Course Description
For all students with a mass media emphasis, and especially those interested in new media. Teaches students how to shoot and crop shots for journalistic use. Students also work with design, composition and presentation in digital technology. Emphasis is on images for reproduction in new media. The course stresses recognition, development and creation of news photographs and the skills of the photo editor.
Program Learning Outcomes
The Communication Baccalaureate of the Department of Communication at Dixie State University is driven by specific learning outcomes, skills and competencies that the degree is designed to reach in both human and mediated communication. These include:
Theory - Explain and apply concepts from communication theoretical traditions in small groups, business, interpersonal, mass media, and public settings.
Content Creation - Create appropriate and effective messages based on skilled analysis of the audience and situation using mediated and non-mediated presentations with a variety of purposes.
Critical Thinking - Apply good reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving skills in interpersonal, small group, organizational, public, and mass media settings.
Research - Apply effective skills in researching, organizing, and writing appropriate professional documents, personal communication, and effective communication analysis.
Global Perspective - Demonstrate effective cross-cultural communication knowledge and skills in achieving a global perspective.
Ethics - Exercise ethical principles in all aspects of the communication discipline.
This course, Digital Photojournalism, seeks to sustain these outcomes through the student learning objectives below.
Student Learning Objectives
The goal of this course is to Increase your photojournalism acuity and intermediate photographic skills.
Through regular attendance and active participation you will be able to:
- Manipulate the variables of exposure,
- execute compositional factors,
- exploit existing light for exposure and impact
- differentiate photojournalistic assignments and news genres,
- shoot photo essays,
- exploit photographic variables for different contexts,
- edit shots for publication,
- evaluate cameras, lenses and other photographic instruments for journalism applications,
- function with basics in the digital dark room,
- differentiate between legal and illegal shooting contexts,
- understand ethical considerations and the journalistic code of ethics.
Item Pool
These activities are designed to get you discovering different aspects of real-world photojournalism and develop a working knowledge of specific shooting protocols.
Shoot the Axioms
Compose and photograph a series of images demonstrating your ability to manipulate the variables of light and speed. These images should depict shallow and deep depth-of-field, and frozen and blurred action. Post this portfolio to your blog.
Shoot Wide
Work exclusively in the widest angle you have in shooting an essay. Select your top shots and post them to your blog. Discuss on your blog the perceptual influences of shooting wide and how that impacted your story-telling.
Shoot Tight
Work exclusively in the tightest or telephoto angle you have in shooting an essay. Select your top shots and post them to your blog. Discuss on your blog the perceptual influences of shooting tight and how that impacted your story-telling.
Shoot to Illustrate
Often shooters who are employed in-house by a news organization will be asked to create an image illustrative of an editorial - something that speaks metaphorically to an issue at hand. Determine your topic or issue, design your metaphor or visual representation, and create an image that communicates your intended message.
Create a composition that has a fore, middle and background subject. With your camera on a tripod or solid surface, pull focus on the middle subject, set your aperture at f8 for your exposure with the proper shutter speed, then make five photos in this order at these f-stops without changing the shutter speed.
On Assignment – Hard News
Over the course of the semester consider yourself on assignment to shoot a hard news story. Capture enough images with an eye to storytelling, establishing context and working into details. Post your story to your blog.
On Assignment – Feature News
Also consider yourself on assignment to shoot a feature story. Demonstrate your aptitude in composition and lighting to capture the social, cultural and psychological contexts of your story. Post your story to your blog.
Natural Light Portrait
Create a feature portrait using existing lighting to create Rembrandt and glamor modeling. To do this, use light from a northern exposed window as your key, providing a constant exposure. Use some kind of bounce to fill the shadow side of your subject. Model their lighting to find the character of your subject either through Rembrandt or glamor technique.
The Package
Create the elements of a video package, a stand-up, and interview and b-roll to illustrate the story. Upload your best takes to your blog. If you'd like, cut the package together or have someone cut it for you. What I'll be looking for is your competency in applying photojournalism concepts in your coverage and production of your package.
Assessments (2)
Your first assessment is a synthesis instrument to see how you're integrating the principles taught in the first part of the class. The second assessment is application, assessing your ability to edit photographic content for publication. The third assessment is your final and is a combination of multiple choice, true/false and fill-in-the-blank.
Portfolio
Create a portfolio of your best work from each assignment in this course. Headings should include Hard News, Feature, Editorial and/or Illustrative. Use a template such as this wix.com page to help you organize and promote your craft. Once you've posted your portfolio link to your blog, critique a peer portfolio as well by commenting on their portfolio post.
Policies and Resources
Qualification
As an upper division elective class for the Bachelor of Communication degree, you need to achieve a C or higher as the grade outcome of this class for it to count towards your degree requirements.
