JOUR 5030 – Visual Journalism & the Art of Multimedia Storytelling
University of North Texas
Department of Journalism
Visual Journalism & the Art of Multimedia Storytelling
JOUR 5030
Semester: Spring 2009
Instructor: Neil Foote, Instructional Assistant Professor, GAB 109
Phone: 214.448.3765
Email: neil@neilfoote.com (preferred)
Office hours: By appointment or immediately following class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Class Meetings: GAB 111
Texts:
- REQUIRED: “In the Hot Zone, One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars,” Kevin Sites (Harper Perennial – Paper/DVD edition);
- RECOMMENDED: “Digital Storytelling Cookbook”, Joe Lambert, Digital Diner Press
- RECOMMENDED: “Journalism 2.0, How to Thrive & Survive”, By Mark Briggs
Additional readings will be distributed and made available online.
Course Objectives
The art and science of visual journalism coupled with the short- and long-form narrative are integral parts of traditional journalism. The rapid growth of the Internet has forced all forms of media to adapt their methods of storytelling and alter the manner in which news is reported, written, edited, produced and distributed. The Internet is challenging editors, producers, writers and photographers to dig deeper with their reporting, think more creatively with their shot-taking and push themselves to paint visually compelling pieces that combine print, broadcast and interactive elements. This class will explore the theoretical and practical evolution of taking good pictures, telling great stories and creating multimedia stories as well as its impact on traditional newsgathering and its effectiveness in engaging readers/viewers.
We will read, discuss and analyze the components of multimedia storytelling, and learn some of the basic terms; learn how to report, write, shoot pictures, storyboard multimedia articles and use some basic web-based tools; read several topical books and related articles. You will make weekly posts on a class blog, and we will work very closely with the magazine production class with the intended goal that those articles and multimedia packages may be included in the publication in print or online.
Additionally, this course addresses nine of the ACEJMC core competencies (#1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11):
1. Understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications.
4. Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information.
5. Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
6. Think critically, creatively and independently.
7. Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work.
8. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
9. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
10. Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts.
11. Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.
Getting the Most Out of This Class
You will be expected to become as knowledgeable as possible about the current media trends and issues. To help you get the most out of this class, there are several websites throughout the course of the semester to which I will be referring and you are encouraged to review on a regular basis. Here are several of the major ones. Others will be identified throughout the course of the semester:
- Local/regional media sites, e.g. dallasnews.com, startelegram.com, dentronrc.com, NTDaily.com, KRLD.com KNTU.com.
- National/international sites: cnn.com, nytimes.com, msnbc.com, BBC (bbc.co.uk), washingtonpost.com
- InteractiveNarratives.org: http://InteractiveNarratives.org
- MediaStorm.org: http://mediastorm.org
- NPPA.org (National Press Photographers’ Association) http://nppa.org
- Mindy McAdams: Multimedia Story Packages
o http://mindymcadams.com/guest/mmpackages/index.html
- CyberJournalists.net: http://cyberjournalist.net
- Vanity Fair (http://vanityfair.com)
- The New Yorker (http://newyorker.com)
- Portfolio Magazine (http://portfolio.com)
- Slate.com (http://slate.com)
- Texas Monthly (http://texasmonthly.com)
- Kevin Sites ‘Hot Zone” (http://hotzone.yahoo.com)
University Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism, in a nutshell, is using other people’s written words as your own. Some people consider the use of seven to ten words in a row, copied from another source, as plagiarism. Be sure to include citations when using other people’s writing, because plagiarism is a serious offense in any discipline, especially journalism. It’s a firing offense in the professional world. In the Department of Journalism and Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at UNT, students face a range of penalties for plagiarism (depending on the importance of the assignment):
- A grade of ‘F’ on a minor assignment;
- A request that the student drop the class;
- Withdrawal of the student form class, initiated by the professor;
- An ‘F’ for the course;
- A referral to the UNT Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities;
- A notation on the student’s transcript; and,
- Expulsion from the university.
A combination of these penalties may also be used. If you need more information or have questions about plagiarism, ask your nearest journalism professor or visit the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.
DISABILITIES. The Journalism Department, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If you require any such accommodation, please contact the instructor within the first three weeks of class.
Additional Ground Rules: No food or drinks are allowed in any of the labs. Do not surf the internet during class time unless you are asked to do so. Unexcused absences to class and/or lateness will impact your final grade.
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Course Outline
Week 1: January 22
Introduction: Review syllabus, grading, class format, course requirements.
Overview: Discuss evolution, role and importance of online journalism and multimedia storytelling. In class exercise. Discussion of 1st assignment – A profile of an individual, e.g. community volunteer; local business person; a professor (outside of journalism); journalist.
