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Photojournalism Syllabus MCOM 2743 CRN 24549

Spring 2015 T/TH 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Instructor: Mark Zimmerman School: University of Central Oklahoma College: College of Liberal Arts Department: Mass Communication Building Classroom: COM 105C Instructor’s Office Phone: 405-974-5174 Department’s Phone: 974-5303 Office Fax: 974-5125 Email: mzimmerman@uco.edu Office: COM 103D Office Hours: Monday 1-2 p.m., Tuesday 8:30-9:30 a.m. Wednesday 12-2 p.m., Thursday 8:30-9:30 a.m. Final scheduled for 11 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Thursday, May 7

Note: The instructor, in the best interests of the student, the department and the University of Central Oklahoma reserves the right to make any amendment(s) he deems necessary to this syllabus at any time during the semester. Amendments will be announced in class in a timely manner. The FINAL version of this document will be on D2L.

Course Prerequisites: ENG 1113, ENG 1213, MCOM 1123 MCOM 1133 and sophomore standing or above.

Course Description (from Undergraduate Catalog): Photojournalism integrates basic photographic skills with professional lighting techniques, media writing, and production methods to equip students to enter the field of photojournalism.

Course Objective: Upon completion of the Photojournalism course, the learner will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the skills needed to enter the professional photojournalism field and to develop those skills. Competency will be determined by successful completion of all assignments and by earning at least 70% of the points available in the course.

Specific or Enabling Objectives • Recognize the different types of photographs fit for publication.• Write AP style captions.• Use tools in creating Photo Illustrations.• Put together a multimedia photo story.

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Transformational Learning Outcomes

University of Central Oklahoma is a learning-centered organization committed to transformative education through active engagement in the teaching-learning interchange, scholarly and creative pursuits, leadership, global competency, healthy lifestyles, and service to others.

This course addresses 5 of the university’s transformative learning goals.

Leadership – This course requires that each student lead a discussion on their projects during a critique of their work.

Research – Students will be required to research and write about topics concerning different types of photojournalists.

Creative and Scholarly Activities – The assignments in this class require the students to think creatively and conceptually while building a portfolio that will help them with future employment opportunities.

Global and Cultural Competencies – Students will study and research photographs and photographers from throughout the world, exposing them to different cultures and social issues.

Health and Wellness – Photography is a subject that allows for students to discuss, challenge and document items that fit into the category of certain health issues. Students are encouraged to think about health and wellness topics while researching project ideas.

Standards: This is a three-credit-hour, upper-level class. The standards are demanding and, as in the professional field, dependability and the ability to work under time pressure and meet deadlines will be key in the evaluation of student performance. Publishing: All assignments are subject to publication. Publication in a news source (approved by instructor) will result in a 10-point addition to the project score (must present proof of published work to get credit). Required Supplies and Equipment: • Fully adjustable SLR Digital Camera with a minimum of 6 megapixels • A lens that is capable of capturing fast action under low light (maximum aperture of at least 2.8 recommended) • Digital media card (at least 1GB) • Extra battery for your digital camera • A portable electronic flash unit with capability of off-camera flash operation (extension

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cord or remote trigger) • a tripod • at least a 500GB or more mac-formatted external portable hard drive (no slower than 7200 RPM). You cannot use a thumb drive! • Headphones to use for editing your audio later in the semester. • Reporter’s notebook • Access to an AP Stylebook Optional Equipment • audio recorder with external microphone • additional portable flash units • pocket wizards • Adobe Photoshop CC • Audacity (free audio editing software) • Final Cut Pro X Recommended Text: Photojournalism, Sixth Edition: The Professionals' Approach ISBN-10: 075068593X ISBN-13: 978-0750685931 Hands-on computer experience Students will be required to work in class on Macintosh computers. Other computer labs may be available to work on assignments outside of class. Personal computers with Photoshop and the other necessary software (either Macintosh or PC’s) may be used for projects.

Attendance: The instructor’s definition of attendance is arriving to class on time and staying until class is dismissed. You are entitled to only 3 absences during the semester. These absences should be reserved for circumstances beyond your control, such as surprise transportation problems, illness, family emergency, funerals, etc. After the third absence, each additional absence will result in a 10 point deduction from your final average grade. The only excused absences will be for school-sponsored activities, jury duty, or short term military duty that requires your absence from class; you must present official documentation for these absences either in advance or within one week of the absence in order for it to count as an excused absence. Doctor’s notes do not count. Note: Leaving class early will be counted as an absence. Coming in more than 15 minutes late will be counted as an absence.

