Science Documentary Television

 

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

JOMC 562, Fall 2007

Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Carroll Hall 340

http://www.unc.edu/~trl/syllabi/562.html

 

Professor:  Tom Linden, M.D. 328 Carroll Hall 919-962-4078 e-mail:  linden at unc dot edu

Office Hours: Wednesday, 3 p.m. - 3:50 p.m., or by appointment, or when office door is open

 

Course Description and Goals

 

The purpose of this course is to teach the skills needed to produce a three-part environmental science television documentary.

 

As a participant in this course, you'll learn the following:

 

• How to research a segment as part of a science television documentary.

• How to field produce a science television segment.

• How to script a science television segment.

 

JOMC 121 ("Writing for the Electronic Media") and JOMC 560 ("Medical Journalism") are both recommended preparatory courses, but not prerequisites.

 

Since the course combines reporting and broadcast skills with technical familiarity with scientific concepts, the learning curve is steep. Moreover, it's expected that students will spend many hours working on their projects outside of class. Since you'll be working in teams, your active participation in all aspects of the course is essential.

 

Reading

 

Required reading for the course is a primer on how to craft a narrative written by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. The supplementary texts are suggested for students without a broadcast journalism background.

 

Required Text:

 

Franklin, Jon. Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction by a Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner, Plume Books, Reprint edition, ©1988, 288 pp., $14.00. ISBN: 0-452-272955.  

 

Supplementary Texts:

 

Tuggle, C.A., Forrest Carr and Suzanne Huffman, Broadcast News Handbook, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, ©2004, ISBN #0-07-285351-4.

 

The Tuggle text is available at the student store under JOMC 122. Both books also are on reserve in the Park Library in the J School.

 

Assignments

 

The keys to a successful science television news report are solid research and good writing.  Good writing requires an understanding of the material and the ability to communicate your ideas simply and clearly.

 

It's expected that you will meet all deadline dates for setting up your field shoots, turning in shoot schedules and preparing your segment scripts. It's also expected that you will attend all field shoots involving your respective team.

 

The major focus of the course is production of three seven-minute television reports on the environment. The focus of the individual segments will be discussed in detail in class.

 

This class will have three production teams each composed of a segment producer, one or more segment associate producer(s)/researcher(s), and a segment scriptwriter.  Dr. Linden will serve as executive producer. Final script approval of the student-produced segments will rest with Professor Linden.

 

Exam

 

There will be no midterm or final exam.

 

Grades

 

Your grade will entirely depend upon the quality of your completed television report. Dr. Linden will determine your grade on your documentary segment based upon your contributions to the production team and upon the quality of your individual work (as producer, associate producer or scriptwriter). Please keep a log of your documentary-related activities activities and time (by date and in hours) spent during the preparation of your video report. The instructor will ask for the log (no more than one page) to be handed in at the last class session.

 

Your ability to work with other team members will also be evaluated.  Keep in mind that succeeding in the television field requires a great deal of teamwork. Each unexcused absence from a class meeting or field shoot will result in the lowering of your grade by one letter grade. Three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade in the course. Tardy arrival to class or to a field shoot will constitute an absence. Remember that broadcast professional standards of promptness and preparation are expected from every team member. In broadcast journalism, one team member failing to deliver can affect many people, including your team, other teams and sources who are taking time away from their busy schedules to accommodate you.

 

If you are concerned about your performance in the course, you are encouraged to talk with the instructor at any point during the semester. Dr. Linden will provide feedback of your performance upon request.

 

How To Succeed in This Course

 

• Attend all classes on time.

• Complete readings before the appropriate classroom discussions.

• Participate actively in class.

• Complete all work responsibilities by your deadline(s).

• Work cooperatively with your team members.

• Make sure all facts in your stories are accurate and properly sourced.

• Ask Dr. Linden questions either during class or during office hours if you're unclear about any aspect of this course.

 

Student Job Descriptions

 

Producer:  The producer is the person ultimately responsible for coordinating all research related to the report and lining up all people and locales featured in the report. In consultation with his/her team and Dr. Linden, the producer determines the focus of the report. The producer also needs to scout field locations and provide the preliminary and final shoot schedules to Dr. Linden by the required deadlines. As producer, you'll succeed by delegating responsibilities and making sure that those responsibilities are completed in a timely manner.  Remember that throughout the entire project, up to and including the shoot, the "buck" stops with the producer.

 

Associate Producer(s):  The associate producer is responsible for carrying out all jobs assigned by the producer.  Those jobs include but are not limited to performing research, scouting field locations, and pre-interviewing people featured in the report.  When the producer is unable to fulfill his/her responsibilities, the associate producer may be asked by Dr. Linden to fill in as required.

 

Scriptwriter:  The scriptwriter's main responsibility prior to the shoot is to provide the team with working scripts by the required deadlines.  After the field shoots are completed, primary responsibility on the team shifts from the producer/associate producer to the scriptwriter.  As scriptwriter, you'll complete several drafts of the script that you'll vet first with members of your team and then with Dr. Linden.  In team disputes about the content and/or style of the script, the scriptwriter has the final say.  If a team member believes that there is a factual or content error that can't be reconciled by the scriptwriter, that team member should contact Dr. Linden. 

 

All team members:  Each team member will pre-interview at least one person featured on camera and will conduct the actual field interview of that person.  Team members will share in tape logging and digitizing, a laborious process but critical to the shaping of the script and the eventual video editing of the report.  (Logging must be completed by the designated deadlines as late logs will delay the scriptwriter in meeting his/her deadlines.)  Also, all team members will participate in the script review process and in the final video editing sessions.

 

Selection of job responsibilities:  Dr. Linden will determine what your particular team role will be.  He'll solicit your preference prior to making his selections that may or may not conform to your preference.

