Video Journalism

Broadcast Journalism Course Description and Syllabus

    This class is designed to give students a real life, hands-on experience in writing, filming, editing, and broadcasting the news.  We will be running the news station Stapley Network News, or SNN which broadcasts a daily live program following SSR.  The daily program is a brief compilation of that days announcements lasting approximately five to six minutes.  In addition to the daily announcements, the class will also produce a weekly program highlighting the weeks activities, promoting upcoming activities, interviewing guests, and featuring various segments of student interest.  This program will be longer, lasting between twenty and twenty-five minutes. In order to accomplish this, students will be trained in the following areas:

Video filming                                                               News Production

Video editing                                                               Interviewing Techniques

Teleprompter operation                                               News writing and reporting

   All students will be trained in all areas listed above.  However, they are not required nor guaranteed to be a news broadcaster.  We need both technical and on-camera talent. All students interested in being news anchors will need to audition.  Once students demonstrate adequate skills for on-air delivery, they will be assigned to the schedule.   They may audition at the beginning of each quarter.

   As we progress as a news team, different students will naturally be stronger in different areas, and job assignments will be based on those strengths and abilities. The first goal is to produce a high quality program for the Stapley audience.

   Since many activities occur after school and some evenings, students will be required to cover a minimum of 2 after or before school activities per quarter.    In addition, we will be working on deadlines, and often, in order to meet those deadlines, students will have to come into class early, or spend some after school time editing, filming, writing, or whatever is needed.  This is a reality of the nature of this type of class, and students who are not willing or able to put time in beyond the class room should not be in the class.

   This is the fourth year the class has been offered, but the fifth year we have broadcast a daily news show.  With having an actual class full of trained and ambitious students, I am confident we will achieve producing high quality broadcasting that we and the entire Stapley community will enjoy and be proud of.  In fact, we have started a tradition of excellence with award-winning participants in the Mesa Public Schools Moviefest, and hope to continue.

How are grades determined?

    Initially there will be quizzes, tests, and skill checks during the training portion of the class.  Once students have passed specific areas of training, they will be assigned jobs related to those areas.  On the completion of each job, students will receive a Job Review with a point valued grade.  At the end of the grading period, all points will be added together and the letter grade will be determined by the percentage scale listed below:

90 - 100%  = A
80 - 89%    = B
70 - 79%    = C
60 - 69%    = D
0 - 59%       = F
    Students are responsible for filling out time sheets and documenting how they spend their work time each day.  This is a HUGE part of their grade.  With 16+ students all working on different projects  and at different stages, it is impossible for me to track all of their progress unless they document themselves.

    Since this class is an elective, and students had to go through an application process in order to be enrolled, I am confident that they will be motivated to do well and will be very successful.  This is an exciting process to be a part of, and I am looking forward to sharing it with you.  Please call me with any questions.  472-2787