Journalism at Olympic College

Journalism courses at Olympic College focus on the basic skills needed for students to transfer to four-year programs. Courses also expose students to cutting-edge theory and technology in preparation for careers in the growing field of mass communication. Journalism students apply knowledge learned in JOURN 100/Introduction to Reporting, JOURN 105/Photojournalism and JOURN 290/Mass Media in American Society to produce the print and online editions of the Olympic College student newspaper, The Olympian. Students working to produce the print and online editions of the student newspaper earn course credit through JOURN 110/Newspaper Production. Selected journalism students also have an opportunity during their time at Olympic College to earn course credit and valuable professional experience through internships with the Kitsap Sun, the Bremerton Patriot, the Shelby County Reporter, the Sea Coast Echo, the Juneau Empire and other newspapers/media throughout the country.

Journalism Courses offered at Olympic College:

JOURN 100/Introduction to Reporting students at Olympic College learn the fundamentals of news writing, news value and Associated Press style.

JOURN 105/Photojournalism students learn the basics of digital photojournalism with special attention to news values and composition.

JOURN 110/Newspaper Production students contribute to the print and online editions of The Olympian as reporters, photographers, editors, graphic artists, advertising representatives, etc.

JOURN 290/Mass Media in American Society students explore the ever-changing world of mass media and its impact on American Society.

For more information about the journalism program at Olympic College, please contact: Michael Prince, journalism professor/The Olympian adviser, mprince@olympic.edu, 360.475.7243, 1600 Chester Ave., Bremerton, Washington 98337-1699.

Spring 2008 Journalism Courses:

JOURN 105/Photojournalism

 

"So in photography, the first fresh emotion, the feeling for the thing, is captured complete and for all time at the very moment it is seen and felt. Feeling and recording are simultaneous."

-Edward Weston, American photographer

Instructor: Michael Prince, Technical Building 101A

Office Phone: 475-7243

Cell Phone: 204-4879

E-mail: mprince@olympic.edu and michaelsprince@yahoo.com

Office Hours: noon-1 p.m. daily or by appointment.

Description: JOURN 105 stresses recognition, development and creation of news photographs and the skills of the photo editor. The course provides experience in shooting and editing digital photographs.

Objectives: This course is designed to provide an introduction to the principles and theories of photojournalism. This course is also designed to increase understanding of photography as a communication tool and to train the student to translate ideas and newsworthy information into photographic form.

Required Text: Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach by Kobre.

Required Assignments: Students complete seven photo assignments during the quarter. Each assignment requires photos submitted via e-mail. Students must include a cutline/caption with each photo submitted. In addition to reading assignments from the text, students are required to read/look at material provided by the instructor. All reading assignments require a short essay (200 words or less) showing knowledge of the subject and/or conveying opinion about photos, articles, etc.

You might want to create a Flickr account (or something similar) to manage your photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/professorlonghair/

Please give this link a look before you start shooting: http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/

If you do not have access to a digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera, you might consider using one (free of charge) from media services at Olympic College, located in the library. You’ll need a media services pass from me in order to do so. If interested, just let me know. There is limited availability.

Grading Methods: Grading of photojournalism skill is unavoidably subjective. There may be times when you disagree with an evaluation; please feel free to say so, that we may explore each other’s thinking. But to assist in a clear definition, let us identify what each letter grade means:

A – Superior, outstanding, equal to what should be expected of a new photojournalist on the job in a daily or weekly newspaper.

B – Very good, better-than-average images; evidence of more than average effort in capturing the story in pictures.

C – Acceptable, satisfactory, average; evidence that photos are valid and correctly presented; that with some editing, the photos are at least “publishable.”

D – Less-than-average images, weak.

F – Unsatisfactory, unusable, very weak.

Final Grade Formula: Seven photo assignments, 10 percent each (for a total of 70 percent of the final grade); reading/essay assignments, 30 percent of the final grade.

Photo Assignments:

#1, mugs, 10 photos of people you do not know, due April 7.

#2, feature, four photos of people doing things, like a day at the park or cruising to Seattle on a ferry, due April 14.

#3, sports, could be a sporting event, like a soccer match or a round of golf, but could be a person kayaking, hiking, throwing a Frisbee, playing horseshoes, etc., due April 28.

#4, news I, four photos of people engaged in a newsworthy event, a war protest in Seattle or a music festival or a Bremerton City Council meeting, etc., due May 12.

#5, news II, see above, due May 26.

#6, environmental portrait, four photos of a person in his/her environment, work, home, whatever it may be, pay close attention to the face and facial expressions, shoot candid images, June 2.

#7, final, your four best photos from the quarter NOT previously submitted, can be news, sports, feature or portrait images, due June 6.

Text Reading/Writing Assignments:

-Chapters 1 and 10, 200-word essay, due April 7.

-Chapters 5 and 14, 200-word essay, due April 14.

-Chapters 7 and 13, 200-word essay, due April 28.

-Chapters 2 and 3, 200-word essay, due May 12.

-Chapters 4 and 6, 200-word essay, due May 26.

