Peter Smith
Master Lecturer/Journalism
Class meets: Friday: 2:30 – 5:15 pm
Office hours: Wednesday: 11:00 am -12:30 pm, or by appt.
Premiere Pro/ Lightroom lab: Thursday, 3-5 pm,
Office: Room B33
Contact:
Email: pasmith@bu.edu
Cell: 617 548 0109
Course Intro
Welcome to JO710 Digital Toolkit, an intro to visual journalism. During the semester, you will shoot and edit a photo story, produce a high-quality video story, and publish your best work online.
Goals and Objectives
You will build shooting, editing, composition, and color skill sets. You will learn to develop a visual plan to produce a solid visual story that includes action, reaction, opening, closing, and point-of-view shots. You will learn to record an interview on camera, edit a b-roll sequence, and work with various lighting situations. Editing skills are key to building a story, so we’ll dive deeply into editing workflow, learn to edit with Adobe Premiere and Lightroom, and publish to Adobe Portfolio.
Gear provided by BU
Students will shoot photos and video with a DSLR and record audio with a Zoom H5 audio recorder. Cameras will be provided. Tripods, flashes, and various lenses are also available from FPS.
Gear provided by you
Laptop and external hard drive: You must order an SD media card, 64 gigs. You will also need a second SD media card later in the semester for audio. Bring your camera, laptop, USB3 or SSD external hard drive, and two SD cards to class next week. SD card for Zoom H5 audio recorder – SDHC. 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.’
Adobe Creative Cloud:
You will need to download Premiere Pro, Lightroom Classic, and Portfolio all from the Adobe Creative Cloud. You can download them once you sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud using your Kerberos username and password.
Reading:
Media Storm Field Guide
Please read one of these sites daily:
NYTimes.com, SouthChinaMorningPost, WashingtonPost.com or BostonGlobe.com
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, copyright and tags.
Media Management:
• Understand how to organize media for effective workflow.
Video Shooting:
• Shoot well-produced interviews and strong b-roll visual storytelling.
• Conduct well mic’d interview on camera
• Understand 180 degree rule
Audio:
• Capture important soundbites and ‘nat’ sounds to advance your story and use with proper gain and well-positioned mic.
Video Editing:
• Understand the basics of video editing
⁃ How to edit project in the timeline, add b-roll, transitions, titles, and lower thirds
⁃ How to edit strong storytelling b-roll sequences
⁃ Learn to adjust audio and create layered tracks.
• Learn to grade color
• Learn to export movies to the server and publish to a portfolio
Storytelling Outcomes, how to:
• Develop strong interview skills
• Shoot and edit visual story
• Advance the story and hold the audience’s attention
• Use visual planning and an effective story arc
Grading criteria
Your final grade is evaluated based on assignment work. (90%)
Your grade for participation is evaluated 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 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, 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. The grade is evaluated by the quality and judgment of your editing and by the resolution and size of photos and videos displayed.
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 info about you – your accomplishments and aspirations. Links encouraged.
Week-to-Week Schedule
Class One: Sept. 8
Intro
Meet + Greet, pick a partner
Review: Gear, Day-To-Day Schedule, Deliverables + Deadlines, Policies
Homework:
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. 15
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 with direct and indirect light. Use a plain background.
Class Three: Sept. 22
Shooting with a DSLR, intro to editing
Review: depth-of-field
Editing portraits using Abobe Lightroom Classic
Learn Adobe Portfolio – Set theme, add categories – exercises, photo portfolio, video portfolio
Upload two captioned photos (direct and indirect light portraits) to Smugmug and to your portfolio.
Homework: Exercise 2 – Shoot two sets of depth-of-field photos
Class Four: Sept. 29
Shoot Action
In-class: edit and deliver DoF photos with captions (include who, when, and where).
Post photos to the exercise page and upload to Smugmug.
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 nine photos.
Post to gallery in Exercise Page and upload to Smugmug.
Class Five: Oct. 6
Photographing Place
Lecture: How to photograph a place – must include people. How to Find and Pitch a Story.
Homework: Shoot Assignment One, five photos/125 words, due next week. Complete rough edit before class.
Class Six: Oct. 13
Pitch a Photo Story (three shoots)
Assignment #1 on Place is due. Edit and deliver in class. Post to Smugmug and Portfolio assignment gallery.
Lecture: Assignment #2 – Photo Story.
