts, issues and trends in online journalism TEXTS Ryan M. Thornburg. (2011). Producing Online News: Digital Skills, Stronger Stories. Washington, DC: CQ Press (available for purchase at the bookstore or http://www.textbookrentals.com/prices/9781604269963-producing-online-news-digitalskills-stronger-stories) The AP Stylebook (available for purchase at the bookstore or http://www.apstylebook.com)
OTHER REQUIRED READINGS Handouts You are required to read online articles, tutorials and blog posts pertinent to your work in the course. These will be linked on Desire2Learn. Local news http://www.chicagotribune.com http://www.suntimes.com/index.html You are required to bookmark and view these URLs on a regular basis. We will start each class session with a discussion of local news. EQUIPMENT Digital transfer device/portable hard drive (required) Please be aware that you are responsible for backing your own work. The size of the drive should be at least 16 GB. Adobe Creative Cloud As a DePaul student, you are able to purchase Adoble Creative Cloud for a less expensive price. This URL provides more details http://offices.depaul.edu/is/services/software/pages/software-for-personalcomputers.aspx The Digital Cinema Equipment Cage You can check out still cameras, video cameras and recording equipment from The Cage. It is located at the CDM building (College of Computing and Digital Media), 243 S Wabash Ave., Suite 930 CTI. Check-out policy handouts are posted on Desire2Learn (under Content). It is advised that you NOT use camera phones for your projects. APPLICATIONS 1) WordPress (or Creatavist) 2) Photoshop 3) GarageBand (or Audition) 4) SoundSlides 5) Adobe Premiere Pro 6) Mashup/online tools Software skills are taught in the Macintosh platform (MAC OS X) LAB TIME AND GRADUATE ASSISTANT This is a hands-on class and you will spend several hours in the labs working on weekly assignments and major projects. A graduate assistant provides technical support for Online Journalism I. The GA will hold regular lab hours to assist you with assignments and projects. So, please work with her/him closely. The lab schedule is posted on Desire2Learn. 2
DESIRE2LEARN To log on to Desire2Learn, go to https://d2l.depaul.edu/. Log in using your username and password. Among other things, you will find: 1) Course Home: This area includes the News section, where key announcements will be posted throughout the quarter. All announcements will also be emailed to you. 2) Content: This is where you'll find course and instructor information, syllabus, class schedule, lab schedule, detailed agenda for each day along with all of the online readings, lectures and other course materials. 3) Classlist: Here you'll find a list of all of the students in the course. You can click a classmate's name to send him or her an email. 4) Dropbox: This is where you will find detailed instructions for assignments. The Dropbox also allows you to submit assignments to the instructor. Items you submit through the Dropbox as well as feedback from the instructors are not visible to other students in the course. 5) Grades: This area contains any grades you received on class assignments. GRADING AND ASSIGNMENTS The following is a summary of assignments and assessment for this class. Brief descriptions are provided below. More detailed instructions about specific assignments and grading criteria will be discussed in class and posted on Desire2Learn (under Dropbox.) Component Point value Percentage Midterm project (text, photo, map) 250 25 Final project (video or slide show) 350 35 Exercises 30 x 8 = 240 24 Presentation 40 4 Attendance/Participation 120 12 TOTAL 1,000 100 Midterm project In this assignment, you will conduct background research, interview sources and produce an online news story about Chicago. The midterm project will assess your ability to tell a meaningful story about Chicago, using text, links, map mashups and photos. Final project You will have different options in this assignment. You can either work in groups of two (2) students or complete the final project individually. You will gather material, interview sources and produce a video story or a SoundSlides package (photo-audio slide show.) This project will assess your ability to tell a journalistic story, using audio-visual tools. 3
Exercises The best way to master a skill is to practice. You will be assigned a hands-on exercise to familiarize yourself with each new skill. You are required to complete eight (8) exercises to hit the ground running. Presentation Toward the end of the quarter, you will make a brief presentation (no more than eight minutes) based on the final project. This assignment gives you the opportunity to share your work with the class, receive feedback and reflect on learning outcomes. Attendance/Participation To receive full credit for attendance/participation, you should arrive on time, stay for the entire session and be engaged fully in lecture, discussions and other in-class activities. Attendance is mandatory. Life happens, however. Each of you will be permitted two (2) absences for whatever reason. There will be no additional excused absences beyond this one. Repeated, unexcused absences will lower your grade. You will not pass this class if you accumulate a total of eight (8) classes or more during the quarter. I assess participation based on quantity and quality. Query cards on assigned readings are helpful since they prepare you for class activities. GRADING SCALE A = 93-100% B+ = 87-89% C+ = 77-79% D+ = 67-69% A- = 90-92% B = 83-86% C = 73-76% D = 60-66% B- = 80-82% C- = 70-72% F = 59% and below POLICY STATEMENTS Deadlines All assignments are due at the start of the class session listed on our schedule. Unless you provide official proof of your excuse, I will not accept late work. You should notify extreme verifiable circumstances in advance, not after the fact. Late work with a documented reason of some magnitude will result in a reduced grade on the assignment (one letter-grade per day late.) Academic honesty Cheating will not be tolerated in this class. Violations of DePaul s academic integrity policies as stated in the Student Handbook will result in severe consequences, including (but not limited to) expulsion from the course with a grade of F. Plagiarism (the unacknowledged use of another s words, ideas, or work) and fabrication of facts, quotations, and sources are cheating. You must do your work alone, unless it is designated as a group project. Never submit work that you did not do yourself. Do not turn in anything for this class that you did for another class or for another publication. If you are required to interview an outside source for this class, you must make it clear that you are a DePaul student who is reporting on the record, for publication. You must 4
