1 Course Syllabus JN202: Cross-Media Storytelling Digital Media and Journalism, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Wilfrid Laurier University—Brantford Winter | 2015 Instructor and Lab Coordinator Dr. Carolyn Guertin | JN202: Cross-Media Storytelling | Digital Media and Journalism Contact: carolyn.guertin@gmail.com | Mail Box Information/Drop Box Office Hours: Tuesday 5:30-6:30, 7:00-8:00 | Office Location: RCW318 | Skype (By Appointment): Skype carolyn_guertin | Course Information Calendar Description This course invites students to develop a crossmedia mode of thinking about storytelling in a converged media environment. Students will learn the basics of researching, organizing and telling stories effectively across multiple media platforms (e.g., print, audio, video, and the web) and a variety of social contexts (e.g., public relations, blogging, journalism, speeches, etc.). Cross-Media Storytelling, JN202, 3.0 credits Pre-requisites | co-requisites | exclusions Course location, meeting times and days: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 to Tuesday, April 06, 2015, 2:30-5:20, OD210 Course Overview and Approach/Framework In an era that is increasingly networked, mobile and automated, our news media is evolving to reflect the changing interfaces on which they will be read, viewed and interacted with. This course will explore the use and creation of media in and across different platforms, screens, and modes of address. Complementary to the Digital Media and Journalism program as a whole, this class will further your abilities to create and navigate digital and social media platforms, tell intelligent and compelling text-based, visual and multimedia stories, unearth and critically interpret information about contemporary issues, and understand and analyze the wider social, political and economic forces shaping today's journalism and media environments. Cross-Media Storytelling will help you understand what approach and medium to use and when, how to use specific media alone and in concert, and how to enlist the audience in the ‘story’ you are telling. Course Goals and Learning Outcomes By the end of the course students will be able to: - distinguish between the purposes and methods of different forms of journalism, public relations and other informational communication - tell rudimentary cross-media stories that blend values and approaches of traditional media into planning, organizing and producing content for mobile, multi-tasking audience - write clear and focused content - capture, select and organize visuals and sound (e.g., still and moving pictures, audio) effectively to enhance the understanding of a story - know how and when to engage audience participation in story-telling 2 This course will enable you to: 1. Describe how cross-media storytelling is different from traditional journalisms 2. Recognize and navigate a diverse variety of cross-media narratives 3. Understand the concept of medium-specificity 4. Analyze different ways cross-media narratives can be propagated and consumed 5. Critique implementations of cross-media through case studies 6. List and describe the variations in definitions of "cross-media storytelling," “multimedia journalism,” and “transmedia storytelling” 7. Make critical judgments as to when various media approaches should/could be applied 8. Structure a project in the planning stage 9. Maintain continuity and write within a team setting 10. Create narratives for a variety of media 11. Lay a framework for a cross-media project, whether original or IP-based 12. Design fluid, rich, and coherent audience journeys 13. Map classical writing techniques to various media formats 14. Recognize user experience parameters and the different types of approaches to design 15. Write for cross-media venues, incorporating web content, comics, photography, audio and video 16. Analyze a cross-media project 17. Organize the development stage of a project 18. Tell stories using only visual or ephemeral cues 19. Distinguish between story architecture, design and writing Course Tools and Learning Materials 1. Jennifer George-Palilonis, The Multimedia Journalist: Storytelling for Today’s Media Landscape. New York Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013. [MJ] & Anne Darling. Storytelling with Photographs. (B00M0QG6KU) Kindle only. Purchase at Amazon.com. 2. Companion Web Site: http://www.oup.com/us/palilonis 3. Program Resources, Equipment Loans, Forms and other instructions: http://legacy.