Electronic News Gathering (revision: Multi-Media Journalism)
Instructor: Prof. William (Bill) Kovarik,
School of Communication, Radford University
Email: wkovarik @ radford.edu
Instructor office hours: Via Zoom by appointmentClass web: https://revolutionsincommunication.com/journalism
RU Undergraduate Catalog Listing
Instructional Method: Four hours lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisites: COMS 104 and COMS 130 (completed with a “C” or better), or permission of instructor. Instruction and practice in news reporting for electronic media (for example, television, radio, cable, web). Introduction to various formats and professional standards. Includes news gathering from participants, experts, libraries and online sources. Emphasis placed on campus news and beat coverage. Discussion of national and international issues when reporting in the different media.
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Welcome
Hello. I’m Professor Bill Kovarik, your instructor for COMS 304. I’ve worked as a news reporter, photographer and editor for over 30 years as well as serving as a professor at Radford and other universities. You can learn more about my background at https://billkovarik.com/bio/
About Journalism
Journalism is needed like never before. Journalists are among the few people who can act independently, serve the public interest, and search for the truth about issues of public significance. Public service solutions-oriented journalism can make a positive contribution to the life of a community.
There’s never been a better time to go into journalism. Yes, the field is crowded, the obvious opportunities are limited, and many publishers are in trouble. But there is still a need for information and ways to understand the world around us. This is, after all, the information age.
General learning goals for COMS 304:
- Journalism standards and ethics
- Voice and standup training
- Shooting and editing audio and video
- Writing news for radio and TV
- Reporting for radio and TV
- Creating portfolio sites for audio and video work
The class
Class resources
- The Learning Management System at RU is called Brightspace D2L. You access this through a web browser and your university log-in. This includes D2L Modules, and each one has instructions, learning goals, links to reading materials, lectures, slides, discussions, quizzes, and other active learning projects.
- Textbooks — https://revolutionsincommunication.com/journalism/
Also chapters in e-texts via RU library and the web as assigned in D2L modules
Topics and learning objectives fall into three categories:
- Journalism Perspectives — Understand basic information about the field, including public service information gathering, professional ethical codes, and resources for further training. We’ll also apply critical perspectives to the profession and consider new skills and ways to enhance personal and organizational revenue.
- Media Skills — Photos, videos, podcasts, web posts
- Reporting / Professional skills — Reporting, writing, editing and posting/publishing
The weekly routine is based on the topics and easy to follow through the D2L modules. For each topic area, each week, you will enjoy:
- Perspectives: a) Watch or read the journalism perspectives assignments in the weekly module; b) take a quiz; and c) participate in a class discussion about the assignments
- Skills: Watch, read, and practice the media skills module
- Reporting: Consider, pitch, plan, source and then work on a reporting assignment.
Assessments and work flow
Assessment — Course grades will be based on a combination of participation, written research, and performance on quizzes and exams. To earn an A in the class, score at least 90 out of 100 possible points in these categories:
- Attendance, discussion & involvement – 10 percent
- Quizzes and small warm-up assignments – 15 percent (in D2L assignments)
- Five News packages – 75 points – (post scripts to D2L, video & audio to web)
- Uh-oh: Missing deadlines — Five point reduction in Assignments or Pkg grades per week
Work flow — News packages must be on your portfolio site before the deadline. Scripts and warm-up assignments may be turned in through the D2L system. Papers should have your name in TWO places: both on the document and inside the document. So you would turn in a file with the name Smith.Research1.docx or Jones.Script1.txt Also, when we open the document itself, it should also have your name, date, slug, contact and related media info in the upper left hand corner.
Submitting papers — Exercises and research papers should be turned into Assignments (drop box) in the D2L/Brightspace system. Papers should have your name in both the name of the document and inside the document. So you would turn in a file with the name Smith.Research1.docx or Jones.MovieReview.txt Also, at the beginning of that document, you should also have your name and the name of the exercise in the upper left hand corner.
Late submission — We’ll need to keep up. A penalty of five points per week is the penalty for late submissions. During a time of coronavirus and quarantine, some people may need extra time to cope with their own sickness or a relative or friend. We will be understanding of these issues while urging you to keep your work up to date. Late penalties are not draconian and may be further eased if you have proof of illness. Keep the instructor informed.
Class Policies
Attendance: We don’t know what the heck is going to happen with Coronavirus, the Delta Variant and all that. We may be able to hold in-person classes all semester for everyone, or we may have to revert to synchronous or asynchronous zoom classes, or perhaps mix up the various class modes. We will be guided by RU health policies and by policies set by the Virginia Dept. of Health and the US CDC. Some weekly contact is needed, whether in class or via zoom. Attendance will be taken and more than ten percent absence will result in proportional grade reductions. Accommodations and formal excuses for illness will need to be arranged through the Disabilities Resources Office.
To begin with, we’ll try to have a normal in-person semester and see how it goes.
Masks – The one exception to “normal” may be that protective health masks will have to be worn. As of August, 2021, Tech and UVA are mandating masks. Wearing a mask is entirely reasonable under the circumstances and an outright refusal to wear a mask in class or on assignment will cause serious problems.
Class motto in the time of coronavirus — Stay positive. Test negative.
University policies
Academic integrity, as pointed out in the Standards of Student Conduct, prohibits falsification, cheating, forgery and other dishonest academic practices. Students who have problems in this area will fail the course and be reported to the dean’s office. Plagiarism is particularly serious for journalists.
Honor Code: By accepting admission to this university, each students makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the honor code without compromise or exception.
Confidentiality — Discussions about your grade or other aspects of your life at RU are kept in strict confidence by the instructor under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). This means the instructor will be happy to talk with your mom or dad, but only with your permission.
Disabilities policy: If you are seeking academic accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act at Radford University, you are required to register with the Center for Accessibility Services (https://www.radford.edu/content/cas/home.html) After submitting documentation to the CAS office, you will set up an interview with a specialist to discuss accommodations. You will be notified via email once your accommodation package is complete and ready to be picked up. Once you have picked up your accommodation package, you will need to meet with each course professor during their office hours to review and discuss your package. For more information and/or for documentation guidelines, visit www.radford.edu/dro or call 540-831-6350.
Copyright: Absent any written contracts to the contrary, all materials generated in and for this class are owned by the student who created them, and no one else.
General university policies on student conduct are available here: http://www.radford.edu/content/dam/departments/administrative/policies/StudentAffairsPoliciesandProcedures/SA-PO-1300_StandardsofStudentConduct.pdf
Technology requirements
- Two SD Cards for HD or 4K video (Speed Class 10 Mb/s or higher). Cards should have 16 gb of storage or more. (SD cards available at the bookstore, Walmart, etc).
- Access to computer with web browser, pdf reader, text editor
- Phone camera, voice recorder, video recorder (all may be on your camera)
- Video camera, tripod / must have or be able to borrow through SOC equipment system
REAL Designation (mostly irrelevant)
This course is designated an “L” type Applied Learning Course under the “REAL” system.
The Learning Goal of an L course is:
- To explore professional practice through the application of knowledge, skills, and critical reflection.
The Learning Outcome of an L course is:
- Students apply acquired knowledge and skills to develop professional identity or professional practice.
- Students critically reflect on their learning, abilities, experiences, or role within professional contexts.