JOMC 221

Audio-Video Information Gathering

Fall 2010
Professor Jim Hefner

Office: 330 Carroll Hall

Phone: 919-962-6733
Cell: 910-315-3485
E-mail: jrhefner@email.unc.edu

Office Hours:
2-3 PM Tuesdays/Thursdays;
8 AM-5PM Mondays and
by appointment

This course introduces students to the tools and skills needed to engage in quality
storytelling with audio and video in broadcast and multimedia environments. Emphasis is
in mastering technical and aesthetic aspects of audio and video information gathering. As
this course is also intended to give students insight into what they may expect as entry-
level employees in “the real world,” attention to detail is key, as is timeliness,
thoroughness and active participation in course activities.

Outcomes: JOMC 221 is the foundation course for all the other courses in the electronic
media sequence at the school of journalism. In addition, it is an important course for
those students in the reporting sequences as video and audio enter the print world through
the Internet. The course serves to introduce journalists from other platforms to the skills
and principles associated with video and audio gathering as well as editing. It is an
introduction to the language of video and audio gathering, editing and overall production.
One can not move to the next level in broadcasting and electronic communication
without a solid understanding of the language of video. The same is true to some extent
for video/audio gathers working other platforms. This language becomes the foundation
for future employment in many cases. No matter whether one ends up being a
photographer, editor, reporter, producer or news executive, the language of the electronic
media is video and must be understood – no matter the platform. By successfully
completing the requirements for this course a student should have that foundation.

Course Goals:
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• You will learn to recognize, use, and know the functions and limitations of the
equipment introduced in class.
• You will be able to critique others’ work according to the quality of production.
• You will be able to plan and execute a short, clean, logically flowing production
of a mini, news documentary.

Text:

Ron Whittaker (2006). Television Production: A Free, Interactive Course in Studio and
Field Production. Available for free through Cybercollege.com
(http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp_ind.htm)

Required Supplies:

Memory card for camera - Any SDHC 4GB (or bigger) card will do; at least four DVD
discs.

Attendance Policy:

You get one free absence. Period. Each absence after that results in a grade deduction
(e.g., a B becomes a B- at two absences). No exceptions.

Late Assignments:

Late assignments will receive a grade of 0 (zero). Accepting late assignments is unfair to
the students who have turned theirs in on time. In addition, the news business operates
on deadlines no matter whether you’re employed in television, newspapers or other forms
of media. A newscast does not wait, nor does the next edition. Expect problems setting
up interviews; cancelled interviews; equipment failures, etc. Build in adequate time to
produce your piece. This rule is not negotiable. Don’t ask.

Grading:

You are graded according to the highest professional standards. The breakdown in
percentages is listed below.

F = 59% or below,
D- = 60-62%,
D= 63-66%,
D+ = 67-69%,
C- = 70-72%,
C = 73-76%,
C+ = 77-79%,
B- = 80-82%,
B = 83-86%,
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B+ = 87-89%,
A- = 90-94%,
A = 95-100%,

Below is a descriptive guideline for how grades are decided within the various broadcast
journalism courses:

• D, D-, or F, needs to consider a different field

• D+, did not demonstrate understanding of the basics but tried
• C-, has glimpses of potential in a limited range
• C, acceptable work, follows instructions, understands basics, does the
minimum to pass
• C+, good in one area of work, but consistent problems with another area
• B-, needs a bit more polish, pretty good handle on things, participates in class,
does more than the minimum
• B, solid effort, would have no problem recommending this person
• B+, very good performance, consistently does more than required, a self-
starter, would get an unqualified job recommendation
• A-, stands out, good attitude, work is impressive in quality, very few
problems, works like career depends on it
• A, nearly perfect in execution, quality of work is exceptional

Instruction:

The instructor will lead the class, but will be assisted by two of the school’s
producer/directors in technical areas, such as shooting and editing. Dylan Field,
dfield@email,unc.edu, 843-3644, Carroll 145; and Daniel Siler, daniel.siler@gmail.com,
597-9447, Carroll 343, are here to help you. Please call on them if or when you need
assistance. They are here to help and are happy to do so.

Honor Code:

It is expected that each student in this class will conduct him/herself within the guidelines
of the Honor System. All academic work should be done with the highest level of
honesty and integrity this university demands.

Class Requirements

Project 1 (15%):

The first project is a short 30-second ‘story’ without words: a collection of footage of a
single event captured from different angles. No audio. This exercise is designed to get
you thinking about shot variety in relation to editing. The exercise also gives you an
opportunity to practice the art of ‘movement’ using stationary shots, action follow-
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through, and use of imagery to tell a story without the use of text or audio. This project
will be worth 15% of your total grade.

