Medical Reporting for the Electronic Media
School of Journalism and Mass
Communication
JOMC 561, Spring 2012
Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 11:35 a.m., Carroll Hall 340
Office Hours: Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., or by appointment or when office door is open |
Tuggle, C.A., Forrest Carr and Suzanne Huffman, Broadcast News Handbook,
Second Edition, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, ©2004, ISBN #0-07-285351-4. (Please note that newer editions are also acceptable.)
Optional Reading:
Cohn, Victor and Lewis Cope. News & Numbers: A Guide to Reporting
Statistical Claims and Controversies in Health and Other Fields, Iowa
State University Press (paperback), Second Edition, 2001, 211 pp., ISBN: 0813814243. (recommended for students without a medical or public health background)
Kalbfeld, Brad, AP Broadcast News Handbook, The Associated Press,
©2001, ISBN #0-071-363882. (recommended for students without a broadcast background)
The required reading is available at the student store and is on reserve in
the Park Library in Carroll Hall. The Kalbfeld book is available in
the student store under JOMC 121 and also is on reserve in the School’s
Park Library.
Assignments
The key to a successful medical television news report is good writing.
Good writing requires an understanding of the material and the ability to
communicate your ideas simply and clearly.
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.
Once you learn the requisite scriptwriting skills, you’ll work in production
teams to prepare medical reports for Carolina
Week. Each medical reporting team will be composed of two or three students
who assume jobs at various times of producer, videographer/editor and reporter/scriptwriter.
Students on each team will alternate between various producing, reporting
and shooting/editing roles. Since you’re supplying medical
news reports for broadcast on Carolina Week, it’s expected that you’ll watch
the program regularly. See the Carolina Week web page for program show times and cable channels. Also, on the week before your report airs, it’s
expected that you’ll participate in Carolina Week’s
assignment meeting (check with the CW assignment editor for meeting
times). In the week that your report airs, it’s expected that you’ll
be in the newsroom at least 15 minutes before the show airs at 5 p.m. and be in touch with the show's producer to make sure that you've delivered all necessary materials for your report (usually including video package, video tease and anchor intro and outro).
Exam
There will be no midterm or final exam.
Grades
Your grade will be based upon the following factors:
· Contributions to the production team
based on your individual work as producer, videographer/editor and reporter/scriptwriter.
(50%)
· Your presence as an integral member
of the Carolina Week news team. It’s expected that you’ll
attend the Wednesday live broadcasts of CW and become a familiar face to members of
the CW team. (30%)
· Your ability to work with your JOMC 561 team members in a collegial and professional manner. Keep in mind
that succeeding in the television field requires a great deal of teamwork.
(10%)
· Classroom participation. (10%)
Please note that to receive a passing grade, you can have no more than one
unexcused absence. Failure to appear for a scheduled shoot or an in-studio
report counts as an unexcused absence.
To help me evaluate your contributions to your team, please keep
a log of out-of-class time that you spend on your individual activities on the team (e.g.,
time spent researching stories, pre-interviewing, interviewing, scripting,
shooting, editing, etc.) At the end of the semester, I'll ask you to hand
in a one-page summary of your activities in which you itemize hours spent in various aspects of the course. Please total the number of hours spent in out-of-class activities.
The following will be the grading guidelines I’ll use in determining
your final course grade:
A: nearly perfect in execution... quality and quantity of work is exceptional.
A-: stands out from crowd (in a good way!)... good attitude… work is
impressive in terms of quantity and quality… very few problems all term…
works as if your career depends on it.
B+: very good performance… would get an unqualified job recommendation…
consistently does more than required… a self-starter.
B: solid effort… should become a solid pro… would have no problem
recommending this person.
B-: with a bit more polish, this person should make it in the reporting business…
has a pretty good handle on television production.
C+: good in one phase of job, but consistent problems in another phase or
contributed in only one phase.
C: acceptable work… follows instructions… understands basics…
good team player… but didn’t perform/contribute across the board…
potential is there, somewhere, please show it to us.
D: provides substandard work.
F: fails to meet deadlines and/or does not contribute significantly to team projects and/or has more than one unexcused absence from class.
For graduate students, you can translate an A or A- into an H; a B+ through C into a P; and a C- through D into an LP.
How To Succeed in This Course
· Attend classes consistently.
· Complete readings before the appropriate
classroom discussions and ask for explanations for any concepts that you
don't understand.
· Participate actively in class.
