Lee University Syllabus for Fall 2005

TCM 242 - Basic Broadcast Journalism

 

INSTRUCTOR: Mary Phillips Dukes         WM107: Sec. A: MWF  1:00 to 1:50pm

EXTENSION: 8225                                     OFFICE: Dixon Center 101D

OFFICE HOURS:  MWF 11:00 – 12:00pm, MW 2:00 – 3:00pm; R 2:30 – 4:00pm

 

TEXTS:

Stephens, Mitchell (2005). Broadcast News. 4th Ed. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.

Kalbfeld, Brad (2001). Associated Press Broadcast News Handbook: A Manual of Techniques and Practices. McGraw-Hill: New York

 

 

UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT:  Lee University seeks to provide education that integrates biblical truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures with truth discovered through the study of the arts and sciences and in the practice of various professions.  A personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the controlling perspective from which the educational enterprise is carried out.  The foundational purpose of all educational programs is to develop within the students knowledge, appreciation, understanding ability and skills which will prepare them for responsible living in the modern world.

 

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  This course provides instruction and practice in the specialized field of writing for broadcast journalism.  Course content includes mechanics of news gathering, writing and reporting for broadcast.  Class is held in a production/workshop environment.

Prerequisites: TCM 230, TCM 235, ENG 110                                         3 hours credit.

 

I.          PURPOSE   

This course will provide students with an opportunity to learn the skills required to gather information and present it to the public in various forms of broadcast journalism.  Students work in a newsroom environment and explore all aspects of creating a broadcast news program.

 

II.          OBJECTIVES OF COURSE

 

A.        General Learning Objectives

This course seeks to:

1.         Demonstrate proper format and structure of broadcast news stories.

2.         Introduce concepts of clarity and concise writing necessary for broadcast journalism.

3.         Relate classroom exercises to broadcast applications.

4.         Explain information gathering and interviewing techniques for broadcast.

5.         Survey the ethical concerns of broadcast journalism.

6.         Understand the use of sound and visuals in broadcast reporting.

 

B.        Specific Behavioral Objectives

As a result of the activities and study in this course, the student should be able to:     

1.         Create broadcast news stories for radio and television applications.

2.         Apply interviewing and information gathering skills to create a news story.

3.         Demonstrate competency in the format and structure of writing broadcast news stories.

4.         Differentiate between broadcast news writing and print journalism.

5.         Explain the ethical considerations of broadcast journalism.

6.         Demonstrate the proper use of sound and visuals in broadcast reporting.

 

III.         TOPICS TO BE COVERED

A. Characteristics of broadcast writing

B. Selecting stories and news values

C. Lead writing

D. Interviewing techniques

E. Radio news forms

F. Television news forms

G. Producing a newscast

H. Combining words, pictures and sound

I.  Story structure and mechanics

 

IV.        INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

A. Lectures by the instructor

B. In-class writing assignments

C. Classroom discussions

D. Guest lecturers in the broadcast field

E. Group writing assignments

F. News event coverage exercises

 

V.        RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS

A. Readings from the textbook

B. Writing projects

C. Participate in classroom discussions and exercises

D. Exams

E. Final Project Newscast

 

VI.        EVALUATION

A.  Evaluation Activities

            1. Writing projects                             35%

            2. Examinations                                30%

            3. Class participation                       10%

            4. Quizzes and exercises                 15%

            5. Final Project Newscast                10%

 

            B. Grading Scale

                        A = 90 - 100

                        B = 80 - 89

                        C = 70 - 79

                        D = 60 - 69

                        F = 59 and below

 

VII.       STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Lee University is committed to the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Students who think they may qualify for these accommodations should notify their instructor immediately.  Special services are provided through the Academic Support Program.

VIII.      ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

As a Christian community of scholarship, we at Lee University are committed to the principles of truth and honesty in the academic endeavor.  As faculty and students in this Christian community, we are called to present our academic work as an honest reflection of our abilities; we do not need to defraud members of the community by presenting others’ work as our own.  Therefore, academic dishonesty is handled with serious consequences for two fundamental reasons: it is stealing – taking something that is not ours; it is also lying – pretending to be something it is not.  In a Christian community, such pretense is not only unnecessary, it is also harmful to the individual and community as a whole.  Cheating should have no place at a campus where Christ is King because God desires us to be truthful with each other concerning our academic abilities.  Only with a truthful presentation of our knowledge can there be an honest evaluation of our abilities.  To such integrity, we as a Christian academic community are called.

 

IX.        READING LIST

 

Alan, J., & Downs, H. (2001). Responsible Journalism: A Practical Guide for Working and Aspiring Journalists. Chicago: Bonus Books.

 

Attkisson, S., & Vaughan, D.R. (2003). Writing Right for Broadcast and Internet News. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

 

Boyd, A. (2000). Broadcast Journalism: Techniques of Radio and Television News (5th ed.). Boston: Focal Press.

 

Chantler, P., & Stewart, P. (2003). Basic Radio Journalism. Boston: Focal Press.

 

Hewitt, J. (2002). Air Words: Writing for Broadcast News (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

 

Hilliard, R.L. (2004). Writing for Television, Radio, and New Media (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

 

Keller, T., & Hawkins, S.A. (2002). Television News: A Handbook for Writing, Reporting, Shooting and Editing. Scottsdale, AZ: Holcomb Hathaway.

 

Mayeux, P.E. (2000). Broadcast News: Writing and Reporting (2nd ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.

 

Papper, R. A. (2002). Broadcast News Writing Stylebook (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

 

Sterling, C.H., & Kittross, J.M. (2001). Stay Tuned: A History of American Broadcasting (3rd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

 

Sanders, K. (2003). Ethics and Journalism. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 

White, T. (2002). Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing (3rd ed.). Boston: Focal Press.

 

 

Revised 8/24/05