-Chapters 8 and 15, 200-word essay, due June 2.

 Additional Material Assignment:

-Links posted below, 200-word essay, due June 6.

http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/students/entering_the_job_market/

http://www.poynter.org/subject.asp?id=29

http://www.fotophile.com/links/photojournalism.htm

http://markhancock.blogspot.com/2006/05/todd-heisler-interview-part.html

 

JOURN/HUMAN 290/Mass Media in American Society

"Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." -Thomas Jefferson, 1786

Instructor: Michael Prince, Technical Building 101A

Phone: 475-7243

Cell: 204-4879

E-mail: mprince@olympic.edu or michaelsprince@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Noon-1 p.m. daily or by appointment.

Description: JOURN/HUMAN 290 explores the ever-changing world of mass media and its impact on American society.

Prerequisite: None.

Required Texts: The Dynamics of Mass Communications: Media in the Digital Age by Joseph R. Dominick.

Final Grade Formula: Four tests from reading assignments and class discussion, 15 percent each, 60 percent total; research paper of no-less-than 1,000 words exploring a mass media subject of your choice, 30 percent; class participation, 10 percent.

Reading Assignments:

#1 Test, April 18, read chapters 1, 3, 11 and 18. In addition, visit these links: http://www.poynter.org/subject.asp?id=32

http://www.splc.org/legalresearch.asp?subcat=4

#2 Test, May 9, read chapters 4, 12, 15 and 16. In addition, visit these links: http://www.pulitzer.org/

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/wiki/ethics/

#3 Test, May 23, read chapters 8, 9, 10 and 14. In addition, visit these links:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/murrow_e.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/dcmovies/allthepresidentsmen.htm

#4 Test, June 6, read chapters 6, 7, 13 and 17. In addition, visit these links:

http://www.worldpress.org/Americas/2817.cfm

http://www.driveintheater.com/index.htm

Research Paper: Choose a mass media subject of your choice and write about it, citing a minimum of seven credible sources. Your research paper should allow you an opportunity to explore an area of mass media of special interest to you. Minimum length, 1,000 words. Due June 6.

 

JOURN 100/Reporting and News Writing

“Writing is good, thinking is better.”

-Hermann Hesse (journalist, novelist, poet, painter) from his novel Siddhartha.

 

Instructor: Michael Prince, Technical Building 101A

Office: 475-7243

Cell: 204-4879

E-mail: mprince@olympic.edu and michaelsprince@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Noon-1 p.m. daily or by appointment.

Description: JOURN 100 introduces the student to reporting/news writing basics for print journalism. Emphasis is placed on news values, sources, Associated Press style, news gathering techniques, interviewing skills and journalistic writing style.

Objectives: The specific objectives of this course include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Recognition of news values and legitimate news sources.
  2. Development of writing skills, ability to organize facts for effective reporting.
  3. Familiarization with typical news sources in basic reporting.
  4. Development of interview skills.
  5. Development of critical abilities such as evaluation of sources and perceptive observation.
  6. Development of the ability to locate and use stored sources.
  7. Development of the ability to produce copy under distractions and deadline pressures.
  8. Awareness of current events (a basic tool of the journalist’s trade). You should be reading The Sun daily and each issue of The Olympian.
  9. Development of the ability to write in journalistic style.
  10. Development of the familiarity with The Associated Press Stylebook.

Prerequisite: ENGL 101 eligibility and the ability to type.

Required Texts: Reporting for the Media by Fedler; The Associated Press Stylebook; and a dictionary.

Attendance: Attendance is required. No absence will be excused unless notice is given in advance. Missed assignments due to an unexcused absence will be given a grade of 0.

Class Content: A typical class may consist of any or all of the following: (1) brief lecture/discussion on reporting/writing techniques, usually relating to assigned text readings; (2) class writing or rewriting exercise; (3) critique/discussion of previous writing; (4) an AP Stylebook quiz; (5) a guest lecture

Required Writing: In addition to class writing exercises, you will have two major writing assignments during the quarter.

Grading Methods: Grading of reporting/writing skills is unavoidably subjective. There may be times when you disagree with an evaluation; please feel free to say so, that we may explore each other’s thinking. But to assist in a clear definition, let us identify what each letter grade means:

A – Superior, outstanding, equal to what should be expected of a new reporter on the job in a daily or weekly newspaper.

B – Very good, better-than-average copy; evidence of more than average effort in getting the whole story.

C – Acceptable, satisfactory, average; evidence that the information is valid and correctly presented; that with some editing, the story is at least “publishable.”

D – Less-than-average copy, weak; evidence of missing information or missing sources, obvious need of editing for clarity and style.

F – Unsatisfactory, unusable, very weak; major flaws in reporting/writing; factual errors, crucial omissions, need of major rewrite.

Note: Each typo, AP style error and misspelled word counts five points off your grade. A major factual error is minus 50 points.

Final Grade Formula: Writing exercises 60 percent; stylebook exercises and general class participation 20 percent; two major writing assignments 10 percent each.