Project 2 (15%):

The second project is what is referred to as a ‘voice over to sound’ or VO/SOT in the
broadcast news business. It is pure video in the internet world with an interview with
sound attached. The assignment is video without reporter narration of 45 to 60 seconds,
including the sound bite or interview. It will include ambient/natural sound in the VO
portion. The voice over to sound will be of some news event of your choosing. A script
written according to the rules of broadcast television will be included with this project.
This project will represent 15% of your final grade.

Project 3 (20%):

The third project is a 1-2 minute audio/video story with at least one interview and
ambient/natural sound. This exercise is designed to get you thinking about how to bring a
story to life without the use of reporter narration to create the overall imagery. The
exercise is also designed to get you thinking about editing choices in terms of choosing
which portions of an interview make the most compelling, yet comprehensible, story.
This project will be worth 20% of your total grade.

Project 4 (30%):

The fourth project is a short documentary-style, or news-style, production where at least

two interviews (or character narratives) must be intercut with other supporting video and
ambient sound. You should have more. Music may be used, but only if it fits the
production. (Be wary of using music. It can count against you just as easily as it can help
you.) This exercise is to hone your skills in field production, using both audio and video
gathering skills, as well as good editing and multi-platform thinking. This project will be
worth 30% of your total grade. It should be no less than 3 minutes and no more than 5
minutes in length.

All assignments should be submitted on a DVD for playback on a DVD player and
monitor, not the computer. We will discuss each assignment in detail during class.

Test on Readings (10%):

This test will cover class material, focusing on the principles and language of the
audio/video world. Emphasis will be on the lecture and reading material. This test is
worth 10% of your total grade.

Class Participation (10%):

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We must learn from each other, particularly in a skills course such as JOMC 221 Audio-
Video Information Gathering. Willingness to have your work critiqued, as well as a
willingness to constructively critique a fellow student’s work, is vital in this course. You
are expected to participate and will be graded, accordingly. This area accounts for 10%
of your final grade.

Tentative Course Schedule

The schedule listed below is subject to change. We may be required to make alterations
to this plan. You will receive as much notice as possible as to any changes in the
syllabus. You should check Blackboard frequently to check for changes in the syllabus.
Every effort will be made to notify students of such changes via e-mail.

Aug. 24 Introduction to course;

Introduction to video storytelling
Readings for next class:
Composition and Graphics—Composition–Setting
the Scene (http://www.cybercollege.com/
tvp022.htm)
Composition and Graphics—Elements of
Composition I (http://www.cybercollege.com/
tvp023.htm)
Composition and Graphics—Elements of
Composition II (http://www.cybercollege.com/
tvp024.htm)
Composition and Graphics—Elements of
Composition III (http://www.cybercollege.com/
tvp025.htm)
Check out cameras for next class;
Assign teams

Aug 26 Introduction to video composition;

Bring cameras to class;
Camera orientation

Aug 31 In-class exercise (scavenger hunt)

Assign Project 1 – Video without words
Readings for next class:
Video Editing—Continuity Editing
(http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp050.htm)
Video Editing—Solving Continuity Problems
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(http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp052.htm)
Video Editing—Technical Continuity
(http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp053.htm)
Bring cameras and tripods to next class

Sept. 2 Camera orientation 2;

Editing and Continuity (shooting-to-edit)
20-shot in class exercise

Sept. 7 Video editing orientation;

In-class editing of the 20-shot exercise

Sept. 9 Video editing orientation continued

Sept. 14 Lighting for video

Sept. 16 Work on Project 1 in class

Sept. 21 Work on Project 1 in class;

Project 1 due at end of class

Sept. 23 Review project 1 in class;

Sept. 28 Assign Project 2;

What is a voice over? What
is the construction of a VO?
What is SWAP?

Sept. 30 Storytelling with audio;

Audio ‘composition’ and aesthetics;
Microphone orientation; What makes good
audio and natural sound?

Oct. 5 Work on Project 2 in class

Oct. 7 Work on Project 2

Oct. 12 University Day. Classes cancelled

9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Oct. 14 Project 2 due beginning

of class; Review of Project 2
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Oct. 19 Pitch story ideas in class

For Project 3; Discuss approaches

Oct. 21 Fall Break

Oct. 26 Class for work on Project 3

Oct. 28 Assign Project 4; Work on Project 3;

Project 3 due at the end of class.

Nov. 2 Review Project 3;

Brainstorm Project 4

Nov. 4 View examples

Nov. 9 Critique “The Friday Squad”

Nov. l 1 Submit ideas for Project 4;

Critique; Discuss issues and
opportunities

Nov. 16 Review for test; work on Project

4 in class

Nov. 18 Test on readings; jargon

Nov. 23 Rough cut of Project 4 due

at beginning of class; review
rough cuts

Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Holiday

Nov. 30 Work on Project 4 in class

Dec. 2 Project 4 due at the beginning

of class; Review Project 4

Dec. 7 Continue review of Project 4