JR590 Online Publishing

Course JR590, Online Publishing Phone 617-824-8964 (Michelle Johnson

4 Credits, Tuesday 6-9:45 617-353-1744 (Ned Brown)

Instructors Michelle Johnson & Ned Brown E-mail Michelle_Johnson@emerson.edu

nedbrown@gmail.com

Office Walker Bldg., #615, 120 Office Monday, Wednesday 4-6

Boylston St. Hours Thursday 2-4 or by appointment

Course Description, Objectives

Online Publishing is a capstone course designed to introduce students to advanced
methods of producing news for online. This is primarily a design and production course,
however we will also briefly review journalistic standards such as news judgment, ethical,
legal and copyright issues as they relate specifically to online.

The course will explore the latest technologies used to combine text, photos, graphics,
video, audio and animation to create online news and examine how emerging social
networking tools are being incorporated into news sites to create coverage that is
uniquely suited to the web.

As students learn various web production technologies, they will design and develop an
online portfolio showcasing their best work. This portfolio will be suitable for submission
with a job or internship application.

Online publishing is not just about technology. As news organizations shift their focus to
the web and look to develop economic models that will improve the chances for long-
term viability of the industry, they are seeking journalists who “think entrepreneurial” as
well as multimedia.

Therefore, guest speakers who are involved in implementing new ideas and cutting-edge
online strategies will be invited to share their perspectives with the class. Multimedia and

Page 1
news producers and editors who can offer stories from “the frontlines” will also be invited
to speak. Note: Because they are busy professionals whose availability may vary, we
have not listed specific dates for their appearances.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course students will know how to:
• Create an online news package “from scratch” as well as from a Flash template.
• Use equipment such as a digital cameras and digital audio recorders to turn
around content for online.
• Edit video and audio, and process still pictures and graphics for online.
• Use basic HTML, XHTML and CSS tags to design a web page or edit template files
used by content management systems that adhere to professional standards.
• Identify and correct web accessibility issues.
Class Structure, Requirements
Classes will consist of a mix of technology workshops, lectures, discussion, and a weekly
quiz. We will have a 30-minute dinner break or dismiss class early.

This course will require a significant amount of work outside of class to complete
homework and other assignments. You should expect to spend between 6-12 hours
outside of class working on practice exercises, reading and other assignments each
week. You MUST complete the reading and homework if you expect to do well on the
weekly quiz and keep up with the class.

Course Policies & Attendance

Please turn off all mobile devices before class: cell phones, iPods and other MP3 players.
No texting, Facebook, or unauthorized web browsing while class is in session. Reserve that
sort of thing for before, after and during class breaks.

Critiques: You will be called on to critique the work of your classmates and debate issues
in this course. There may be times when you disagree with another student’s comments.
You will be expected to deal honestly, but professionally, with your classmates and the
instructor of this course.

Attendance for this course is not optional. We will be covering a large amount of
material each week. If you get behind, it may be difficult to catch up. You are expected
to be in class each week, on time.

If you have an illness or emergency and must miss class, e-mail or call one of the
instructors BEFORE class. If your illness or emergency can be documented, your absence
will be will be excused, however, you will be expected to complete any assignments that
you missed. Missed assignments are due by the next class.

Page 2
If you must miss a class for reasons other than illness, prior permission is required and you
will need to make up the missing work. Let one of the instructors know as soon as possible
if you must miss a class. Multiple unexcused absences will affect your final grade.

If class is cancelled due to inclement weather, assignments are due the next class.

Required Texts

Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training HTML, XHTML & CSS For Dummies
Todd Perkins, 2007 Ed Tittel, Jeff Noble, 6th Edition (2008)
Book included a CD with practice exercises. Note: You will have to purchase this book
Available at the Emerson bookstore or online. online. Please buy the 6th edition only.

Other reading assignments will be posted on the class web site. Details to come. All
reading assignments should be completed BEFORE class.

Course Materials
Students are responsible for their own consumables. This includes items such as AA
batteries.

USB Drive – Not required, but recommended. You may want to use a USB drive to
organize and transport your files and assignments. Tip: Put your name somewhere on the
stick so that you can be reunited in the event that you leave it in a lab or elsewhere.

Compact Flash Card – If you do not already own one from a previous course, please
purchase a card that’s 1GB or higher. This card can be used in the cameras and audio
recording equipment that you will be allowed to check out of the EDC. For prices and
more on purchasing a CF card, see: http://journalism.emerson.edu/resources/cfcard.htm

Page 3
Software - While you are not required to purchase software for this course, you will need
access to a number of programs to complete homework, assignments and your portfolio.
If you do not already own this software, you will need to structure your time so that you
can work in a lab to complete these assignments.
You will need access to the following applications:
Microsoft Office (Word, notepad)
Adobe Flash CS3 or later
Adobe Photoshop CS3 or later
Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 or later
Audacity (This audio editing program is available as a free download)
Soundslides Plus (Trial version available at soundslides.com)

Note about the Adobe software: Adobe has recently released a new version of their
Creative Suite, CS4, which includes Flash, Photoshop and Dreamweaver. The version of
these programs available in our labs is CS3. If you purchase or download trial versions of
these programs, please be aware that you will face some incompatibilities if you do not
save your work in a format that can be accessible in CS3.

Midterm and Final Exam

We won’t have either! But…class will meet on our scheduled final exam day.

Quizzes
There will be a weekly quiz to assess whether you have learned the technical skills or
ideas covered in reading assignments and practice exercises.

