Instructor: Scott Chatfield
Telephone : 760-753-7111
E-Mail: scott@sdcitystories.org
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 1
Semester/Session: Fall '08 (Revised 9/9/08)
Class Website and Blog: www.sdcitystories.org/fall08
Office Hours: Monday 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., C-125A
Course Title: Radio News Production
Units: 3.0
Subject Area and Course Number: Radio and Television (RTVC) 141 Course CRN: 65923
Prerequisite: RTVC 105 and RTVC 140, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
Class Meets: Monday 5:05 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., includes 2 lecture hours and 3 lab hours each week
(alternate lab hours may be arranged with advance instructor approval), August 25 through
December 15 (16 class meetings over 16 weeks)
Location: City College C-128
Enrollment Deadlines: Add: 9-05-2008, Drop with refund: 9-08-2008, Drop without "W": 9-05-
2008, Withdrawal: 10-31-2008.
Course Description: The class produces a series of feature news programs entitled City Stories , which will be broadcast on KSDS, Jazz 88. The class covers theory and practice in the planning, writing, and production of NPR-style radio news features for KSDS-FM. It includes radio production techniques, story selection and line-up, contacts, interviews and follow-up, writing and editing, using the internet for research and production coordination, and on-air broadcasts. This course is intended for students wishing to develop radio news feature production skills for Associate
Degree credit and transfer to CSU and/or private colleges and universities.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Apply news feature writing skills to actual production and broadcast.
2. Gain experience with field production and writing/production under deadline.
3. Gain experience in writing, editing, assembling and broadcasting radio news features from perspective of writer, editor, producer, reporter and host.
4. Produce under deadline pressure and in preparation of a radio newscast.
5. Develop interviewing skills in the field.
Evaluation: A student's grade will be based on multiple measures of performance. Multiple measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Evaluation will be based upon performance in story selection, clarity and creativity in writing and choosing of sound bites;
Resourcefulness and ability to make contacts to get feature news information and to set up interviews with important sources in the community;
Ability to present the news segment clearly; ability to write, edit and assemble segment under deadline.

San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 2
Ability to work dependably in a team with others, sharing skills, knowledge and experience.
Students will be encouraged to participate in all aspects of production to the extent they demonstrate the necessary ability. There will be a final exam.
Grade Only
Each student will participate in creating multiple editions of City Stories , and the quality of each student's contribution to City Stories (including reporting, scripting, voicing, producing, etc.) will comprise 50% of the student's grade. The last edition of City Stories produced will also serve as the student's Final Exam. Class attendance and participation, meeting deadlines, completing assigned reading, teamwork skills and the student's progress will comprise the remaining 50% of the student's grade.
Method of Instruction: Methods of instruction may include, but are not limited to, the following:
* Lecture
* Laboratory
* Lecture-Lab Combination
* Lecture Discussion
* Audio-Visual
* Internet
Text and Supplies Required:
TEXTBOOK (REQUIRED):
1. Jonathan Kern. Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production,
University Of Chicago Press, 2008, ISBN: 0226431789. (This book is available in the campus bookstore and at Amazon.com.)
TEXTBOOKS (OPTIONAL):
2. Mervin Block. Writing News for TV & Radio, Book and CD-ROM ed. Bonus Books, 1998,
ISBN: 1566251133
3. O'Donnell, Benoit, Hausman. Modern Radio Production, 6th ed. Wadsworth, 2003, ISBN:
0534563961
SUPPLIES & RESOURCES:
1. Textbook 1 (listed above)
2. One 2GB or greater USB flash drive or portable hard drive (a second backup drive is also recommended)
3. 25 CD-R recordable CDs (lower burning speeds preferable)
4. One print card
5. One set of high-quality stereo headphones with both 1/8" mini-plug and standard 1/4" plug
6. One shielded 3-to-6-foot 1/8" mini-plug to 1/8" mini-plug cable for audio dubbing/monitoring
7. Ability to access the internet daily, preferably with a high-speed connection
8. Transportation capability in order to cover stories at various locations

