Broadcast Journalism I Syllabus                                                                                                                                          

Broadcast Journalism I is a two-semester course designed to give students hands-on opportunities in television production.  Through a variety of production experiences students will learn the power of the medium, examine issues of fairness and objectivity, make critical thinking skills on a regular basis, exercise creativity, and gain an overall understanding of  news-gathering techniques.

Major Instructional Goals/Students in BJ I will:

--Understand basic videography skills
--Learn to write for broadcast
--Sharpen critical viewing skills
--Understand and use editing techniques
--Exercise fairness in handling news and feature topics
--Demonstrate a basic knowledge of set design, lighting, audio engineering, producing and directing
--Improve on-camera poise and interviewing techniques

To accomplish the MIGS, BJ I students will be involved in the following activities:

--Class production exercises for in-house broadcast and in-class broadcast
--Covering issues for HTV Magazine, which broadcasts on cable and in-house
--Assisting in R-12 productions, including shooting in the field as well as assisting with live and taped studio programs
--Maintaining a video portfolio tape all year long, to be reviewed by the instructor each semester
--Working on in-house, school-related video projects
--Logging tapes and writing scripts for themselves and others 
--Researching topics of investigation
--Making and keeping interview appointments
--Doing voice-overs and working for one entire quarter on the HHS morning announcements staff

Grades:

BJ I students are graded on overall responsibility in meeting deadlines (apprx. 40%), the content of their portfolio tapes at the end of each semester, including quantity and improvement shown (apprx. 50%), and the care they use in handling the equipment made available to them (10%). 
*Students provide the portfolio tapes, which they may keep after they are evaluated for a grade

Final Notes: 

--Hillcrest Broadcast Journalism classes represent the school as a whole in many activities every year.  Students should take pride in that fact, and be ready to act in a professional manner in the field. 
--There are many times students will be expected to work after school, at night, and occasionally on weekends to meet class deadlines.  
--Media-related trips offered to students during the year are optional, and have no effect on a student's final grade.  
--Students who carelessly damage equipment will be removed from class.
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Parent/Guardian Permission For Off-Campus Assignments:

_____________________________has my permission to leave campus and drive to a media field assignment during the school day.  He/She also has permission to ride to a media assignment with a Broadcasting classmate.


Parent/Guardian signature_____________________________________Date_______________________