BCOM 481/JOUR 481 Italy Study Abroad WorkshopSyllabus, Spring-Summer 2013
Prof. James LeTourneau, BA-MA , University of Wisconsin-Madison
(subject to revisions during the extent of the study-abroad.)
MMTH 321
(270) 745-8856 Cell- 608-695-2115
james.letourneau@wku.edu
Course taught in Rome, Italy in conjunction with CIN 483-American University of Rome
Objective
The objective of this one-month course is to introduce students into a basic preproduction, production and post-production model of video reporting and writing for broadcast
and WEB distribution. These students will, on a daily rotating basis, participate in a study the
Italian culture, historical places and modern media including print, TV and cinema sources and
create video and print reports on what they discover.
By “rotating basis”, we intend to rotate the responsibilities of the students, based on their
knowledge and training in writing, narrative, camera operation, interviewing, still photography
and story research. Each day they will be doing a slightly different task, but all tasks will be
associated with the daily completion of video stories that will be sent back to the US via the
WEB for viewing on the school website and possible later re-play (dependant on content and
dating) on newschannel 12 in the Fall, 2013.
They will gain experience in the pre-production set up, including the mapping out of
daily activities, clearance for access to locations, scheduling of interviews and other logistical
anticipations. Most of all, they will utilize "active" journalism; the finding of stories on their
own.
In the production process, they will be assigned duties each day and interact with the
people of the country and assess at the end of each day what was gathered and log the activity.
In the post-production process, upon their return from their assignment, their designated
duties will again be divided into roles based on their training: video editing, script writing,
producing, voice narrative. The end of a days work will be the posting of finished storied on the
school Newschannel 12 WEB site. The rotation sequence will be determined by the number of
students signed up for the course. This means there will be a 4-day rotation to “discover” the
story idea ( pre-production), the actual “shooting” ( production), and the editing of the story and
review of the finish story product ( post-production).
Course Expectations and Requirements
The course combines many of the TV journalism elements of video acquisition, editing,
writing, interview and voice narrative. It also combines print and photo information acquisition
as supplements to video stories posted on the school WEB site. Broadcast students will be
expected to know the operation of the Sony 150 and/or Canon GL-2 video camera and any sound
equipment to be used during the trip. They will also know how to edit video and audio using
lap-top computers which have AVID I-News software. They will work with print and
photography students to show them video techniques in exchange of their sharing their writing
and photography skills with broadcast students.
We intend to integrate writing and photography stills from the non-broadcast students
into the completed work of the broadcast students while the photography and print students will
be posting their own stories on the school WEB site. The length and content of a summary
video will be based on the amount of material gathered during the 30 day trip.
All students must have a valid U.S. passport with an expiration date to one month
following the groups return to the US. Application deadline for the trip is March 1, 2013
Before leaving for Italy, students will meet for a briefing period (TBA dates) in February,
March and April prior to departure. We will also have one final meeting to assign and distribute
equipment the week of finals. Day TBD.
In the first meeting, students will:
1) list their strengths and weaknesses as related to broadcast news, print and still photography.
Video students will need to demonstrate practical knowledge of the equipment to be used with a
hands-on operation review of the Sony 150/Canon GL-2 camera. Prof. LeTourneau will assess
the print students and we will ask for a referral from the photo department for photography
students. We will show video of some stories from previous study-abroad trips
2) Based on their strengths, the students will be assigned their primary roles with a secondary
role to be rotated into the trip.
3) Students will be briefed on the daily expectations of each day. They will understand that
each early evening, prior to individual or group student activity of their choice, short meetings
will be held with the instructors to summarize the progress of the days work and to confirm the
expectations and plans for the following day. Those assigned to produce the daily news story
will complete its production before their own personal activity.
Readings
Students will read "Media in Italy" , by Matthew Hibbard ($ 38.31 New; $ 28.75 used). We will
use comparisons mentioned in this book between US and Italian media. Students will also be
assigned a blog address to write their daily experiences.
Students will have available the operation manual of the Sony 150 and Canon GL-2 video
cameras.
They may also acquire a copy of: Eyewitness Travel: Rome, by DK Publishers, 2012-13 edition.
US cost 25.00+ tx.(paper copy or download version). Also advised is "Fast Phrase Translator;
English to Italian:" pocket Guide. $ 13.00 + tx or any other compact Italian to English translation
book.
Grading:
Grading will be strictly A, B, C, D, F
The grading criteria will be based on two parts:
a) Instructor observation of the student pre-production ideas and planning for assigned story.
b) Instructor observation of student fulfilling story production upon return from the location
assignment.