Instructor: Jeff Nachtigal
Contact information
Email: jeffrey_nachtigal@cuesta.edu
Course Calendar
Sept. 28 — Dec. 18, 2020
Class begins on Tuesdays each week. The weekly topic, assignments and specific due dates will be posted on Tuesdays on the JOUR205 Canvas page. See the weekly “To do list” for the week’s reading, discussion forums, and assignments.
Instructor contact expectations:
The best and fastest way to reach me is by email. I will generally respond to your emails within 24 hours during weekdays. During busy times of the semester, the response time may increase to 48 hours. On weekends, I will do my best to get back to you ASAP but I cannot guarantee an expeditious response.
Course Environment
This course is entirely online. In this course we use Canvas to organize all the course content, discussions, quizzes, and assignments, and grades. We will use Zoom video and VoiceThreadLinks to an external site. to talk to each other in the course. Both Zoom and VoiceThread are embedded in Canvas.
Class opens / Accessing Canvas
Prior to the start of class on Sept. 28, 2020, you will receive an email from me to your my.Cuesta.edu address providing you with a reminder that class will be starting and log in procedures for Canvas, the learning management system (LMS) used to deliver course content. You can access Canvas by logging into MyCuesta, then clicking on the Resources Tab, then clicking on Canvas in the Online Learning Channel, or by typing the Canvas address (https://cuesta.instructure.com/) into your browser address bar. Do not bookmark / favorite the canvas site after your login, or you will get an error message next time you try to log in. You must access the canvas log in directly.
If you are not familiar with logging into canvas, please refer to the Canvas Quick Reference Guide.Links to an external site. Once logged into Canvas you will be directed on where to get started. Be sure to read all the direction on the course home page.
If you are having difficulty logging into Canvas after the start of the semester and need assistance please email me or technical support at this email address: support@my.cuesta.edu.
About this online course:
If you have never taken an online class or this is your first experience with Canvas, please be patient with yourself. Online classes are not simple, or immediately clear, although they may be much more convenient for many students. This is an all-online course, but in practice it is the same amount of work and likely requires more participation than in other face-to-face classroom courses.
You should expect to spend at least as much time, if not more on this course as you would on a course that meets face to face. Please be prepared to spend 6-10 hours or more per week on coursework for this class.
This is not a self-paced course — in this class there are assignment/discussion deadlines three times per week.
The great thing about a DE course is that you don't have arrive at "class" at a certain time of day; you're welcome to work any time of the day.
We're going to cover a lot of material in this course, in a shorter time period than normal and you'll be asked to use software to create and edit digital images, video and audio, and use social media to publish stories. I expect some of you will be challenged; the best way to stay on track and learn the fundamentals of multimedia production is to stick to it, and stay up to date with assignments and discussions in this course.
This course is designed for people who are just beginning to use video to tell stories, and people who want to hone their skills.
If you are unsure about whether an online course is right for you, please read and watch (video) from the State of California’s Online Education Initiative (OEI): https://apps.3cmediasolutions.org/oei/students.htmlLinks to an external site.
Regular Effective Contact policy
Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through weekly discussion forums; weekly announcements to students; timely and effective feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and virtual office hours.
I want you to succeed in this course, and you are always welcome to contact me by email to ask a question!
Course Description
This three-credit course introduces the fundamentals of producing multimedia journalism, including taking digital images, creating video, conducting video interviews, and creating stories for an online and on-social media audiences. Skills we will practice in this course: identifying and developing news stories, digital photography, audio slideshow production, video recording and editing, video interviews, online sourcing and reporting issues specific to digital media, social media and journalism, and online journalism ethics and media literacy.
This course requires the use of a digital camera or mobile phone. In this course students will record digital audio, video and images. You are welcome to use your mobile phone. You are also welcome to use a DSLR or other digital camera. Editing images and video and audio is much, much easier to do using a laptop or desktop. I highly encourage you to plan to edit using a real computer. Cuesta College's library offers free computer use.
Each week there will be project assignments related to the skills we’re learning, and you are expected to participate in weekly discussion forums.
Student Learning outcomes for Multimedia Journalism 205, CRN 73203 (Distance education):
Upon completing the course successfully, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to produce multimedia stories for online news sites.
- Describe and display the characteristics that make multimedia storytelling distinct from traditional journalism.
- Describe and display the characteristics of entrepreneurial journalism.
- Critically evaluate professional news multimedia stories.
Required Textbooks/Equipment
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The Principles of Multimedia Journalism, First edition (2017), by Richard Koci Hernandez (required)
Technical Support
Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or click on the help button on the Canvas Navigation to report a problem.
If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.
Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome. This may solve your problem! Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site. at:
http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.htmlLinks to an external site.
Accommodations
This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services)Links to an external site. at 805-546-3148 or http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/dsps/index.htmlLinks to an external site.
College & Course Policies
Academic Honesty Policy: Violating copyright in this course is prohibited, and will be cause for immediate drop. In addition to my course policy, please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct.
Add / Drop Policy
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I will send add codes and admit students on the third day of the course, if there is space available.
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Please log in to JOUR 205 in Canvas on the FIRST DAY of the course and complete the first Discussion post with your bio and background by the third day of this course. Failure to complete the first assignment (or contact me with extenuating circumstances) by the end of the first week of the course may result in you being dropped.
Waitlist Policy
Please contact me for an add code if you are interested in adding this course. I will admit students on the third day of the course, if there is space available.
In addition to my course specific procedures, please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructions: http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/Waitlist.htmlLinks to an external site.
icons at the top right corner of the subsection.