Advanced Electronic Journalism-Jour 362
Fall 2009

Prof. Indira Somani
                        202 Reid Hall
                        458-8431       somanii@wlu.edu
                        Office Hours:  By appointment only.

Producers are like anchors to a ship that’s about to set sail.  A strong anchor (producer) holds the ship (newscast/Website) together before it heads out for sea (airs for television or reaches the internet)! 

Schedule:
Wednesday: C- 10:10-11:05—News Meeting
Thursday:  F,G, H- 1:00 to 4:30 (usually 5pm)—Rockbridge Report
Starting Friday, October 30th - C- 10:10 to 11:05- Review Rockbridge Report
(additional 3 class meetings before Oct. 22nd newscast-- to be scheduled with the instructor)

Texts:
Smith, D.  Power Producer: A Practical Guide to TV News  Producing, 4th Edition. Available for purchase from the Journalism Department.
Associated Press (2007), Stylebook (online or use the newsroom copy)

Course description:
Welcome to JOUR 362.  This course teaches you how to be a great producer — the decision maker behind the Website or newscast.  The content for both comes from the Rockbridge area.  The producer communicates with the reporters during the story meetings on what news to cover, oversees the deadline writing (or writes stories), decides what video to use from the feed, works on deadline, and, while managing all these tasks, stays calm under pressure.

Learning Objectives:
Washington and Lee’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Only about 25 percent of journalism and mass communications programs in the nation are accredited. The course content in J362 addresses each of the eleven professional values and competencies on which ACEJMC evaluates programs:

• Understand the principles of freedom of speech and press.
• Understand the role of professionals in a newsroom.
• Learn to serve an increasingly diverse community with local news coverage, providing accurate, contextualized stories that allow all constituencies in the community to understand and monitor their governmental, educational, economic and socio-cultural institutions. 
• Understand how video can be used effectively.
• Work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
• Think critically, creatively and independently;
• Think like a producer.
• Write correctly, clearly, concisely — using active verbs. 
• Use correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and proper sentence structure.
• Use number appropriately when needed.
• Use the equipment effectively to produce the best newscast or online production.

Course Structure:
The course meets three times weekly.  On Wednesdays you will meet with the J253/263 class in the news meeting to coordinate planning for the following week’s Rockbridge Report.   During the Thursday sessions you will produce the Rockbridge Report for broadcast or the web. Prof. Somani will oversee your broadcast producing during the Thursday Rockbridge Report lab and the Web site producing during the same lab. She will sign off on the website after the newscast is produced.  She will be responsible for evaluating your  work in all media. On Friday, we will also analyze the newscast and Website from the day before.

Expectations for Newscast and Web producing:   

Producers: One producer will take the lead as a producer for the Thursday news broadcast; the other producer will take the lead for the Web edition.  In addition to your production, you will provide a brief written evaluation of your J202 and J253/263 assistant(s) by the following day at noon. You will also provde a discrepency report of the broadcast by Noon the following day.

We do not have an assignment editor this term. Both producers will have to keep track of the stories assigned to the reporters and what will be covered. The  producers should have read through the week-aheads the night before the Wednesday story meeting.  Once they’ve read through the possible stories, they should communicate what stories they want for their newscast or Website in the meeting.

During the Wednesday story meeting one of the producers is responsible for filling out the assignment chart, posting it in the S drive (after creating the proper RR folder) and also turning the week-aheads into the Beat assignments for the week.  This is created as one document.   This is also known as the revised budget for that week.
We'd like it by Wednesdays at 5 p.m. (same day as story meetings).

Broadcasts and Web editions will focus on local issues and events.  We will rarely use international or national news on the Web site, except as rewritten briefs that might contain a local angle, but we will build regional and national/international segments for the broadcasts from CNN newsource, AP wire material and pathfire.
           
Most of our content will come from J202, J253 and J263 pieces (including newsmaker interviews) and your own work. You may also incorporate live-in-studio reports for breaking local news.  Content from special segments will also be available. You may localize stories by seeking sources at W&L and VMI, as well as area experts and people in the community touched by world and national news.

Part of your responsibility involves overseeing  J202 and J253/263  student newsroom assistants who will contribute to your broadcast or Web productions.  The 202 student may assist you by: writing stories, choosing and editing sound bites, cutting VOs and VO-SOTs and repackaging network feed material.  The student may also contribute to slide shows, text boxes and other interactive features using J202, J253, and J263 stories as a starting point.         

