Course syllabus
COMMS 203: Television Journalism
SEMESTER 2, 2017
Course Convenor: Dr Margaret Henley
HSB, Room 537, Ph. 373 7599 x 87571, m.henley@auckland.ac.nz
Field Production & TV Studio Tutor: Peter Simpson
HSB, Room 532, pj.simpson@auckland.ac.nz
TV Studio Technical Assistant: Tim Signal:
HSB, Room 527, t.signal@auckland.ac.nz
Editing Tutor: Martin Hansen:
Arts 1, Room 132, m.hansen@auckland.ac.nz
Time & Locations:
Monday 1-4pm (alternating between TV studio/edit suites)
1) TV Studio: Kenneth Meyers Centre (KMC), Shortland Street, Level 4 (street level)
2) FTVMS MAC Lab: HSB Room 160, level 1 (access off Wynyard Street)
3) Television Gear Store, Arts 1, level 1, Room 131
4) Demonstration Room (intro to cameras and sound equipment), HSB level 1, Room 143.
Course delivery format:
3 hours workshop per week in television studio/edit suite/field production
Summary of Course Description:
This is a practical, television studio based course where students learn the skills of current affairs television journalism. Students learn to write, shoot, present short news items in the field which they edit for inclusion into a multi-camera production recorded as live in the television studio. Studio skills include directing, production management, multi-cam scripting, vision switching, presenting and interviewing within a framework of current industry practice.
Course outcomes:
- Experience a 'hands on' approach to the skills of television journalism
- Acquire production skills operating in a multi-camera television studio.
- Acquire skills in news/current affairs field production and news item scripting and editing.
- Acquire skills in scripting, presenting, directing, production managing and delivering a live magazine format current affairs/news programme under live conditions.
Weekly Schedule:
Recommended Texts:
There is no set text for the course but a recommended practical text is:
‘Producing Videos: A Complete Guide’, 3rd Edition, 2010, Martha Mollinson, Allen & Unwin,
Relevant readings and youtube links will be supplied on Canvas.
Set Readings and AV viewing:
Assessments:
There is no final exam as this course is 100% internal assessment. The final marks will be made up of a mix of individual and group marks. Therefore attendance is a vital part of your overall assessment. There can be no course clashes or unexplained absences for this production paper and may jeopardise your assessment and that of your group.
All absences must be notified before class.
Deadlines and submission of coursework:
As this is a production course ending in a recording day in the television studio, deadlines for coursework are non-negotiable. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you will be required to provide a doctor's certificate for absence from class or inability to contribute to your group's production.
Workload:
The University of Auckland's expectation on 15-point courses, is that students spend 10 hours per week on the course. Students manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. In this practical course students attend 3 hours per week of practical training in the television studio or in field production or editing. The remaining seven hours per week outside the classroom are used to learn editing skills, shoot and edit training exercises, and prepare programme content for the final group project.
Access to equipment, editing & studio facilities
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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