EJA 4822 Performance and Presentation IV

Syllabus Spring 2014

Donna Smith, Assistant Professor
ACT- 110
802-626-4846
Office Hours: Mondays 1:00 -4:00pm or by appointment

Course Description
This performance practicum is designed for visual and editorial
students in the EJA Convergence Portfolio courses within the Vermont
Center for Community Journalism. Bi-Weekly individual critiques and
regular workshops will be required as a means to keep a professional
news team performing at its best. Topics will include voice coaching,
make-up, and dress for the camera, and developing a portfolio for the
post graduate world.. EJA students in ENG 4910 Portfolio/Thesis for the
publication option may take this course or another course approved by
the EJA faculty.

Meeting Days and Times
This class is scheduled to meet on Fridays from 9:30-10:50am in
ACT212.

Course Goals and Objectives
The goal of the course is to continue to build on the skills introduced in
EJA 3222, EJA 2843 and EJA 1221. In addition a major focus will also be
introducing new skills related to job search. By the end of the semester
the student should have the following skills:
- Confidently be performing stand-ups and voice over, and
constantly working to improve these skills
- Strong understanding of live shots and ad-libbing
- Comfortably and confidently use the studio teleprompter.
- Be continually working on your on air personality
- Continue to build a broadcast acceptable/professional wardrobe
- Have a good professional working with relationship with VCCJ
staff members.
- Understand your role as a journalist and how to best work with
the public to do your job effectively
- Practice effect job interviewing skills
- Build a written resume
- Appropriately gathering material done through the VCCJ
practicums to include in a demo reel
- Build a professionally appropriate electronic portfolio page

Course Requirements and Evaluation

ELEMENT % OF GRADE
Bi-Weekly Evaluations/Meetings 25%
Weekly Standups 25%
Class Participation 20%
Final E-Portfolio 30%

Bi-Weekly Evaluations/Meetings- 25%
Each student is required to meet with the instructor once every two
weeks for one on one review. It is expected that at each meeting the
student will have a new piece of material for review in these meetings.
This material can be a recording of a standup in the field, anchoring,
voice recording or written scripts. There should a mix of these
throughout the semester.
Students will be evaluated weekly as follows:
- If you show up for the scheduled meeting with material for review
you will receive a 100 for that week
- If you show up for the scheduled meeting but bring no new
material to review you will receive a 50 for that week
- If you fail to show altogether for the meeting you will receive a 0
for that week.
The meetings will be 20 minute in length. The weekly score is not so
much based on the quality of the work, but rather the effort made to
improve your skills. If you need to reschedule your weekly meeting
last minute, (or with some advanced notice) this can be done but at
the instructors discretion. This will be done on a very limited basis.
I will not reschedule weekly meetings once the original meeting time
is missed. Bottom line; if you think youre going to miss the meeting
let me know as soon as possible and I will work with you to
reschedule.

Weekly Standups/Assignments - 25%
Each week every student will be required to hand a recorded standup.
This standup can be done in the field while gathering material for
News7 or done on their own time with reserved VIC equipment. Best
dress and on air practices should be utilized. There are a total of 12
standups expected to be completed. This is a pass/fail assignment,
complete the assignment on time and receive 100%, dont complete it
and receive 0%. NO LATE standups will be accepted. Standups are due
by the end of the week at 3pm. There will be folder on the Annex
computer for the student to place their standup in. Students are
responsible for getting their standup off the News7 or other editing
software. Standups begin the week of September 15
th
. In addition, there
may be other periodic assignments as deemed appropriate to the
professor.

Class Participation- 20%
You are expected to take part in discussions, ask questions and be an
active member of the class. On occasion we will critique one anothers
work and the work of real professionals. I expect you to provide
thoughtful, insightful input. Students will be evaluated weekly.

Final- 30%
At the end of the semester the student will be required to have
completed their electronic portfolio. Details to follow.

IMPORTANT NOTES/INFO

Laptop/Cell Phone Use:
Laptop use will not be allowed in class unless special arrangements are
made with me ahead of time. If you require one to take notes, please see
me and we can discuss your situation. Cell phones must be turned off
during class; texting and ringing phones will not be tolerated. If your
phone rings during class, or you are seen texting, you will be asked to
leave and receive and absence for the day.

Attendance Policy:
This class meets formally, just once a week so attendance is crucial. You
are allowed 2 unexcused absences during the semester. Any absences
beyond 2 will result in an automatic F for the class. Sickness will only
be an excused absence if you have a doctors note. Being on time is just
as important as being here at all. Being late equals one unexcused tardy.
Have 3 or more unexcused tardiness days and that results in one
unexcused absence for the semester.
IN ADDITION- if you are currently in the News7 Anchor rotation and
miss a Friday morning class for an unexcused reason, YOU WILL BE
REMOVED FROM THE ANCHOR ROTATION for at least one week or
however long is deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Email Use:
You have been provided with an official Lyndon State College email
address and this is the only email address I will use. I recommend
checking it regularly (if not daily) for course information. I will not
consider using any alternative email address, so please dont ask.

APPEARANCE
You are required to dress professionally during ALL your working shifts
at the Vermont Center for Community Journalism. Details are contained
in the VCCJ Dress Code document. Instruction, assistance and/or advice
is available in these areas, please ask.

Warning: You are prohibited from using VCCJ equipment and facilities
for anything other than course assignments. You must adhere to rules
for temporary parking outside LSC-TV/NewsLINC studios.

Students will now be charged for lost or damaged equipment and
supplies:
For items less that $100 students will pay for the item in full.
For items between $100 and $400 students will contribute 50%
of the replacement costs.
For all items above $500 students will pay the insurance
deductible.

Non-compliance with course rules may result in immediate dismissal
from the course with a failing grade.

Your Public Persona
Participation in a VCCJ practicum makes you a public person whether
you are behind or in front of the camera. This is part of an electronic
journalist's job. The public looks to you for responsible, reliable
information to lead their lives, and the organization you represent (in
this case the Electronic Journalism Arts Department and Lyndon State
College) requires you set a positive example for that public. Future
employers will check your background to determine your ability to
drive safely and act responsibly.

This review has forced some recent graduates initially hired to be public
representatives of a company to only work at the station and not in the
field (both photographers and reporters!) Some companies require pre-
employment blood and urine screening. Once hired poor choices by you
as a public person will have consequences.

For example, Time-Warner tells employees that if they commit an act
that is an offense or crime under federal, state or local laws, or which
could bring the employee under ridicule or public disrepute, or
something that might reflect negatively on the company itself, then the
company has the right to terminate the employee. Also, if the employee
is involved with the sale, distribution, purchase, possession or use of an
illegal drug, the company has the right to terminate the employee. For
smaller lapses of judgment, there are different levels of discipline
depending on what those lapses are, ranging from warning to
suspension.

To make the VCCJ practicum accurately reflect current practices within
the profession, practicum students cited by authorities to appear before
a judicial tribunal for lapses in judgment relating to illegal substances,
motor vehicle operation or other community laws will now face
sanctions in the newsroom. These will include the loss of on-air position,
the ability to report from the field, and other potential steps until the
offense in question has been adjudicated and/or settled.

Student with Disabilities:
Students with disabilities who request accommodations are asked to
provide a certification letter as soon as possible. Students should
contact the Academic Support office (Vail 325) to arrange for the
appropriate letter to be sent.

Note
This syllabus is subject to change. The instructor of this course has the
right to change any part if it, if the need arises. When changes occur they
will be vocalized in class so you are aware of the change.