Last Day of Class

I can't believe it's our last day. These last twelve days have been a whirlwind, just as I warned you about on the first day of class. I want to take an opportunity to say how much I enjoyed working with all ten of you. It's not every day that I get to teach a class like this, with students like you. All of you have so much talent and will be successful at whatever you choose to do beyond Lindenwood University.

I hope that I've planted some seeds during this J-Term that will positively impact your future career. Maybe some of you decided a career on-camera wasn't for you, and maybe some of you decided that you're ready to give the reporting job all you've got! Either way, if lights turned on in your head that will help light your way after graduation, then I can sleep well tonight.

Frequently, other professors make small talk and ask each other, "How are your classes going?" This is one time that I could say without hesitation, "I have the best students I've ever worked with so far!" There's always this look of amazement, like they expected me to just say, "Fine," or to lament about students not showing up or not turning homework in. Not you. You did all that was required of you, and took advantage of the opportunities you were given during these 12 days.

When I ask myself whether I made the right decision to leave television news, it's classes like this one that remind me why I wanted to teach in the first place.

Thank you.

Funny Video

Thought you might enjoy this funny video of on-air staff in Ohio getting down on the set.

KPLR Newscast Analysis Issues

Class: If you were not able to complete your newscast analysis of KPLR last night, you can watch the news tonight and turn in your assignment tomorrow, along with everything else that's due. Remember, KPLR's news begins at 9:00p.m., not 10:00 (pending other events like Blues hockey). In the event there is another game tonight (I don't have time to check right now), you can take your pick of any of the other three stations and do the assignment that way.

Wednesday 1-16

I hope all of you are enjoying your day in the field today. I wanted to post some class information for you, so you stay up-to-date with assignments. You may have noticed on the calendar for this Friday, there are three assignments due.

1. Package Script #2
2. TV Jobs Assignment
3. Self-Critique

Yes, this is a lot, I realize. But, it is J-Term, and remember how much work we are cramming into 12 days. I wanted to post the Self-Critique assignment today, so you can begin to work on it. Basically, it's a 2-3 page wrap-up of your time in this class and what you are going to work on as you continue pursuing a career in broadcasting. I've posted the assignment on the side, and also linked to it in this blog.

For Thursday:

What's Due Tomorrow?
Your hand-written logs from today's shoot. Remember your individual logs must be HAND-WRITTEN. This is the only way I can ensure each person does his or her own logging.
Also due, your last TV Newscast Analysis - KPLR

Thursday's News:
We are taping tomorrow's news LIVE! Yeah! The entertainment portion has been dropped because of the LIVE taping.

News: Anchors: Tracy & Jen; Weather: Beth; Sports: Michael; Cameras: Dustin & Neal; Teleprompter: Davina; Scripts: John

Michael and Beth, don't forget to email me your scripts tomorrow before class as soon as you have them complete. This will help me prepare things and help Ed's class get graphics done.

Fox 2 Visit

Here's a slideshow from our visit to KTVI Tuesday. It also includes random class pictures. Double-click on it to open a bigger window and download any of the pictures you want. I hope everyone had a great time - I was very pround of all of you!



For those who shot a stand-up and want to turn a package from what we shot at Fox2 Tuesday:

You need to log the sound bytes and write the package script by Sunday night. For this package, it’s okay to be longer than 1:30. You can probably go as long at 2:30 – but it will be a challenge to make your story flow and keep the viewer’s interest. Email your script to me on Sunday night by 8:00p.m. I’ll take a look at them and pick the best one. I will call that person, because he or she will need to make plans Monday morning to go to the TV studio and voice the package. Ed has someone scheduled to do the editing. If I don’t choose your script, this doesn’t mean you can’t still voice and edit the package on your own.

Anyone Notice the Irony?

This is something that struck me the other day that I didn't notice at the time. On Thursday, I passed around two books and recommended you read them: It Takes More than Good Looks to Succeed at TV News Reporting by Wayne Freedman, and Sound and Look Professional on TV and the Internet by Michelle McCoy and Ann Utterbach. Isn't it funny that the first book is all about why looks don't matter, and the second book is basicallky a how-to guide about your on-camera appearance? Ha! Did anyone else catch that? Did I confuse anyone?

