Associate Professor Department of Communication Trinity University e-mail: hhaines@trinity.edu (210) 999-8140 (office, voice mail) (210) 999-8113 (Department of Communication)

Purpose This course introduces students to the process of television writing and editing. The course focuses on a broad range of television news tasks, including the production of video news pieces, the writing and editing of news copy, on-air performance and interviewing. The course is intended to introduce students to tasks performed by newly hired television news personnel. We center most of our work on the weekly production of The Live Show, an hour-long news magazine program aired live on Tiger TV and on the Time Warner San Antonio cable channel 19. Back to top

Required Texts Kalbfeld, Brad (1998). Associated Press Broadcast News Handbook. NY: Associated Press. Redmond, J., Shook, F., and Lattimore, D. (2001). The Broadcast News Process. Englewood, CO: Morton Publishing Company (6th edition). Tuggle, C.A., Carr, F., and Huffman, S. (2001). Broadcast News Handbook. Boston: McGraw Hill. Back to top

Directions for assigned readings and exercises The Class Calendar specifies reading assignments and exercises. Due dates are specified for the assigned exercises. The workbook exercises serve as the basis for the instructor's interaction with you about broadcast writing style and production planning. The two assigned texts are very applied and "hands-on." Please follow these directions for preparing the exercises assigned in Redmond, Shook & Lattimore, our broadcast news writing workbook: Type your NAME and the DUE DATE on each sheet you submit for evaluation. Type your work directly on the sheets torn from the workbook OR type your work directly on the sheets that you photocopy from the workbook. Using a computer? Way cool! Be sure to ATTACH the workbook pages (either neatly torn from the workbook or photocopied from the workbook, along with your printed computer work. Arrange all of your exercise materials in order, neatly staple the pages together (NO PAPER CLIPS!), and submit them by the due date. Students have access to a stapler in the Communication Department office. The instructor does not carry one to class. Dazed and confused? Contact the instructor before the due date. Back to top

Organization In the early part of the semester, the course will focus on a variety of topics, including the preparation of broadcast news copy, writing characteristics, the organization of news departments, interviewing techniques and the concept of news program structure or format. At our September 11th meeting, students will be assigned to Program Teams. Each team will share the responsibility of writing, producing and performing The Live Show throughout the semester. Class members will perform the tasks of Producer, Writer, Stand-up Reporter, Field Camera Operator / Tape Editor, Interviewer, Anchor and Other On-Air Talent. Although all class members will be asked to perform a variety of tasks related to the weekly production, writing remains at the heart of the course. Class members are encouraged to conceptualize the course as a TV news workshop in which we produce programming in order to develop our writing techniques. In early October, the nature of the course will change dramatically as we move into weekly program production. When we begin our production work, our Thursday meeting (2:10-4:30 p.m.) will serve as our Òair day,Ó and we will use our Tuesday meeting (2:10- 3:25 p.m.) for the purposes of critique and preparation for the following Thursday broadcast. From time to time, class members may be asked to fill-in as studio camera operators, etc., depending on the availability of crew members for our Thursday broadcast. Back to top

What you need to think about as we get underway Topics for interview segments Topics for video reports The other class member who will work as your co-producer Back to top

Grading Policy: Assigned exercises in texts: 25% In-class exercises/participation: 25% Quality of participation in weekly productions: 50% (Emphasis on writing) Back to top

Attendance Policy As members of a broadcast news team, we share certain responsibilities. The unexpected absence of a team member from our Thursday afternoon production can disrupt our work and can even result in the cancellation of a program segment. Remember that we approach our work from a professional perspective. Additionally, promptness is an essential characteristic of all broadcast news participants. Members of our news team are expected to arrive on time for all class meetings and production assignments throughout the entire semester. Class members will find it necessary to meet with each other and with the instructor outside of class at critical times throughout the semester. Class members with unique scheduling problems should contact the instructor immediately. Unexcused absences, tardiness, the failure to meet program deadlines and the failure to keep appointments with team members or with the instructor will have very negative consequences in terms of the final grade. The success of the course is largely dependent on team spirit. Back to top

Food Ingestion Class members are privileged to work in a professional environment. Our class meetings will not offer the opportunity for meals. Please eat before or after our class meetings, not during our class meetings. Liquids and solid food are specifically prohibited from all production areas, including the television Control Room, the on-air Studio and Video Editing facilities. Class members who disregard this rule are in violation of University policy. As members of The Live Show crew, you are expected to serve as models of behavior in this important matter. Back to top

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