JO 710 DIGITAL TOOLKIT, B1- FALL 24
Peter Smith
Master Lecturer/Journalism
College of Communication, Boston University
Class meets: Friday: 2:30-5:15 pm
Office hours: room B33; 11-12:30, Mon., Weds., Fri. Or by appointment
Email: pasmith@bu.edu
Cell: 617 548 0109
Course Intro
Welcome to JO710 Digital Toolkit – an intro to visual journalism. During our semester together, you will produce photo and video stories and publish your best work online using Adobe Portfolio. You will build shooting and editing skills, learn composition, and gain an understanding of light and color. You will learn to record an on-camera interview and produce b-roll sequences. Editing skills are key to building a story with a narrative arc, so we will dive deeply into editing workflow. You will edit videos with Adobe Premiere, edit photos with Adobe Lightroom, and you will build a showcase of your best work in Adobe Portfolio. Some of you will become great visual storytellers who shine a light on original and under-reported stories. Others will use these valuable visual reporting tools in adjunct to other disciplines.
Diversity and Inclusion
It is critically important that all BU grad students build a diverse portfolio and make a sincere effort to cover stories on under-reported issues and diverse communities and show subjects of varying age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds. This will help you gain the respect of editors and follow an ethical path when reporting. Lastly, it is critically important that all students in this class be treated fairly by the instructors, speakers, and peers. Students should feel welcome and included in all activities, discussions, and during office hours to ensure they receive a full and rich education.
Gear provided by BU
You will need to check out a Zoom H5 audio recorder, a DSLR camera with various lenses, and a video tripod from FPS. Reserve now!
You will need to download Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Lightroom Classic, and Adobe Portfolio from the Adobe Creative Cloud. Do not get a Free Trial account! Once you sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud, you can download the applications using your Kerberos username and password.
Gear provided by you
You will need to provide a laptop and an external hard drive. You should order a 32-64 Gig SD media card to shoot video and photos. You will also need a second 32 gig or less SD card (SDHC) for your Zoom H5 audio recorder. Bring your camera, laptop, external hard drive, and two SD (audio and photo/video) media cards to the first class meeting. Be sure you have a laptop that meets COM’s Recommendations. Choose an external hard drive that works with your laptop (I prefer the Lacie Rugged external drive or an SSD external drive) and format it to either Mac or Windows. Mac external hard drives should be formatted to ‘journaled.’ PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR EXTERNAL DRIVE CABLE IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR LAPTOP. You will need an SD card reader unless your computer has a built-in port. If you get a USB card reader, you may need a USB-C adapter. Here is a USB-C card reader.
Reading:
Media Storm Field Guide Unfortunately this only works with Apple. So you may need to read Brian Storm’s Media Guide book in COM’s third floor Apple Computer lab.
Please read one of these sites daily:
NYTimes.com, SouthChinaMorningPost, WashingtonPost.com or BostonGlobe.com
Also, review weekly: NY Times Op-doc
Learning Outcomes
Photography:
• Shoot storytelling photos to industry standard.
• Shoot well-framed, well-exposed, sharp pictures with clean color.
• Understand the basics of light and moment.
Photo Editing:
• Learn effective workflow, image editing, caption writing, and use of copyright and tags.
Media Management:
• Understand how to organize media files for effective workflow.
Video Shooting:
• Shoot well-produced interviews and strong b-roll sequences for impactful visual storytelling. Learn to use color correction, audio adjustments, titles, and transitions.
• Understand the 180-degree rule.
Audio:
• Learn to capture ‘nat’ sounds to advance your story. Use with proper gain and a well-positioned mic.
• Conduct well mic’d interview on camera. Understand how to produce strong soundbites.
Video Editing, learn to:
•. Understand the basics of video editing.
•. Edit the project in the timeline, add b-roll, transitions, titles, and lower thirds,
•. Edit strong storytelling b-roll sequences.
•. Learn to adjust audio and create layered tracks with dialog, ‘nat’ sound, and sometimes music.
• grade color.
• Export movies to the server and publish them to a portfolio and to a class folder.
Storytelling Outcomes, how to:
•. Develop strong interview skills.
•. Shoot and edit visual stories.
•. Advance the story and hold the audience’s attention.
•. Use visual planning and an effective story arc.
Industry-standard ethics
Please check the links towards the end of this syllabus. You are responsible for understanding industry standards and ethics of visual journalism. Misunderstanding may impact your grade. Stop by during office hours if you need any clarification.
Publish a portfolio of your strongest work.
Learn refined editing skills.