Design Assignments
There will be five design assignments due throughout the semester. See the course
schedule below for due dates. You will receive a separate handout which will outline the
requirements for these assignments.

Final Project/Portfolio
As a capstone course, one of the major requirements of this course is production of an
online portfolio. This portfolio is meant to demonstrate your knowledge of Flash, CSS,
Photoshop, etc. Use of templates is not encouraged, since the idea is to show off your
own skills, however, with approval from the instructors students may use templates as
long as they credit the originator.

Content in your portfolio MUST BE journalistic and approved in advance.

Page 4
Portfolios will consist of a web site that includes:
• An “About Me” page.
• Contact information.
• A resume.
• Five examples of your best work. These may be “re-tooled” pieces that you
worked on during the semester or new stories/examples.

Additional details about the portfolio will be handed out later in the semester.

Grading
You can earn a total of 100 points for the course. Points are allocated as follows:
Quizzes - 10 points
Design Assignments - 30 points
Attendance & Class Participation - 10 points
Portfolio - 50 points

Plagiarism and Fabrication

(Excerpted from the Academic Policy Committee and approved by the Faculty Assembly May,
1983, and updated and approved by Faculty Assembly, October 2005.)

“Plagiarism is the use of the words and ideas of another as if they were one's own and without
acknowledgment of their source. Plagiarism is stealing, and constitutes a serious offense against
any ethical code, be it scholastic, artistic, or professional. Plagiarism can be committed
intentionally, or it can happen inadvertently, due to careless note-taking, or to a lack of
knowledge of the conventions by which sources are credited, or even because of a
misunderstanding on what constitutes original thinking. Plagiarism is unethical in any context.”

There is nothing more central to the credibility of journalism and to the trust of readers, listeners and
viewers than the implicit promise that every journalist makes to the public that the information
provided is accurate, original and truthful. Journalists who fabricate stories or portions of them, or
who steal the work of others and pass it off as their own, undermine not only their careers, but the
careers of other journalists, the public’s trust in the Fourth Estate and the credibility of the entire
profession. This department will not tolerate plagiarism or fabrication — any student caught doing
either will automatically fail and will face possible suspension from the college. Ignorance is not a
defense when it comes to plagiarism, fabrication and/or cheating. If you have a question about
attribution, ask.

Disability Statement

If you have a disability that may impact your performance in this class, please register with the
Disability Services Coordinator so that you can work together to develop methods of addressing
needed accommodations.

Page 5
Course Schedule
Note: This schedule is not written in stone. It may be revised due to availability and scheduling of
guest speakers and as news events warrant. Updates to the schedule will be posted on the course
web site. Assigned reading and practice exercises should be completed BEFORE class.

Week Topic Reading, Assignments, In-class

1. Jan. 20 Course Introduction

Overview of web design in News
2. Jan. 27 Intro to HTML & Dreamweaver HTML, XHTML & CSS For Dummies
FTP Chapters 1, 2, 20, 22
In-class: Quiz 1, HTML Workshop
3. Feb. 3 Web Site Design HTML, XHTML & CSS For Dummies
XHTML, Typography, Linking Chapters 3-6
In-class: Quiz 2, Typography & Color
Workshop
4. Feb. 10 Images HTML, XHTML & CSS For Dummies
Intro to Photoshop, using a digital still Chapter 7
camera, photo galleries, slideshows Photoshop, SoundSlides handouts
Legal, ethical, copyright issues. (posted on class web site)
In-class: Quiz 3, Photo Workshop
Design Assignment 1: Photo Gallery, Due.
Feb. 24
5. Feb. 17 No Class. Monday Schedule

6. Feb. 24 More Site Design HTML, XHTML & CSS For Dummies
Intro to CSS, Color Theory, Tables, Chapters 8-11
Content Management System (CMS) In-class: Quiz 4, Critique Design Assignment
templates. 1, CSS Workshop, overview of CMS.
Design Assignment 1 Due
Design Assignment 2: Web page, CSS
Layout. Due March 3.
7. Mar. 3 Intro to Flash, Maps Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
How Flash is used in News today. Chapters 1-3
Using Google Maps to add context In-class: Quiz 5, Critique Assignment 2, Flash
to stories. Workshop, Map Exercise.
Design Assignment 2 Due
8. Mar.10 No Class. Spring Break

9. Mar. 17 Video Adobe Flash CS3 Professional

Shooting video for the web. Editing
video with MovieMaker.
Incorporating video into HTML and
Flash.
Chapters 4-6
MovieMaker handout (posted on class web
site.
In-class: Quiz 6, MovieMaker Workshop
Design Assignment 3: Video, Due March 24

Page 6
10. Mar. 24 Audio Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
Gathering sound, editing audio Chapters 10-12
Podcasting Journalism 2.0, Chapter 7 (posted online)
In-class: Quiz 7, critique assignment 3, Audio
Workshop.
Design Assignment 3 due.
Design Assignment 4: Audio, due March 31.
11. Mar. 31 Search Engine Optimization, Analytics Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
Chapters 13-15
In-class: Quiz 8, critique assignment 4, Flash
workshop, SEO, Analytics exercises.
Design Assignment 4 due.
12. Apr. 7 Social Networking Tools Adobe Flash CS3 Professional
Chapters 16-19
In-class: Quiz 9, Flash Workshop
Design Assignment 5: Create a Flash news
package, due April 14.
13. Apr. 14 Entrepreneurship Work on Portfolios
Design Assignment 5 due.
14. Apr. 21 No Class. Monday Schedule

15. Apr. 28 Work on Portfolios

May 5 Scheduled Final Exam Time Critique Portfolios

Page 7