JMC 231-N: Photojournalism Spring Term 2017

Class meets: Wednesday evenings: 6:30-9:30 pm – Lied Art Center, Rm 101 Instructor: Kirk Hirota Phone: 879-0670 (cell--preferred) Email: [email protected] Office hours: Wednesdays 6:00-6:30 p.m., Lied Art Center, Rm 101

Introduction:

This course gives students an introduction to newspaper photojournalism and will develop the photographic and visual skills needed to create a compelling news image. Each week students will shoot a variety of documentary-style assignments that will be viewed and critiqued at the following week’s class. In general, these assignments will require the students to produce storytelling images from real situations as opposed to set up or staged photos. Students will also learn the critical importance of meeting a deadline, accurate caption writing skills, and professional presentation of a portfolio.

Prerequisites:

Students must possess a working knowledge of the basics of photography and the operation of their own camera. While having a digital SLR would be ideal, a point-n- shoot of at least 4 megapixels will suffice. A working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop or Elements, or other imaging program would be helpful. Students will need a USB thumbdrive to transfer/submit their digital files.

Course objectives:

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

Understand the concept of photojournalism and how it differs from other forms of photography. Interact effectively with their subjects to create compelling, storytelling images and complete and accurate caption information. Apply learned advanced photographic techniques to improve their images. Successfully capture images in the areas of news, feature, sports, portrait and picture story categories. Honestly and effectively provide a well-written self-evaluation of each assignment.

Photography is fun—especially when you combine your knowledge of the subject, your camera, the lighting and environment to capture that “magic” moment. Even if you don’t pursue a career as a photojournalist (but I hope a few of you might) the knowledge you gain from this course will serve you well each time you press the shutter button, no matter what you’re taking a picture of.

This course will focus on the following Communication Studies departmental goals:

1. Be aware of the relationships between the theory and practice of journalism or speech communication and the student's faith or worldview. Students will be able to articulate the relationships between their faith or worldviews and communication theories and practices. Students will explain how their values, beliefs, and attitudes inform their approach to human communication. Students will explain how their understanding of human communication theory and practice informs their faith or worldview.

2. Demonstrate writing skills required to excel in an entry-level communications- related job and/or graduate school. Students will be able to gather information and present it clearly, concisely, accurately, coherently and creatively to a target audience. Students will present information both to more formal academic and to mass audiences. Students will demonstrate careful, honest and imaginative work at each stage of the writing process: in generating ideas, gathering and organizing information, and revising their work.

3. Demonstrate public speaking and presentation skills required to excel in an entry- level communications-related job and/or graduate school. Students will be able to gather information and present it to culturally diverse audiences. Students will be comfortable and confident in delivering successful oral presentations that inform or persuade their listeners. Students will be able to represent themselves and their own viewpoints, as well as the viewpoints of others. Students will demonstrate preparation at each stage of the speaking process: in generating ideas, gathering information, focusing their thoughts coherently and logically, preparing a draft, rehearsing delivery, utilizing language, visual aids, and presentation technologies effectively, and critiquing presentations.

4. Demonstrate interpersonal skills required to excel in relational, cultural, and technological contexts. Students will be able to accurately analyze interpersonal communication situations, and to make appropriate communication decisions based on those assessments. Students will demonstrate appropriate skills in human perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, listening, self-presentation, conflict management, and relationship development.

5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills required to excel in the intellectual, professional and personal dimensions of life. Students will be able to apply higher level thinking skills to human communication situations. Higher level thinking skills include: application of communication principles in the classroom and beyond; analysis of the parts, organization, arrangement, relationships and principles of communication; synthesis of parts of communication to produce unique communication messages; and evaluation of communication by making appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative judgments of communication; practice defining, resolving and defending sound ethical decisions.

6. Understand fundamental historical, theoretical, sociological, and legal concepts underlying communication. Students will be able to assess and explain the significant of primary historical and contemporary influences shaping communication. Students will be able to critically examine and analyze the effects of technological developments. Students will be able to articulate the value of free expression for communication professionals and for our democratic society.

Resources:

Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach by Kenneth Kobré, 6th edition, Focal Press, 2008 The Spokesman-Review The Whitworthian Instructional handouts, readings, URL links and video presentations are included in the Course Documents and Assignments sections of Blackboard.

Deadlines:

In the real world if you’re a newspaper photographer that continually misses a deadline, you’ll quickly find yourself out of a job. They’re not called “dead” lines for nothing. So in this class, deadlines will be taken very seriously. Assignments are to be turned in on or before the due date. However, if you have a special or unavoidable circumstance that is approved by the department chair, a short extension might be considered. Assignments not turned in by the deadline will not be accepted and will receive 0 points. Photos will not be accepted unless they have complete and accurate captions and meet size and presentation requirements.

