Writing for New Media

MULT 3360 Syllabus Fall 2010 Tuesday/Thursday 2:05-3:30pm Class: FS 104

Professor Ikaika Hussey

College of Communication
Office Hours: Thursday 11:00pm-12:00pm or by appointment
E-mail: ihussey@hpu.edu; ikaikahussey@gmail.com
Office Phone: 262.458.4344

Course Description

This course covers writing and producing for emerging and traditional media, including online
and broadcast journalism. We will concentrate on the principles of writing for electronic media
more so than learning new technology skills, though we will address a variety of technology
options, including writing for online platforms, web producing, hypertext, still and gigapixel
photography, digital video and editing. The course requires creative and analytical
engagement, and you will write about what matters to you. Each student will be responsible
for writing and producing their own projects in a team-based environment. We will study the
evolving roles of communication technology, media concepts and industry terminology, and as
well a body of knowledge about visual design, narrative theory and production processes. We
will focus on narrative as a central concern of our engagement.

Course Blog: You are required to participate in the Hawaii Digital Media Blog at http://
hawaiidigitalmedia.blogspot.com. The blog is intended to facilitate discussion, contribution and
collaboration. You are also required to create and maintain YOUR OWN PERSONAL BLOG.
You must make a minimum of one blog entry per week that includes commentary on the local
and global political economy and other topics of interest. In other words, you are being cast as
an active participant in reporting on and analyzing this moment in history. Please send your
GMAIL address to Professor Hussey.

Everyone should be open to peer-to-peer teaching and learning as we engage with a variety of
technologies, media theories and practices. For students interested in pursuing media studies,
broadcasting and multimedia production, or for those wishing to work in the information and
entertainment industries, this class provides both a comprehensive background and a critical
perspective on contemporary electronic media and its vital role in global communications.

Required Texts:
• Online Journalism: Reporting, Writing and Editing for New Media, Richard Craig.
• Broadcast News Handbook: Writing, Reporting & Producing in a Converging Media
World, 2007, Third Edition, C.A. Tuggle, Forrest Carr and Suzanne Huffman.

http://hawaiidigitalmedia.blogspot.com for a handy list of new media and resource links.

http://www.gigapan.org to sign up for a gigapan account for the Gigapan Magazine Project.
www.hawaiipacificnews.com the HPN website. You will need to sign up as an online producer.
Required Tools:
Flash Drive for video and photographic materials and collaborative engagment.

Prof. Hussey, Writing for New Media

Recommended Tools:
Digital Still Camera, External Hard Drive, Video Camera, Digital Editing Software.

EVALUATION & GRADING:

Video Interview (10%): Write, produce and conduct a video interview with one of your
classmates.

Video Report (10%): With your HPN Team write, shoot and edit a video story for the HPN
website.

Blog Participation (15%): Weekly BLOG assignments.

http://hawaiidigitalmedia.blogspot.com

Gigapan Magazine (15%): Form a Team and create a Gigapan Concept and Location Shoot.
Create Narrative component, shoot concept, stitch and post on Gigapan Website, annotate/
metadata input, publish online with other course gigapans. Sign up for Gigapan Shoot begins
Week One.

HPN News and Information Producing and Writing (20%): You will function as Producers
and Writers for the Hawaii Pacific News and Opinion Website. You will be graded on
participation, the quality of your work and leadership. We will collaborate with each other, and
with other classes.

PORTFOLIO PACKAGE: (20%): Includes selected course work from semester with
appropriate digital images, links, and multimedia components. A complete description of
deliverables will be provided. DUE: May 15, 2010 at 1188 Fort Street Mall Suite MP333.

Attendance and Participation in Lectures, Screenings, Group Work and Student

Presentations (10%). This portion of your grade can include quizzes, so do the readings and
participate.

All assignments must be handed in on time; exceptions will be made only for extraordinary
cases (such as sickness) and official documentation is needed. If you miss an exam or quiz, it
cannot be made up without official documentation. Attendance is essential and will affect your
grade. All assignments must be completed in order to receive a passing grade.

Plagiarism in any form will be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs, can result in the failure
of the course, and may lead to dismissal from the University. Please consult your Hawaii Pacific
University catalogue for an outline of the Policy on Academic Honesty.

