Category Archives: Syllabus Updates

Syllabus Update: Raw Video & Script, Plus Thursday Guest

Posted on by

Please be sure to bring all of your raw video material to the class on Thursday, preferably loaded into FinalCut. Also remember to prepare a draft script for your video piece in advance of class, for review during the session.

Guest video editor Sarah Foudy will be on hand to work with us during a two-plus hour video/FinalCut lab section, helping with FCP techniques and in advancing your video assignment. Sarah’s an award-winning producer for CUNY TV’s Spanish-language documentary magazine show Nueva NY, and a freelance documentary producer, as well as an adjunct professor at the school.

Syllabus Update: Prepping Your Pitches & Video Clips

Posted on by

Folks – a couple of preparatory notes for tomorrow’s live newsroom simulation. And to make things all the more fun, we’ll be joined in the classroom by our very own Dean Shephard tomorrow, who’ll be observing the class throughout much of the afternoon.

1) To save time, make sure to be prepared with details of your best couple of multimedia clips. If I ask you the best soundbite, you’ll know it. If I ask you about the quality of the audio, you’ll be able to describe it. If I ask you whether the subject had a good anecdote, you’ll be able to cite it.

2) To avoid a bottleneck during the simulation, please make sure you know how to transcode your video from your smartphone to FinalCut. This is especially important for those of you with Android or other non-iPhone smartphones. Remember – It is your individual responsibility to know how your phone works. We just can’t provide tech support for the many models you all have.

If you’re not sure how to proceed, here’s one suggestion that may work for Android phones – try the process used for transferring from the school’s Canon 60D camera (link – see Step 3, transcoding using MPEG Streamclip). If you’re still stymied, check your phone manual or online site for how to transfer video material. Or check with your peers who may have had success with such a transfer!

Good luck gathering and preparing your clips. See you at 1pm sharp!

Syllabus Update: Extension on Deadline for ToilTown Multimedia

Posted on by

Since a significant number of students are facing conflicting deadlines for the capture of multimedia material and data for the newsroom simulation this week, I’m going to extend the deadline to Thursday start of class. For anyone finished sooner who can get me a list of clips by Wednesday midnight or first thing Thursday a.m., closer to the original deadline, I’ll provide extra credit.

Syllabus Update: Posting Your Clip List

Posted on by

Just updated this week’s assignment with a shared doc for you to post your clips list to. See update in boldface below:

ASSIGNMENT: Multimedia material gathered for Toiltown.com live coverage project: Each student gathers minimum of six raw multimedia clips (video or audio/stills) from his/her CD using smartphone, and asking: “How will the economy affect your holiday plans?” as well as related questions, two survey questions and biodata.  Best two clips pitched during class session, and top clip then produced into 60 second multimedia package on ToilTown.com site. DEADLINE: 1) Wed 11:59 p.m. – Bulleted list of six or more clips (including subject name, age, borough and sentence on editorial and technical strength of interview material). List should highlight the top two clips. Post list on this shared doc. 2) Start of class Week 13 – All raw multimedia material and data from interviews for final in-class production. Input survey response and data on this Google form. See complete project details here

Syllabus Update: ToilTown Data Survey Form

Posted on by

Please make sure you’re gathering the proper data from all your interviews, not just from the multimedia interview. Add your data to this survey form by the start of Thursday’s class.

Please note that in keeping with standard survey protocol, individual entries missing data points are tossed as invalid. To reinforce that, the survey form requires all questions be answered, so it will not accept incomplete entries.

If you need to refresh yourself on the details, see the full guide at Toiltown/Newsroom Simulation, particularly the section on “Student Newsgathering.”
Also, remember this is a smartphone-only assignment, whether you’re gathering video or audio and stills. I encourage you to use pistol grips for the smartphones (we ordered 50 of them over the summer), to improve the quality of your visual material. And remember, students without smartphones are able to check out Flipcams as a substitute. But do not use higher-end gear (cameras, video cameras, audio decks). That way we can maintain uniform quality for the material.

Syllabus Update: Toiltown Live Project

Posted on by

Week 12 of the syllabus has been updated to reflect key details of the news simulation assignment:

    • ASSIGNMENT: Multimedia material gathered for Toiltown.com live coverage project: Each student gathers minimum of six raw multimedia clips (video or audio/stills) from his/her CD using smartphone, and asking: “How will the economy affect your holiday plans?” as well as related questions, two survey questions and biodata.  Best two clips pitched during class session, and top clip then produced into 60 second multimedia package on ToilTown.com site. DEADLINE: 1) Wed 11:59 p.m. – Bulleted list of six or more clips (including subject name, age, borough and sentence on editorial and technical strength of interview material). List should highlight the top two clips. 2) Start of class Week 13 – All raw multimedia material and data from interviews for final in-class production. Complete project details here.

IMPORTANT — Please note:

  • For your multimedia clips you have a choice of gathering video or audio and stills. Tight headshots are required on all visuals.
  • You are required to use a smartphone to gather this material (do not “upgrade” to higher end video cameras and audio recorders). A key point of the assignment is to see that you can create usable quality newsgathering with your smartphone. NOTE: Those students who do not have smartphones can check out Flipcams to gather video. I’ll post separately on the transcoder necessary to convert the footage for FinalCut editing.
  • Use a tripod equivalent – the equipment room has many “pistol grip” smartphone holders that can be used to stabilize your shots, especially if you use them in conjunction with a tripod.
  • Be prepared to ask multiple questions – the main interview question, the two survey questions, the biodata questions. Be sure to print out a list of those questions and carry it with you on your interviews. Entries missing material may not be usable in any form on the site.
  • Interviewees must be New York City residents 18 or over and from your CD.
  • All production takes place in the classroom on Thursday. Do not produce material ahead of time.

Questions? Comments?

Syllabus Updates: Assignments for Week 11, Video Assignment

Posted on by

Please see Week 11  in the class syllabus for details on revised web video pitch assignment and a new reading assignment. Also see Week 13 for initial details on next web video assignment; more to come on that one.

NOTE: Re timing on optional assignments (video or other multimedia revisions) and open-media blog assignment: If you’re planning on doing any of these optional, extra credit assignments, you must inform me by the day of the last class, 11:59 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16. The optional assignment would then be due a week later, 11:59 p.m., Friday, Dec. 23. Also note, if you decide to do a revision or optional assignment, I will consider it a firm commitment, and treat the assignment as required. For those doing a video revision, I will turn around edits by Monday, Dec. 19, or earlier, for use in completing your revisions. Others will have notes within the usual one-week edit cycle.

Questions? Comments?