Course Form (revised 5/1/12)
(Instructions: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/courseform_instructionsX.aspx)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Journalism
Prefix and Course # JRNL 592-06
Course Title
Independent Study: Video News
Please check one or more
New course  Delete course
of the following:
Course Changes
 Course Title  Description  Learning Outcomes
 Prerequisites  Cross-listing  Other
 Credits
from _________ to________
 Number / Level from _________ to________
 Repeatability
from _________ to________
Justification / explanation (required for ALL proposals) For new courses please provide rationale for why
the course is needed, how it fits with exiting curriculum and whether there are curricular adjustments.
This Independent Study allows journalism graduate students to, on an individualized basis, hone their video
news reporting if essential to their career plans or Master’s work. By enrolling in the section, they will gain
access to lectures and instruction in JRNL 352 (Intermediate Video Reporting and Producing) while also
receiving special face-time (e.g. critiques, technical advice) from the instructor. Graduate student assignments
for the course will focus on their area of expertise (e.g. environmental science and natural resource issues).
Has the Department gone through common course Review?
Yes  No  In process
II. Syllabus/Assessment Information Required for new courses, learning outcome changes and
course change from U to UG.
Important: please spell out learning goals and learning outcomes clearly in the syllabus.
Learning Goals are a list of what students should know, understand, or be able to do at the end of
the course, including essential information and knowledge or skills relevant to the subject area.
Learning Outcomes are measures of performance or behavior that indicate, to the teacher and the
students, that students understand the material, and what criteria differentiates among different
levels of understanding. Attach syllabus at the end of the document.
III. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Requestor:
Ray Fanning
Phone/ email :
ray.fanning@ms
o.umt.edu
Program Chair(s)/Director:
Henriette
Lowisch
Dean(s):
Denise Dowling
All other affected programs:
Approve
Yes  No
Yes  No
None
 Yes  No
 Yes  No
Are other departments/programs affected by this
modification because of
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
Signatory Comments (required for disapproval):
Please obtain signature(s) from the
Chair/Director of any such department/ program
(above) before submission
IV: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Common Course Numbering Review (Department Chair Must Initial):
YES
NO

Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere in the MUS? Check all relevant disciplines if
course is interdisciplinary. (http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp)
If YES: Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with existing course(s)? Please indicate
equivalent course/campus. 
If NO: Course may be unique, but is subject to common course review. The course number may be changed
at the system level.
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces) Independent Study: Video News
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
JRNL 592-06 Video News 3 cr. Offered spring. Prereq., graduate standing and C/I. Students desiring
instruction in reporting, writing, producing and anchoring video news will attend lectures and participate in
newscast production in JRNL 352. They will expand upon this base by reporting video news stories specific
to environmental science and natural resource issues.
Complete for UG courses (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment - see procedure 301.30
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
Complete for Co-convened courses
Companion course number, title, and description (include syllabus of companion course in section V)
See procedure 301.20 http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
New fees and changes to existing fees are only approved once each biennium by the
Board of Regents. The coordination of fee submission is administered by
Administration and Finance. Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific
conditions according to Policy 940.12.1 http://mus.edu/borpol/bor900/940-12-1.pdf .
Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
V. Change an Existing Course
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
YES
NO

2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether the change will eliminate the common course status.
YES NO
5. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference procedure 301.30:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
Have you reviewed the graduate
increment guidelines? Please check (X)
space provided.
(syllabus must be attached)
7. Other programs affected by the change
8. Is there a fee associated with the course?
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Syllabus for JRNL 592-06 Video News
The University of Montana
School of Journalism
Missoula, MT 59812
JOUR 592-06 – Video News
(subject to change)
Scope:
JOUR 592-06 is an intensive reporting and producing course concentrating on video
reporting, newscast producing and anchoring and other on-air performance skills.
Students will advance their video photography, editing, script writing and rundown building
skills. All assignments will be based on journalistic writing and ethical decision-making.
