Syllabus 667 s13

News Reporting III BDJ 667.1 | Spring 2013

Wednesday., 8:10-­‐10:50 Rm. 486 Fridays 8:20-­‐12:20 Rm. 482A (or in the field)

Professor Barbara Croll Fought bcfought@syr.edu 315-­‐443-­‐4054(O) Office Rm. 448 N3 Office Hours: Tues. 2:30-­‐4:30, Friday 1-­‐3 and by app’t

blackboard.syr.edu nccnewslinks.syr.edu

#B6671

COURSE CONTENT

COURSE OBJECTIVES Through this course you will develop your o To produce 3 quality longer-­‐form TV TV storytelling skills through producing in-­‐ news stories, featuring clear and depth TV stories of about 3 minutes which conversational writing and professional-­‐level typically appear as sweeps stories, series, or videography and editing. This includes magazine show segments. researching, pitching, shooting, writing and editing your stories.

This class allows you to spend more time honing your craft in researching multiple story o To become a more critical analyst of elements, longer interviews, better storytelling videography, creative editing and dynamic o To polish your live reporting skills. writing. You will produce three stories during the semester. You will work with a different o To increase your print writing skills by partner, whom you can select, each time but publishing stories to NCC NewsOnline – text, each of you produces a story. photos and video.

You’ll summarize your stories with 400-­‐ o To practice how reporters use social word web stories, accompanied by photos media in newgathering, promotion and and the video story. developing interaction with their audience.

The course is also important for those of o To develop your teamwork and you interested in newscast producing as many professional skills and prepare yourself for of you will be field producing and will be professional, legal, ethical and diversity guiding reporters on longer-­‐form stories. challenges reporters face.

On Wednesdays, we’ll discuss good of storytelling techniques, review principles Prof. Fought hopes you will be challenged, long form, practice skills, screen work and will push yourself, and will succeed discuss news. beyond what you thought you could!

The Friday topics will include field reporting, live shots (3), class discussions and editing labs.

BLACKBOARD The class will make heavy use of course management system, Blackboard, blackboard.syr.edu. You’ll find this syllabus, assignments, discussion boards, helpful resources, and reading materials. Just so you know, Blackboard records the times you're online and the sections of the website that you use. When you submit documents through Blackboard, remember to attach, do not cut/paste into the comments box. Class email is only sent to your SU account so if you only want to forward it, see: https://selfserv.syr.edu/accounts/

BDJ 667/1 Spring 13

NEWS MONITORING You can learn a lot by watching and studying how others tell stories.

Your daily diet should include: § A local and national local newscast, available on snapstream if you can’t watch it live. § Post Standard. e-­‐edition: Syracuse.com/nie. See Fought email for how to access. l. § New York Times, available free in paper boxes at Newhouse. Helpful for generating trend and story leads.

In addition, Fought recommends NPR shows such as “Morning Edition,” “Tell Me More,” and “All Things

Considered” for story ideas.

Your weekly diet should include:

• At least two long form stories from the following outlets. The first two, which are recorded at Newhouse via snapstream, will be more similar to what we will do and the others are longer or documentary-­‐style. Most segments are available at the show website: Network newscasts (often toward end) M-­‐F 6:30 p.m. Nightline, 12:35 a.m. Tue-­‐Sat CBS Sunday Morning, Sundays 9-­‐10:30 Dateline NBC, Sun 7 p.m. or Fri. 9 p.m.

60 Minutes, Sunday 7-­‐8 may be delayed due to sports 20/20, Fri., 10 p.m.

Insight, WCNY-­‐TV, Fri., 9 p.m.

CNN Presents, Sun. 8 & 11 p replay Sat 8&11 PBS NewsHour, M-­‐$R 7-­‐8 48 Hours, Sat., 10 p.m.

Rock Center, Thurs., 9-­‐10 p.m.

Frontline, Tues. 10 p.m.

You are required to post an analysis of at least one story per week and to read at least one other person’s and comment on it via a Blackboard discussion board.