ASSIGNMENT due next class: One page outline of the subject you will be profiling. Briefly describe the person; explain why this person is noteworthy and who else you plan to talk to about this person – be specific as possible.
Week 2: January 29
Elements of Visual Journalism / What makes a good picture
Overview of software/online tools we’ll be using in class. Discuss profiles as a class and individually.
Week 3: February 5
The structure of multimedia storytelling. Elements of storyboarding.
*
* Danny’s Presentation on “Photography Basics:
Week 4: February 12
Profile Story due at beginning of class.
Tools of the photojournalist. Guest speaker. Discuss next story assignment – Writing about a civic, social or political organization/company/non-profit/government agency.
ASSIGNMENT: READ Hotzone, Parts I, II & III. Discussion leaders assigned. Also, one page description of the organization you intend to profile. Briefly describe the entity and why it is s noteworthy. Identify your key sources. Describe visual elements you intend to include, e.g. photos, video, graphics.
Week 5: February 19
DUE: One page article description.
Discussion of HOTZONE, Parts I, II & III. Journalist as fact-finder, reporter, writer, editor and producer.
ASSIGNMENT – READ Hotzone, Parts IV, V, VI & VII. Discussion leaders assigned.
Week 6: February 26
Discussion: HotZone Parts IV, V, VI & VII. Journalist as witness, truth-seeker, participant, advocate. Watch HotZone DVD.
Week 7: March 5
Design Elements: Fonts, layout designs (print/web), use of color. The good, bad and ugly of design. What works; what doesn’t.
ASSIGNMENT: Read handouts.
Week 8: March 12
Photos/Article on Organization Due at beginning of class.
Final Project Discussion
Week 9: March 19
SPRING BREAK
Week 10: March 26
Discuss Photography and storytelling.
GUEST SPEAKER
ASSIGNMENT: READ Article Handouts.
Week 11: April 2
DUE: FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL
ASSIGNMENT: Read articles distributed during class.
Week 12: April 9
Ethics: Understanding the Rules.
Legal/Copyright: Knowing What’s Right
GUEST SPEAKER
Week 13: April 16
Final Project Workshop/Lab.
Week 14: April 23
Critical Issues in Visual Journalism: A roundtable discussion on hot topics we’ve discussed and you’ve discovered during the course.
Week 15: April 30
Final Class presentations
GRADING:
You will graded based on a letter grade basis and your final grade will be based on the following scale:
PHOTOGRAPHY/WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – 35%
ARTICLE DESCRIPTIONS – 10%
BLOG ENTRIES – 10%
FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL – 10%
FINAL PROJECT – 30%
TEACHER EVALUATION – 5%
TOTAL POSSIBLE …………………………..100%
FINAL GRADE SCALE:
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80 = B
79 – 70 = C
69 – 60 = D
59 – Below = F
NOTE: The work you do in this class must be original and may not be turned in for any other class. You are allowed to use only the equipment assigned to this class.
ARTICLE PROPOSALS (10%)
As the syllabus indicates you will also be required to write a one page, single-spaced description of the subject you’ll be shooting and provide the ‘so what’.
ARTICLE ASSIGNMENTS (35%)
You will be responsible for reporting, writing and shooting two (2), 500 word articles. You will be required to present up to 20 pictures of the subject, plus the story. The photos must be presented to me on a CD and the stories must be printed – type-written, double-spaced. You must meet all deadlines, and any missed or late assignments will be penalized.
BLOG ENTRIES (10%)
Part of your experience of becoming a journalist of the 21s Century is that you constantly practice the craft. A Yahoo! Group will be created on the first day of class. On this site, you must write a weekly item that discusses any issue related to visual journalism, which may discuss and/or analyze topics we discuss in class or items you find in the news or on media websites. Your weekly posting must be made BEFORE the Thursday class at 3:30pm.
FINAL PROJECT PROPOSAL (10%)
This project is going to reflect a culmination of all your coursework. Your final project is designed to: (1) Take our class readings, discussions and analysis and put them into practice; (2) Tap into your skill as a journalist and novice at understanding how the internet works, particularly how content can be presented on the Internet; and (3) Allow you to create a website/blog that you can continue to maintain beyond this class.
You will receive additional information about what you are expected to do. Your proposal should explain the theme of your website, the proposed content and interactive elements you will include. Your blog may focus on campus-related issues, national or international issues. Avoid issues that require any personal information. You must avoid subjects that rely on friends and/or families serving as your primary sources.
FINAL PROJECT: (30%)
Your final grade for this project will be based on your thoroughness in reporting, writing and use of interactivity (e.g. use of related links, photos, slideshows, audio and video), your creativity and your 10-minute in-class presentation.
TEACHER EVALUATION: (10%)
You will be judged throughout the semester on your participation, creativity, energy, ideas and improvement.