Students will learn teamwork skills by working on “mock” newscasts from beginning to
end.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, successful JOUR 592-06 students will demonstrate:
 Strong news judgment
 Ability to identify various issues and angles in potential news stories
 Ability to write strong leads, bodies and conclusions to television news stories
 Strong writing skills including the use of active voice, writing to video, clear and concise
use of language
 Television anchoring skills including vocal inflection and tone, eye contact and
personality based interaction
 Interviewing skills including research and writing questions, interpersonal
communication, proper questioning and listening
 Development of performance skills including newscast anchoring, weather, sports and
field reporting
 Ability to identify quality in their own and other’s work self and make newscast choices
that reflect that ability
 Television newscast producing skills including building strong leads, writing for story
flow, writing for pace and creating an overall look and feel of a program through writing
and production values
 Proficiency in the technical requirements of television work including shooting and
editing video, script writing using iNews, rundown building in iNews and use of the
server to store and playback stories
 Understanding of journalism ethics, codes and the law covering journalistic endeavors
Pre-requisite: JOUR 592-05 Video Production
Class meets:
Graduate students will meet with JRNL 352 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:10 to 4:00
in DAH 101, 114 and the television studio. Please check the syllabus carefully so you
know where we’re meeting.
They will also meet on Tuesdays from12:10-1p.m.
Students will focus on reporting video news stories specific to environmental science and
natural resource issues. These stories will be used in the “mock” newscasts, but students
will also revise them following a critique, and submit them for publication to Montana
Public Media or another appropriate news outlet.
Instructor: Ray Fanning, Associate Professor, School of Journalism,
Radio-Television Department.
Office: Don Anderson Hall 405
Office hours: 8:30-10:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’m also available at other times by
appointment.
Office phone: 243-4747.
My regular e-mail: ray.fanning@umontana.edu.
Grading:
Grades will be based on:
Ideas and research
Class attendance and participation
Writing
Tests and quizzes
Reporting, producing and anchoring assignments
Contribution to the overall success of the class
Ability to work with your classmates
Class attendance is mandatory. You can’t succeed if you miss critique sessions, lectures
and labs. University business and documented illness are the only acceptable excuses.
You must notify me in advance if you will be absent.
Two unexcused absences will lower your final grade by one letter. You will
fail the class if you have a third unexcused absence.
Grading Breakdown:
Newscasts (Producing, writing, anchoring): 50%
8:00 News 10%
12:00 News 15%
20:00 News 25%
News Packages/vosots/vos: 40%
(You will receive no credit for packages that are not completed by deadline.)
In-Class vosot
3 video stories dealing with environmental science and natural resource issues.
Class Participation/Checkout: 10%
Required Materials:
You will need a hard drive compatible with the Radio-Television Department’s system to
store video.
Same Work for Multiple Classes in J-School
You may not submit for this course any assignment that has previously or will be
concurrently submitted for another class unless you receive prior approval from the
professor for this course. You may not submit work you’ve done for any television station
in an internship or paid position. To do so without permission will result in an “F” for the
assignment and could result in an “F” for the course.
Diversity Initiative
The School of Journalism has undertaken an initiative to create opportunities for
students to tell stories of more varied and diverse groups of people. You will need
to integrate one of these groups into an assignment. We will discuss this during
the preparation for the assignment.
Moodle
I will use Moodle for this course your grades will be available there, along with
some handouts
Academic Honesty
I expect your honesty in presenting your own work for this course. Academic misconduct
at The University of Montana is subject to an academic penalty ranging from failing the
assignment to expulsion from the university. Students need to be familiar with the Student
Conduct Code. http://www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm/page/1321
Plagiarism
As defined by “The University of Montana Student Conduct Code” plagiarism is:
“Representing another person's words, ideas, data, or materials as one's own.” This is
strictly prohibited in this class and any case of plagiarism in this course will be subject to
the penalties outlined in the student code of conduct.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
This course is accessible to and usable by otherwise qualified students with disabilities.