• Industry news found on MediaBistro.com/tvspy, RTDNA.org, Poynter.org, mashable.com and you will need to post and respond to one article per week, as well.

lists: twitter.com/readyreporter/longform; industry: Twitter.com/readyreporter/media-­‐industry

EQUIPMENT YOU NEED

• External hard drive, 250 gig minimum (but the larger the better). If you use the one from fall semester you will likely need to copy off that material elsewhere. Remember you never know what you might need for a resume tape, or a year from now, so save it. See http://nhpress.syr.edu/groups/nics/wiki/3bb2a/Storage_Solutions.html for recommendations.

Remember to download the new Adobe Premier profile settings to your hard drive.

• SD cards: Get at least 16G or two 8G SDHC cards, class 6 or higher if possible, Faculty recommend brand names Panasonic, San Disk, PNY, Patriot IRIS, Toshiba, Kingston,Transcend.

• Gaffer tape or gray duct tape for taping down cables or positioning a mic • Cell phone from which you can text/tweet and use the stopwatch function; I Touch • Transportation to your stories. Either a car, Connective Corridor bus, Centro or cabs.

There is no parking on campus for reporters and watch the steep fines for parking on Waverly.

• Optional: Digital recorder for taping interviews for quick review

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BDJ 667/1 Spring 13

EQUIPMENT POLICIES You’re working with very expensive equipment. Please treat it as your own. You are responsible for damage beyond normal wear and tear [and non payment prevents your being graduated] . Cameras will be tight this semester and shared with several other classes, so please be aware of the days they are available for our class and know that Mondays are the tightest days.

Beyond cameras, all equipment fails at some point and with heavy use, gets worn. Please don’t let something go that needs to be fixed. For example, don’t swap computer seats because the computer doesn’t work or turn back a camera mic that has bad sound quality.

Tell the appropriate person – so it will be fixed before others encounter the same problem.

For camera issues, it is Vince Cobb, vecobb@syr.edu.

Finally, you want a camera there when you go out. Make sure yours is returned on time.

If kept overnight, this means 8 a.m. sharp. Use the temporary parking cut-­‐in on Waverly Ave. or if full, ask the guard at the booth on Crouse, between N3 and Crouse-­‐Hinds, to temporarily access the loading dock area.

GRADING

70% TV and web stories 15% general knowledge test, CEquizzes/discussions, discussion board posts 10% live shots 5% class participation, professionalism, teamwork and attitude You are also expected to attend at least two journalism speakers this semester. Events will be posted on Blackboard.

Also see the detailed Professional Conduct Statement for its impact on your grades.

If your story includes a significant fact error, or mispronunciation, you may recoup some portion of the grade by writing, within a week, a correction story for an anchor to read (as would happen at a station)

Fought uses a 10-­‐point grading scale:

A= 10 Story would air with minor changes. Good storytelling and writing. Quality A -­‐= 9 video, sound, and nat sound breaks. Effective narration and active standup effectively and creatively. Interesting from start to finish B+ = 8 The story is solid, meeting most of the criteria of A. The writing needs B = 7 some improvement and/or the video and editing lack dynamism. Has B-­‐ = 6 some real high points that distinguish it from a C. It is substantially solid journalistically.

C+= 5 An average package. Lacks good storytelling and clarity. Writing needs C = 4 more work and/or video, SOTs, nats breaks or editing need improvement

C-­‐ = 3 To air it needs rewriting and re-­‐editing.

D+= 2 A poorly constructed package which needs substantial work. It is D = 1

missing an important perspective or contains an important factual error. Writing, videography or organization need to be redone.

A package that misses deadline, doesn’t tell a story, is incomplete, F= 0 contains a major libel problem or major factual error . Note: if you are in a

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situation where you won’t finish the piece by deadline, turn in what you have to at least preserve a possible opportunity for further work. Notify Fought before deadline.

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Your live reports will be graded in this way:

A or A-­‐ Excellent storytelling. Clear content . Newsworthy. Good presence. Action or demonstration Met expectations and did something extra or innovative.

B+, B or B-­‐ Good storytelling. Needs polishing to be top quality for a resume reel.

C+, C, C-­‐ Missing content or unclear. Missing newsworthy element. No activity.

F Significant fact error, loss of composure, major error, unprofessionalism.

DEADLINES Deadlines are absolute. Consider the deadline for your package as the equivalent of hitting the air at the correct time. The video must be in the class file, the script in the proper ENPS folder , and the web story online in draft form. Time-­‐stamps on the computers will verify your submission. Allow enough time for (and expect) problems.