Photo Story: Unique Neighborhood, or interesting person or situation.
Homework: Shoot 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. 20
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.27
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 the 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 paper edit for a 60-second video on Photographing a Stranger.
Upload to the Exercises Page in your Adobe Portfolio
Class Nine: Nov. 3
B-Roll
Edit: Photographing a Stranger
Workshop: Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, sound and visual story; rough draft.
Homework: Prepare a pitch for a two-minute video due next week.
Class Ten: Nov. 10
Pitch Final Project
Class exercise: Premiere Editing, final draft.
Pitch the final video story of a situation or profile 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 – shoot four 15-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 nearly two-minute interview.
Homework: Assignment #3 Shoot and edit a one-minute of process video
Include B-roll sequence, opening closing clips and video portrait, ‘nat’ sound – with audio interview.
Class Eleven: Nov. 17
Video Editing
Assignment #3 video B-roll sequence due today. This may be used in the final if of the same subject.
Post to Portfolio
Progress report on final video story.
Class Twelve: Dec. 1
Video Story
Homework: Final Project Rough Draft Due
In-class Peer Edit.
Homework: finish portfolio and final.
Class Thirteen: Dec. 8
Final Edit Due:
Screen Final Video, present Adobe Portfolio
Deliverables:
Assignment 1: Photograph a Place. (20 Pts.) Due: Oct. 13
five photos and 125 words
Assignment 2: Photograph a Photo Story. (30 Pts.) Due: Oct. 20 (rough)
10 photos and 125-250 words
Assignment 3: One-minute video, b-roll sequence with non-sync interview. (10 Pts.) Due: Nov. 17
Assignment 4: Two – Three-minute video story. (30 Pts.) Due: Dec. 8
Portfolio (10 Pts.) Due: Dec. 8
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 not completed to these industry standards. A further requirement of this assignment is to show how people use the space for work, to live, and to recreate.
Assignment 2: Photograph a Photo Story of a unique Neighborhood, or 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 |
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 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.
The National Press Photographers Association: NPPA
The National Press Photographers Association, a professional society that promotes the highest standards in visual journalism, acknowledges concern for every person’s need both to be fully informed about public events and to be recognized as part of the world in which we live.
Visual journalists operate as trustees of the public. Our primary role is to report visually on the significant events and varied viewpoints in our common world. Our primary goal is the faithful and comprehensive depiction of the subject at hand. As visual journalists, we have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its history through images.
Photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. Photographs can also cause great harm if they are callously intrusive or are manipulated.
This code is intended to promote the highest quality in all forms of visual journalism and to strengthen public confidence in the profession. It is also meant to serve as an educational tool both for those who practice and for those who appreciate photojournalism. To that end, The National Press Photographers Association sets forth the following.
CODE OF ETHICS
Visual journalists and those who manage visual news productions are accountable for upholding the following standards in their daily work:
1. Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
2. Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.
3. Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one’s own biases in the work.
4. Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.
5. While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.
6. Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images’ content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
7. Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.
8. Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.
9. Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.
10. Do not engage in harassing behavior of colleagues, subordinates or subjects and maintain the highest standards of behavior in all professional interactions.
Ideally, visual journalists should:
1. Strive to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in public. Defend the rights of access for all journalists.
2. Think proactively, as a student of psychology, sociology, politics and art to develop a unique vision and presentation. Work with a voracious appetite for current events and contemporary visual media.
3. Strive for total and unrestricted access to subjects, recommend alternatives to shallow or rushed opportunities, seek a diversity of viewpoints, and work to show unpopular or unnoticed points of view.
4. Avoid political, civic and business involvements or other employment that compromise or give the appearance of compromising one’s own journalistic independence.
5. Strive to be unobtrusive and humble in dealing with subjects.
6. Respect the integrity of the photographic moment.
7. Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Visual journalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it.
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
Search:
|
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
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.
Please restrict unrelated internet browsing, e-mailing, texting, or other unassigned online activity during class. When we have guest speakers, please, no loud typing. Tweet, yes, but please be careful not to distract our guests and the rest of the class. Points will be deducted for spelling and grammatical errors.
Professionalism: You will be called on to critique the work of your classmates 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 in order to be able to discuss and analyze differences between the mediums.
Late Assignments
Deadlines are a key 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.
Recording
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.
Policies:
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
Boston University is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment. Title IX and our school policy prohibit discrimination on the basis of 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/