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1727&p=26603 4. Course media / technology (films, software, hardware, online materials): Software will include an assortment of social media software, design software, comic book creation software (Comic Life 3), and Adobe Creative Suite 6, especially Photoshop and Premiere Pro. 5. Library e-reserve website and access information https://ares.wlu.ca/ares/ 6. Library - http://library.wlu.ca/ 7. Learning Management System course login – http://mylearningspace.wlu.ca 8. Centre for Student Success (writing centre, math centre, academic advising, study skills/supplemental instruction, accessible learning) - http://www.wlu.ca/learningservices Student Evaluation Blog assignments (x 10 – a minimum of 250 words/week) Infographic (due 27 January 15) Photo essay/Fotonovela (edited in Photoshop and created in Comic Life 3, due 24 Feb 15) In-class assignments (due on day assigned) Group Video Production assignment (due 07 April 15) Final Exam Total 10% 10% 20% 10% 20% 30% 100% Learning Activities, Assignments, Tests, Quizzes and Examinations This is a production class. This means that you are required to produce media over the course of the term. You will learn how to incorporate text, images, time-based (video), and space-based elements (infographics and comics) into your assignments. The elements should be able to both stand alone and work as part of a larger whole. Instruction will be provided in the theory and software/hardware required for each exercise. 3 Weekly Schedule Schedule may be subject to change. Week Topic / Theme Lesson #/ / Unit Outcomes Date 1/06 What is CrossAn Jan Media understanding Storytelling? of storytelling Defining conventions writing and and the ability media for to define journalists different kinds of multimedia 2/13 Introduction to An Jan Web 2.0 for understanding Journalists: of the Collaboration importance of and team work in Specialization the news room, on the Web and in the field, including working with a variety of media and news experts, collaborating and crowdsourcing 3/20 Information Familiarity Jan Graphics with story and information mapping 4/ 27 Jan 5/03 Feb Planning Multimedia Navigation and Interactivity Come to an understanding of media specificity Learn to think spatially and adopt a user’s point of view. Acquire the ability to craft interactive media. Learning Activities Frank Rose, “Schumpeter and the Future of Media”: http://www.frankrose.com/Schumpeter_and_the_Future_of_Media.pdf Anna Higgs “The Importance of Storytelling in the Digital Age” (17 Nov 14): http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionalsnetwork/2014/nov/17/-sp-storytelling-digital-film-4?CMP=share_btn_tw George-Palilonis, Chapter 1 “Multimedia journalism. Defining multimedia: Information architecture in the digital world” and Chapter 2 “Collaboration & specialization: Reporting & editing in interdisciplinary teams” Cinderella 2.0: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP-zOCl5md0 Wordle.net Blog assignment on Chpts 1 & 2 George-Palilonis, Chapter 10 “Information graphics: Visualizing the news – Onward & upward” 7 Ways to Create a Storymap: http://schoolofdata.org/2014/08/25/seven-ways-tocreate-a-storymap/ Blog assignment on Chapter 10 George-Palilonis, Chapter 3 Planning multimedia: Assessing multimedia potential for your stories Andrew Liam, “Controlled chaos: as journalism and documentary converge in digital, what lessons can they share?” (29 Oct 14) http://www.niemanlab.org/2014/10/controlled-chaos-as-journalism-anddocumentary-film-converge-in-digital-what-lessons-can-they-share/ Blog assignment on Chapter 3 Infographic Due George-Palilonis, Chapter 4 “Navigation & interactivity: Planning and testing for user experience” Ravi Somaiya, “How Facebook Is Changing the Way Its Users Consume Journalism.” New York Times Online. (26 Oct 2014): http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/business/media/how-facebook-is-changing-the way-its-users-consumejournalism.html?emc=edit_at_20141027&nl=business&nlid= 35359454&_r=0 Blog assignment on Chapter 4 4 6/10 Feb Cross-Media: Writing Across Platforms Be able to research. Being able to write mediaspecific content. Introduction to Comic Life Software Reading Week – Feb 16 – 20 – No Lecture 7/24 Photojournalism Apply the Feb Rule of Thirds to create compelling photographs. Be able to think transmedially. 8/03 Video and Proficiency in Mar Dynamic the creation of Content time-based media. Be able to edit and enhance photographs while maintaining photographic integrity. 9/10 Video Proficiency in Mar Editing Timebased media 10/17 Mar Audio and Oral Telling 11/24 Mar Podcasting 12/31 Mar The Future of News 13/07 Apr Date TBA Presentations and Review for exam Final Exam Use audio to effect in media production Proficiency in the art of the podcast An understanding of how to frame a story and what the future of news might be Introduction to Comic Life Software George-Palilonis, Chapter 6 “Writing: Writing stories across platforms” The Fotonovela and Comic Life Blog assignment on Chapter 6 The Camera That Changed the World (2011): http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/camera-changed-world/ George-Palilonis, Chapter 5 “Groundwork: The well-rounded journalist” Anne Darling, Storytelling with Photographs: How to Create a Photo Essay Composition and The Rule of Thirds Blog assignment on Chapter 5 George-Palilonis, Chapter 7 “Photojournalism: Capturing the moments