provide contact information (name, address, phone, e-mail) for anyone you interview for a story. I will check your sources. Any mistakes of substance must be corrected immediately. Please call them to my attention. Harassment Harassment of any type will not be tolerated at DePaul University. We strictly adhere to the policy as specified in the Student Handbook. This policy binds faculty, staff, administrators and students. Special needs or concerns If you have questions or needs relating to a disability/medical condition or any other area of concern that may require some accommodations to meet the academic demands of this class, please make an appointment with me at the start of the quarter. I will be happy to do whatever I can to help you. All discussion will remain confidential. Be sure to contact the following office for support and additional services: Center for Students with Disabilities, #370, Student Center, Lincoln Park campus; phone: 773-325-1677. The Dean of Students Office The Dean of Students Office (DOS) helps students in navigating the university, particularly during difficult situations, such as personal, financial, medical, and/or family crises. Absence Notifications to faculty, Late Withdrawals, and Community Resource Referrals, support students both in and outside of the classroom. Additionally, DOS has resources and programs to support health and wellness, violence prevention, substance abuse and drug prevention, and LGBTQ student services. DOS is committed to your success as a DePaul student. Please feel free to contact DOS at http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/dos/ Religious holidays If you are unable to attend class because it falls on a religious holiday, please let me know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly. Other things to note 1) The best way to reach me is via email. I will answer every email I receive, usually within 24 hours (weekdays). If you do not hear from me within 2 days, you can assume that I did not get your email. 2) The online news cycle is 24/7 and any good journalist must keep her/his eyes and ears open and respond to a new situation quickly. If you encounter an unexpected news event, you should be able to take action and contact me immediately. 3) There are no stupid questions in this class, and no one s opinions or thoughts are privileged. I will try to maintain a classroom environment based upon open communication, mutual respect and non-discrimination. Please feel free to express your thoughts, opinions and questions. As always, however, we must agree to follow the rule of civilized conversation. To help foster an environment that promotes learning, you are expected to show respect to the class by not carrying on personal conversations. 5
4) Though grades are not negotiable, I give serious consideration to students concerns about grades. If you have questions about a particular grade, you will need to talk to me within a week of receiving the grade. If you dispute a grade, you will need to submit to me a written complaint also within a week of receiving the grade. 5) In-class use of cell phones and mobile devices is banned. If you need to be reached for an emergency, you should render your devices inaudible and step out of the class to receive or make important calls. No e-mailing, Web surfing, texting during class time unless it is part of class assignments. 6) I will use some of your work in this class (exercises, assignments) as materials in my future courses. I will post outstanding projects on websites that belong to me or to DePaul University. Of course, you will be given credit for your work. Let me know if you choose not to release these materials. 7) With luck, we may have guest speakers. On those occasions, I expect you to come to class prepared to ask questions and participate in discussions. 8) The class schedule specifies readings for each class and indicates deadlines for assignments (which I will observe.) However, this syllabus is subject to change if unexpected circumstances arise. Please monitor your email and announcements on Desire2Learn regularly. 6
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE The listed chapters refer to the Thornburgh book, Producing Online News. HO indicates handouts posted on Desire2Learn. Local news refers to the two (2) websites listed on page 2 of this syllabus. QC indicates query card. Class Day Topic Readings Assignments 1 09/10 - Course overview - Survey - Class computers/cage tour 2 09/15 - Introduction to online journalism - Online platform basics - Overview of midterm project 3 09/17 - Blogging - Blog customizations - Instructions for Exercise 1 4 09/22 - Writing and editing online - Data and map mashups - Instructions for Exercise 2 5 09/24 - Digital photography 6 09/29 - Photo editing fundamentals - Instructions for Exercise 3 7 10/01 - Digital audio 8 10/06 - Audio editing basics - Instructions for Exercise 4 9 10/08 - Photo-audio slide show - SoundSlides fundamentals - Instructions for Exercise 5 - Chap. 1 & 2 - Chap. 7 & 10 - Chap. 5 - Chap. 8 (pp. 193-209) - Chap. 8 (pp. 210-222) - Required purchases due - Exercise 1 due - Midterm story pitch due - Captured images due - Exercise 2 due - Exercise 3 due - Recorded audio due - Exercise 4 due - Completing midterm project 10 10/13 - Lab time for midterm project - Exercise 5 due 11 10/15 - Digital video - Overview of final project - Midterm evaluation - Chap. 8 (pp. 223-238) 12 10/20 - Video shooting/upload - Instructions for Exercise 6 - Midterm project due 13 10/22 - Video editing I - Discussion: Final project - Captured video due 7
14 10/27 - Video editing II 15 10/29 - Web page design - Discussion: Final project - Lab time for FCP 16 11/03 - HTML/CSS basics - Instructions for Exercise 7 17 11/05 - Online interactive tools - Instructions for Exercise 8 - Discussion: Final project 18 11/10 - New trends in online journalism - Social, mobile, data journalism - Discussion: Final project - Chap. 6 & 11 - Final story pitch due - Exercise 6 due - Exercise 7 due 19 11/12 - Lab time for final project - Exercise 8 due 20 11/17 - Presentations - Final evaluation - Review and conclusions - Final project due 11/19 8