To request reasonable program modifications, please consult with the instructor. Disability
Services for Students will assist the instructor and student in the accommodation process.
For more information, visit the Disability Services website at www.umt.edu/dss/.
Access
For after-hours access to Don Anderson Hall, you will be able to enter the building and
DAH 101 using the Griz Card swipe. You will also be given a key code for the door to
DAH 114 and the radio studios in DAH 307-311.
For after hours access to Don Anderson Hall, complete and submit this form
online: http://jour.umt.edu/after-hours/ by Friday, February 3.
Complete only one request form per semester – be sure to list all courses you are
taking. A door code will be assigned and provided to you via email. This request will also
activate your Griz Card for the outside door and DAH 101. Codes will remain active until
the last day of the semester.
Class-by-Class Topics and Assignments
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Week
1
Date
1/24
1/26
2
1/31
2/2
3
2/7
2/9
4
2/14
2/16
Class
Introduction DAH 114
Net IDs
Writing review
Vosot story meeting DAH 114
Camera intro
Avid Intro
iNews DAH 101
Scripting and rundowns
Write practice vosot on iNews
Story schedule
Class Vosot exercise DAH 101
Field trip to district court
Work on vosot scripts and editing
Anchor vosots DAH 101
Teleprompter
DAH 114
Review vosots
Package 1 assignment
8 minute newscast assignment
Working together- Directors and Producers
2:30 newscast
Assignments
Vosot ideas
Make vosot
arrangements
Vosot
arrangements
completed
Vosot shot by the
end of class
Vosot due
Shoot/write and
edit pkg 1.
Produce 8minute newscast
Shoot/write and
edit pkg 1.
Produce 8minute newscast
5
2/21
Creating a newscast DAH 114
Newscast construction
Choosing a lead
Pace/Story flow
Work on pkg 1 and 8 minute newscast
DAH 101
Shoot/write and
edit pkg 1.
Produce 8minute newscast
Story ideas for
pkg 2.
2/23
View Pkg 1 DAH 101
Story meeting Pkg 2
Final preps 8-minute newscast
Pkg 1 due
Pkg 2 ideas due
Due: Group 1
8-minute
newscast scripts
and rundowns.
6
7
2/28
3/1
3/6
8-Minute newscasts DAH 101
3:30 news, 1:00 break, 3:30 pkg and intrvw
8-Minute newscasts II DAH 101
Review 8:00 newscast DAH 114
Work on pkg 2
Due: Group 2
8-minute
newscast scripts
and rundowns.
Work on pkg 2
Work on pkg 2
Work on pkg 2
8
3/13
3/15
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Sports anchoring and producing
Breaking news prep
Build Newscast 2 template
View Pkg 2 DAH 101
Pkg 3 story meeting
Pkg 2 due
Pkg 3 ideas due
3/20
3/22
Newscast 2 work day
Work on 12:00 newscast DAH 101
Final preps 12:00 newscast
3/27
12-Minute newscasts DAH 101
3/29
4/3
4/5
4/10
12-Minute newscasts DAH 101
Spring Break- NO CLASS
4/12
12:00 newscast review DAH 114
20:00 newscast assignment
4/17
4/19
4/24
View Pkg 3 DAH 101
Work on 20:00 newscast DAH 101
Work on 20:00 newscast DAH 101
Due Pkg 3
4/26
20-Minute newscasts DAH 101
Due Monday:
Group 1
20-minute
newscast scripts
and rundowns.
5/1
5/3
20-Minute newscasts DAH 101
Review 20:00 newscasts DAH 114
Finals Week
Due: Group 1
12-minute
newscast scripts
and rundowns.
Due: Group 2
12-minute
newscast scripts
and rundowns.
Breaking News Day DAH 101
Due Wednesday:
Group 1
20-minute
newscast scripts
and rundowns.