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Grade Requirements: 1200 points total from photojournalism assignments

Grading: 90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C 60-69% D 59 or below F Each student must use his or her own photograph(s) during each project. Failure to do so will result in a zero for the assignment and possibly failure of the class. Final Grade: Scores from all of the assignments plus the final project will be averaged together to determine the final grade. Image Quality This is an upper-level photography class. I will treat this as if you are working for me and all of your images are up for consideration for publication. I will grade on the following standards: Technical standards: sharpness, creativity, composition, lighting, correct color, proper exposure, use of equipment. Please don't see this as a "crimp in your creativity", see this as a challenge to produce professional work. My goal is for you to be able to use your images in your portfolio and to get your images published. Media standards: I will also grade on: news value, caption quality, your ability to record accurate information, professional journalistic practice, and capturing “the moment.” Students’ assignments will be critiqued and viewed during class or online. Deadlines: No projects submitted after the beginning of class on deadline days will be accepted for grading. Grades for such projects will be recorded as a zero. There will be no exceptions unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. Due to the nature of the assignments, extra lab time outside of class will be required. Writing Requirement: Each student will be required to write detailed captions for each photograph in Associated Press Style. This will be a huge part of your grade for each project.

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NOTE: You must have your student ID to be able to use the computer labs. OTHER RULES: I will not accept assignments via E-mail. All phones must be turned off or put on silent while class is in session. Do not answer your phone or send text messages during class. No instant messaging, checking personal email, visiting sites like myspace or facebook will be allowed. During class, do not browse the Internet or work on any other assignments that are unrelated to this course. Do not use computers during lectures. Cheating in photography courses Each student must use his or her own photograph(s) during each project. You cannot use photographs from your archive or images you find on the Internet. You must have taken all images this semester. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a zero for the assignment and possibly failure of the class. Expectation of Work: According to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, “It is expected that a full-time college student will spend time each week in class attendance and study approaching a 40-hour work week. A person employed on a full-time basis should not simultaneously expect to maintain a full-time schedule of classes. At the undergraduate level, this means that for each hour in class, a student is expected to spend at least two hours doing homework.” Standard UCO policy on such matters as withdrawals, incompletes, etc. will be observed.

Photojournalism Assignments Guidelines

If you get one of your photographs published in a genuine news publication (online or in print) you can earn up to an additional 10 points for the project. Proof of publication is required (either a screengrab or a clip). This does not count if you are working or interning at the publication (Vista, Oklahoman, etc.)

Other than the Photo Illustration, these photos must not be of family and/or friends.

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day of the deadline. NO EXCEPTIONS! Other than the portraits and the photo illustration assignment, PHOTOGRAPHS MUST NOT BE STAGED. In news photography you are not in control. You are just documenting what is taking place. Capture your subjects in a natural non-posed situation. Do not direct them. Any news assignments (except for the portrait and photo illustration assignments) that I find out is staged will receive an automatic “0”.

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NOTE: Photoshop is to be used only as your “darkroom” to make basic contrast and color adjustments, remove dust that was on your digital chip, and basic cropping, burning and dodging and sharpening. If I find that you have “manipulated” your images with Photoshop (cloning out items, etc.) you will receive a “0” on the assignment.

Always approach your subjects in a professional matter. In most cases always get names and contact info of your subjects. Remember, TIME, DATE, PLACE.

All photographs must have AP Style captions embedded in the “file info” box in Photoshop.

You will receive an incomplete if required information is not in your caption. You will have one class period after receiving your grade to revise your caption or a “0” will be given.

If a quality spot news photo is taken during the semester, it can be used as bonus points. I will add up to 20 points extra on your lowest score if you capture a spot news situation. Examples of good spot news photographs will be discussed in class.

I have made every effort to give you assignments that will help you experience what a photojournalist goes through in a typical workweek. Your goal for this course is to get published and use your best images in your portfolio.

All assignments will need to be handed in on the server in 105C before class on deadline day.

You will also need to set up a free Youtube account at http://youtube.com You will publish your final project to your account by the final deadline.