We will tap J253/263 for the above duties as well as general assignment duty on breaking stories.
 
As Web or broadcast producer, you will be responsible for staying in contact with Profs. Richardson and Somani about the status of stories assigned to J253/263 students. You will need to know before Thursday which stories will be available.

A quick word about the broadcast control room:  The on-air execution of your broadcast is key to its dissemination, and a good working relationship with the director assigned to your show is essential.  Talking through the rundown and scripts with your director will improve your chances for success.  Make sure scripts are printed no later than 3:45pm, so your director has time to mark the scripts.      

As producer, you wield considerable power.  But use it wisely.  You must coordinate all the elements of the newsroom to get your product on the air/Internet. This includes managing other students while working with constructive criticism from your professors. You will be evaluated on your enterprise, news judgment, creativity, quality of product, management abilities and professionalism.

Blog: Each week one or both producers will file a blog. As news organizations are increasingly asking their journalists to post to blogs, we’re asking the same.  Now it’s your chance to be heard through your producer’s blog.  A minimum of two postings will be required for the term. 

** Please note you will be expected to have read every story on the website or in the newscast before it goes to air. Don't just cut and paste the stories into your rundown-- read them-- understand them-- and know the content in your show.

**Please make sure you confirm who is anchoring for the week from Prof. deMaria.

**Please make sure you have read the News-Gazette before your Thursday broadcast. That newspaper comes out on Wednesdays-- if there is a local story that you think is important to get in the show-- do so-- but be sure to cite the News-Gazette.

**Please make sure you edit the supertease the night before. That means the copy should be approved before the anchor (for that week) tracks and you begin editing.

**Please understand if there are factual errors in the copy-- your newscast grade will result in an automatic F.

Philosophy:
The relationship between instructor and students during this semester is much like a news director working with news producers.  Student producers will be responsible for leading the newsroom on these days.  In this course you will not only improve your broadcast/online writing and perfect your ability to create scripts in various formats, but you will also learn how to shape and create news programs and Web sites, and to manage people.

Learning to produce news on deadline can be hard and sometimes exasperating.  It is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed.  Part of this course is learning to cope in a deadline setting.  Feel free to approach the instructors with questions in class and outside the classroom setting.  It is your responsibility to seek out the instructor if you have questions or difficulties.

News Quizzes:
Read regularly: The Washington Post (front page stories only) http://www.washingtonpost.com
The Roanoke Times (or another major Virginia daily), http://www.roanoketimes.com/;
The News-Gazette and The Rockbridge Weekly http://www.thenews-gazette.com/  and http://www.rockbridgeweekly.com/  (weeklies); The Rockbridge Advocate (monthly)
IT’S CRITICAL THAT YOU READ THE NEWS GAZETTE TO STAY ON TOP OF LOCAL NEWS FOR YOUR BEATS!!!
Students can log into the online version of The News-Gazette.
email address is: coxm@wlu.edu
password: cityeditor

Each Friday morning you will have a news quiz. Questions will come from the News Gazette, The Washington Post, The Roanoke times, The Rockbridge Weekly, The Rockbridge Advocate, The Rockbridge Report and the W & L home page.

News Quizzes will be given on Friday mornings.

Professionalism:
You  will be judged by the accuracy, maturity and thoroughness of your work.  Keep this perspective in mind in everything you do.  Students are expected to act in a professional manner, meeting deadlines, solving problems, cooperating with classmates, and generally contributing in a positive way to the class.  Working as professional often means searching for solutions in a group context.  Teamwork is also essential to a good broadcast or online production.  Please come to class with a positive attitude.  Please present a professional attitude and demeanor toward your classmates and colleagues.  Students will be evaluated on their professional demeanor in the classroom

Please make sure your cell phones are turned off during the lecture portion of class.  Also no checking personal email, instant messaging while you are in class.

You will be given a schedule of the first week of class. Check the schedule for deadlines and due dates on outside assignments.

Deadlines:
I will not remind you of your due dates or deadlines. That’s your job.
You must meet deadline.

** 9am Thursdays-- have as much of the show written and a hard copy printed-- in Prof. Somani's box for her to check.

** 1pm on Thursdays -- have your rundowns printed or a Web plan ready to discuss in the 1pm meeting.

Deadlines to meet on Thursdays:

• 3:45 p.m.  Scripts fully printed.  Studio lighted and audio ready.
• 4:00 p.m.  Anchors on set, scripts distributed, control room ready.
• 4:00 p.m. All video should be transcoded and ready for air.
• 4:30 p.m. Go live.
• 4:30 p.m.  Website ready for instructor to review and launch.

