MCOM 407 Schedule

Spring 2012
MCOM 407/507.001 | Tuesdays, 3:30-6:10 p.m. | VB 209
MCOM 407/507.002 | Thursdays, 3:30-6:10 p.m. | VB 209

Dr. Stacy Spaulding | office hours | email | @drspaulding

Week 1 | Jan. 31, Feb. 2

Writing warmup | Introductions

What this class is about | Navigating the website | Syllabus

Assignment prep | Newstrust signup | Racial tension simmers on Martha’s Vinyard | Mfume not running in mayoral race |  Problems abound for vacant homes’ neighbors | A mission to transform Baltimore’s beaten schools

Week 2 | Feb. 7, 9

Due

• Read Stepp Chapters 2&3, the blogpost on anniversary journalism, and the syllabus
• Backgrounder: You’ll research your beat, posting and reviewing at least five pertinent news stories on NewsTrust. The purpose of this assignment: 1) to help you get a handle on what’s been published on your beat–and what hasn’t, and 2) to help you understand how to critically review journalism. Deliverable: Email the instructor the link to your NewsTrust profile.
• Story memo #1: You’ll write a one-page summary of the beat you’ve chosen on our theme this semester: anniversary journalism. What’s been written about? What hasn’t been written about? What are the key sources? What significant issues will your three-part project address? Here’s a good example of this memo. Deliverable: A one-page memo, typed and printed out by the beginning of class.

Writing warmup: What’s the hook? What’s the conflict?

Discussion: Writing as craft and magic.

Assignment prep: Newswriting review: redundant and wordy phrases, sentence structure, direct leads.

Week 3 | Feb. 14, 16

Due

• Read Stepp ch. 4&5
• Starter #1 the news brief. The purpose of this news brief is to 1) get you started making contacts and understanding the issues of your beat early in the semester, and 2) to demonstrate your writing skills and give me an idea of what you need help with. I’m looking for a short news article with a strong news angle in the lead and at least two sources, 300-400 words. Deliverable: typed, double spaced, printed and handed in at the beginning of class.
• Story memo #2. Now that you’ve researched your beat and interviewed at least two people on it, you should have an idea of what your project will be about. I’m looking for a succinct summary of your series, along with an outline of your stories, sources and multimedia for the semester. Deliverable: typed, double spaced, printed and handed in at the beginning of class. Here’s an example of what this memo should look like.

Writing warmup AP Style review | peer review

Discussion The qualities of good writing, ideas and reporting.

Assignment prep Photo composition

Week 4 | Feb. 21, 23

Due:

• Read Tompkins 1&6
• Starter #2: photo/video composition. We’ll review basic composition, particularly the rule of thirds, framing, and the five-shot sequence. The assignment: Find someone on your beat physically doing something. Shoot and post photo slide show that exhibits good composition on the following six shots: close up of hands, close up of face, wide shot, over-the-shoulder view, creative angle, interview shot. For a review on photos, read: The Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency 7, 8, 9. To review the five-shot rule, see this BBC video, Venice pier gets its fill and this handout. Deliverable: Edit and post the six shots–with cutlines–to a blog and email the professor the link at the beginning of class.

Writing warmup: Interviewing

Discussion: Finding the focus and shape of your story

Assignment prep Slideshow basics

Week 5 | Feb. 28, March 1

Due:

• Read Tompkins 3

• Starter #3 You’ll keep practicing photo/video composition, this time creating a slideshow with audio or a short video feature. For a review on sound and soundslides, read: The Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency 3, 4, 10, 11. For video, read 12, 13, 14. Deliverable options: 1) a soundslides presentation uploaded to your public Dropbox folder. (Here’s how to do it.) Bring the link to class. 2) a slideshow edited in iMovie, MovieMaker, or other software and uploaded to YouTube. Bring the link to class.

Writing warmup Numbers

Discussion Finding and interviewing characters. Finding and writing your first story.

Guest speaker 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday Steve Luxenberg | Thursday Michael Olesker

Week 6 | March 6, 8

Due: Story #1 rough draft, Stepp 6, 7

Warmup: Leads

Discussion: In-class draft review.

Week 7 | March 13, 15

Due: Story #1 final draft with photo, multimedia.

Spring break | March 20, 22

Week 8 | March 27, 29

Due: Tompkins 7, 11

Warmup: Pictures and sound

Discussion: Story reviews

Guest speakers 4:30-5:30: Tuesday, Julie Scharper | Thursday, Bruce Goldfarb

Week 9 | April 3, 5

Due: Story #2 rough draft, Stepp 10, 11

Warmup: Punctuation

Discussion: Writing and polishing features. In-class draft review.

Week 10 | April 10, 12

Due: Story #2 final draft with photo, multimedia.

Page One screening with Brian Stelter (Assignment handout: .docx)

Week 11 | April 17, 19

Due: Tompkins 18.

Warmup: Coding

Discussion: Enterprise & Adventurous multimedia

Week 12 | April 24, 26

Due: Story #3 draft, Stepp 8, 9

Discussion: Writing features. In-class draft review.

Week 13 | May 1, 3

Due: Story #3 final with photo, multimedia

Discussion: SEO and The final website

Week 14 | May 8, 10

Due: Website

Discussion: Website review | The two-minute pitch

Optional revision of one story/photo/multimedia package

Final Exam | May 17 | Best in Show Awards | 3-5 p.m.