San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 1
Instructor: Scott Chatfield
Semester/Session: Fall '09 (Revised 8/19/09)
Telephone: 760-753-7111
E-Mail: scott@sdcitystories.org
Class Website and Blog: www.sdcitystories.org/fall09
Office Hours: Monday 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., C-125A
Course Title: Radio News Production
Units: 3.0
Subject Area and Course Number: Radio and Television (RTVC) 141 Course CRN: 88768
Prerequisite: RTVC 105 and RTVC 140, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
Class Meets: Monday 4:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., includes 2 lecture hours and 3 lab hours each week,
August 24 through December 14 (16 class meetings over 17 weeks). At instructor's discretion, the 3
lab hours may be scheduled and fulfilled at other times during the week.
Location: City College C-128
Enrollment Deadlines: Add: 9-04-2009, Drop with refund: 9-08-2009, Drop without "W": 9-042009, Withdrawal: 10-30-2009.
Course Description: The class produces a series of radio feature news programs entitled City
Stories, which airs on KSDS, Jazz 88. Both theory and practice are covered while planning, writing,
and producing the NPR-style radio news features. The course teaches radio production techniques,
story selection and sequencing, contacting subjects, interviewing 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 in order to find
employment in the industry, and to earn 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 pressure as a
member of a broadcast team.
3. Develop interviewing skills in the field.
4. Gain experience in writing, editing, assembling and broadcasting radio news features from
perspective of writer, editor, producer, reporter and host.
5. Efficiently interact with the instructor and fellow reporters via the City Stories internet blog.
Evaluation: A student's grade will be based on multiple measures of performance, including, but
not limited to, the following:
1. Story selection, clarity and creativity in writing and choosing of sound bites.
2. Resourcefulness and ability to make contacts to get feature news information and to set up
interviews with important sources in the community.
3. Ability to present the news segment clearly; ability to write, edit and digitally assemble the
segment under deadline.
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 2
4. Ability to work and communicate dependably in a team with others, sharing skills, knowledge
and experience—both in person and on the City Stories internet blog.
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.
Grading: This is a grade-only course. 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 first edition of
City Stories produced will serve as the student's Mid-Term Exam and the last edition of City Stories
produced will serve as the student's Final Exam. Class attendance and participation (in person and
online), 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:
1. Lecture
2. Laboratory
3. Lecture-Lab Combination
4. Lecture Discussion/Editorial Board Meeting
5. Internet interaction
6. Audio-visual
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 and 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
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 3
8. Transportation capability in order to cover stories at various locations
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, field
recorders and microphones, and radio studio equipment.
Field Recorders and Equipment: Students may be allowed to sign out school-provided field
recorders, accessories and other equipment. Students who fail to return the equipment and all
accessories in good condition to the instructor when it is called for by the instructor will be subject
to a failing grade, and the student's academic record will be frozen until the equipment is returned in
good condition.
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. Two unexcused absences will reduce the student's class attendance and
participation score by 50%. If the student has more than two unexcused absences after the
withdrawal date, the student will automatically receive a failing grade.
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.
Classroom protocol: Students are expected to fully participate and take notes during class. Texting,
conversations not related to class topics and computer use (except when designated by the
instructor) are not allowed. After two warnings, the student is subject to a failing 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: Students are expected to be honest and ethical at all times in their pursuit
of academic goals. Students who are found in violation of district Procedure 3100.3, Honest
Academic Conduct, will receive a failing grade on the assignment in question and may be referred
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 4
for disciplinary action in accordance with Procedure 3100.2, Student Disciplinary Procedures. A
second offense will result in a failing grade for the course.
Syllabus changes: The instructor reserves the right to revise this syllabus with notification.
The course will progress according to the following tentative schedule:
Meeting 1
Mon., Aug. 24,
2009
Introduction I: overview of course/syllabus, City Stories
radio program, equipment, production methods, Adobe
Audition, website and blog; student skills assessment.
Assignments: Reporters go online to complete Reporter
Questionnaire, join Class Blog and post a comment, listen to
City Stories and NPR Fresh Air show.
Meeting 2
Meeting 3
Meeting 4
Meeting 5
Mon., Aug. 31,
2009
Mon., Sept. 7, 2009
Mon., Sept. 14,
2009
Mon., Sept. 21,
2009
Textbook assignment for Meeting 3: skim chapters 1 – 6.
Introduction II: Continuation of above.
Pre-production: Production teams meet, choose City Stories
show subjects and assign segment categories. Reporters
begin research on segment topics for presentation at next
meeting.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapters 1 and
2, "Sound And Stories" and "Fairness."
Assignments: Reporters submit at least two premises for
their assigned City Stories segment topics and one is selected
in class. Each reporter researches, plans and executes
reporting, interviews and scripting during lab hours.
Reporters post scripts, questions and segment development
topics on class blog for discussion and instructor approval.
Field recorders issued.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 3,
"Writing For Broadcast."
Production I: Each reporter presents completed segment
elements (interviews, other audio, paper copies of script) to
instructor and class. Reporter continues scripting, audio
production, voice work and assembly of segment during lab
hours.
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 5
Meeting 6
Meeting 7
Meeting 8
Meeting 9
Meeting 10
Meeting 11
Mon., Sept. 28,
2009
Mon., Oct. 5, 2009
Mon., Oct. 12, 2009
Mon., Oct. 19, 2009
Mon., Oct. 26, 2009
Mon., Nov. 2, 2009
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 4,
"Reporting."
Production II: Each reporter presents completed segments,
along with paper copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Reporter also submits copy for 30-second segment intro and
15-second segment outro by program host. If needed,
reporter makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for
approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 5,
"Field Producing."
Production III: Each reporter posts revised segments, along
with revised copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Reporter also revises copy for 30-second segment intro and
15-second segment outro by program host. If needed,
reporter makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for
approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 6,
"Story Editing."
Program Assembly: Each reporter presents complete
produced segment to instructor. Host(s) present completed
voice tracks from host-edited approved script. Reporter
works with instructor or producer to create final program
during lab hours.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 8,
"Reading On The Air."
Program(s) mastered to CD and ready to air; class critiques
programs.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 9,
"Hosting."
Pre-production: Production teams meet, choose City Stories
show subjects and assign segment categories. Reporters
begin research on segment topics for presentation at next
meeting.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 11,
"Booking."
Assignments: Reporters submit at least two premises for
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 6
their assigned City Stories segment topics and one is selected
in class. Each reporter researches, plans and executes
reporting, interviews and scripting during lab hours.
Reporters post scripts, questions and segment development
topics on class blog for discussion and instructor approval.
Meeting 12
Meeting 13
Mon., Nov. 9, 2009
Mon., Nov. 16,
2009
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 12,
"Producing."
Production I: Each reporter presents completed segment
elements (interviews, other audio, paper copies of script) to
instructor and class. Reporter continues scripting, audio
production, voice work and assembly of segment during lab
hours.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 13,
"Production Ethics."
Production II: Each reporter presents completed segments,
along with paper copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Reporter also submits copy for 30-second segment intro and
15-second segment outro by program host. If needed,
reporter makes final adjustments to segment during lab hours
for approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 14,
"Program Producing."
Thanksgiving Mon., Nov. 23,
Holiday—No 2009
class meeting
Meeting 14
Mon., Nov. 30,
2009
Meeting 15
Mon., Dec. 7, 2009
Production III: Each reporter posts revised segments, along
with revised copies of the script, to instructor and class.
Reporter also revises copy for 30-second segment intro and
15-second segment outro by program host. If needed,
reporter makes adjustments to segment during lab hours for
approval by instructor.
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 15,
"Program Editing."
Program Assembly: Each reporter presents complete
produced segment to instructor. Host(s) present completed
voice tracks from host-edited approved script. Reporter
works with instructor or producer to create final program
San Diego City College
RTVC 141, Radio News Production
Course Syllabus
Page 7
during lab hours.
Meeting 16
Mon., Dec. 14,
2009
Textbook assignment for next meeting: read chapter 18,
"Beyond Radio."
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.