Rt 310 Broadcast Newswriting

RT 310-02 – Writing News for TV, Radio and the Internet Professor Eileen Waldron

RT 310-002 Electronic News Writing – Fall 2013 9:35 am-10:50 am Comm 1205 Office : Comm 1056e Cell: 317 938 2905 Office Hours: 3 – 5:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (If I’m not in 1056e at these times, check the RREE Newsroom) Other times by appointment Email: [email protected]

Cell Phone Policy: When you enter the classroom your cell phones should be on silent and stowed in a backpack or purse. Calls or texting are not allowed during class. If you ignore this once you will be marked absent but you must stay in class. If you continue to ignore this policy your grade will drop one grade for each incident. Computer policy: This is a computer lab so if there isn’t a class in the room, you are allowed to use the computer before or after class. Once class begins you are to log out of Facebook or email. There is no personal computer use during class. If you ignore this once you will be marked absent but you must stay in class. If you continue to ignore this policy your grade will drop one grade for each incident. Attendance: Only two absences are allowed, so use them wisely. Being late to class is not allowed. Once I close the classroom door you are not allowed in and you will be marked absent. Please see me after class if you have a problem with this. (ie: a class right before this one)

This class will teach you how to write for people who catch their news on radio, TV or the internet. You will learn how to write for the ear, how to write to video and how to use sound from interviews for radio and TV. Roughly one fourth of the semester will cover writing news on the internet. The class will also cover everything from terminology to legal issues in broadcasting.

Many times you will be writing on deadline in class in a computer lab. You will learn the basics of a computer news software program as you write. You are also encouraged to experience some real deadline pressure by working at WSIU-FM, WSIU- TV, or other local radio and television stations.

Class participation is a must, especially as we discuss issues like broadcast ethics, libel law and using public records in reporting. Class attendance is a must because many writing assignments are done during class time.

Class Communication: We will communicate through Desire2Learn: online.siu.edu This SIUC site is where I will post my electronic syllabus and make any announcements related to the class. I will use this to email everyone in the class. If you need to write a return email please enter this into the subject line: 310-last name. Printing: You will all receive a $7 credit on your debit dawg account. You must have your card with you in class to be able to print. TEXT: Broadcast News Handbook; Writing, Reporting & Producing in a Converging Media World, Fifth Edition / C.A. Tuggle, Forest Carr, Suzanne Huffman. Online site: http://www.mhhe.com/tuggle4e. Click on student edition. Click on writing from video exercises. Book can be rented from the SIU bookstore for about $40.

REQUIREMENTS:  Daily exercises from the text and handouts  Laboratory stories as assigned  Faithful attendance and participation in and out of class  Quizzes at the discretion of the instructor  Work or volunteer at River Region Evening Edition, either in the newsroom or for production  Your own Headphones

RESOURCES:  Access to a computer  Access to daily newspapers, radio, and TV

GRADING: Written exercises and assignments 20% Midterm* 20% Current Events quizzes 15% Weekly news or production shift 5% Final Exam* 30% Class participation and attendance 10%

Participation in class is a major part of the learning experience. Two absences will be allowed without any penalty. After that any absences will require a note from a doctor, coach, or parent. If you are covering a legitimate news story for WSIU-FM or RREE additional absences may be allowed if prior arrangements are made with the instructor. Being late to class is not allowed. Once I close the classroom door you are not allowed in and you will be marked absent.

In the real world radio and TV newsrooms are deadline driven environments. Consequently late stories will not be accepted. Pop current events quizzes may be given at any time, so read the newspaper, watch TV News and surf the web. Extra credit work is at the discretion of the instructor. If you know that you cannot be at a class session to hand in scheduled work, email your assignment. The emails must be received BEFORE the scheduled class session begins.

I am aware that sometimes circumstances come up. Therefore, one makeup quiz (not exam) session will be scheduled to allow those students who missed a quiz to establish a replacement grade for that session.

Most Important Things You Will Learn

* What is news ? *Conversational writing for eyes and ears *Good Reporting, researching *Attribution *Writing Good Leads *Choosing the best sound from interviews * NPR style reporting *Writing To Video *Using Natural Sound *Basic Rundown structure *Basics of NewsKing-newsroom writing software * Write online copy for web sites