 

 

Course Schedule

 

WEEK 1 - AUG. 23: INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION

(Class guest: Blair Pollock, associate producer of the documentary)

          * Get acquainted with the class project.

* View "Haw River" documentary broadcast on UNC-TV.

* Review fundamentals of writing news for broadcast television.

 

Assignment:

Meet with your team members and be prepared to give a 15-minute summary of your story for the next class session.

Each team must prepare a 150-word "pitch" written in your best news style summarizing the precise angle of your story. At the bottom of the pitch, please compile a list of six individuals who will be your story sources. For each source, give the individual's respective title and contact information (including BOTH telephone number and email address). Bring enough copies so that each class member has a copy.

 

Reading/Viewing:

Linden, Tom. "Medical Reporting for the Electronic Media," in Barbara Gastel's Health Writer's Handbook (Second Edition), Ch. 9, pp. 161 - 183. (Reading to be available to students via Blackboard).

View "Toxic Villages" at Current TV <http://www.current.tv/pods/issue/PD06313>.

 

WEEK 2 - AUG. 30: A PRIMER ON SCRIPTWRITING/REVIEW OF SEGMENT PITCHES

* Review basics of scriptwriting.

* Learn how to construct a science documentary television script.

 

Assignment:

Each team should revise its 150-word pitch, as well as the list of story sources. In addition, your pitch page should include desired B-roll that you'll be shooting in the field. Bring enough copies of your pitch so that each class member has a copy.

 

Reading:

Franklin: Writing for Story Preface (pp. xv - xix), Chapters I through VII (pp.21 - 166), Appendix A (pp. 216 - 235).

 

WEEK 3 - SEPT. 6: MEET VIDEOGRAPHER MARTIN BROWN / NARRATIVE JOURNALISM/ REVIEW OF SCRIPTWRITING/ STORY SEGMENT TOPIC DISCUSSION

* Discuss Franklin book on narrative journalism.

* Review the science documentary television news script.

 

Assignment:

Each team should prepare the first 90 seconds of your seven-minute script as per your story "pitch." Bring enough copies of your script so that each class member has a copy.

 

WEEK 4 - SEPT. 13: SETTING UP THE FIELD SHOOTS/ ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY VIEWING

* Tips on how to set up field shoots.

* Tips on how to select appropriate B-roll.

* Learn what's required for logging your tapes.

 

Assignment:

Line up experts and interview subjects. Start scouting field locations.  Scriptwriter makes first draft of pre-shoot script which should be emailed to Dr. Linden by Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. Producer should bring shooting schedule to class with copies for all team members and Dr. Linden.

 

WEEK 5 - SEPT. 20: DISCUSSION OF FIELD SHOOTS

* Refine field shoots.

* Confirm interviews with experts and other interview subjects.

* Nail down ideas for B-roll.

* View blue crab report.

 

Assignment:

Continue pre-interviews of subjects. Continue scouting field locations. Scriptwriters bring 13 copies of script to class on Thursday. Producers/APs bring 13 copies of shoot schedule/source list to class on Thursday. Everybody bring copy of sample script (crabs) to class on Thursday for viewing of blue crab report and discussion.

 

WEEK 6 - SEPT. 27: FINALIZE PLANNING FOR FIELD SHOOTS

* Review shoot schedules for all three teams in class.

 

Assignment:

Finish pre-interviews of subjects. Finalize field locations. Scriptwriter emails working script to team members and Dr. Linden by Monday, Oct. 1 at 12 noon. "A Team" Producer should email shoot schedule to team members, Dr. Linden and videographer Martin Brown <thprods@earthlink.net> by Monday, Oct. 1 at 12 noon. Be sure to let Martin know of any special videography needs (special lighting, audio, etc.) a couple days before you get to your first shoot.

 

(NO CLASSES OCT. 4, 11, 25 and NOV. 1 BECAUSE OF FIELD SHOOTS)

 

WEEK 7- NO CLASS - A Team Field Shoots - OCT. 4 (Thursday), OCT. 5 (Friday), OCT. 6 (Saturday) if necessary

 

WEEK 8- NO CLASS - B Team Field Shoots - OCT. 11 (Thursday), OCT. 12 (Friday), OCT. 13 (Saturday) if necessary

 

WEEK 9 - (FALL SEMESTER BREAK, NO CLASS OCT. 18)- A & B Teams log tapes and work on scripts; C Team prepare for shoot.

 

WEEK 10 - NO CLASS - C Team Field Shoots - OCT. 25 (Thursday), OCT. 26 (Friday), OCT. 27 (Saturday) if necessary

 

Assignment:

A & B Teams - First draft script due Sunday, Oct. 28 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all team members. 

 

WEEK 11 - NO CLASS IF SUPPLEMENTARY FIELD SHOOTS REQUIRED FOR EITHER TEAMS A, B and/or C)- NOV. 1 (Thursday), NOV. 2 (Friday), NOV. 3 (Saturday) if necessary

 

Assignment:

A & B Teams - Second draft script due Sunday, Nov. 4 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all class members.  Hard copy due in class Thursday, Nov. 8. Each team should bring enough hard copies of the script so every class member has a copy.

C Team - First draft script due Sunday, Nov. 4 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all class members.  Hard copy due in class Thursday, Nov. 8. Each team should bring enough hard copies of the script so every class member has a copy.

 

WEEK 12 - NOV. 8: SCRIPT CONFERENCE (Guest script critique - Helen Chickering, medical reporter/producer for NBC Newschannel)

 

Assignment:

All teams -- please email redraft of script critiqued on Nov. 8 to Dr. Linden by Sunday, Nov. 11, 12 noon.

 

WEEK 13 - NOV. 15: FINAL SCRIPT CONFERENCE