that transcend language” Introduction to Adobe Premiere Pro Blog assignment on Chapter 7 George-Palilonis, Chapter 9 “Video: Visual storytelling & news in motion” Adobe Premiere Pro Blog assignment on Chapter 9 Introduction to the Soundtrack & Premiere Pro George-Palilonis, Chapter 8 “Audio: Sound storytelling” Blog assignment on Chapter 8 Debbie Millman’s podcast with Emily Spivak (free on iTunes, “Design Matters 2014”: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/emilyspivack/id328074695?i=326452524&mt=2 ) Matt Trueman, “How mobile tech is changing the way we make and enjoy art” (11 Nov 14): http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/2014/nov/11/sp-mobile-tech-art-shakespeare-google-glass George-Palilonis, Chapter 11 “Story packaging: Multimedia design & content management” and Chapter 12 “Looking forward: The future of news—and your place in it.” Blog assignment on Chapters 11 and 12 Presentations Group Video Production Assignments due Exam Review Exam will cover all material on readings and discussed in class. Please note: you must pass both the final and the term in order to pass the course. 5 University and Course Policies (proposed and required texts): Anne Darling. Storytelling with Photographs. Kindle only. Jennifer George-Palilonis, The Multimedia Journalist: Storytelling for Today’s Media Landscape. Oxford and New York: Oxford UP, 2013. 1. Academic Integrity/Misconduct (cheating): Laurier is committed to a culture of integrity within and beyond the classroom. This culture values trustworthiness (i.e., honesty, integrity, reliability), fairness, caring, respect, responsibility and citizenship. Together, we have a shared responsibility to uphold this culture in our academic and nonacademic behaviour. The University has a defined policy with respect to academic misconduct. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with this policy and the penalty guidelines, and are cautioned that in addition to failure in a course, a student may be suspended or expelled from the University for academic misconduct and the offence may appear on their transcript. The relevant policy can be found at Laurier's academic integrity website along with resources to educate and support you in upholding a culture of integrity. Ignorance of Laurier’s academic misconduct policy is not a defense. <see: www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity > 2. Special Needs: Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact Laurier’s Accessible Learning Centre for information regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar <see: http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1365&p=5123 > for information regarding all services available on campus. 3. Plagiarism: Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. If requested to do so by the instructor, students may are required to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism. (Approved by Senate May 14, 2002) 4. Classroom Use of Electronic Devices: State your classroom practice and any consequences for failure to comply - see Policy 9.3 (Approved by Senate March 8, 2012) http://www.wlu.ca/documents/50202/9.3_Electronic_Device_Policy.pdf *sample syllabus statements available at: http://www.wlu.ca/documents/50198/Syllabus_statements.doc 5. Late Assignment Policy: Specify any penalties that will be assessed when deadlines for the completion of course components are not met (Approved by Senate May 23, 2012). NB: no assignments may be due during the two study dates that fall between the end of exams and the beginning of the exam period (see senate guidelines on academic dates) 6. Final Examinations – Students are strongly urged not to make any commitments (i.e., vacation) during the examination period. Students are required to be available for examinations during the examination periods of all terms in which they register. (See Academic Regulations – examinations in the academic calendars) 7. Foot Patrol, The Wellness Centre, and the Student Food Bank (Approved by Senate November 28, 2011 – see below) Brantford Student Food Bank All Laurier students are eligible to use the Student Food Bank. Anonymous requests can be made online at foodbank.yourstudentsunion.ca Foot Patrol l 519-751-7875 Foot Patrol is a volunteer operated safe walk program, available Mon-Thurs 6:30pm-1am and Fri-Sun 6:30pm-11pm. Radio dispatched teams are available upon call to escort students to and from campus as well as off-campus destinations either by foot or drive. Peer Help Line l 1-866-281-7337 A confidential phone service provided for students by students as a resource for information and support. Peer Help Line responds to all calls no matter the subject. The line is open Sun-Thurs 12pm-2am and FriSat 12pm-3am. 6 The Wellness Centre | 519-756-8228 x5803 Students have access to support for all their health and counselling needs at the Wellness Centre. Located in the Student Centre, floor 2. Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Mon-Fri.