Missing Class
Show up. It's the first secret to achievement. Every semester students will let me know that they'll be missing class to go on a cruise, or for a wedding, or to go snowboarding, and I say, "Cool, have fun." You, or somebody else, have paid to be here. It's your stewardship and my expectation. To account for this, over the course of this semester I'll give those in attendance a secret word which they will email back to me before 5:00p that day to indicate they were there. I will do this five times during the semester on the days of lowest attendance. If at the end of the semester you have emailed five secret words, your grade remains in tact. If you've submitted only three secret words, your evaluation drops a whole letter grade. If you've sent none, you fail the course.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism is the use of another source’s words, ideas or statistics without their permission and/or proper citation, but more specifically for this course, it's using someone else's photography as your own. Anyone who plagiarizes material in my class will receive a grade of zero on that assignment, and risk an F grade for the class. Anyone found cheating on term assessments will fail the test. In light of evidence of plagiarism or cheating, I also reserve the right to assign you an “F” for the course and/or refer you to our chair for further sanctions. If you submit a falsified electronic document that I cannot open, you will fail the assignment. Please keep in mind that one can be expelled from the college for academic dishonesty.
Also see Academic dishonesty / Academic integrity policy.
Electronic Devices
Bring your technology to class, your tablets, laptops and smart phones, and especially your cameras, and use them in our discussions and presentations. But, please don't text, call or surf online for anything not having to do with the day's topic. Please put your phone on vibrate. Should your device make any ring or notification sound, interrupting class, you owe me a completely stamped Cafe Rio meal card. If I find you engaged in an online activity that is not related to class activity you will owe me a full Waffle Bliss card for each infraction. Really.
Submission of Assignments
Most work for this class is submitted on your blog. Written work for this class will be submitted via Google docs. This ensures I can open your document and verify contents regardless of platform. No other format will be accepted. Format your submissions in the subject line with the course number, assignment, and your name. If I were submitting the first assignment for COMM3530, my subject line would read:
COMM3530, Assignment 1, Young.
Likewise, if you email me a link to your work on your blog, please format the subject line in the same manner. Send all email correspondence for this class to comm3530@gmail.com.
On Assignment – Hard News
Over the course of the semester consider yourself on assignment to shoot a hard news story. Capture enough images with an eye to storytelling, establishing context and working into details. Post your story to your blog.
On Assignment – Feature News
Also consider yourself on assignment to shoot a feature story. Demonstrate your aptitude in composition and lighting to capture the social, cultural and psychological contexts of your story. Post your story to your blog.
Natural Light Portrait
Create a feature portrait using existing lighting to create Rembrandt and glamor modeling. To do this, use light from a northern exposed window as your key, providing a constant exposure. Use some kind of bounce to fill the shadow side of your subject. Model their lighting to find the character of your subject either through Rembrandt or glamor technique.
Create the elements of a video package, a stand-up, and interview and b-roll to illustrate the story. Upload your best takes to your blog. If you'd like, cut the package together or have someone cut it for you. What I'll be looking for is your competency in applying photojournalism concepts in your coverage and production of your package.
Assessments (2)
Your first assessment is a synthesis instrument to see how you're integrating the principles taught in the first part of the class. The second assessment is application, assessing your ability to edit photographic content for publication. The third assessment is your final and is a combination of multiple choice, true/false and fill-in-the-blank.
Portfolio
Create a portfolio of your best work from each assignment in this course. Headings should include Hard News, Feature, Editorial and/or Illustrative. Use a template such as this wix.com page to help you organize and promote your craft. Once you've posted your portfolio link to your blog, critique a peer portfolio as well by commenting on their portfolio post.
Policies and Resources
Qualification
As an upper division elective class for the Bachelor of Communication degree, you need to achieve a C or higher as the grade outcome of this class for it to count towards your degree requirements.
Missing Class
Show up. It's the first secret to achievement. Every semester students will let me know that they'll be missing class to go on a cruise, or for a wedding, or to go snowboarding, and I say, "Cool, have fun." You, or somebody else, have paid to be here. It's your stewardship and my expectation. To account for this, over the course of this semester I'll give those in attendance a secret word which they will email back to me before 5:00p that day to indicate they were there. I will do this five times during the semester on the days of lowest attendance. If at the end of the semester you have emailed five secret words, your grade remains in tact. If you've submitted only three secret words, your evaluation drops a whole letter grade. If you've sent none, you fail the course.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism is the use of another source’s words, ideas or statistics without their permission and/or proper citation, but more specifically for this course, it's using someone else's photography as your own. Anyone who plagiarizes material in my class will receive a grade of zero on that assignment, and risk an F grade for the class. Anyone found cheating on term assessments will fail the test. In light of evidence of plagiarism or cheating, I also reserve the right to assign you an “F” for the course and/or refer you to our chair for further sanctions. If you submit a falsified electronic document that I cannot open, you will fail the assignment. Please keep in mind that one can be expelled from the college for academic dishonesty.
