The University of Southern Mississippi

School of Mass Communication and Journalism

Multimedia Producing: MCJ 400
SPRING 2012

C O U R S E S Y L L A B U S
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO READ THIS SYLLABUS & CHECK FOR UPDATES ONLINE

Pre-requisite: MCJ 102 (Intro to Media Writing) and MCJ 300 (Multimedia
Storytelling). Journalism majors should have already taken MCJ 203 (Reporting) and
MCJ 312 (Graphic Design). Broadcast majors should have already taken MCJ 404
(Broadcast Reporting II).

Class Time: TBD

* Class door will be locked after 10 minutes per dean’s security requirement
Place: SH 119
Professor: Gina Gayle
Office: SH 102
Office Hours: TBD
Phone: 601­266­5511 O
Email Address: gina.gayle@usm.edu
Credit Hours: 3 credit hours
Syllabus & Class Updates: http://www.professorginagayle.wordpress.com

Textbooks & Online Resources:

Required:
The Digital Journalist’s Handbook by Mark S. Luckie
Knight Digital Media Center Tutorials
http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/
Suggested:
Reporter’s Guide to Multimedia Proficiency by Mindy McAdams
http://www.jou.ufl.edu/faculty/mmcadams/PDFs/RGMPbook.pdf
Multimedia Journal by Richard Koci-Hernandez available on Blurb.com

Technology Requirements:
Digital SLR still camera, Digital video camera, digital audio recorder, and microphone.
Final Cut Express, Soundslides Audacity, Photoshop.
*You are expected to understand and abide by the MCJ Equipment Room Checkout rules.

Course Description:
The Multimedia Producing course builds upon the introductory Multimedia Storytelling
class where students learned the fundamentals and the techniques for telling stories on the
Internet. Whereas the Storytelling class is mostly theory, the Producing class goes in-
depth into how each medium functions as well as how the overall story works. Finally
the class will teach students how to get their stories seen by studying how social media
and digital platforms can be used to distribute their stories for maximum exposure.
Class Expectations, Attendance & Conduct:
Each student is expected to conduct himself or herself in the most professional and respectful manner.  This
means listening to lectures and paying attention when classmates are asking questions or presenting work.

Cell phones are to be turned off during class.  If you are found to be texting or talking on your cell phone,
you will be asked to leave and marked absent for the class.

Checking email, Facebook, Twitter or joy riding on the web is not allowed during lectures.   If you are
found to be doing any of these activities or anything other than taking notes, you will be asked to leave and
marked absent for the class.

Attendance is mandatory in order for students to understand the material and build upon their learning.
Each student will be allowed TWO (2) absences, excused or unexcused. For every TWO (2) absences after
that, the student’s grade will drop by one grade.  THREE (3) late arrivals will equal ONE (1) absence.  If
you are late and the door is locked, you will be noted as absent.

It is your responsibility to get missed handouts, lecture notes and to find out what you need to know for the
next class during office hours and not through email.

Coursework & Assignments:

Assignments are due at the beginning of class or emailed to me before class time. LATE
ASSIGNMENTS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR CRITIQUE AND NOT FOR A GRADE.

Story ideas are final once they are proposed and presented. The story may take different turns but you must
stay with it. A different story will only be allowed to be pursued under extenuating circumstances and with
the permission of Professor Gayle.

There will be a series of assignments throughout the course as well as a final project, graded as follows:
 Weekly   multimedia   story   analysis   from   stories   on   Mediastorm.org   &   multimediashooter.com
15 weeks 30 points
 Pop quiz 10 points
 Social Media & Blogging site 15 points
 Two Multimedia packages   20 points each 40 points
 FINAL PROJECT 55 points
TOTAL 150 points

Grades:
Grades will be assigned according to the departmental grading scale:
A= 90­100%
B= 80­89%
C= 70­79%
D= 60­69%
F= <60%
Academic Honesty
“When cheating is discovered, the faculty member may give the student an F on the work involved or in the course. If further
disciplinary action is deemed appropriate, the student should be reported to the dean of students.  In addition to being a violation of
academic honesty, cheating violates the code of student conduct and may be grounds for probation, suspension, and/or expulsion.
Students on disciplinary suspension may not enroll in any courses offered by The University of Southern Mississippi.”

ADA Syllabus Statement 
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she
should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures.  Disabilities
covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders.  Students can contact ODA if
they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.  
Address:
The University of Southern Mississippi
  Office for Disability Accommodations
118 College Drive # 8586
Hattiesburg, MS    39406­0001
Voice Telephone:     (601) 266­5024 or (228) 214­3232      Fax:  (601) 266­6035
Individuals with hearing impairments can contact ODA using the Mississippi Relay Service at 1­800­
582­2233 (TTY) or email Suzy Hebert at Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu.

Calendar: this is a tentative course calendar; it may be revised as needed.

 Week One: INTRODUCTION & REVIEW OF MULITMEDIA JOURNALISM                          
                 
 Review of  Multimedia Storytelling fundamentals and MCJ 300
 Multimedia Storytelling; putting the elements together into a story.
 The best ways to use music in stories

Week Two: STORIES TO TELL, PITCHING SUCCESSFUL STORIES
 Pitching and Storyboarding your project
 Diversity
 Ethics

 Week Three: AUDIO & STILL PHOTOGRAPHY OVERVIEW     
                 
                 
                 
                 
Audio Recorders & Digital SLR’s Required
 Recording audio
 Capturing still photos 
 Preparing for slideshows
 Week Four:  SLIDESHOWS         
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
 Use audio and stills for slideshow
 How to choose the best photograph for the story

Week Five: VIDEO STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES

Video Cameras Required
 Video production & editing: How to capture good video
 Hands on instruction on how to get the best production quality

Week Six: GENERAL NEWS MULTIMEDIA STORIES

 What makes a general news story
 How to find them

Week Seven: SPORTS MULTIMEDIA STORYTELLING

 General News MM Story Due
 What makes a sports multimedia story
 How to find them

 Week Eight: IN­DEPTH AND LONG TERM STORYTELLING     
                 
                 
                 
                 
 Sports MM Story Due
 Telling a feature length story
 How to stay with the story
 Planning the longer story

 Week Nine: INDEPTH CONT’D                  
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

Week Ten: SOCIAL MEDIA, DIGITAL PLATFORMS & THE LATEST GADGETS
 Digital Platforms and Social Media Intro
 LET THE BLOGGING BEGIN!
o Design intro pages

 Week  Eleven:  SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUED                       
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
 Cultivating sources
 Using Social Media & the internet for sources and story ideas
 Which digital platform best suits your audiences’ needs, what they are using to get stories like 
yours.  How to find this information.
 Planning your Digital & Social Media Campaign
 Blogs and websites up and ready to start being graded
o Turn in first story on blog

 Week Twelve: FINAL STORY SELECTION & PITCH PRESENTATION   
                
                 
                 
 How to pitch your story idea successfully
 Getting feedback & help from classmates
 Week Thirteen:  FINAL PROJECT PRODUCTION & EDITING    
                 
                 
                 
                 

 Week Fourteen: FINAL PROJECT PRODUCTION & EDITING    
                 
                 
                 
                 

 Week Fifteen: FINAL PROJECT PRODUCTION    & EDITING       
                 
                 
                 
                 

FINALS WEEK: 
Final Project Due