Grading:

Attend class, participate in class discussions and submit your work on time and you should receive a passing grade. Most of your grade will be based on the quality of your submitted photographs. Photos will be evaluated for content, quality and whether the learning objectives for the particular assignment were met. I’ll be looking at subject matter, news value, photo quality (in focus, good contrast, properly cropped) and composition. Accuracy and content of your caption information will also be evaluated.

There is a total of 1500 points possible in this course. Each photo, caption and self- evaluation submitted will be graded on a 100-point scale, except for the photo story assignment which will be worth 200 points. Quizzes will be worth 50 points each. Class participation throughout the course will also be worth 100 points, and attendance will be worth 50 points. Here is the point breakdown:

9 regular assignments 900 pts. 1 Photo Story 200 pts. 5 quizzes 250 pts. Class participation 100 pts. Attendance 50 pts. Total points 1500 pts.

Other than the photo story and multimedia response assignments, students may reshoot any assignment in an effort to replace a lower grade. If you missed a deadline on an assignment and received a 0, you may reshoot the photo for a maximum of 25 points.

An extra credit option may or may not be offered by the instructor.

Attendance:

In the real world if you’re a newspaper photographer that doesn’t show up for work, you’ll quickly find yourself out of a job. So attendance, like deadlines, will be a critical factor in your grade. Since we will meet only once a week, you will be excused from class only if: Give advanced notice that you’re participating in a Whitworth-sponsored activity. Assignments must be submitted prior to deadline. Personal illness or family emergency. Contact me prior to class. Unexcused absences will lower your final grade.

Plagiarism:

Presenting another’s work as your own, or staging photographs (other than portraits) to appear as documentary news, feature or sports photos will result in a failing grade for that assignment and potentially for the course.

“Please note that I take extremely seriously the university’s policy on the need for academic honesty in all your work. I refer you to the Whitworth Catalog, and the current Student Handbook, where guidelines on plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are spelled out. Any form of dishonesty in an assignment will lead to a zero on the assignment, and I reserve the right to give a grade of F for the course as well. In addition, instances of plagiarism can either be reported directly to the associate provost of instruction or submitted through an Early Alert from.

Special needs and accommodations:

Whitworth University is committed to providing its students access to education. If you have a documented special need that impacts your ability to learn and perform to your potential in the classroom, you will need to contact the Educational Support Office (ESS) in Student Life to identify accommodations that are appropriate. Students must contact ESS each term in order to have accommodations implemented (i.e. active). Services are not retroactive.

Contact Information Katie McCray, Coordinator for Educational Support Services Phone: 509.777.3380 Email: [email protected]

Title lX:

Whitworth University faculty members are committed to the well-being of each student. It is common for students to discuss non-course related issues with faculty and, when possible, faculty will keep such conversations strictly confidential. However, because federal law views faculty members as mandated reporters of any incidents of sexual misconduct, if a student informs a faculty member of an issue of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination, the faculty member is required by federal law to bring it to the attention of the Title IX Coordinator, Rhosetta Rhodes. The Title IX Coordinator will make the student aware of all options and resources available to them under Whitworth University policies and under the law.

There are Whitworth University employees whom federal law does not view as mandatory reporters, to whom a student could speak without the conversation being reported to the Title IX Coordinator. These include counselors in Counseling Services, and any of the university chaplains on the staff of Campus Ministries.

Contact Information Rhosetta Rhodes, Title IX Coordinator, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Phone: 509.777.4536 Email: [email protected]

Counseling Center: 509-777-3259; Schumacher Hall

Campus Ministries: 509-777-4345; Seeley G. Mudd Chapel

Non-discrimmination:

Whitworth University is committed to delivering a mission-driven educational program that cultivates in students the capacity to engage effectively across myriad dimensions of diversity. Whitworth University is committed to the fair and equal treatment of all students in its educational programs and activities. The University does not discriminate against students based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability and complies with all applicable federal or state non-discrimination laws in its instructional programs.

Fair and equal treatment:

Whitworth University professors strive to treat all students fairly and equally, applying the same rigorous standards and expectations to each of our students and working to invite students from all backgrounds into the challenges and rewards of our academic disciplines. Students who have concerns about classroom fairness should contact Dr. Randy Michaelis, McEachran Hall 218, 509.777.4402, [email protected].

Quantity of Time for Class Preparation:

The time spent in class preparation may be just as important as the time in class itself, and each course is a valuable part of your education. Therefore, expect to average between 6 and 9 hours each week in class preparation time for each three-credit course. The syllabus outlines due dates for assignments and tests. Please schedule your preparation time anticipating that items for this class may come due at the same time as items for other classes, both in and out of your major. The quantity of time spent preparing for each class generally correlates to the final grade earned.