Assignments

Detailed assignment instructions will be uploaded to D2L

Portraits 200 points

1. Occupational portrait- 100 points

2. Sports Portrait 100 points

Photojournalism Singles 400 points

3. General news photograph- 100 points

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4. Weather feature- 100 points

5. Feature photograph- 100 points

6. Photo Illustration- 100 points

Sports 100 points

7. Sporting event photo package- 3 photographs 100 points

Group Project 200 points

8. Social Issue- Group Project 100 points (a total of 15 photographs) Each group member must produce 5 different photographs.

9. Final Multimedia Story 400 points

No longer than 3 minutes!

Each image should include a caption and the audio must be captured at the same place. This project counts as your “Final” for the class. Video may also be used to enhance the story.

This project will be graded in sections throughout the semester. If you wait until the last minute to shoot and edit this project, you will not pass this project. You will be graded on early critiques, edits, and overall improvement. It will be your responsibility to upload your progress on this project to your blog. Outside editors will be used throughout the semester to help with critiques.

The Department of Mass Communication provides both digital and conventional laboratory facilities or you may choose to have your processing and printing done commercially. The lab phase of your production must be such that you can make all deadlines required on the projects. STANDARDS: In order to qualify as a minimal "C" project, (70% of possible points) each class assignment must: A. Be executed according to the directions given in class B. Be reproducible in ink on offset presses.

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C. Be submitted on or before the beginning of class on the deadline day for the project. D. Be accompanied by an acceptable, separate, TYPED caption taped to the back of the print. Above this minimum, points will be added for visual impact and technical excellence.

D2L

I will use UCO's D2L system to post all grades and critiques. It is your responsibility to keep up with these critiques and communicate with me if you have any issues.

Critique Participation:

It is important that everyone participates in critiques. Your contribution (or lack of) will be determined during project evaluations.

Grading Rubric

Course Outline Tentative

week 1 1-13 introduction to class, requirements, assignments Discussing of photojournalism Examples 1-15 AP Stylebook- Caption writing week 2 1-20 Portraits- Assignment discussion 1-22 Strobist photography week 3 1-27 Multimedia photo stories 1-29 multimedia photo stories week 4 2-3 - Photo Story- Ideas 2-5 - Guest Speaker TBA

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week 5 2-10- Portraits due- Critique- must be on server and blog 2-12- Critique continued

week 6 2-17- Guest Speaker TBA 2-19- War Photographer

week 7 2-24- Singles due- critique 2-26 Critique Continued

week 8 3-3- Photo Story- One photo to introduce your subject for final project 3-5- Final Cut Pro X, Audio techniques

week 9 3-10- Sports Photography due, critique 3-12 Final Cut Pro X, Present audio capturing

week 10 SPRING BREAK

week 11 3-24- Audio Editing 3-26 Audio Editing/Final Cut Pro/Editing for Final Project

week 12 3-31 (Go over Sports Photos) Final Cut Editing 4-2 Final Cut Editing

week 13 4-7 Group Project Social Problem Lab 4-9 Group Project Social Problem Due- presentations

week 14 4-14 Final Project editing4-16 Final Project editing

week 15 4-21 Portraits, Singles, Sports Finals Due 4-23 Final Project editing

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week 16 4-28 Final Project editing 4-30 Final Project editing

Finals Week Final- Final Multimedia Story presentations Final scheduled for 11:00 - 12:50 pm Thursday, May 7

Policy on Issuance of “Incomplete” Grades: Only under severest of conditions and with the recommendation of a student’s Academic Advisor will a grade of “I” be issued and only then IF the student is doing passing work at the time the request for the “I” is made.

Department of Mass Communication Policies – Spring 2015 College of Liberal Arts

University of Central Oklahoma Departmental Phone: (405) 974-5303

Website: http://www.uco.edu/la/masscomm/ UCentral Student Media has an app! Go to iTunes to download it for free!

Follow the department Twitter account @UCO_MCOM “Like” the UCO - Department of Mass Communication Facebook Page!

MCOM Majors Email: The department, the college, and the university utilize the UCO email addressed assigned to each UCO student. Official information will be emailed through the UCO system. Students have the option of forwarding their UCO email to a personal email account if preferred. For information, go to http://www.uco.edu/technology/student/email/index.asp. If students do not check their UCO email, they risk missing vital information. If you do not use your UCO email account, please forward your UCO email to an email account you check frequently.