Grading criteria
Your final grade is evaluated based on assignment work. (90%)
Your grade for participation is assessed based on attendance, engagement, and portfolio creation. (10%)
Photo assignment grades
are based on the quality of images, sharpness, composition and framing, exposure/color, cropping, coverage of various situations, angles and focal length, and narrative flow. (80%)
Caption info, or other written story support, is evaluated by completeness of information, answering questions of who, when, where, and sometimes what and why. (20%)
Video assignment grades
are based on the quality of video clips evaluated by sharpness, composition and framing, exposure, color, and steadiness of clips. The narrative is supported by solid and compelling interviews, clear and tight soundbites, and b-roll that shows a variety of situations, shot with multiple camera angles and multiple focal lengths. (90%)Lower-thirds, credits, and titles are evaluated by accuracy and completeness of information, including accompanied text. (10%)
Online Portfolio
Design and populate your photo portfolio, create a video page to post video assignments, and create an ‘about’ page with a tight blurb and photo of you. Your editing quality and judgment, as well as the resolution and size of the photos and videos displayed, will determine your grade.
Your ‘about page’ must include a photo of you and at least three graphs that include a statement of what your audience will find in your portfolio and info about you and your accomplishments and aspirations. Links encouraged.
Week-to-Week Schedule
Class One: Sept. 6
Intro
Meet + Greet, pick a partner
Review: Gear, Day-To-Day Schedule, Deliverables + Deadlines, Policies
Download Creative Cloud
Understand the difference between class exercises and class assignments.
How to reserve gear from FPS.
Bring gear to class next week. Always look ahead to see what gear you will need to bring to class.
Class Two: Sept. 13
Shooting Photos with a DSLR
Shooting with a DSLR Camera set-up
Using the camera’s light meter and understanding the Exposure Triangle
Review composition, rule-of-thirds, white balance, focus, and manual settings.
Understanding workflow.
Homework: Shoot Exercise 1 – Photograph a person in landscape mode with direct and indirect light. Use a plain background.
Workshop: Begin homework assignment.
Class Three: Sept. 20
Shooting with a DSLR, intro to editing
Editing portraits using Abobe Lightroom Classic
Learn Adobe Portfolio – Set theme, add categories – exercises, photo stories, video stories, about me.
Upload two captioned photos (direct and indirect light portraits) to Smugmug class link, and add to your Photo exercises portfolio.
Workshop: depth-of-field
Homework: Exercise 2 – Shoot two sets of depth-of-field photos
Class Four: Sept. 27. CANCELLED, CANCELLED, CANCELLED, CANCELLED,
Shoot Action
In-class: edit and deliver DoF photos with captions (include who, what, when, why, and where).
Post photos of exercise 2 to the exercise page of your portfolio, also upload to Smugmug-class link.
Lecture: How to photograph a place – all photos must include people. How to Find and Pitch a Story.
Homework: Prepare a Pitch for assignment one.
Homework: Shoot Exercise 3, shoot three action photos (PW: 706) of the subject walking down stairs, jumping, and riding a bike.
Shoot each situation wide, medium, and tight for total of nine photos.
Post three best photos to the gallery in your portfolio and upload nine to Smugmug.
Class Five: Oct. 4
Photographing Place
Homework: Pitch Assignment One, five photos/125 words, due next week.
Review class exercise work.
Review examples of assignment one.
Class Six: Oct. 11
Pitch a Photo Story (multiple shoots)
Assignment #1 on Place is due. Edit and deliver in class. Post to Smugmug and Portfolio assignment gallery.
Lecture: Assignment #2 – Photo Story. Unique Neighborhood, or interesting person or situation.
Homework: Prepare pitch for Assignment #2 – Deliverables: 10 photos and 125-250 words. Smugmug and Portfolio.
Bring a Zoom audio recorder and two AA batteries to class next week.
Class Seven: Oct. 18
Digital Tools
Assignment #2 on Photo Story, ROUGH DRAFT due.
Review Lightroom edits in class.
Lecture: Shooting video with a DSLR – review settings.
Audio recording(video) with Zoom audio recorder – review settings.
Class Eight: Oct.25
The On-Camera Interview (audio slideshow)
Assignment #2 Photo Story due (BEFORE CLASS).
How to conduct an interview. Watch Terry Gross.
Class Exercise 4: Interview partner. Ask, ‘What’s it like to photograph a stranger?’
In Class, Live Interview
The subject should recycle your question within the answer.
Think about lighting, background, framing, and audio quality.
Ask your partner for captioned photographs (crop to 16×9 aspect ratio) of strangers for B-roll.
Homework: Complete an edit using a transcript from the interview for a 60-second video on Photographing a Stranger.
Class Nine: Nov. 1
B-Roll
Edit: Photographing a Stranger
Workshop: Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, sound and visual story; rough draft.
Upload 60-second video to the Exercises Page in your Adobe Portfolio
Homework: Prepare a pitch for a two-minute video due next week.
Class Ten: Nov. 8
Pitch Final Project
Class exercise: Premiere Editing, final draft.