Tentative Schedule:

Students should bring their camera gear and a thumbdrive to transfer images and documents for the assignments to each class.

The following class schedule may be subject to change:

February 1 Introduction/syllabus/Blackboard review. Small group activity: Types of photography. Small group discussion: What is photojournalism? Principles of Journalism. Basic photography principles and techniques (www.photonhead.com). Exercise: Shoot 1 example of each of the following: Maximum depth of field, minimum depth of field, available light, and utilizing your flash. Reading: Kobré chapters 1—Assignment, 7—Photo Editing. Bring gear next week.

February 8 Review/discuss reading. Critique/edit DOF, available light and flash photos. Basic Photoshop editing tools and techniques. What’s a good caption? 10 Things to Make Your Photos Better. In-class exercise: 1-hr. candid photo hunt. Reading: Kobré chapter 4—Features.

February 15 Quiz 1 on chapters 1, 4, 7. Review/discuss reading. Critique/edit examples from 1-hr. candid hunt. Feature photo lecture. What is “news value”? Small group activity: Find 2 possible feature photo opportunities (use Visualize a Photo Op). Assignment: Shoot Feature Photo #1. (Deadline: 2/22/17). Reading: Kobré chapter 15—Ethics, 16—Law.

February 22 Feature Photo #1 due at END of class. Gallery Walk/discussion. Review/discuss reading. Small group discussion on ethical/legal scenarios. News photo lecture. Critique/edit feature photos. Assignment: Shoot General or Spot News Photo #1. (Deadline: 3/8/17). Reading: Kobré chapter 2—Spot News, 3—General News.

March 1 Quiz 2 on chapters 2, 3, 15, 16. Critique student feature photo examples. Review/discuss reading. DVD: Fire! Photojournalist, or National Geographic: At Close Range or Art Wolfe. Troubleshoot any camera or Photoshop issues. Critique/edit news photos.

March 8 News Photo #1 due at START of class. Gallery Walk, discussion. Portrait photo lecture. Research good examples of journalistic portraits. Small group activity: Brainstorm portrait ideas (use Visualize a Photo Op). Assignment: Shoot Portrait Photo #1. (Deadline: 3/15/17). Reading: Kobré chapter 5—Portraits, chapter 6—Sports.

March 15 Portrait Photo #1 due at START of class. Gallery Walk, discussion. Review/discuss reading. Sports photo lecture. DVD: Inside Sports Illustrated (?) Quiz 3 on chapters 5, 6. Review upcoming sporting events schedule. Assignment: Shoot a Sports Action OR a Sports Feature photo. (Deadline: 4/5/17).

March 22 TBA

March 29 No Class—Spring Break

April 5 Sports action or sports feature photo due at START of class. Gallery Walk, discussion. Photo Story lecture. Small group activity: Brainstorm possible photo story ideas (use Visualize a Photo Op). Assignment: Shoot Feature Photo #2. (Deadline: 4/12/17). Assignment: Shoot a photo story or photo essay. (Deadline: 5/17/17). Reading: Kobré 10—Covering Issues, 11—Photo Story

April 12 Feature Photo #2 due at START of class. Gallery Walk, discussion. Quiz 4 on chapters 10, 11. Photo Illustration lecture Small group activity: Brainstorm ideas for photo illustration (use Visualize a Photo Op). Assignment: Shoot News Photo #2. (Deadline: 4/26/17). Shoot a Photo Illustration. (Deadline 5/3/17). Reading: Kobré chapter 14—Illustration.

April 19 Guest speaker?--TBA Review/discuss reading. Critique/edit News 2, photo story photos. Troubleshoot/review shooting or photoshop issues.

April 26 News Photo #2 due at START of class. Gallery Walk, discussion. Critique/edit photo illustration and/or photo story photos. Assignment: Shoot Portrait Photo #2. (Deadline: 5/10/17).

May 3 Photo Illustration due. Gallery Walk, discussion Multimedia lecture. Critique/edit photo story photos and text. Reading: Kobré chapter 12—Multimedia. Assignment: Multimedia link and written response. (Deadline: 5/10/17).

May 10 Portrait #2 AND Multimedia response due at START of class. Gallery Walk and Multimedia share out. Quiz 5 on chapters 12, 14. Critique/edit photo story photos and text. Any assignment reshoots due. Extra credit due (if offered). Begin student photo story presentations.

May 17 Photo Story/Essay due at START of class. Complete student photo story presentations. Wrap up.