The course introduces students to reporting, writing and creating multimedia journalism for the Internet. Students will view and critique online journalism and learn how to create stories using various media. They will learn which elements- text, links, stills, audio, video, and interactivity are best for delivering a story and engaging an Internet news audience. Students will learn the basics of the tools needed to create multimedia journalism projects during the semester, and practice using them to report and tell news stories throughout the term on a class Web site set up specifically for this purpose.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how consumers access news on the Internet so you will be able to produce effective multi-platform and multi-media stories;
- Understand key industry trends, influences, pressures and directions;
- Understand and master the basics of the standard tools used to produce multimedia journalism;
- Understand how to develop interactive news stories;
- Prepare students to be able to work in a professional Web newsroom, with skills in online story development and baseline technological understanding of Web publishing and journalism.
Daily/Weekly:
Every day you should compare the coverage in a daily local or national paper and local TV station and national TV network with the stories and coverage on that organization’s news web site. Doing this will keep you up to date on the news of the day as well as help you understand the differences in print, tv and Internet news writing and delivery.
September 4 Overview of Internet News & Multimedia Storytelling
1- 3:45 pm
History, evolution, best sites, best practices, measurement. Comparison of print, TV and Internet as news sources and delivery vehicles.
Throughout the semester, each student will be expected to carry out reporting and story creation assignments each week. Students will be judged on the accuracy and originality of their assignments and their ability to create compelling multi-media news content.
Writing for the Internet
Internet users scan for information.
Eye Track Research by Poynter Institute analysed path of reading news websites. It showed that reading news on the Web is different than print and we start at the upper left read down and end at the upper right.
This eyetrack research from Poynter shows how people read the Washington Post home page.
One second per line
Left side read more than right
Short paragraphs and introductory paragraphs read more frequently
Rules for Internet Writing:
–Keep paragraphs short (one topic)
–Use informative subheads
–Bold face key words
–Use bulleted lists
Key point: Long blocks of type are deadly!
Internet Writing is a combination of print and broadcast.
Like print:
–Inverted pyramid style preferred
–Endless news hole
–Write to be read rather than heard.
–Users can refer back
Like broadcast:
–Conversational tone
–Short, declarative sentences
–Simple words
–Active voice
–Immediacy is important
Scannability
–Highlight key words and phrases
–Use subheads to break up text
–Divide story
–Meaningful links Timely and Relevant
–On Breaking stories, get info out fast
–Add on as story develops
–Add timestamps so you don’t have to rewrite everything
-Pictures, graphics, slide shows and surveys enhance a web presentation.
-Headlines are more important than pictures. But readers probably will read the caption before they read the story. -
-Interactivity is good
-TV websites like the Boston Channel report users like "unedited" video
Introduction to class Web site where students will post their work.
BU Multimedia Journalism A1
First name multi
Last name media
Bumultimedia@gmail.com
BU Multimedia Journalism B1
bumultimediab1@gmail.com
First name multi
Last name media
Bumultimedia@gmail.com
Assignment for next week: Report on an issue of interest to you and come to class with information prepared and organized for creating a news story for posting on the class Web site.
4-5pm Focus Presentation on Blogs by Steve Garfield: Room 211 Photonics
Blogging 1: The beginning of blogs. How blogs are being used. How to subscribe.
Subscriptions via RSS, iTunes
Setting up blog readers
Tools: Bloglines, Google Reader, myYahoo, FriendFeed
Assignment: Read 10 blogs on a subject of interest to you and subscribe to them. Come back with 2 favorites and be ready to tell the class why you believe these blogs are best.
September 11 Writing for the Internet
Industry standards, how people read news and find news information on the web and how to accommodate their needs. Use of hyperlinks, nav, head, how to segment news stories and create flow, role of SEO.
In class exercise in news writing for Web. We will take the news stories each student has reported on and
craft them for posting on the class Web site.
See how mapping information can be added to the story using Google Maps.
( create your own, or add info like gas prices, real estate)
Use Flickr to search for pictures taken of places around the world
This is a map of some of the places where graduates of the Boston University Broadcast Journalism program are working. View the larger map and click on the locations to find out more about their careers.
View Larger Map
TripAdvisor uses Google Maps to create the popular Facebook application 'Cities I've Visted" and to add user reviews. The TripAdvisor team talks about this as part of a Google Case Study posted on YouTube.
Here are the links we'll be using in today's class exercise.
