Syllabus

NEWS PRODUCING -- J4310
Summer Session 1 - 2010

Instructor: Holly Edgell, Assistant Professor
E-mail: edgellh@missouri.edu -- Tel. 884-6397 (KOMU 8)
Lecture: Monday 11 am - 1 pm               KOMU 8 Blue Room

Course Objective:
This course will teach you how to produce live newscasts and meet the challenges of maintaining journalistic integrity in the competitive, dynamic world of local television news. In the lecture and lab at KOMU-TV 8, we will explore the variety of tools and techniques available to news producers in the 21st Century. We will also explore the key ingredients to assist you in rising to leadership positions in the newsroom.

Requirements:
•    Weekly Producing Shifts-Attendance is taken for these shifts and factored into your grade. If you have to miss for any reason, you’re in charge of finding your own replacement AND making up the shift within 7 days. Trade shifts with your classmates or teaching assistants. Just make Holly has given you permission beforehand AND then add to Assignments in iNews.
IMPORTANT: Morning Show shifts must be made up in the morning!

•   Missing class is a big problem. After three unexcused absences and/or three unexcused, missed assignments, your grade will suffer. “Unexcused” means you have not made PRIOR arrangements with me or told me about the situation in ADVANCE.

•    Guest Blogs. You will each submit one blog entry for my “News You Can Use” blog at hollyedgell.com. Acceptable topics include something related to your producing shifts, an issue/event/topic in the news that you think your fellow producers should know more about, or an ethical problem (either at KOMU or another media outlet). You will email me the blog, a photo of yourself, and any links or artwork/graphics you would like to include. Deadlines are as follows, all dates are Sundays. Submit by noon. NOTE: Do not repeat subjects that previous students have blogged about! Review the archives before you start writing.

Kessler 5/23
Blake 5/30
Burlison 6/6
Steiner 6/20

•    Weekly Quiz. See “keeping current.” Also, note that quizzes may include a couple
of questions related to readings.

•    Job Packet. Your own personal job packet will prepare you for the day you begin your job search.
⎫    Resume Reel (DVD) of one of your best KOMU 8 newscasts, minus commercials
⎫    Resume Reel explainer – explain why you chose this particular newscast and explain any unusual circumstances or challenges you had on the day you produced that show.
⎫    Resume
⎫    Cover Letter
Readings:
•    Managing Television News. B. Silcock et al
•    Various handouts & readings as assigned
•    “News You Can Use” (my blog at HollyEdgell.com)

Keeping Current!!!
This course includes weekly quizzes. Here are the suggested media to follow:
•    The Missourian and Columbia Daily Tribune
•    KOMU 8 News*
•    Other local TV news (KMIZ-TV and KRCG-TV)
•    KBIA-FM – tune into Morning Edition or All Things Considered for world & national news with local and state cut-ins.
•    One cable news network (CNN, FOX, MSNBC) or one network news program (ABC, CBS, NBC)

Note: I do not expect that you will be able to consume all of the above every day! One good method is to pick at least three per week and monitor as best you can. Of course, you need to make sure you get a good combo for local/state, national, and world news.

Grading Philosophy:
A certain level of minimum work is expected of all students to receive a passing grade. Good work that satisfies expectations for an assignment in the “B” range. An “A” grade is reserved for exceptional work. TA’s, newsroom faculty, directors, anchors and other full time staff members will be asked to help evaluate your performance to determine your course grade.

How Grades are determined:
Producing Shifts 50%
Decision-making
News Judgment
Writing and Editing
Production
Technical
Time management
Leadership
Accountability

Blogs/Assignments/Quizzes 30%

Job Packet 20%

J4310 Summer Session 1, 2010: News Producing Lectures
Instructor reserves the right to modify this outline

5/17 FIRST DAY OF CLASS
Course Overview: The basics needed to put a show on the air. Learn all about this class.
Talk about KOMU 8 news approach “game plan”
Nuts & Bolts: Learn about your role as a leader, discuss first week experiences.
Tour of the control room & studio.
Sweeps & Ratings: What are they and why do they matter for TV news
General Knowledge Quiz!
Assignment for next class: Read Chapters 3, 5 9 & 12

5/24 The Rundown and You:
How do you determine the lead? How do you craft a compelling newscast?
In-class rundown exercise.
QUIZ
Assignment DUE 6/7: Interview a producer in a market larger than Columbia about job satisfaction. Present your paper n the Q&A format (more instructions to follow). Read Chapters 7, 8, 11 for next class.
   Bring to next class: printouts of three of your teases

5/31 Two-shots, Teases, and the “Write Stuff”: Go over anchor script assignments to avoid the “too much two shot.” Writing tips, tease-writing advice and your tease questions answered. QUIZ. In-class TEASE review.
   Leadership: The producer as newsroom leader. What makes a good leader?
Assignment DUE 6/13 (via email): Write a 2-3 page cross comparison paper of KOMU and
KRCG or KMIZ’s 6 or 10 pm newscast (weekday). Watch the same night to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the producing. How do they balance local vs. national/world news?
How long are their A blocks? Who goes LIVE and why? Read Chapters 4,11.
   For next class: The “A” block of one of your newscasts (WE WILL TIVO)

6/7 Ethics Workshop: We’ll compare the RTNDA and SPJ codes in class, and discuss an ethical dilemma from a real newsroom. QUIZ.
The Drive to be Live: We’ll discuss the right and the real reasons stations go live.
We will critique live shots from other markets in class.
Read Chapter 2.

6/14 NO CLASS - EDGELL IN BELIZE

6/21 Who’s Watching: Covering your Community. Review the communities in KOMU’s viewing area. Also, what role do producers play in making sure their news is truly meeting the needs of the community? QUIZ.
The Future of TV News. Trends, challenges, and what they mean for local news
Bring your resume to 6/28 class! Enough copies for everyone

6/28 Jobs & the Job Market. We’ll review what makes a good resume and cover letter and look at some examples from your past colleagues. Also, we’ll talk about job-hunting strategies, contracts. Instructor will answer questions about job hunting, interviewing, etc.
QUIZ: GEOGRAPHY EDITION

7/2 JOB PACKETS DUE ON INSTRUCTOR’S DESK BY NOON. NOTE: These job packets go to Kent Collins after I grade them, so be sure to keep copies.

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ACADEMIC HONESTY, CLASSROOM ACCOMODATIONS & INTELLECTUAL PLURALISM
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