 Grading:

Rockbridge Report broadcast and Web producing:  The overall quality of the programs/Websites will be evaluated, including enterprise, news judgment, writing, accuracy, fairness, organization, flow, use of interactive elements, use of sound and visuals, creativity and timing.
Your ability to lead a team effort will be assessed, including organization, communication, professionalism, time management and decision making.  It’s also critical to keep informed about current events to produce well.  See respective grade sheets below.

 HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE:

• Treat this class as if it were a real newsroom. The class will be run like a newsroom in the professional world.  Act like a professional and you will be treated as one.  Contribute to newscast or online production in a constructive and positive manner. Treat this class and your lab section as you would a job.  Think creatively — take note of what works on other broadcasts or online productions and what doesn’t.  Don’t feel boxed in and afraid to try new things.  You will be expected to comply with attendance guidelines similar to a real paying job.  Unexcused absences will not be tolerated and will lower your grade. If you are sick, call one of us as you would a news director, with as much advanced notice so someone else can cover your shift.
  
  
•  Be a news junkie.  This class is all about news. Read the paper, online news, listen to the radio (i.e. NPR) and watch TV news BEFORE you come to class. Stay on top of what is happening in the world. Learn the basic facts of stories, which keep recurring. It will make your job a lot easier. Being a news junkie will help you succeed.
  
  
• Quality counts.  Strive to produce the highest quality product you can.  Make your work broadcast or web-ready.  Be proud to show others your finished shows.
  
  
•  Beyond the basics. Don’t take the easy way out when you are producing, anchoring or writing. Think about pushing the envelope to make creative, entertaining, informative and energetic programming.
  
  
• Pay attention to the details. Think about writing concisely and with the active voice.  Pay attention to scripting instructions, CG spellings, tape lengths and story facts.  Don’t let a lack of attention to details ruin your grade.   If you don’t know something, ask or look it up.  There are no stupid questions.

GRADING and SCHEDULE

These are the ways I will interpret each grade level for this course:
Web Producing                                   40%
Broadcast Producing                          40%
Wednesday story meetings/Teamwork/Professionalism/Attendance 10%
News Quizzes                                     10 %

I will be grading each student on his/her progress throughout the semester. 
You should be able to keep track of your grades throughout the semester this way. 

Teamwork/Professionalism and Attendance/Class Participation could sway your FINAL grade in the direction of a “plus (+) or minus (-).”  Improvement in your writing will also sway your FINAL grade in the direction of a “plus (+)”.

Remember that improvement counts — but we want to see you become more sophisticated with your skills as the term progresses.  

Requirements for ALL SCRIPTS:
SCRIPTS must have accurate content
Use Active verbs, present tense
Correct spelling of names, titles or names of an organization
Correct spelling in general
Grammar
Punctuation

A:  Superior to above-average work. 

• Few changes to scripts or website.
• Exercises creativity in building their show or website.
• Has full knowledge of the news in the Wednesday story meetings and has an idea of what stories will be well-suited to build the show. 
• Participates in critiques of newscasts and websites.
• Has excellent attendance
• Knows how to be a team player and maintains professionalism
• Newscasts produced meet superior broadcast standards 

B:  Good to average work. 

• Some problems in scripts, but generally it could be corrected with a moderate amount of rewriting or re-editing. 
• Newscasts and websites produced are good quality work. 
• Participates somewhat in the Wednesday story meetings.
• Follows the news, but could be reading more.

C:  Satisfactory to below average work. 

• These scripts or news stories may contain problems with accuracy, or the writing may be difficult to understand.  This person has difficulty working with a team to produce a newscast.
• Major rewriting in scripts or design of website would be required.

D:  Poor work. 

• Usually reserved for exceptionally damaging problems with accuracy, writing, format, style or story flow in the newscast produced or website produced.  
• Also does not participate in Wednesday story meetings, not a team player.

F:  Failure. 

• Fact errors.
• This grade is usually reserved for assignments that do not make deadline or work that breaks the ethical codes. 
• Also this grade is reserved for a producer who has trouble getting along with others, and does not participate in class. 

0: Zero

• Missed Deadline