Also see Academic dishonesty / Academic integrity policy.
Electronic Devices
Bring your technology to class, your tablets, laptops and smart phones, and especially your cameras, and use them in our discussions and presentations. But, please don't text, call or surf online for anything not having to do with the day's topic. Please put your phone on vibrate. Should your device make any ring or notification sound, interrupting class, you owe me a completely stamped Cafe Rio meal card. If I find you engaged in an online activity that is not related to class activity you will owe me a full Waffle Bliss card for each infraction. Really.
Submission of Assignments
Most work for this class is submitted on your blog. Written work for this class will be submitted via Google docs. This ensures I can open your document and verify contents regardless of platform. No other format will be accepted. Format your submissions in the subject line with the course number, assignment, and your name. If I were submitting the first assignment for COMM3530, my subject line would read:
COMM3530, Assignment 1, Young.
Likewise, if you email me a link to your work on your blog, please format the subject line in the same manner. Send all email correspondence for this class to comm3530@gmail.com.
Assignments are due the date indicated on the course schedule on this web site. I don't accept late work nor do I accept technical excuses like a crashed computer or an email glitch. Papers are due by the beginning of class. Work containing typographical and grammatical errors will be returned without evaluation. Proof your work. The college provides a free service for students desiring additional assistance with their writing assignments. The Writing Center is located in the Browning Building. Call Barbara Turnbow at 652-7743 for information.
Email Communication
Important class and college information will be sent to your D-mail account. All DSC students are automatically assigned a D-mail email account. Click and select D-mail for complete instructions. You will be held accountable for information sent to your D-mail, so please check it often.
Hostility
I reserve the right to remove any student from this class and/or program based on documentable breech of citizenship such as sexual harassment, hostile environment, discrimination based on race, religion, gender and/or sexuality, as well as plagiarism, misrepresentation, and/or malicious gossip.
Withdrawal and Drop Deadlines
Please consult the semester schedule for withdrawal and reimbursement deadlines. You will be charged a $10 fee for dropping this class.
Late Work and Missing Tests
Missed deadlines will not be allowed to be made up. Should you miss an assessment due to medical reasons, you must provide documentation that states you were otherwise occupied at the time or in the general vicinity of class time. All excused absences must be presented right after the absence, and will be verified. I will determine what is excused. Any missed exams will only be made up with appropriate excused documentation.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a medical, psychological or a learning difference and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to this disability, you must provide an official request of accommodation to your professor(s) from the Disability Resource Center within the first two weeks of the beginning of classes. Students are to contact the center on the main campus to follow through with, and receive assistance in the documentation process to determine the appropriate accommodations related to their disability.
You may call (435) 652-7516 for an appointment and further information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The office is located in the Student Services Center, Room #201 of the Edith Whitehead Building.
Library and Literacy Contacts
Dianne Hirning is the librarian over Communication resources. She is your resource and guide for research within this discipline. You can reach her at hirning@dixie.edu and by phone at 652-7720.
Resources:
Email Communication
Important class and college information will be sent to your D-mail account. All DSC students are automatically assigned a D-mail email account. Click and select D-mail for complete instructions. You will be held accountable for information sent to your D-mail, so please check it often.
Hostility
I reserve the right to remove any student from this class and/or program based on documentable breech of citizenship such as sexual harassment, hostile environment, discrimination based on race, religion, gender and/or sexuality, as well as plagiarism, misrepresentation, and/or malicious gossip.
Withdrawal and Drop Deadlines
Please consult the semester schedule for withdrawal and reimbursement deadlines. You will be charged a $10 fee for dropping this class.
Late Work and Missing Tests
Missed deadlines will not be allowed to be made up. Should you miss an assessment due to medical reasons, you must provide documentation that states you were otherwise occupied at the time or in the general vicinity of class time. All excused absences must be presented right after the absence, and will be verified. I will determine what is excused. Any missed exams will only be made up with appropriate excused documentation.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a medical, psychological or a learning difference and requesting reasonable academic accommodations due to this disability, you must provide an official request of accommodation to your professor(s) from the Disability Resource Center within the first two weeks of the beginning of classes. Students are to contact the center on the main campus to follow through with, and receive assistance in the documentation process to determine the appropriate accommodations related to their disability.
You may call (435) 652-7516 for an appointment and further information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 per Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The office is located in the Student Services Center, Room #201 of the Edith Whitehead Building.
Library and Literacy Contacts
Dianne Hirning is the librarian over Communication resources. She is your resource and guide for research within this discipline. You can reach her at hirning@dixie.edu and by phone at 652-7720.
Resources:
- Library - http://library.dixie.edu
- Writing Center - http://new.dixie.edu/english/dsc_writing_center.php
- Testing Center - http://new.dixie.edu/testing
- Tutoring Center - http://dsc.dixie.edu/tutoring/
