Point Park University Spring 2011 Jour 280 Introduction to Multimedia

Instructor: Office: Phone: Email: Dana C. Hackley 912 Thayer Hall Office: 412-392-4732 Cell: 412-303-4110 dhackley@pointpark.edu

Required Textbook: Journalism Next by Mark Briggs ISBN: 9781604265606 Multimedia Journalism by Andy Bull ISBN: 9780415478236 Course Description:
This course will provide an introduction to the practice of multimedia journalism. Students will learn about writing for online publications and blogging, In addition to writing, students will learn the basics of photo galleries, data collection and designing informational graphics, video and audio for the Web, RSS feeds and other relevant topics. The course will also provide a comprehensive overview into the current practices in the industry. Prerequisites: JOUR 103, 151

Course Objectives:
The objective of this course is to learn the theory, history and practice of new media technology and the changing workplace for new media journalists. The course will cover the use of social media, the Internet and multimedia technologies including audio, video, blogging, information graphics and web design. The course will consider issues of accuracy, credibility and ethics. Assignments will simulate professional media activities. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental and advanced concepts of the emerging world of new media technology and online journalism. Students will study existing online journalism sites and have a full understanding of the genre and industry. Students will be technically proficient in web publishing and be able to design a functional online journalism news site. Students will learn the theory and practice of multimedia technologies including social networking, audio, video, blogging and information graphics. Students will learn the theory and practice of online news writing and its implications in the current industry.

Method:
This is both a theory course as well as a practical lab course in computer publications. Most news gathering, writing and design assignments will be real world, college life assignments. Each student will create and maintain a blog and social networks throughout the semester, in addition to other multimedia assignments and quizzes on the readings and lecture.

Grading for the course will consist of the following:

Blogging Microblogging/ Social Media Mobile applications Photo projects Audio projects Video projects Info graphics Final Project Class Participation 20% 10% 5% 10% 10% 10% 10% 20% 5%

Total Grading:
A 93-100 4) 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 84-86 B- 80-83 C+ 77-79 C 74-76 C- 70-73 D+ 67-69 D 64-66 D- 60-63 F <60

100%

Absence Policy:
Students are required to attend all classes, arrive on time and be prepared for class. Because this class is structured in such a way as to emphasize teaching hands-on software, attendance is mandatory. In the event of an emergency or an absence, please notify the instructor in advance so that he/she can prepare effectively for you and the other students in attendance. A student missing class must contact a classmate to find out about anything they may have missed. Missing more than four classes will result in a penalty of one letter grade.

Library:
The Library is located in the University Centre at 414 Wood Street. Many resources are available 24/7 through the Librarys web page and if youre off campus, you can access the databases and e-books by using your Point Park University e-mail password and log in. Librarians are available to help you find the resources you need for your research. Contact the Library at 412-392-3171, in person, by e-mail at library@pointpark.edu, through IM or by texting to 66746 and starting question with pointlib.

Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990, and needing reasonable accommodations, should notify the Program for Academic Success (PAS), 701 Lawrence Hall, extension 3870, as early in the semester as possible, preferable during the first week of classes.

Plagiarism policy:
The following is the School of Communication Academic Dishonesty Policy: Any student detected engaging in academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade (F) for the assignment or exam in question, and may receive an F for this course, at the discretion of the instructor. A second offense automatically results in an F for the course. In JOUR 101, academic dishonesty includes: 1) Looking on another students work during an assignment. 2) Allowing another student to look at your work during an assignment or exam. 3) Working on homework assignments with anyone else (unless a group project is assigned) or using anything other than assigned sources; in-class and out-of-class assignments must be completed by only you; plagiarism of any kind, to any degree, will result in an F for the assignment and possibly the course. 4) Turning in essentially the same work for two different courses during the same or different semesters (double dipping) without explicit, prior approval of both courses instructors. The School of Communication Faculty will follow and adhere to the universitys policy on plagiarism as described in the Student Handbook. Students receive a copy when they enter the university. If you do not have a copy, please let the instructor know.

Course schedule
Week / Date Week 1 January 17

Tentative Course Schedule Topic Chapter/Assignment Due Review syllabus Briggs, Chapter 1 Introduction to multimedia What is news? RSS Feeds Bull, Chapter 1 RSS Feed Assignment Briggs, Chapter 2 Bull, Chapter 2 Blog Title Assignment Briggs, Chapter 4 Blog creation

January 19

Week 2 January 24

Blogging

January 26 Week 3 - January 31 February 2 Week 4 February 7 February 9 Week 5 February 14 February 16 Week 6 February 21 February 23 Week 7 February 28 March 2 Week 8 March 7 & 9 Week 9 March 14 March 16 Week 10 March 21 March 23

Setting up blogs Blogging/Microblogging Promoting blogs/Social Media

Briggs, Chapter 5 Social Media assignment Mobile Journalism Briggs, Chapter 6 Mobile assignment Photo galleries Photo gallery assignment Briggs, Chapter 7 Audio on the Web Briggs, Chapter 8 Audio assignment Briggs, Chapter 9 Video assignment Briggs, Chapter 10

Video on the Web

NO CLASS Spring Break Interactive Graphics Final Project discussion Making a Community

Making a community assignment

Week 11 March 28 March 30 Week 12 April 11 April 13 Week 13 April 18 April 20 Week 14 April 25 April 27 Week 15 Dec 17

Open Source Software Open Source Software Assignment Final Project Lab Day Final Project Lab day

Bull, Chapter 18

Getting a job in multimedia Getting a job assignment

Final Project Lab day Final Project Lab day

Finals Week

Present final project