Course Description

Ms. Grosselfinger
Room 339
lgrosselfinger@schools.nyc.gov

(718) 461-2219

Course Description:
Broadcast Journalism
World Journalism Preparatory School

Broadcast Journalism is an English Language Arts course with the creation, analysis and critique of broadcast media at its core. It is a credit bearing high school level English course, which demands that students read, write, communicate and produce work in thoughtful and significant ways.

Students will spend significant time viewing, analyzing and reflecting on broadcast media with visual and written work. Students will also produce broadcast media that will be peer analyzed and reflected.

By the end of the year students will have a complete portfolio representing the year’s work, proving the student has met or exceeded the English Language Arts standards.

By the end of the year students will be able to:

• Understand the laws surrounding broadcast journalism, as well as the ethics and responsibilities of journalists.
• Use the history of broadcast media to make sound decisions, analyze government court cases and current laws
• Understand and follow the procedures of pre-production, production and post-production of a news story or show.
• Utilize technology and broadcast methods to produce a story or show.
• Successfully act in all roles of a broadcast show (i.e.: producer, camera person).
• Work as a team player in an effort to maintain a safe and effective broadcast studio.
• Produce standards based research papers and analysis papers.
• Write fluently and reflectively.
• Read and view fluently and reflectively.







Major Assignments:

Readers’ and Writers’ Sourcebooks
Expectations are that all students will write reflectively and thoughtfully on all readings (assigned texts or broadcasts) as well as participate in daily writing. Sourcebooks will be with students in every class and on locations.

Readers’ Sourcebook
The Readers’ Sourcebook is used for all writing in response to read or viewed material. Students are expected to read and view broadcast related materials on a daily basis. Evidence of reading and viewing may be in the form of reflection, analysis, critique or other methods of response.

Writers’ Sourcebook
The Writers’ Sourcebook is a place for students to generate ideas, plans and notes for projects, stories or shows. Students are expected to contribute to their sourcebook daily. Entries may include, but are not limited to: brainstorms, storyboards, interview questions, set layout, script drafts and revising. Students are expected to have their Writers’ Sourcebook on them at ALL TIMES. You never know when a great idea will strike you!

Revised Writing
Throughout the year, students will write several pieces of writing that go through multiple drafts of content revision. Frequently students will be allowed to choose their own topics, with the knowledge that their choice or subject, intended audience and purpose direct the decisions they make while writing. Students will be encouraged to make connections between published work and their own produced work.

Students will follow the MLA style of writing and research, remembering to always cite sources and support claims. Numerous drafts are expected. Editing is seen as a separate and final stage in the writing process.

Upon completion of the final draft, students turn in all drafts of the piece (with proof of revision) and a reflection on both their writing process and their choices and decisions made in the creation of the work.








Broadcast Pieces
The core of the course focuses on the study and production of broadcast journalism. Students will spend a large amount of time following the procedures of effective broadcast journalism, incorporating learned skills and knowledge.

Students will produce and contribute to a vast array of broadcast pieces (i.e.: documentary, feature news story, interview). All pieces will follow the process steps from pre-production to post-production.

Broadcast pieces will air in “The Highlight” every week.

“The Highlight”
All students are expected to assist in the production of the WJPS weekly news show, “The Highlight”. Students will participate in the show’s production through various roles on a rotating basis. Production teams of six students will be responsible for producing and airing “The Highlight” every three weeks. All team members must also rotate positions within the production team.

Independent Reading
Students are expected to read texts of all kinds (novels, memoirs, non-fiction, essays, poetry, articles, etc.) throughout the year. Evidence of reading should be reflected in the Readers’ Sourcebook and throughout class discussions. Some texts will be assigned, and others will be student selected. An independent reading book or text is expected to be with the student AT ALL TIMES throughout the day.

Minor Assignments:

Studio Monitor:
All students will work as the Broadcast Studio’s monitors on a rotating basis. Monitors will be assigned on a weekly basis and will be responsible for the state of the studio. Monitors will be in charge of all equipment that goes in and out of the studio DAILY, as well as maintaining studio rules and regulations. Responsible monitoring is a crucial part of a successful studio and broadcast experience.

News Show Groupie:
Every news show has it's own style. Students are expected to follow a specific news show and/or reporter for an extended period of time. Students may choose from a variety of sources (ESPN, CNN, ABC, BBC, Channel One, etc.). Analysis and discussion of the chosen show and/or reporter is expected in class and can also be part of a student’s daily writing in his/her Readers’ Sourcebook.




Annotated Clips:
Analyzing and dissecting every aspect of a news story or segment is vital to understanding how it was produced. Students are expected to show evidence of annotated clips throughout the year.

Interdisciplinary Stories:
As students of Journalism and life in general, it is vital to understand and produce work representative of all topics and subjects. Students are required to read, reflect and produce stories of all subject areas (i.e.: science, math, physical education, history). At least one story in each subject area is expected by the end of the year

Student Response:
Peer editing and reflection is crucial to any successful broadcaster. All students are expected to spend time critically analyzing and responding to each other’s work. A minimum of three written responses should be completed prior to the end of the school year.

Portfolio:

At the end of the year, students are required to have a completed portfolio encompassing the range of work produced, reflecting the skills and knowledge learned throughout the year. Each student’s goal is to select pieces that best represent his/her learning and progress throughout the year. Each trimester the students will be asked to submit pieces to the portfolio, but those pieces can be removed or revised as the year continues and he/she grows as a student of broadcast journalism.

Broadcast Portfolio Pieces
• 30/60 second news story
• Feature news story
• Documentary
• Full news show
• Interview
• Public service announcement/promo

* Each portfolio piece should be submitted with evidence of pre-production, production, post-production and reflection.

Reading & Writing Portfolio Pieces
• Revised and published analysis of broadcast media
• Revised and published research report


Required Materials:

Throughout the year each student will need the following:
• Two composition books to be used as a Readers and Writers Sourcebook (not a spiral bound notebook).
• 2 inch (or larger) three hole binder
• Three-ring loose leaf paper (for binder)
• A minimum of two three-ring folders (for binder)
• Post-It notes (variety of sizes)
• Thumb-drive