Pitch the final video story about a situation or profile of an individual with a news peg—no one you know.
Review the 180-degree rule, framing, and continuity.
Lecture: Shoot a B-roll sequence. Find a repetitive action or process and shoot four 15-second clips. These will be edited to 4-7-second clips.
Also, shoot scene setter (opening shot), video portrait, closing shot.
Shoot wide, medium, and tight – vary focal lengths, angles, and distance to the subject.
Record a three to five-minute audio interview of a person explaining repetitive action. Edit for a one-minute interview.
Homework: Assignment #3 Shoot and edit a one-minute process video
Include a B-roll sequence, opening and closing clips, a video portrait, ‘nat’ sound, and an audio interview.
Class Eleven: Nov. 15
Video Editing
Assignment #3 video B-roll sequence due today. This may be used in the final version of the same subject.
Post to Portfolio
Progress report on final video story.
Class Twelve: Nov. 22
Video Story
Homework: Final Project Rough Draft Due
In-class Peer edit.
Homework: finish portfolio and final.
Class Thirteen: Dec. 6
Final Edit Due
Screen Final Video, present Adobe Portfolio
Deliverables:
Assignment 1: Photograph a Place. (20 Pts.) Due: Oct. 11
five photos and 125 word blurb for the portfolio.
Assignment 2: Photograph a Story. (30 Pts.) Due: Oct. 18 (rough)
10 photos and 125-250 word blurb for portfolio.
Assignment 3: One-minute video, b-roll sequence with non-sync interview. (10 Pts.) Due: Nov. 15
Write a 125-word blurb for your portfolio.
Assignment 4: Two to Three-minute video story. (30 Pts.) Due: Dec. 6
Write a 125-250 word blurb for your portfolio.
Portfolio (10 Pts.) Due: Dec. 6
Rubrics:
Assignment 1: Photograph a Place
Photographs must show a variety of situations, camera angles, and camera distances. Photos must be sharp, well-composed, exposed, toned, and edited. Captions must be complete, with accurate spelling and correct use of titles. Backgrounds must not be busy. Proper use of lighting and color balance is important. The capture of storytelling moments is a critical factor for a photo to be successful and to earn a high grade. Points will be deducted in these areas if they are not completed to industry standards. A further requirement of this assignment is to show how people use the space for work, to visit, and to recreate.
Assignment 2: Photograph a story of a unique neighborhood, interesting person, or situation.
Photo Stories are also required to meet the above technical and storytelling requirements.
Assignment 3: Video B-roll sequence.
Video clips should be well-focused, use proper white balance, be well edited for color and continuity, should not be shaky, must not break the 180-degree rule, and show a variety of framing: use wide, medium, tight, and close-up shots to show the process and explain the scene to your viewer.
Assignment 4: Three-minute video story.
Your video story includes the above requirements of the B-Roll sequence but also needs to maintain the high quality of sound from the interview and ambient storytelling audio capture. Your final video project must also have a good narrative flow, with a good opening, character development of the main subject, an understanding of the story conflict, and a resolution that answers the questions raised. It must also have a good visual plan with an opening and final shot, storytelling moments, and good visual flow. Visual and sound editing is important so as to avoid distracting the viewer with awkward edits.
Portfolio
Your portfolio should show solid technical and storytelling skills. Subjects should be diverse by culture, gender, age, and race. All assignments and exercises must be published, complete, and of good quality.
Percentage-based Grade Scale
|
A: 93-100 |
B+: 87-89.99 |
C+: 77-79.99 |
D: 60-69.99 |
F: 0-59.99 |
|
A-: 90-92.99 |
B: 83-86.99 |
C: 73- 76.99 |
|
|
|
|
B-: 80-82.99 |
C-: 70-72.99 |
|
|
GPA conversion
|
A |
4.0 |
|
A- |
3.7 |
|
B+ |
3.3 |
|
B |
3.0 |
|
B- |
2.7 |
|
C+ |
2.3 |
|
C |
2.0 |
|
C- |
1.7 |
|
D |
1.0 |
|
F |
0 |
Class Policies:
General Grading Policy
‘A ‘ Excellent work that meets or exceeds the requirements. Work reflects solid research, skilled interviews are accurate, have proper attribution, and conform to industry standards; multimedia elements (video, photos, audio, interactive) are sharp, focused, clear, appropriately edited, properly captioned, tagged, and credited. It could run as is or with very minor edits.
‘B’ Good work with a few errors. It may contain minor problems with focus, spelling/grammar, style, balance, and organization; several multimedia elements are subpar (out of focus, poor sound quality, etc.) or exhibit one or two technical glitches. It could run with some editing.
‘C’ Average work. Failed to meet some of the requirements of the assignment. Shows lack of news judgment, accuracy, balance etc., technical errors, and subpar media elements. It could only run with significant editing or a complete overhaul.