· Complete all production/shooting/editing/writing
responsibilities by your deadline(s).
· Work cooperatively with team members.
· Make sure that 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 preliminary and final shoot schedules to team members. As producer, you’ll succeed by completing
responsibilities in a timely manner. Remember that throughout the entire
field shoot, the “buck” stops with you.
Videographer/editor: The videographer/editor is responsible for
shooting video used in the taped report. It’s your job to
make sure that you have the camera reserved in advance of your shoot date.
You also need to make sure the camera is operational and that you have necessary
tapes, batteries and lighting equipment. If any of your equipment fails,
you should have a back-up plan to deal with that contingency. You’re
also responsible for editing the completed piece in consultation with the
producer and reporter/scriptwriter.
Reporter/scriptwriter: The reporter/scriptwriter’s first
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 to the reporter/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 or style of the script, the scriptwriter
has the final say. If a team member believes that there is a factual
or content error which can’t be reconciled by the scriptwriter, then
that team member should contact Dr. Linden. The reporter should be in the newsroom on the day that his/her report airs on Carolina Week.
All team members: You should plan on being available to the CW
news team the Wednesday afternoon that your piece airs. Make sure that story is loaded by the deadline, that all graphic requests are turned in to the graphic artist well before the piece is edited and that the script is transferred to the CW web site immediately
after the newscast. During the production process, team members will share
in logging video, 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/her deadlines.) Also, it’s expected
that all team members will participate in video editing sessions.
Selection of teams: Dr. Linden will determine who will be on
each team, but every effort will be made to have separate graduate and undergraduate teams, if possible. Graduate teams will be held to a higher standard than undergraduate teams although all work is expected to conform to professional broadcast standards.
Course Schedule
On Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 1:30 p.m. all class members should attend the spring organizational meeting of Carolina Week in Carroll Hall 132 ("Carolina Week Newsroom"). This will be a good opportunity for you to get an overview of the operation of the newscast and meet the program's producers, anchors, reporters and technical staff, as well as the CW news director, Prof. Jim Hefner. The meeting should last about 30 minutes.
WEEK 1: JAN. 9 - Introduction to "Medical Reporting for the
Electronic Media"
• Learn the basic purpose of the course.
• Get acquainted with Carolina Week’s story format.
• Review fundamentals of writing news for broadcast television.
• Learn how to construct a medical television news script.
Assignment (for next class on Jan. 23):
Read Cohn/Cope book (Chapters 1 through 5).
Read Tuggle et al. (Chapters 1 through 5, 7 though 9).
Read RTNDA'S Guide to Health Coverage Under HIPAA.
Read "Medical Reporting for the Electronic Media" (chapter by Dr. Linden) in Health Writer's Handbook by Barbara Gastel, M.D. (in Documents folder of Blackboard).
Each student email 50-word story pitch to Dr. Linden by Sunday, Jan. 15. Include suggested B-roll and contact information about your three sources.
Dr. Linden to email class members their team assignments by Monday, Jan. 16.
Return Student Data Form to Dr. Linden if you haven't done so already.
WEEK 2: JAN. 16 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No Class)
Assignment (for next class):
See previous assignment.
Each team pitch your story idea via email to Dr. Linden by Friday, Jan. 20, 12 noon.
Also bring hard copy of story pitch to class on Monday, Jan. 23.
WEEK 3: JAN. 23 - Writing for Broadcast Television/Preparing
the Television Script/Fundamentals of Setting Up the TV Shoot
• Review Broadcast News Handbook (Tuggle et al.) and News and Numbers (Cohn and Cope).
• Learn script format.
• Discuss interview techniques.
• Tips on medical television scripting and field production.
Assignment (for next class):
Pay $50 equipment fee at Dean's Office so you can check out camera equipment, lighting kit and tripod. Order miniDV tapes at taperesources.com or buy tapes at local electronic store (recommend two per person). Check out camera and tripod and shoot enough b-roll so you can put together a sequence of wide, medium and tight shots as per class discussion.
Check out this page for examples of various types of camera shots.
Read tutorial on video techniques from the Knight Digital Media Center.
Watch video on camera shooting tips.
Read Dylan Field's Final Cut Audio Cheat Sheet: Full Version.
Browse lynda.com web site and watch free video tutorials on Final Cut Pro.
WEEK 4: JAN. 30 - Fundamentals Of Shooting Video
• Tutorial on using video cameras and introduction to Final Cut Pro.