September 11th Memorials
September 11th Commemorative Events
American FactFinder
Compare Earnings from 2007 to 2006 and create a graphic showing change for Boston/Cambridge, or compare men’s and women’s earnings in 2007
Assignment for next week: Cover an event, and write a news story on the event and create a blog about the event.
Boston.com Calendar
Going.com has free events listed. AP Daybook
Watch Channel 5’s evening newscast and Visit TheBostonChannel.com that night, compare how both cover and report on the news in preparation for visit of Maria Buckley of TheBostonChannel.com next week.
September 11 4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield
Blogging 2: Setting up a blog
Things to consider, theme, design, comments
creative commons
RSS
Feedburner
Create a blog with an RSS Feed
Review of student blog favorites
Tools: Blogger, Wordpress, Facebook, MySpace
How to make your blog, what content, what should be in it?
Make a blog post on the event you’ve covered.
September 18 Writing Workshop
Post your news story on the class web site, discuss how content in the news story differs from that in the blog. What is acceptable in a blog but not in a news story. Explore how the story content could be delivered via email or mobile.
Maria Buckley of TheBostonChannel.com will join us.
Assignment: Come to class with three picture story ideas written up for discussion.
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Blogs
Bringing individual blogs into the class Blog site and critiquing.
September 25 Digital Photography
Elements of taking a good picture-framing, lighting, types of pictures, how to capture them using digital cameras and transfer them to the web. In class shooting and reporting assignment. Discussion and approval of your picture story.
Assignment for next week: Shoot your approved picture story using a digital camera and post to Flickr. Create a slideshow on Flickr. Embed your slideshow in a post to the class website.
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Reporting with Your Cell Phone
What if you were at an event or a breaking news story? How would/could you use your cell phone to report?
Capturing, editing, posting
Recording with a cell phone and posting a news story
Tools:
Flickr
Utterli
Sharing
Community
Report and post a story from your cell phone to Utterli.
October 2 Picture Stories and Photoshop
Review Picture story. Discussion of shots and story flow. Learn basics of using Photoshop to create and edit images for use on the web and in soundslide and video projects. In class workshop.
Assignment for next week,transfer, title, organize and post your revised picture story on Flickr
Post revised picture story to class website.
Bring three audio/still news story ideas to class. One audio/still story will be due October 16, the next October 24.
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Live Video
Examples: NH and Mass Primary, the UpTake, Jeff Pulver, iJustine, Pop 17, http://www.daytonabeach-live.com/ ( personal broadcasting)
Teaching: When to go live, set up account on live streaming site UStream How to embed UStream in your blog
October 9 Audio Reporting & Capture/Editing
Review Picture stories in class.
How to capture good audio, how to construct an interview to get good audio, how to get good natural sound, how to use audio to tell a news story, how to edit using Audacity.
Assignment for next week: Report on your approved news story using audio and edit the story using Audacity and post the story on the class Web site. Also shoot still pictures to accompany your story and we will use those stills to create Soundslide story using your edited audio report and stills.
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Audio & Audio Podcasting What is a podcast? How you can easily have your own internet radio talk show and podcast. Examples: PRX, BlogTalkRadio Presentation: Live talk show
October 16 Soundslides
Review audio reports in class. Learn how to use soundslides to add visuals and craft audio/still picture reports. You will add stills to your audio report.
Review ideas for a news story using soundslides.
Assignment for next week. Create a soundslide report on the approved news story/ event you covered. Save the soundslide report on your hard drive and then transfer to BU server using FTP.
1) Go to http://www.bu.edu/computing/accounts/ad/com and sign up for "active domain" account.
2) Use FTP program on computer. Host name jo540.bu.edu username is ad\yourname and password is your password, file protocal is ftp
Left screen will show your computer-right screen ( root) your directory--copy from left to right. You can copy your Soundslide project into the right screen and that will ftp it to your directory.
3)Then save the url of your soundslide project and generate the embed code to put in in your website.
Use your Web browser to open http://soundslides.com/apps/utilities, then enter your slide show's URL in the form. Click CONTINUE. You will get the embed code there.
Bring in two story ideas for a video picture story. You will need to have a mini dv tape to shoot your video story and your hard drive for class next week.
4-5 pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield:Audio Production Demonstration of how to create an audio report for podcasting/posting on the class Web site.
October 23 Soundslides /Video Camera
Present and review your soundslide news reports, and make any changes or adjustments that are needed to improve the reports.
Review your video picture story ideas. Go over use of video camera and uploading video to your hard drive.
Discussion of final project: Assignment for next week: Bring in three typewritten ideas for your final news story project. You need to have a proposal to report on a subject using three multimedia elements, and a storyboard outlining how the elements work together.
