COURSE SYLLABUS: TV NEWS PRODUCTION

Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

Partner Institution: Universidad Latina Heredia (Latin University Heredia)

Course Title (English): TV News Production

Course Title (Spanish): Produccion de Television para Periodismo

Sessions Offered: Semester

Instructional in: Spanish

Classroom Contact Hours: 45

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4 quarter units        

Prerequisites: Advanced Spanish I

Course Code: PD13

Course Description

A competitive journalist is one who masters the art of news production. It is therefore of utmost importance that the journalism student delve into the the field of news production with a knowledge of news value and the ability to detect "where the news is" in any event of public interest.
An important part of understanding how media is constructed is to recognize that we must make choices and that these decisions affect people and society. The journalist must constantly balance competing needs while making decisions of what to include and what to exclude.

Course Objectives

• Assess the importance of news as the core of journalistic work.
• Highlight the different news variables.
• Understand the different types of news.
• Define the factors involved in the selection of news.
• Develop different types of news for TV.
• Master journalistic sources.
• Understand journalist coverage from different sources.
• Master the elements of the interview.

Program Schedule

Course Activities

The course aims to enable the student to develop their ability to write and produce quality news according to the economic, political and social, in national and international contexts.

To this end, the student is encouraged to attend meetings and lectures o and off of Latin Univesity of Costa Rica campus, in order to foment the daily exercize of news production.

Course Methodology

Traditional lectures combined with practical classes for the student, based on the theory to create news.

As part of the class work, the professor will coordinate activities that facilitate the production of news in a learning-assessment process, which allows the student to understand their progress and improvements to implement.

Course Evaluation

Segments (2) 20%
Prerecorded 10%
Exterior Recording  20%
Homework and Exercizes 20%
Column reviews 10%
Graphics 5%
Situation coverage 10%
Participation 5%
Total 100%

Materials

Whiteboard, markers, eraser, projector, VHS, TV, videovim, movies (videos), transparencies, books, journals, dissertations, reports, brochures, newspapers and the Internet.

Bibliography (Text and Materials)

• Amyes, T. Audio postproduction techniques in video and film. Madrid, IORTV, 1994.
• Bandrés Elena, Jose Garcia. Journalism in the Digital Television. Editorial Paidós, Spain, 2000
• Cajigas, E. The Web designer, Madrid, Anaya, 1995.
• Hartwig, R. L. Basic Technology for Television, Madrid, IORTV, 1991.
• Langford, M. Basic Photography. Barcelona, Omega, 1994.
• Mathias, H. and R Patterson, Electronic Cinematography. Guipúzcoa, School of Film and Video, 1994.
• Millerson, G. Technical design and television production. Madrid, IORTV, 1994.
• Rumsey, F. and T. McCormic. Introduction to sound and recording. Madrid, IORTV, 1994.

Attendance Policy

Classes start on time.  Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy.  Three tardies equal one absence.  Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates four (4) or more absences fails the course.

Description of Special Assignments/Activities

Plagiarism in any form or manifestation will not be tolerated and will carry very severe consequences that range from a grade of 0 in the course the expulsion of the student from the program.

Other Expectations, Rules, Conduct Guidelines, Special Recommendations:

All assignments must be handed in on the due date. Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented emergencies.  If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the professor and make arrangements.

There is a 17,000 colon charge for make-up tests/activities which require the professor’s presence.

The University provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Academic Coordinator as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Approved accommodations will not change the basic elements of the course/class.

Rules, Conduct, Guidelines, Special Recommendations

Classes start on time.  Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy.  Three tardies equal one absence.  Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates three (3) or more absences fails the course.

All assignments must be handed in on the due date.

Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented emergencies.  If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the professor and make arrangements.

There is a 17,000 colon charge for make-up tests/activities which require the professor´s presence.

The University provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Academic Coordinator as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Approved accommodations will not change the basic elements of the course/class.

Contact Information:

SOL EDUCATION ABROAD

EMAIL: info@soleducation.com

WEB: www.soleducation.com

PHONE: 512.380.1003

FAX: 512.287.4886        

MAIL: 503 Oakland Ave. Austin, TX 78703

(Translation of the syllabus from the Universidad Latina, Heredia)