Student Advisement MCOM has two Student Success Advisors for MCOM majors. Each student is responsible for seeking advisement information each semester in order to graduate in a timely manner.

• Ms. Heather Pecko Office: COM 103 Ao Phone: 974-5108o Email: hpeck3@uco.edu

• Mr. Gary Parsonso Office: COM 103o Phone: 974-5108o Email: gparsons2@uco.edu

UCentral Student Media: http://www.uco.edu/la/masscomm/ucentral/index.asp UCentral is the student media network at the University of Central Oklahoma, featuring traditional media (television, radio, newspaper) and new media (web, netcasts, social networking) created by students majoring in professional media. UCentral is located within the Mass Communication Department on the campus of UCO.

Spring Events • Monday, January 12: First Day of Spring Classes!• Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – UCO Classes Dismissed• Friday, March 13: Oklahoma Research Day, NSU, Tahlequah campus• Monday-Sunday, March 16-22: Spring Break• Thursday-Friday, March 26-27: UCO Transformative Learning Conference (downtown OKC)• Wednesday, April 1: College of Liberal Arts Symposium (All classes pre-empted between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.)• Saturday, April 25: MCOM Student Recognition Awards Ceremony (5:30pm-8:00pm)• Monday-Friday, May 4-8: Finals Week• Saturday, May 9: Graduation (Probable date for MCOM/CLA Graduation Ceremony)

Expectation of Work Full-time college students are expected to spend approximately 40 hours each week in class attendance and study outside of class. According to Regents’ policy, for each hour in class a student is expected to spend two (2) to three (3) hours studying for the class (OSRHE II-2-34). For each three-credit hour course, the Regents expect students to study/prepare 6-9 hours per week.

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UCO Student Code of Conduct Students are responsible for all information in the Student Code of Conduct 2014-2015. This can be accessed on the Student Affairs Publications website at http://www.uco.edu/student-affairs/conduct/index.asp. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM: The UCO Student Code of Conduct describes Academic Dishonesty and outlines the steps for disciplinary action in the Guidelines for Alleged Academic Dishonesty. This information can be found in Section III, C, 3 & 4. Academic dishonesty: Includes but is not limited to the “giving” and “taking” of improper assistance in examinations and assignments; not adhering to correct procedures for identification of sources in reports and essays and all creative endeavors; intentional misrepresentation; cheating; plagiarism; and unauthorized possession of examinations. The UCO Student Code of Conduct provides further details. Additionally, any work submitted as an assignment for one class may not be submitted for credit in another class, without prior permission of the professor. Any work so submitted will receive an automatic "0." Plagiarism: When a student submits any assignment for a course (written, oral, videotape, audiotape, photograph or Web Site), the student will submit entirely original work or will properly cite all sources utilized in the preparation of the assignment. Without proper citation, the student is guilty of plagiarism, which is not tolerated at UCO. As a student, you are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism. You should talk to your professor to ensure that you can recognize and avoid all types of plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs in two primary ways: 1. Word-for-word copying, without acknowledgement, of the language or creative work of another person. Having another person

complete all or part of your assignment is plagiarism and is clearly forbidden. But, in addition, the student should include NO written, video, audio, or photographic material from an existing source, no matter how brief, without acknowledging the source. When using the written words of an existing source in your assignment, either place the borrowed words in quotation marks or set the quotation aside as a block quotation. Additionally, you must include the citation for the material in your assignment. This applies to even the briefest of phrases if they are truly distinctive.

2. The unacknowledged paraphrasing of an author’s ideas. The student should no more take credit for another person’s thoughts than for another person’s words. Any distinctive, original idea taken from another writer should be credited to its author. If you are not sure whether or not an author’s idea is distinctive, you should assume that it is: no fault attaches to over-acknowledgement, but under-acknowledgement is plagiarism. Most style manuals (e.g., Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) provide information concerning how to paraphrase and cite the ideas and writings of existing sources.

