JOUR 202A, 202B, 202C, 203A, 203B, 203C The Cuestonian/CRN 74536, 70885, 70887, 70888, 74307, 74308 and 74534
Instructor: Cyrus Saatsaz
Contact information
Email Address: cyrus_saatsaz@cuesta.edu
Office Location/ Hours: Email three ideal days and times to schedule a Zoom meeting
Instructor Contact Expectations:
The best and fastest way to contact me is email. I will generally respond to your emails within 24 hours during weekdays only. 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 online course will be using a Web-based Learning Management System Canvas as the method to disseminate information. Canvas provides the framework for the course including PowerPoint presentations, student data files, the tools to receive and send course materials, and a grade book. Using the communication tools, you can communicate using e-mail, and you can share materials and ideas with other course participants via the discussion forums and groups. Plan on meeting one day a week virtually with the entire staff of the newspaper for story assignments and editing.
Class opens / Accessing Canvas:
Prior to the class starting on September 7, you will receive an email 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 September 7 and need assistance please email me or technical support at this email address: support@my.cuesta.edu.
Online Learning:
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 inherently easier, although they may be much more convenient for many students. 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. Since there is no lecture component, much of this time will be self-directed and there will be a substantial amount of reading, viewing, studying, and writing required. This course is completely online using Canvas; all coursework (discussions, assignments, quizzes) is submitted online. There are no face-to-face meetings. Please be prepared to spend 8 - 12 hours per week on coursework for this class
IS an ONLINE CLASS FOR YOU?
- First, go to the Online Readiness ResourcesLinks to an external site. to take a "self-assessment”. There are many resources that were designed to help you understand the basis for an online class and the skills necessary for success. (If the tutorials do NOT describe you, then taking this class online is NOT for you and I strongly suggest that you drop the online class and enroll in a traditional classroom section.)
Regular Effective Contact policy:
Regular and Effective Instructor Contact will be met through weekly instructor initiated virtual meetings and regular announcements to students; timely and effective feedback on student assignments; email, phone or messaging to individuals; and virtual office hours.
Course Description
Introduces hands-on preparatory news production for The Cuestonian student newspaper and Cuestonian.com.
Involves students in editorial positions using state-of-the-art technology to produce The Cuestonian and Cuestonian.com.
Involves students in major hands-on editorial positions and leadership in using state-of-the-art technology to produce The Cuestonian and Cuestonian.com.
Introduces students to producing and editing photographs and/or video for The Cuestonian and Cuestonian.com, providing an opportunity for them to showcase their work. Students complete assignments from the editorial board, such as capturing news and feature images from campus arts, sporting, music and news events. Includes photo and video essays. Ethics, legal issues and professional behavior are stressed. Previous photography and/or videography experience highly recommended. Should have own equipment.
Introduces students to the design and layout of The Cuestonian and Cuestonian.com. Students will create informational and interactive graphics and work on the design and layout each publication using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and PhotoShop. Students complete assignments from editors on the student-run publications and meet newspaper production deadlines. Professional behavior is stressed. Previous digital graphic and digital layout experience required.
Involves students in editorial positions for the visual arts sections of The Cuestonian and Cuestonian.com. Students use state-of-the-art technology to continue the study of all aspects of the print and online news production business as it relates to visual arts.
Student Learning Outcomes
JOUR 202A:
- Define news values and determine relevant news content.
- Report and write complete, accurate, fair, balanced, and objective articles following Associated Press Style.
- Produce publishable material under deadline pressure on a weekly basis following proper newsroom protocol and procedure.
- Develop news and feature stories across multiple platforms.
- Assess legal and ethical issues affecting media and apply to specific coverage.
JOUR 202B:
- Define relevant news content.
- Gather news information weekly.
- Edit basic and advanced news and information into publishable form, with attention to accuracy, clarity, thoroughness, fairness, AP style, and media law and ethics.
- Assess legal issues affecting media.
- Assess ethical issues affecting media.
- Develop leadership and management skills as an editor.
- Develop effective design/layout for story presentation.
- Develop news and feature stories through written, visual, audio, video or other multimedia formats.
- Determine the best format –print, multimedia, visual, etc. — for telling basic news stories.
- Build a portfolio of completed projects for student media that demonstrates a range of storytelling formats/styles that are more advanced than in JOUR 202A.
JOUR 202C:
- Define relevant news content.
- Gather news information weekly.
- Edit basic and advanced news and information into publishable form, with attention to accuracy, clarity, thoroughness, fairness, AP style, and media law and ethics.
- Assess complex legal issues affecting media.
- Assess complex ethical issues affecting media.
- Develop leadership and management skills as a senior editor. Mentor staff writers and section editors.
- Develop effective design/layout for story presentation and overall publication.
- Develop and assign news and feature stories through written, visual, audio, video or other multimedia formats.
- Determine the best format — print, multimedia, visual, etc. — for telling basic news stories.
- Build a portfolio of completed projects for student media that demonstrates a range of storytelling formats/styles that are more advanced than in JOUR 202A and 202B.
JOUR 203A:
- Produce publishable photographs and videos on assignment, including planned events and breaking news, as well as create storytelling images, slideshows and videos
- Report and write complete, accurate and objective cutline information using Associated Press Style
- Submit work on deadline, in proper format, using proper procedures
- Explain the professional role of photojournalists and videographers in regard to news
- Explain the ethical and legal issues surrounding photojournalism and news videography
JOUR 203B:
- Design and produce publishable graphics and illustrations for publication on assignment from editors on student-run newspaper
- Collaborate with reporters and editors to develop graphics and illustrations that enhance and complement the text
- Create the design and layout of hard copy and online publications incorporating text, photographs, graphics and headlines in a visually-appealing manner that will pull the reader into the stories
- Submit work on deadline, in proper format, using proper procedures and following Associated Press Style guidelines
- Explain the professional role of graphic, design and layout artists in regard to news
JOUR 203C:
- Produce publishable intermediate level photographs/videos and/or graphics/design on deadline and in proper format for student-run newspaper and news website
- Develop leadership and management skills as an editor of the visual arts staff
- Collaborate with visual arts staff and senior editor to determine the best format for presentation of the news and develop and edit appropriate visual elements as part of managing the staff
- Assess legal issues affecting media, in particular those that surface in the visual arts department of the newspaper
- Assess ethical issues affecting media, in particular those that surface in the visual arts department of the newspaper
Text Book and Materials
-
The Associated Press Stylebook. Any edition from the previous five years is OK.
- Supplemental Materials necessary for the class, as applicable. For example:
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:
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 me as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services) at 805-546-3148 or
College & Course Policies:
Academic Honesty Policy: The integrity of an academic community means that citations of ideas, methodologies, and research findings are full and correct. In addition, each student can promote academic honesty by protecting her/his work from inappropriate use by others and by maintaining high standards of academic honesty. The main violations of academic honesty are cheating and plagiarism.
Cheating includes the unauthorized use of certain materials, information or devices in writing examinations or in preparing papers or assignments. Any student who aids another student in cheating is also guilty of this academic dishonesty.
Other possible forms of cheating include submitting the same work in more than one class without permission and working on exams with the assistance of others.
Plagiarism is the presentation of ideas, words, and opinions of someone else as one’s own work. In addition to directly quoted published work, paraphrased material must also be attributed to its original writer.
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. Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of conductLinks to an external site. at:
Add / Drop Policy: Please review the Cuesta policy for drops. I accept late adds.
Waitlist Policy: Please contact me if you need an add code. Please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructions.
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