Course Description

In Multimedia Journalism, students will be introduced to topics related to multimedia journalism. Topics covered will include the new media profession, Web credibility, online reporting sources, cyberlaw including libel and copyright, blogging and podcasting, and basic multimedia design. Students will both critique and create online materials.

Objectives

 

Email

You must use an active Texas State email account.   Communication via TRACS uses your Texas State email, and the university is required to send grade information out only through the Texas State email system.   Contact the instructor, if you have questions. Make sure you check your email on a regular basis, as schedule changes will be communicated there as well as on our course site.

Course Requirements

Textbooks:

Required:
Foust, Online Journalism, 2005. Available at Bookstore and online. Online resource site: http://olj.hh-pub.com/index.php

Briggs, Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive, 2007. Download at http://www.kcnn.org/resources/journalism_20/ . It's free!

Special Office and Lab Hours:

Cindy's office hours are T/Th 12:40-3:30pm in OM 224. As necessary, she may hold special lab hours during project times.

Late Assignments and Attendance

Assignments for this course are challenging and fun, but the class moves very quickly, so you will not want to fall behind. Missed assignments will receive a grade of F. A student may turn in one (1) assignment late during the semester, if there is an excused reason with prior arrangement with professor. Any other late assignments will receive a grade of F.

Attendance is important in this course. You may have three absences without penalty throughout the semester. For the fourth and fifth absence, your final course grade will be reduced by 10% each. After the fifth absence, you wll be encouraged to drop the course or you will receive an F. There are no excused absences, sickness and work-related absences must be covered within the three. Because we cover so much ground in this class, it is no coincidence that the best projects historically have been turned in by the students with the best attendance.

Students (and teachers, too) often learn best from one another, so an open environment is encouraged. Ask questions and help each other.

We will start class at 11am. It is important that you show up on time, as announcements tend to be made early, and you could miss valuable information. If you arrive later than 11:05am, you will be marked as late. This can effect your participation grade, as well as your ultimate course grade.

Supplies and Equipment

You will need a USB storage device to save a backup of your files. You will also receive access to a shared folder on the department server, but it is best to have a backup on disk.

You will be invited to participate in the course Blog (hosted on Blogger). You will receive instructions for signup in class. The contents of the blog will be on the Web and available for all the view.

In addition, you will be using a TX State Web server acct for your personal Web sites (unless you already have another means of hosting your site). Instructions will be provided in class for accessing your TX State Web server account.

Students should also have a TX State email account that they check frequently. This will be the main method of course communication.

Equipment Checkout - We have two digital still cameras and two DV camcorders assigned to this class. Please contact me in advance if you want to check one out. You will be allowed to keep it from one class period to the next (i.e. checkout on Tues, return on Thurs.), so plan your shoots accordingly. On the day you return a still camera, you must download your photos and delete them from the memory stick at the first available lab time and return the camera to the Instructor (n/a for camcorders, as you will be using your own tape). To reserve a camera for a specific date, email me.

You MUST return the camera(s) in full working order on the following class period. It is important to respect other classmates' needs to use the equipment. No Excuses will be accepted. Failure to return the equipment on the next class period will result in an automatic reduction of 10% from your final course grade, and your equipment checkout privilege will be revoked for the remainder of the semester.

You are responsible for the equipment that you checkout. Failure to return any equipment due to loss, damage, theft or any other reason will result in the replacement value of that equipment being charged to your TX State account.

Student Conduct

In this class, you should feel comfortable to participate and express opinions and ideas. Please respect the opinions of others and be considerate of their need to contribute and learn. Turn off cell phones before entering class, and do not take calls during class. Do not use your phone for text messaging during class. Surfing the Web, checking email, IMing or other non-related activities during class are not acceptable. Please do not have private conversations with your neighbors during class time, whether the instructor or other students are talking.

Any student who does not adhere to these conduct policies will be asked to leave the classroom. In general, please be respectful of others desire to learn and help to create a fun and beneficial classroom environment.

Student work will be displayed on the Web, which means that it will be available to anyone with Internet access and a browser. Please see the instructor if you have any concerns about posting your projects to the Web.

Academic Honesty

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication commits itself to the preparation of mass media professionals and scholars.   Such a mission demands the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.   Violations of academic honesty, including but not limited to plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, collusion, deception, conflict of interest and theft, are not tolerated and can lead to severe penalties.   Disciplinary actions for violations of the standards for academic honesty are outlined in the Texas State Academic Honesty Statement, printed each year in the Student Handbook.   The policy is also available at http://www.mrp.txstate.edu/studenthandbook/rules.html#academic .

Note to Students with Disabilities

Texas State University seeks to provide reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with disabilities.   This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws.   Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at (512) 245-3451, and register with that office. ODS is located in Suite 5-5.1 at the LBJ Student Center.   If you are a student with a disability certified by ODS and you require accommodations in this class, it is your responsibility to notify the professor no later than the fifth class day of this semester so that accommodations can be discussed and promptly provided.

Instructor may notify you of changes or updates to policies in this syllabus throughout the semester.