All other written assignments must be completed by deadline or presentations must be ready at the start of class or they will not count.

Quizzes are usually given at the start of class so if you are late you miss that part of the quiz.

Part of the deadline is making sure the assignment is completed in the right form. Formats are important. Labeling files and discs correctly is essential. Your writing might be the best-­‐ ever, but if you format the story wrong, or file it in the wrong place, it's never going to be read or used. Yeah, ok, Fought is particular about this….at least you know!

ATTENDANCE See the BDJ Department Statement on Professional Conduct on the next page. Bottom line, an unexcused absence from a lab is an automatic zero, with no make-­‐up allowed. One unexcused absence means your final grade goes down one grade level.

TV reporters do work when they don’t feel well. However if you are seriously ill (unable to do work) Fought prefers you not share your germs and expose your colleagues. As the policy states, absences, for lecture or lab, can only be excused if the student contacts Professor Fought before class. Leave a message on her office voice mail AND email her.

ATTITUDE CBS anchor Jeff Glor talks about WOW – working on your work. He continually watches himself, sets goals, tries to get better every day. May he be a role model.

Broadcast news is a team effort. The class experience simulates the real world, which means people with different expertise and different viewpoints work together. You'll need to learn ways to get the best out of those with whom you work.

Fought hopes you have a desire to continually learn more about life. It’s a fascinating, exasperating, struggling world out there and we are lucky enough to be at the center of it and tell others about it. You have to be curious about issues that don't interest you.

In addition, you'll be helped in this course if you have a positive attitude, plus a respect for accuracy, fairness and ethical standards.

BDJ 667/1 Spring 13

BDJ Statement of Professional Conduct for Lecture and Laboratory

The following statement reflects the importance the BDJ faculty place on attendance, promptness, attentiveness/participation, and meeting deadlines in BDJ classes and laboratories.

Professors reserve the right to adjust these policies to fit unique features of their courses.

Any adjustments will be clearly noted in syllabi and supersede the below. In the absence of adjustments noted in syllabi, the below will be in effect.

Attendance

You will lose one letter grade from your final grade for the first unexcused absence.

Additional unexcused absences will result in course failure.

Definitions of absences: § Unexcused absences are all absences for which the student offers no explanation to the instructor in writing or in person prior to the next scheduled class session.

Unexcused absences do not fit either of the definitions below. § Excused absences include but are not limited to: absences caused by the student’s illness, a death or illness in the student’s family. The student is required to inform the instructor by email in advance if possible, or as soon afterwards as possible. § Explained absences include any event which the student chooses to attend or any obligation s/he chooses to fulfill rather than attending class. The student must inform the instructor of such an absence by email as far in advance as possible.

An explained absence may have a detrimental effect on a student’s grade.

The instructor, at her/his sole discretion, may decide to count such an absence as

excused and will strive to be consistent in the exercise of such judgment.

• Repeated absences, even for legitimate reasons, will result in a conversation between the student and professor about whether the student can pass the course. The point is that even excused absences are not unlimited. Additionally, a situation resulting in an excused absence in the past does not guarantee that an absence for a similar situation will be excused.

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Promptness •

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All students are required to come to class on time. This means in the classroom, seated and prepared to learn at the scheduled start of the class session. Any student who is late is expected to explain her/his lateness upon arrival. (Plainly there are occasions when the lateness will have been unavoidable.) This also applies to returning from any breaks called by the instructor during class.

Repeated lateness may have a detrimental effect on the student’s grade. Consistent lateness will have a detrimental effect on the student’s grade.

A professor may elect to deny entry to class to a student who is chronically tardy and/or whose late arrival is disruptive to the class.

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BDJ 667/1 Spring 13

Attentiveness/Participation • •

All students are required to be attentive during lecture sessions. This means no texting, web surfing or any other such distractive behavior.

No student is to use a cell phone or email during class without prior permission from the instructor.

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Students are expected to respect their classmates and their instructor when they are presenting to the class.

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Students are expected to take part in class discussions, respond reasonably when called upon by the instructor and to offer constructive criticism whenever appropriate.

