Outline

Overview

This unit will give students a grounding in reporting for Television Journalism as well as Video for online publication from the idea to final story. Students will learn how to record video using professional standard equipment. Students will also learn how to script and edit sound and vision for Television reporting packages. Students will learn about production planning - including multi-camera Television Studio operations - as well as the ethical and legal considerations which underpin current multimedia and convergent working environments.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Media and Communications
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	MECO6900
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Alison Ray, alison.ray@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Alison Ray, alison.ray@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Vox Pops Shoot at least 4 vox pops NOT with 6924 class members and edit into 1:00 pk	20%	Week 06 Due date: 03 Apr 2020 at 17:00 Closing date: 03 Apr 2020	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Major Project Brief Description of project; how you'll shoot, who you'll interview and abstract	20%	Week 09 Due date: 27 Apr 2020 at 17:00 Closing date: 27 Apr 2020	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Feature video a 4 to 6 minute video on social disrancing and coronavirus	60%	Week 12 Due date: 24 May 2020 at 17:00 Closing date: 27 May 2020	4-6 minutes
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to MECO6924, the assignments and the cameras LS 120	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 02	Cameras tripods and sound: TV Studio	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 03	Cameras sound and lights: TV Studio	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 04	Shoot Assignment 1 Vox Pops: MEET at DMU at start of Seminar	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 05	Editshare and editing: LS 120	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 06	More editing -writing for pictures: LS 120	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 07	More edits, sound and graphics: LS 120	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 08	Interviewing and reporting TV Studio	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 09	Editing revision, scripting Assignment 2 due: LS 120	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 10	TV studio roles and practice; TV Studio	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 11	TV studio production and editorial meeting: TV Studio	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 12	TV news presentation, TV Studio	Seminar (3 hr)
Week 13	Final TV bulletin with your 2min packages compiled in studio. PKGs due at start of week.	Seminar (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Week

Seminar

Readings/ Assignments

Seminar Location:

Brennan (A18) Lab LS 120

Introduction to the course and the assignments and due dates.

The portable equipment booking system.

Introduction to the cameras.

Readings:

Barbara Alysen The Electronic Reporter

3rd edition /

Chapter 6 "Sources Of News”

You MUST have read : The Quick Start Guide to using the cameras on Canvas

TV Studio in Education Building. (A35)

Please Note: No thongs (flip flops) No Food No Open Drink Containers No sandals or open toed shoes allowed!!

More on JVC Cameras and gathering sound.

Readings:

Jim Owens and Gerald Millerson

Video Production Handboook "Using the Camera" Pages 133-189

Television Production by Jim Owens16th Edition. Chapter 14 Audio for Television pages 254 to 284

TV Studio Education Building

Camera sound and lights.

By now you need to know who you will work with for your first and second assignments.

Readings:

Blain Brown

Cinematography Theory and Practice.

Lighting Basics Pages 101 to 128

TV Studio.

Students will shoot at least 5 Vox Pop during class time to edit into a one minute package.

DO NOT INTEVIEW Class mates from 6924. NO reporter PTC. NO 2 shots. Final edit due week 6

Readings:

Gail Sedorkin Interviewing : a guide for journalists and writers [ 2nd ed.] / Chapter 5 : The questions.

LS 120

Editshare and Introduction to Editing

Sign into LinkedIn to get to Lynda.com for CC tutorials outside class times.

Readings:

Roy Thompson

Grammar of the edit. Chapter 5: General practices for editors

More Editing and writing to pictures.

Readings:

Broadcast News and Writing Stylebook 6th Edition.

Robert A Papper

TV: Story Forms Pages 140-163

Assignment 1 Due 1700 Friday April 3

Story structures and how to pitch

EASTER BREAK

APRIL 10 TO 17

TV Studio

Education Building

Interviewing and reporting techniques.

Reporting and story telling techniques for TV News

Shooting a PTC.

Radio microphones and natural sound.

Readings:

Feature and Narrative Storytelling for Multimedia Journalists by Duy Linh Tu.

Chapter 6: Field Production

Ivor York Television News / Chapter 9 Reporting Techniques

Vin Ray

“The television news handbook” / Chapter: 2.7 You

ANZAC DAY SAT APRIL 25

Class Location LS 120

More on editing sound and supers as well as colour adjustments

Readings:

Christopher Brown.

Grammar of the Shot. Chapter Five-Will it Cut? Shooting for editing

Five C's of cinematography : motion picture filming techniques by Mascelli, Joseph V. Pages 196-244 Composition

Assignmment 2 due May 1 at 1700

Class Location:

The TV Studio

TV Studio roles and production practice

Readings:
Martha Mollison

Producing videos : a complete guide / Chapter 28 excerpt: Studio layout and equipment.

Chapter 29 excerpt: Studio roles.

Chapter 32 excerpt: Studio procedures.

Class Location: The TV Studio

TV Studio Production rehearsal and Editorial Meeting for final show

Layton, Charles

Video explosion

TV Studio

TV News Presentation

TV Studio

Final TV Bulletin Packaged

Assignment 3

Due Monday Midday MAY 25

Please note that during weeks 10 to 13 while classes run in the TV Studio LS 120

Is available for other classes to edit their TV News packages.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate an understanding of what is required to produce television and video packages of broadcast quality with the following technical skills: operating a camera; presenting to camera; video and audio editing
LO2. display sound editorial judgment and professional, journalistic writing skills
LO3. express a thorough understanding of news values
LO4. communicate news in an engaging and creative way
LO5. demonstrate an awareness of the role of visual journalism in a convergent production environment.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

New cameras have been purchased as well as new tripods for this unit. Assignment 1 has been changed - it is not feasible to organise media conferences with more than 90 students enrolled. It is now a series of short interviews which will be shot in class time of week 4 and then you learn to edit by compiling these interviews during class time.

Additional information

Please purchase at least ONE 32 GB CLASS 10 Ultra SD card to record your vision and interviews.

You should also pruchase a 1 TB external hard drive to back and copy all the material you shoot.

We use MACS. If you have a hard drive – but it is formatted for a PC – you will need to reformat the drive. BEWARE Reformatting a drive erases all documents, videos and any other files on the drive.

Additional costs

SD cards Class 10 at least 32 GB, AA batteries for lights and some microphones

Work, health and safety

Please wear shoes with a closed toe when we are wrking in the TV Studio .

NO thongs, sandals, flip flops or open toed shoes. This is a safety issue, students who wear inappropriate footwear will be asked to leave the TV Studio.

NO food or drink is allowed in the TV Studio, the control rooms or the labs.

If the BIG RED LIGHT is on wait outside until the studio door is opened. Pounding on the door is not acceptable professional behaviour

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MECO6924: Television and Video Journalism

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect