Science Documentary Television

 

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

JOMC 197, Fall 2005

Thursday, 2:00 - 4:45 p.m., Carroll Hall 340

http://www.unc.edu/~trl/syllabi/197.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 science series for broadcast on public television.

 

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

 

• How to research a segment as part of a three-part science series for broadcast on public television.

• How to field produce a science television segment.

• How to script a science television segment.

 

JOMC 21 ("Writing for the Electronic Media") and JOMC 195 ("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:

 

Gastel, Barbara. Health Writer's Handbook (Second Edition), Blackwell Publishing (paperback), © 2005, 366 pp., $42.99, ISBN: 0-8138-1253-4.  

 

Kalbfeld, Brad, AP Broadcast News Handbook, The Associated Press, ©2001, ISBN #0-071-363882.

 

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

 

The Gastel book is available at the student store under JOMC 195. The Tuggle and Kalbfeld texts are available at the student store on the text shelves for JOMC 21 and/or JOMC 121. They may also be on reserve in the Park Library in the J School.

 

Assignments

 

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

 

To sharpen your writing skills and also to help the instructor identify the ultimate documentary scriptwriters, you'll write a short (90-second) television script which will count for 10% of your final grade.

 

All scripts must be in my hands at the start of class on the respective due dates. Even with prior permission, submission of late scripts will result in a 10-point deduction per day.  Not turning in a script will result in a zero grade.  Misspelling of proper names will result in a 10-point deduction per misspelling.  Misspelling of other words will result in a 2-point deduction for each word misspelled.

 

The major focus of the course is production of three eight-minute segments on endangered estuaries in North Carolina which will air on UNC-TV as part of an hour-long documentary on estuarine problems in North Carolina and Portugal. Students at the University of Porto in Porto, Portugal will produce three eight-minute segments on endangered estuaries in Portugal in the spring of 2006 under the direction of Professor José Azevedo. The UNC students enrolled in this course will have the opportunity to work with their Portuguese counterparts during one part of the Portuguese phase of the shooting during UNC's spring break, March 11 - 19, 2006. UNC students will be responsible for their travel expenses.

 

Since your reports will air on UNC-TV (the North Carolina Public Television Network), it's assumed that you will watch the network regularly so you'll understand the context in which your report appears. Also, it's common sense and good professional practice to be familiar with the broadcast venue in which you work.

 

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

 

Exam

 

There will be no midterm or final exam.

 

Grades

 

Your grade will largely depend upon the quality of your UNC-TV news report which will count for 90% of your final grade.  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 the 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 the course 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 a field shoot will constitute an absence. Remember that broadcast professional standards of promptness and preparation will be expected from every team members. 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.

 

How To Succeed in This Course

 

• Attend classes consistently and 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 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 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 a working script by the required deadline.  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 which you'll vet first with members of your team and then with Dr. Linden.  In team disputes about the content or style of the script, the scriptwriter has the final say.  If a team member believes there is a factual or content error which can't be reconciled by the scriptwriter, that team member should contact Dr. Linden.  After the script is reviewed by UNC-TV, the scriptwriter will be responsible for making all necessary changes required by both Dr. Linden and UNC-TV.

 

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, a laborious process but critical to the shaping of the script.  (Logging must be completed by the designated deadlines as late logs will delay the scriptwriter in meeting his/hear deadlines.)  Also, all team members will participate in the script review process and in the final video editing sessions at UNC-TV.

 

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 which may or may not conform to your preference.

 

 

Course Schedule

 

WEEK 1 - SEPT. 1: INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION

          * Learn the basic purpose of the course.

* Get acquainted with the class project.

* Review fundamentals of writing news for broadcast television.

* Learn how to construct a science documentary television script.

 

(Class guest: Stefanie Hirsh, former producer for ABC's 20/20, the National Geographic Channel, and Bill Moyers and currently medical producer for UNC-TV)

 

Assignments:

Research estuarine problems in North Carolina (specific team assigned via email). Each team should be prepared to give a 15-minute summary of the major estuarine problems facing their respective estuary at the Sept. 8 class.

Prepare 150-word "pitch" for story line for assigned estuary story (as per email instructions) to be handed in at class on Sept. 8.

 

Reading:

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)

 

WEEK 2 - SEPT. 8: OVERVIEW OF ESTUARINE PROBLEMS IN N.C./ PRODUCTION PLANNING/ A PRIMER ON SCRIPTWRITING

 

Assignment:

Prepare first 90 seconds of seven-minute script as per your story "pitch." Bring hard copy to class Sept. 15.

 

Reading:

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

 

WEEK 3 - SEPT. 15: NARRATIVE JOURNALISM/ REVIEW OF SCRIPTWRITING/ STORY SEGMENT TOPIC DISCUSSION

 

* Discuss Franklin book on narrative journalism.

* Review the science documentary television news script.

 

Assignment:

Bring revised 90-second script based on final proposal to class on Sept. 22.

 

WEEK 4 - SEPT. 22: SETTING UP THE FIELD SHOOTS/ ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY VIEWING

* Tips on how to set up field shoots.

* Tips on how to line up experts and other interview subjects.

* Tips on how to select appropriate B-roll.

* Learn what's required for logging your tapes.

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

 

Assignment:

Line up experts and interview subjects. Start scouting field locations.  Scriptwriter drafts working script which should be shared with team members and emailed to Dr. Linden by Thursday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Producer should bring shooting schedule to class with copies for all team members and Dr. Linden.

 

WEEK 5 - SEPT. 29: DISCUSSION OF FIELD SHOOTS

 

(Class guest: Shannon Vickery, Executive Producer - Content, University of North Carolina Center for Public Television)

 

* Discuss with Ms. Vickery story segment ideas.

* Refine field shoots.

* Confirm interviews with experts and other interview subjects.

* Nail down ideas for B-roll.

* If time permits, view Nova documentary.

 

Assignment:

Finish pre-interview of subjects. Continue scouting field locations. Scriptwriter completes working script which you should email to team members and email to Dr. Linden by Monday, Oct. 3 at 12 noon. Producer should email shoot schedule to team members and Dr. Linden by Monday, Oct. 3 at 12 noon. Producers also need to make contact with UNC-TV videographer and send him/her the shoot schedule two days before your first shoot. Be sure to let videographer know of any special videography needs (special lighting, audio, etc.) a couple days before you get to your first shoot.

 

(NO CLASSES OCT. 6, 13, 20, 27 and NOV. 3 BECAUSE OF FIELD SHOOTS)

 

WEEK 6 - NO CLASS - A Team Field Shoots - OCT. 6 (Thursday), OCT. 7 (Friday), OCT. 8 (Saturday) if necessary

 

WEEK 7 - NO CLASS - B Team Field Shoots - OCT. 13 (Thursday), OCT. 14 (Friday), OCT. 15 (Saturday) if necessary

 

WEEK 8 - NO CLASS - A & B Teams log tapes and work on scripts; C Team prepare for shoot

 

WEEK 9 - NO CLASS - C Team Field Shoots - OCT. 28 (Friday), OCT. 29 (Saturday)

 

Assignment:

A & B Teams - First draft script due Sunday, Oct. 30 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all team members. 

 

WEEK 10 - NO CLASS

 

Assignment:

A & B Teams - Second draft script due Sunday, Nov. 6 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all class members.  Hard copy due in class Thursday, Nov. 10. 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. 6 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all class members.  Hard copy due in class Thursday, Nov. 10. Each team should bring enough hard copies of the script so every class member has a copy.

           

          NOV. 3 (Thurs.) - C Team Field Shoot - NOV. 3 (if necessary)

 

WEEK 11 - NOV. 10: SCRIPT CONFERENCE (Guest script critique - Helen Chickering, medical reporter/producer for NBC Newschannel)

 

Assignment:

Final draft of script -- all teams due Wednesday, Nov. 16 by 12 noon, via email to Dr. Linden and to all class members.

 

WEEK 12 - NOV. 17: FINAL SCRIPT CONFERENCE