San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 3
Computer and Audio Production Skills Advisory: Minimum mid-range level of computer skills expected, including word processing, document manipulation, digital audio editing, email, and online services/search engines. Student should also be familiar with Adobe Audition 2.0, remote recorders and microphones, and radio studio equipment.
Attendance Requirements: The intense nature of radio news feature production requires strict attendance, resourcefulness and self-motivation. Three incidences of tardiness will count as one entire missed class. Missing two classes will reduce the student's class attendance and participation score by 50%. If the student misses more than two classes after the drop date, the student will automatically receive an F.
Each student is solely responsible for adding or dropping this class; the instructor will not add or drop students. Students considering dropping this class should speak with the instructor first.
Students who remain enrolled in this class beyond the withdrawal deadline will receive an evaluative letter grade.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should discuss options with their professors during the first two weeks of class.
Auditing and non-students: Insurance regulations do not allow persons not enrolled as students, including minors, to be present in the classroom.
Conflict resolution: In the event of any conflict or disagreement regarding the student's participation in this course, the student should first contact the instructor to resolve the issue. If the conflict remains unresolved, the student may contact, in order, the department chair, the dean, the vice-president and president.
Plagiarism and cheating: Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a zero score grade for the assignment in question and the student will be referred for administrative counseling.
A second offense will result in an F grade for the course.
Syllabus changes: The instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus with prior notice.
The course will progress according to the following tentative schedule:
Meeting 1 Mon., Aug. 25, 2008 Introduction: overview of course, City Stories radio program, equipment, production methods, website and blog; student skills assessment.
Mon., Sept. 1, 2008
LABOR DAY

San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 4
NO CLASS HELD
Meeting 2 Mon., Sept. 8, 2008 Introduction, Part Two: overview of course, City Stories radio program, equipment, production methods, website and blog; student skills assessment.
Assignments: Students submit Student Info Sheet, join Class
Blog and post a comment, listen to City Stories and NPR
Fresh Air show.
Meeting 3 Mon., Sept. 15, 2008 Pre-production: Production teams meet, choose City Stories show subjects and segment categories. Discuss feature newsgathering and production methods. Introduction to
Adobe Audition, field recorders and mic usage.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: skim chapters 1 – 6.
Meeting 4 Mon., Sept. 22, 2008 Assignments: Students research and submit at least two premises for their assigned City Stories segment topics and one is selected in class. Each student researches, plans and executes reporting, interviews and scripting during lab hours.
Students post scripts, questions and segment development topics on class blog for discussion and instructor approval.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapters 1 and 2.
Meeting 5 Mon., Sept. 29, 2008 Production 1: Each student presents completed segment elements (interviews, other audio, paper copies of script) to instructor and class. Student continues scripting, audio production, voice work and assembly of segment during lab hours.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 3.
Meeting 6 Mon., Oct. 6, 2008 Production 2: Each student presents completed segments, along with paper copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Student also submits copy for 45-second segment intro by program host. If needed, student makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 4.
Meeting 7 Mon., Oct. 13, 2008
No class meeting: online, lab and team interaction only.
Production 3: Each student posts revised segments, along with revised copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Student also revises copy for 45-second segment intro by program host. If needed, student makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for approval by instructor.

San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 5
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 5.
Meeting 8 Mon., Oct. 20, 2008
No class meeting: online, lab and team interaction only.
Production 4: Each student posts revised segments, along with revised copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Student also posts final copy for 45-second segment intro by program host. If needed, student makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 6.
Meeting 9 Mon., Oct. 27, 2008 Program Assembly: Each student presents complete produced segment to instructor. Host(s) present completed voice tracks from host-edited approved script. Student works with instructor or producer to create final program during lab hours.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 8.
Meeting 10 Mon., Nov. 3, 2008 Program(s) mastered to CD and ready to air; class critiques programs.
Pre-production: Outlines and assignments for next City
Stories program(s) developed. Each student researches, plans and executes reporting, interviews and scripting during lab hours.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 9.
Meeting 11 Mon., Nov. 10, 2008 Assignments: Students submit at least two premises for their assigned City Stories segment topics and one is selected in class. Each student researches, plans and executes reporting, interviews and scripting during lab hours. Students post scripts, questions and segment development topics on class blog for discussion and instructor approval.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 11.
Meeting 12 Mon., Nov. 17, 2008 Production 1: Each student presents completed segment elements (interviews, other audio, paper copies of script) to instructor and class. Student continues scripting, audio production, voice work and assembly of segment during lab hours.
Meeting 13 Mon., Nov. 24, 2008 Production 2: Each student presents completed segments, along with paper copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Student also submits copy for 45-second segment intro by

San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 6 program host. If needed, student makes final adjustments to segment during lab hours for approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 13.
Meeting 14 Mon., Dec. 1, 2008 Production 3: Each student posts revised segments, along with revised copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Student also revises copy for 45-second segment intro by program host. If needed, student makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 14.
Meeting 15 Mon., Dec. 8, 2008 Program Assembly: Each student presents complete produced segment to instructor. Host(s) present completed voice tracks from host-edited approved script. Student works with instructor or producer to create final program during lab hours.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 15.
Meeting 16 Mon., Dec. 15, 2008 Program(s) mastered to CD and ready to air; class critiques programs, which also serve as the final exam. Field recorders and other equipment returned.