Students may be dismissed from the university for plagiarism. University guidelines provide a range of disciplinary action dependent upon the severity of the offense including but not limited to: requiring a substitute assignment, awarding a reduced grade, awarding a failing grade for the assignment, awarding a failing grade for the course, or expelling the student from the university. Acknowledging that instances of plagiarism may range from minor to severe, the Department of Mass Communication allows the course professor to determine the severity and the disciplinary action for the first instance of plagiarism committed by a student in the professor’s course. However, if that student commits plagiarism a second time in the course, departmental policy requires that the student receive both a failing grade (“F”) for the course and a referral to the UCO Student Conduct Officer. Students should make sure they understand professor expectations for sources and content to be cited. Turnitin.com Plagiarism Syllabus Statement: UCO subscribes to the Turnitin.com plagiarism prevention service. Students agree that by taking this course, all required assignments may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted assignments will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com restricted access reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such assignments. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com website. Turnitin.com is just one of various plagiarism prevention tools and methods which may be utilized by your faculty instructor during the terms of the semesters. In the UCO Student Handbook, there is a process for contesting any plagiarism allegations against you.

University Policies

ADA Statement Regarding Special Accommodations: The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations must contact Sharla Weathers, B.S., C.S.R. in Disability Support Services [sweathers2@uco.edu] in room 309 of the Nigh University Center, (405) 974-2549. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor as soon as possible after DSS has verified the need for accommodations to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Transformative Learning: http://www.uco.edu/central/tl/ “At the University of Central Oklahoma, we help students learn by providing transformative experiences so that they may become productive, creative, ethical and engaged citizens and leaders contributing to the intellectual, cultural, economic and social advancement of the communities they serve. Transformative learning is a holistic process that places students at the center of their own active and reflective learning experiences. All students at UCO will have transformative learning experiences in five core areas: leadership; research, creative and scholarly activities; service learning and civic engagement; global and cultural competencies; and health and wellness.” Class Attendance: (Taken from the Faculty Handbook) The university expects students to regularly attend classes in which they are enrolled. Faculty members are expected to establish specific attendance policies governing their classes. Attendance policies must appear in the course syllabi. Faculty members may

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require appropriate documentation to verify absences. Students are responsible for work missed due to absences. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a request to make up class work or examinations missed. Individual policies must allow for a reasonable but not unlimited, number of excused absences, for legitimate reasons. Excused absences approved by faculty members should be consistently applied to all students. An excused absence means that an instructor may not penalize the student and must provide a reasonable and timely accommodation or opportunity to make up exams or other course requirements that have an impact on course grade. Excused students should be allowed the same opportunities as students who were present in class. Faculty members are obligated to honor the following circumstances as excused absences:

a. travel considered part of the instructional program of the university and requiring absence from class (e.g. field trips, research presentations, etc.);

b. invited participation in activities directly and officially sponsored by and in the interest of the university (e.g. athletic teams, debate teams, dance company, etc.); in cases of student athletes, refer to UCO Compliance Policy Manual for Athletics or contact the Faculty Athletic Representative;

c. jury duty; d. military obligation (See Appendix K in Faculty Handbook.) e. serious illness, medical condition, pregnant and parenting students’ rights (as outlined in Title IX), accident, or injury; and f. death or serious illness in immediate family

Additional policies for this course are included in the Spring 2015 UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment that can be accessed at http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/files/aa-forms/StudentInfoSheet.pdf

University of Central Oklahoma MCOM Photography Equipment Check Out Policy

You will be able to check out digital cameras, audio recorders, video cameras, microphones, lighting kits, lenses and tripods from the University of Central

Oklahoma. Equipment can be checked out for a maximum of 2 days from MCOM 104. If you are one minute late your checkout privileges will be revoked. Equipment can be reserved by stopping by Room 104. Hours to check out or return equipment are Mondays - Fridays from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Equipment may be checked out for the weekend, the weekend begins on Friday (not Thursday). Equipment checked out

on Friday is due on Monday by 10:00 a.m. Students need to sign up for equipment before checkout. Standard checkout is two days unless otherwise advised by a professor. At time of checkout, students must fill out checkout form and have it signed by Jesse, Mark, or Angela. A student

worker cannot check out equipment, unless the form has already been signed. You cannot check out equipment unless you are in the class it is intended for without permission from a professor. All equipment needs to be returned no later than

10am on the morning it is due. There will be no excuses. If equipment is turned in late, you will no longer be able to check out equipment for the rest of the semester. If you return equipment broken or without all the parts, you will no longer be able to

check out further equipment for the semester.

Please check all equipment thoroughly before leaving the building.

You are responsible for all items checked out.