Shoot a video picture story and bring it to class.
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Community and Conversation Examples: Twitter, Seesmic .Join a community Engage in a conversation How information can be gathered and shared and how this can be used to report on political campaigns.
October 30 Video Editing and Political Reporting.
In Class showing of picture stories and instruction in video editing.
Review final project ideas.
Discussion of how to deal with the deluge of political spin. A look at how politicians and their campaigns are using the internet for influence and motivation, and how you can best find and report on political stories.
For next week: Team reports on election—blog/soundslides/video—student teams will cover, voting, last minute push, campaign headquarters, reaction.
Post to BU Election site
Other opportunities:
BU Today wants to showcase BU political bloggers: "BU Today wants commentary on every polling gain, policy debate, and political gaffe, and we'll publish them right up until the ballots are cast. If you want to be part of the conversation, send your blog's url to today@bu.edu."
MassVOTE is launching it's first ever video contest, Eye on Democracy. We are looking for 2-3 minute videos that reflect the voting experiences of Massachusetts residents on Election Day 2008. There is a top prize of $2,500 as well as 5 regional prizes of $500. As is says on our website http://www.eyeondemocracy.org/
Also check out links on Big Media Wants You.
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Video & Video Blogging Examples: Rocketboom, The UpTake, Sacramento Bee, Nashua Telegraph Teaching: Recording with a cell phone, video camera, and posting Tools: Video Camera, Webcam, Cell phone, YouTube, BlipTV, iMovie, Final Cut, Premiere
November 6 Election Report- In class
Review work: Review/edit postings and work on Ning site
Review final project ideas--revised webflow/storyboards
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Political Reporting
November 13 Dreamweaver/Website creation
Use of Dreamweaver for creating website.
Next week, work on creating pages that map to your webflow story boards/graphics/etc
Here are instructions on embedding your soundslide in Dreamweaver
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Crowd Sourcing
Examples: WBUR-Listener Photo Project , NowPublic, GasBuddy, Accident Watch , istockphoto, stockphotopro
November 21 Review of progress on final projects
4-5pm Focus Presentation: Steve Garfield: Citizen Journalism
December 5 Final Projects Presentation
The project will contain original news reporting and content that will provide a compelling multimedia look at a story. The project must include 12-15 paragraphs of text and three multimedia elements-slideshow or video, blog. The student will present the project to the class, outlining successes, challenges, and learnings.
GRADING
You will be graded on your performance on projects, class participation and teamwork. You will be graded each week starting September 11th. For each class, you can achieve a top score of 7 points (70 total) The election report is 10 points and the final project is worth 20 points for a total of 100.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
I expect you to be in class and on time. If you cannot be there for some reason, please let me via email or phone call ahead of time. If you arrive late, you will be considered absent. Being absent can result in a reduction in your final grade (an A becomes an A-, etc). There are no “unexcused absences.” If you miss two classes, your overall grade be lowered 10 points. Missing three or more classes will result in a failing grade.
With each class lasting four hours, missing a class is a significant percentage of the course. Since this course is based on progressive learning, if you miss a class, you won’t gain the information that will allow you to be successful in the next class and project, and your work and grade will suffer.
DEADLINES
All assignments are due at the beginning of the next class. Assignments turned in one day late will get 10 points deducted from the grade. Assignments turned in more than one day late get a zero
EXPECTATIONS
Be sure to read and understand clearly the COM College policy on plagiarism (see below). In particular for electronic news students, this means you CANNOT use video or audio other than what you or your partner captured, without express permission. Even if you have permission from me to use a small amount of video from another source, you need to give it proper attribution. Additionally, it is a violation of copyright law to “copy and paste” from the Internet. You are not allowed to “double dip”, submitting an assignment produced for another class or media outlet. Your work should be your own, produced for this course.
PLAGIARISM-The College of Communication rules on plagiarism are applicable to this course.
Warning on plagiarism:
"Plagiarism is the act of representing another person's creative and/or academic work as your own, in full, or in part. It can be an act of commission, in which one intentionally appropriates the words, pictures, or ideas of another, or it can be an act of omission, in which one fails to acknowledge/document/give credit to the source, creator and/or the copyright owner of those words, pictures, or ideas. Any fabrication of materials, quotes or sources other than those created in a work of fiction is also plagiarism. Plagiarism is the most serious academic offense that you can commit and can result in probation, suspension, or expulsion."
This syllabus may be revised during the course of the semester.
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