Individual homework 2: Photograph and cutline 1 Media Paper

Individual homework

The individual homework provides opportunities for students to practice many of the skills and apply much of the knowledge central to the course. It also provides production moments that align with the in-class collaboration. The individual homework spans multi-media news production, including photography, writing, sound, and editing. The individual homework builds on the required course readings, audio, and video materials and the in-class, synchronous peer discussions. These will be posted by Thursday 11:59 p.m., which is six days before the homework must be completed. These assignments support student application of practical skills needed to produce audio/visual/written stories.







Photograph and cutline 1

This assignment enables students to apply practical skills to produce audio/visual/written stories. Upload the completed work to the discussion board.



Photograph

Take one photograph that captures an issue that matters (or should matter) to UWB students and/or the campus. This should be something newsworthy. As a guide, use the authors of Missouri Group's News Reporting and Writing say about what journalists use as the three standards to define news: relevance, usefulness, and interesting. News might also have these elements: impact, conflict, novelty, prominence, proximity, and timeliness.



Use the Harrower and Elman readings (Harrower, Tim; Elman, Julie M., 2013, “The Fundamentals,” in The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, McGraw Hill, 18–44; and Harrower, Tim; Elman, Julie M., 2013, “Photos and Art,” in The Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, McGraw Hill, 109–144) for guidance, as well as any of your prior knowledge about photography.

Make sure the photos follow the principles of interest, natural look, borders, relevance, and size of faces.

Keep the content local (UWB and its community).

Include a photo credit with your first and last name.

Original reporting

Learn about the who, what, where, when, and why (the W's) related to the one photograph you selected for the assignment. Look at the Conservatory and Showbox examples. Evidence of your reporting appears in the Cutline.



Cutline

Write a cutline that includes original reported details you gather as a journalist. These details cover all the W’s relevant to the story. They should be verified and accurate.



Make the cutline three, four, or five sentences.

Use the Associated Press Stylebook to ensure the correct grammar, punctuation, and word usage.

Use the readings to help figure out ways to identify good sources for your cutline material.

Do original reporting. Do not include the reporting done by other news or communication outlets, such as audio transcripts of someone else’s interview.

Tell a story that complements the photograph.

Write in third person.

Remove bias and opinion unless it is attributed to someone via their quote. This is a news items instead of opinion, a column, or persuasion.

Include named (first and last name) sources. Do not use unnamed or first named sources.

Add your name (first and last) at the end.

To succeed with this assignment

Review the instructions, including the syllabus and Canvas.

Do the drafts and revisions thoughtfully and intentionally.

Build on class materials.

Consider the examples provided and look for more in the Seattle Times.

Generally, you want to have some real and perceived distance from your story. So do not interview or report on your friends and family. Also, do not write about organizations that you belong to. Instead, use the knowledge you gain from things that are in close proximity to help you find other related stories.

Take the photographs and do your reporting in public spaces. Identify yourself as a journalist working on a piece for the Husky Herald and UWave Radio. Make it clear to the person you interview that you are a reporter and working on a piece that will be made public. If you do not feel safe reporting the story, find a different story or angle to report.

Assume other media outlets will cover stories taking place in Seattle and beyond, and avoid these stories (such as covering the Seahawks or a new business opening in downtown Seattle). Your focus is on UWB--its people and its community.

There is a rubric for this assignment.