• Tips on putting together a package.
Assignment: (for next class):
ALL teams -- shoot practice video. Interview one another and shoot indoor/outdoor video to get acquainted with the camera, tripod and lighting equipment. Each team should shoot two sequences incorporating wide, medium and tight shots for each sequence.
Check your video to make sure it's properly lit and that the audio is clear. Bring your sequences to the next class on either DVD or flash drive.
WEEK 5: FEB. 6 - Fundamentals Of Video Editing
• Continued tutorial on Final Cut Pro & critique of sequences.
• Tips on setting up your shoots.
Assignment:
Team A attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week on Feb. 8 after newscast
to pitch story for Feb. 15 newscast.
All teams - shoot practice video and acquaint yourself with Final Cut Pro.
Team A - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12.
Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, Feb. 13 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
WEEK 6: FEB. 13
In-class critique of script by Team A.
Tips on voicing your track and delivering your standup from Professor Dave Cupp (10 a.m.)
Assignment:
Team A’s report airs on Feb. 15 Carolina Week.
WEEK 7: FEB. 20
In-class critique of Team B package from Feb. 15. In-class critique of
script by Team B.
Assignment:
Team B’s report airs on Feb. 22 Carolina Week.
Team C attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this week to pitch story
for Feb. 29 newscast.
Team C - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, February 26. Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, Feb. 27 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
WEEK 8: FEB. 27
In-class critique of Team B package from Feb. 22. In-class critique
of script by Team C.
View "The Age
of Aids," a Frontline special on PBS.
Assignment:
Team C’s report airs Feb. 29 on Carolina Week.
Team A attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this week to pitch story
for March 14 newscast.
Team A - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11. Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
(SPRING BREAK: MARCH 3 - 11)
WEEK 9: MARCH 12
In-class critique of Team C package from Feb. 29. In-class critique of script
by Team A.
View "Christopher," winner of 1999 Peabody/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Programming.
Assignment:
Team A’s report airs on March 14 Carolina Week.
Team B attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this week to pitch story
for March 21 newscast.
Team B - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 18. Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
WEEK 10: MARCH 19
In-class critique of Team A package from previous week. In-class critique
of script by Team B.
Assignment:
Team B’s report airs on March 19 Carolina Week.
Team C attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this week to pitch story
for March 28 newscast.
Team C - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25. Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
WEEK 11: MARCH 26
In-class critique of Team B package from previous week. In-class critique
of script by Team C.
Assignment:
Team C’s report airs on March 28 Carolina Week.
Team A attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this week to pitch story
for April 4 newscast.
Team A - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, April 1. Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
WEEK 12: APRIL 2
In-class critique of Team C package from previous week. In-class critique
of script by Team A.
Assignment:
Team A’s report airs on April 4 Carolina Week.
Team B attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this Wednesday following
CW newscast to pitch story for April 11 newscast.
Team B - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, April 8. Scriptwriter
of next week's story meets with Dr. Linden in his office Monday, April 9 at 2:30 p.m.
to discuss script.
WEEK 13: APRIL 9
In-class critique of Team A package from previous week. In-class critique
of script by Team B.
Assignment:
Team B’s report airs on April 11 Carolina Week.
Team C attend assignment meeting of Carolina Week this Wednesday following
CW newscast to pitch story for April 20 newscast.
Team C - email script to Dr. Linden by 5 p.m. Sunday, April 15. (Scriptwriter
of next week's story meet with Dr. Linden in his office April 16 at 9:00 a.m. to discuss script.)
WEEK 14: APRIL 16
In-class critique of Team B package from previous week. In-class critique of script by Team C.
Assignment:
Team C’s report airs on April 18 Carolina Week.
Prepare log of various writing, shooting and editing tasks during the semester's
class. Bring to final class on April 23.
WEEK 15: APRIL 23: Wrap-Up/Class Evaluation
The Honor Code
The Honor Code is in effect in this class and all others at the University.
I am committed to treating Honor Code violations seriously and urge all students
to become familiar with its terms set out at http://instrument.unc.edu.
If you have questions, it's your responsibility to ask me about the Code’s
application. All exams, written work and other projects must be submitted
with a statement that you have complied with the requirements of the Honor
Code in all aspects of the submitted work.
(In this course, fabricating a source, fabricating purported statements of
fact and/or plagiarism will result in a reportable Honor Code violation.)
--syllabus revised Feb. 8, 2012