‘D’ Below average work that shows little or no understanding of the requirements of the assignment, numerous grammatical and style errors, major factual errors, and failure to use assigned technology and tools properly.
‘F’ (0-59.9) Failure to turn in by deadline or significantly flawed work.
BU D&I Boston University Diversity & Inclusion statement
Connect. Belong. Thrive.
Boston University Diversity & Inclusion (BU D&I) works closely with all of the University’s 17 schools and colleges to help create a positive and welcoming campus climate, and ensure that we are recruiting world-class students, staff, and faculty whose experiences and viewpoints embolden the academic endeavor. Ultimately, we strive to make sure the paths to academic, professional, and social success are open and unimpeded to every member of the BU community.
GBH Frontline Editorial Standards and Ethics
AP, NPPA Code of Ethics
Class Policies:
How to Get an ‘A’ in This Course
• Be here each week, on time, ready to engage.
• Complete all reading and assignments on time.
• Exceed expectations!
• Participate in class and any online discussions.
• You get extra credit for being enthusiastic, inquisitive, and open to learning new things.
• Think ahead. Anticipate upcoming requirements such as BU News Service assignments and the final project. Structure your time to do your best work.
Class focus
Please restrict unrelated internet browsing, emailing, texting, or other unassigned online activity during class. When we have guest speakers, please do not type loudly. Tweet, yes, but please be careful not to distract our guests and the rest of the class.
Professionalism: You will be called on to critique your classmates’ work and occasionally discuss ethical issues. There may be times when you disagree with another student’s comments. You will be expected to deal honestly but professionally with your classmates and the instructor of this course. In addition to the assigned reading, you should read and watch “traditional” news to discuss and analyze differences between the mediums.
Late Assignments
Deadlines are a crucial concept in journalism. If you miss a deadline in the real world, you might lose your job. Get used to filing assignments on time. Unexcused late assignments will not be accepted in this class. Grades are based on the quality, content, and punctuality of the work submitted. Late assignments lose one grade (A to B) each week they are late. Assignments that are not turned in receive zero credit. The final grade is an average of all grades received during the semester. Assignments are DUE at the end of class.
Speakers
We will occasionally hear from speakers who work in online media. Because they are busy professionals whose schedules change constantly, I have yet to list specific dates and times for their appearances (well, most of them). I will announce speakers close to their scheduled date of arrival.
BU policy on recording in classes.
Please note that classroom proceedings for this course might be recorded for purposes including, but not limited to, student illness, religious holidays, disability accommodations, or student course review. Note also that recording devices are prohibited in the classroom except with the instructor’s permission.
BU Policies:
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
Boston University is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment. Title IX and our school policy prohibit discrimination based on sex, which regards sexual misconduct – including harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. We understand that sexual violence can undermine students’ academic success and we encourage students who have experienced some form of sexual misconduct to talk to someone about their experience, so they can get the support they need. Confidential support and academic advocacy resources can be found with the Center for Sexual Assault Response & Prevention (SARP) at http://www.bu.edu/safety/sexual-misconduct/.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
BU has strict guidelines on classroom behavior and practices when it comes to treatment of students and guests on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, military service, national origin, or due to marital, parental, or veteran status. Discrimination for any of these reasons is prohibited. Please refer to the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy for more details.
At your discretion, please alert me to anything related to preferred pronouns, preferred name or nickname, or any extenuating circumstances or trigger warnings (personal, medical, etc.) that might impact your classroom experience. I want to make sure you have the most positive experience in the classroom as possible.
DISABILITY AND ACCESS SERVICES
If you are a student with a disability or believe you might have a disability that requires accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability and Access Services (DAS) at 617-353-3658 to coordinate any reasonable accommodation requests. DAS is located at 25 Buick Street, on the third floor.
STUDENT ATHLETICS
All student-athletes should be provided with a sheet from Student-Athlete Support Services regarding absences throughout the semester. These sheets should be handed in as soon as possible to avoid potential conflicts and so arrangements can be made to provide for missed lecture notes, classwork, or discussion.
RECORDING OF CLASSES
Due to the majority of classes being offered in the Learn from Anywhere format, students should expect that each class session will be recorded. It is important to note that recordings on Zoom may capture the chat during the class, including private chats. If you have questions or concerns regarding recording of this class, please see your instructor.
ACADEMIC CODE OF CONDUCT
All BU students are bound by the Academic Conduct Code. Please review to ensure you are acting responsibly and ethically in regard to your academics. There may be changes here due to the nature of the pandemic, so please read everything very carefully. Students must be familiar with college handbook and have a full understanding of expected code and conduct. The academic code of conduct is fully explained at: http://www.bu.edu/academics/academic-conduct-code/