A An average of 94-100%
A- An average of 90-93
B+ An average of 88-89
B An average of 84-86
B- An average of 80-83
C+ An average of 77-79
C An average of 74-76
C- An average of 70-73
D+ An average of 67-69

Prof. Hussey, Writing for New Media

D An average of 64-66
D- An average of 60-63
F An average of 0-59

Grade F—Doesn’t meet criteria at all

Grade D—Below average in form and content. Does not adequately meet the standards and
does not show a sufficient level of achievement in the skills.
Grade C—Form and content are average. There is indication of a knowledge of the skills. The
assignment instructions have been followed and the work meets a certain standard but is not
outstanding.
Grade B—This is average to above average work. There is a high level of skill knowledge and
indication of a lot of effort put into the work. The final product is inspiring.
Grade A—This work is exceptional. It is creative, technically sound and insightful.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Communication Skills—This course explores the business of electronic media as a

dominant form of global communication. Students will develop their own
communication skills through in-class activities and assignments.
• Global Systems—Electronic media has expanded beyond geographic footprints and
national boundaries and is truly a globally networked phenomenon. This course will
explore this reality through participation and analysis.
• World Cultures—Electronic media has become a worldwide industry. This course will
explore what that means for our cultural identities, and give students the opportunity to
explore and contrast media from different areas of the world.
• Values and Choices—Ethical behavior and social responsibility must be part of all
information distributed through legitimate information channels. This course will
explore such expectations.
• Research and Epistemology—in addition to textbook assignments, students will be
required to do in-depth exploration of technology and social issues related to mass
communications, personal expression and multiple media literacies.

Course Schedule

Week 1 Sep 7 & 9 Introduction to Course
Introductions.
Discussion: What is media? How is it consumed? How is it produced? What does it do?
Reading: Chapter 1 & 2 Online Journalism Text Book

Assignment: Respond to article (article will be distributed via email)

Week 2 Sep 14 & 16 Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0

Reading: Tim O’Reilly and John Batelle, “Web Squared: Web 2.0 Five Years On”
K. Hayle, Writing Machines Preface, pp. 4-7; Chapter 2, pp. 19-33
HPN: Producing & Writing Roles
Meeting: Class meeting on GIGAPAN Magazine project. Break into Teams.

Week 3 Sep 21 & 23 The Interview

Reading: Chapters 3, 4 & 5 Online Journalism Text Book
3

Prof. Hussey, Writing for New Media

Assignment: Interview someone from class. Post interview on blog. Prep interview for video
shoot.

Week 4 Sep 28 & 29 IP, Copyright and Fair Use

Reading: Hand Outs on Documentary and Fair Use
Assignment: Shoot two-person interviews with class. Collect data on Flash Drive, Post to
Youtube.

Week 5 Oct 5 & 7 Reportage: Stories and Leads

Reading: Chapter 2 & 3, Broadcast News Handbook
Practicum: Digital Editing

Week 6 Oct 12 & 14 New Media and Visual Design

Reading: Chapter 8, Online Journalism Text Book

Week 7 Oct 19 & 21 HPN Review

Reading: Chapter 13 Online Journalism Text Book

Week 8 Oct 26 & 28 Screenwriting & Story Structure

Week 9 Nov 2 & 4 Audio-Visual News Story Forms

Reading: Chapters 7 and 8 Broadcast News Handbook

Week 11 Nov 9 & 11 HPN Video and Photo Reports

Reading: Chapter 9 Broadcast News Handbook

Week 12 Nov 2 & 4 Online and Journalistic Standards

Reading: Chapter 14 Online Journalism Text Book

Week 13 Nov 9 & 11 Ethics

Reading: Chapter 15 & 16 Online Journalism Text Book
Chapter 13 Broadcast News Handbook

Week 14 Nov 16 & 18 GIGAPAN REVIEW

Week 15 Nov 23 & 25 Looking Ahead

Week 16: Nov 30 & Dec 2 HPN Review, 2:05-4:20pm

Week 17: Dec 7 & Dec 9

DUE: FINAL PORTFOLIO

Prof. Hussey, Writing for New Media