Students are not required to agree with the instructor but are expected to make arguments reasonably and respectfully. Such respectful and reasonable discourse is encouraged within the time constraints of the class period.

Failure to pay attention and/or to be respectful to classmates and/or to take part in class discussions will have a detrimental effect on the student’s grade.

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Deadlines • • • •

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All assignments for a particular date are due at the beginning of the class session on that date unless otherwise stated by the instructor.

All assignments required in hard copy must be printed before the class session begins. (No printing on classroom computers will be permitted once the class session begins.)

All assignments due [ on Blackboard ] must have been sent prior to the start of class. (No posting or emailing of assignments will be permitted once the class session begins.)

All assignments required to be posted to a server, website, Blackboard, etc. must have been posted prior to the start of the assigned deadline. (A time stamp will be accepted as evidence of the completion of the assignment. Students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead -­‐-­‐ download delays will not be accepted as an excuse for missing deadline.)

All assignments required to be presented in any media format must be complete and playable in that format prior to deadline. It is the student’s personal responsibility to know how to operate necessary equipment and software prior to deadline.

Missing a deadline will result in a zero for that assignment. A student who believes ahead of time that s/he may face deadline challenges is required to contact the instructor as soon as possible. If a student’s work misses deadline, the student is required to email the instructor immediately with an explanation.

At her/his discretion the instructor may choose to allow a late submission for review.

At her/his discretion, an instructor may choose to allow a re-­‐submission with improvements to raise the grade. (Instructors will strive to be consistent in making such judgments.)

You will get a copy of this in class to sign, signifying you have read and understand it

CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, RTNDA

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BDJ 667/1 Spring 13

The Radio-Television News Directors Association, wishing to foster the highest professional standards of electronic journalism, promote public understanding of and confidence in electronic journalism, and strengthen principles of journalistic freedom to gather and disseminate information, establishes this Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

PREAMBLE Professional electronic journalists should operate as trustees of the public, seek the truth, report it fairly and with integrity and independence, and stand accountable for their actions.

PUBLIC TRUST: Professional electronic journalists should recognize that their first obligation is to the public.

Professional electronic journalists should: Understand that any commitment other than service to the public undermines trust and credibility. Recognize that service in the public interest creates an obligation to reflect the diversity of the community and guard against oversimplification of issues or events.

Provide a full range of information to enable the public to make enlightened decisions.

Fight to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public.

TRUTH: Professional electronic journalists should pursue truth aggressively and present the news accurately, in context, and as completely as possible.

Professional electronic journalists should: Continuously seek the truth. Resist distortions that obscure the importance of events. Clearly disclose the origin of information and label all material provided by outsiders.

Professional electronic journalists should not: Report anything known to be false. Manipulate images or sounds in any way that is misleading. Plagiarize.

Present images or sounds that are reenacted without informing the public.

FAIRNESS: Professional electronic journalists should present the news fairly and impartially, placing primary value on significance and relevance.

Professional electronic journalists should: Treat all subjects of news coverage with respect and dignity, showing particular compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Exercise special care when children are involved in a story and give children greater privacy protection than adults.

Seek to understand the diversity of their community and inform the public without bias or stereotype.

Present a diversity of expressions, opinions, and ideas in context.

Present analytical reporting based on professional perspective, not personal bias.

Respect the right to a fair trial.

INTEGRITY: Professional electronic journalists should present the news with integrity and decency, avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest, and respect the dignity and intelligence of the audience as well as the subjects of news.

Professional electronic journalists should: Identify sources whenever possible. Confidential sources should be used only when it is clearly in the public interest to gather or convey important information or when a person providing information might be harmed. Journalists should keep all commitments to protect a confidential source.

Clearly label opinion and commentary.

Guard against extended coverage of events or individuals that fails to significantly advance a story, place the event in context, or add to the public knowledge.

Refrain from contacting participants in violent situations while the situation is in progress.

Use technological tools with skill and thoughtfulness, avoiding techniques that skew facts, distort reality, or sensationalize events.

Use surreptitious newsgathering techniques, including hidden cameras or microphones, only if there is no other way to obtain stories of significant public importance and only if the technique is explained to the audience.

Disseminate the private transmissions of other news organizations only with permission.

Professional electronic journalists should not: Pay news sources who have a vested interest in a story.

Accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.

Engage in activities that may compromise their integrity or independence.

INDEPENDENCE: Professional electronic journalists should defend the independence of all journalists from those seeking influence or control over news content. Professional electronic journalists should: Gather and report news without fear or favor, and vigorously resist undue influence from any outside forces, including advertisers, sources, story subjects, powerful individuals, and special interest groups.

Resist those who would seek to buy or politically influence news content or who would seek to intimidate those who gather and disseminate the news.

Determine news content solely through editorial judgment and not as the result of outside influence.

Resist any self-interest or peer pressure that might erode journalistic duty and service to the public.

Recognize that sponsorship of the news will not be used in any way to determine, restrict, or manipulate content.

Refuse to allow the interests of ownership or management to influence news judgment and content inappropriately.

Defend the rights of the free press for all journalists, recognizing that any professional or government licensing of journalists is a violation of that freedom.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Professional electronic journalists should recognize that they are accountable for their actions to the public, the profession, and themselves. Professional electronic journalists should: Actively encourage adherence to these standards by all journalists and their employers.

Respond to public concerns. Investigate complaints and correct errors promptly and with as much prominence as the original report.

Explain journalistic processes to the public, especially when practices spark questions or controversy.

Recognize that professional electronic journalists are duty-bound to conduct themselves ethically.

Refrain from ordering or encouraging courses of action that would force employees to commit an unethical act.

Carefully listen to employees who raise ethical objections and create environments in which such objections and discussions are encouraged.

Seek support for and provide opportunities to train employees in ethical decision-making.

In meeting its responsibility to the profession of electronic journalism, RTNDA has created this code to identify important issues, to serve as a guide for its members, to facilitate self-scrutiny, and to shape future debate.

 ACADEMIC  INTEGRITY  7

BDJ 667/1 Spring 13

At Syracuse University, academic integrity is expected of every community member in all endeavors.

Academic integrity includes a commitment to the values of honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, and respect. These values are essential to the overall success of an academic society. In addition, each member of the university community has a right to expect adherence to academic integrity from all other community members.

An individual's academic dishonesty threatens and undermines the central mission of the university.

It is unfair to other community members who do not cheat, because it devalues efforts to learn, to teach, and to conduct research. Academic dishonesty interferes with moral and intellectual development, and poisons the atmosphere of open and trusting intellectual discourse. See full policy at: http://academicintegrity.syr.edu/uploads/docs /SU%20AI%20Policies%20Procedures.pdf This class follows the ethical principles of RTDNA and the Academic Integrity Policy of Syracuse University, which are included in this packet. Remember that the standard sanction for a violation of the AI policy by a graduate student is suspension.

INCLUSION Students who are in need of disability-­‐related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 304 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-­‐443-­‐4498.

Students with authorized disability-­‐related accommodations should provide a current authorization Letter from ODS to Fought and review those accommodations with her.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sometimes news gathering can become dangerous but please do not risk your personal safety while on a story. Especially when you are out shooting, stay aware and leave anyplace that appears unsafe. You are more important than the story. Remember the most dangerous thing you do in your life, at your age, is ride in a car, so please be a careful driver. Please be aware of your liability insurance if you are the driver.

Note how TV reporters and anchors dress and emulate them. When you dress professionally you’ll be taken more seriously.

You may not sell any material produced for this class to local stations or other entities.

Please be careful of food around the computers, camera and keys. Keys and lens get sticky when soft drinks spill!

In compliance with the federal Family Rights and Privacy Act, registration in this class is understood as permission for stories and projects prepared for this class to be used for educational purposes. Your work will appear on NCC News Online, and may appear on the Newhouse or other SU-­‐related websites.

You will be asked to sign a form to allow you work to be viewed for teaching purposes other semesters.

SU’s religious observances policy, http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm, says that SU recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holy days according to their tradition. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance, provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. To do so, see MySlice/Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances. This must be done during the first two weeks of the semester. Generally the makeup work will be done ahead. Fought will be observing Good Friday on April 26.

This is a very demanding class. It should be. Journalists have a significant role in a democracy.

Being in television news is very exciting, but very demanding. As stated on page 1, Prof. Fought hopes you will be challenged, will push yourself, and will succeed beyond your expectations.

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