You Guys Rock!

I watched all of the packages that were edited, and you all need to pat yourselves on the back!  Yeah!  Our class actually made packages!  AND - we got clearance from Ed to air all of them during our newscasts next week!  I am so proud of all of you!  

Ready for round two (the final round) next week?  

Start thinking about what you learned this week, and how to make a better package (and how to make your lives easier) next week.  There's a good chance we're going to be editing our own packages next Friday, without the help of Ed's class.  I hope everyone paid attention and learned some editing lessons today.  I will be over your shoulder next Friday watching and helping, so don't be scared.  Ed's students will be able to be your photographer in the field with you to shoot again on Wednesday.  My advice...make sure they shoot PLENTY of video (B-roll), so you aren't stuck trying to edit a package next Friday being short on video.

Again, I can't tell you how proud I am that we pulled this off!

Friday 1-11

Happy Friday!

Today’s Agenda:
Meet at the TV studio at 1:00 sharp to turn in your PKG script. I’ll choose which one of your individual scripts will be edited. That person will need to record his or her voice tracks ASAP. Each of you will sign-up for a 15 minute slot with me to work on your voice. From 1:10-4:00, you’ll be watching your photographer edit your package, once your package is complete, you can leave. This may or may not take the whole class period to edit, but I think it’s important you see the process. If you want to be a reporter, you will have to learn how to edit. You will not have someone editing your packages for you, you’ll have to do it yourself, so use today as a valuable training session.

What’s Due Today?
Your (individual) package script from what you shot on Wednesday, and logged on Thursday is due today. Don’t forget to follow the Package Template I gave you yesterday. You will need an anchor lead-in, outcue, supers and anchor tag, IN ADDITION to your package script. It’s all
spelled out for you plainly in the assignment sheet I gave you yesterday.

For Monday:
Meet in the classroom first, we’ll talk about the reporter and anchor and then tape news.
Anchors: Davina & Beth; Weather: Jen; Sports: John; Entertainment: Sakshi;
Camera: Tracy & Neal; Teleprompter: Michael; Scripts: Haley.
Jen, John & Sakshi: Don’t forget to email me ASAP on Monday morning your scripts and what stories you plan to do. This is so I can tell Ed and his class what graphics to get ready. Story Pitch #3 is due .

Your Blogs:
On the first day of class, I explained that your daily journal entries need to be at least 250 words. I’m a little concerned that I’m seeing several class blogs from students with postings that are less than 100 words! You can write in MS Word to check the word count and spelling, and then copy it to your blog.

The grace period you have been given for shut-down blogs ends Monday morning (by 9:30a.m.) 1/14. I will revisit all the blogs then and entries less than 250 words will be a zero. Entries not completed by Monday will be a zero also. You get 10 points a day for this, 120 total. Also, you get 30 points for visiting your classmate’s blogs and making comments. This is your last reminder. These are easy points, people! Even if I don’t have time to go over all this today, you are responsible for this information because you were handed the class notes sheet and you can read this on the blog.

Class Notes - 1/9

I hope everyone enjoyed their day in the field shooting packages and logging! My goal is for you to learn how these things work and to start thinking like reporters. With practice, out in the field, you will soon begin to automatically think about sound bytes, B-roll and stand-ups. It takes time, but this is how the best reporters work. They envision how they want their story to look and feel. Remember, it's about telling a story, not just being on camera!

Here are a few reminders for tomorrow:

I'm hoping to get our class blogs under control. You're reading this, so you've found the new one. You can see the links to your classmates on the side, those are the only new addresses I have so far. Remember, you need to start a new blog if blogger.com blocked your first one. Or, if you have not been blocked, you need to change your current blog's address. You can do this under "Settings/Publishing". Please avoid using "tvtalent" in your new web address, so this blog doesn't get blocked again.

For Thursday, meet in our classroom first, then we will go over to the studio and tape the news. Here's who I have on the schedule: News: Michael & Neal; Weather: Davina; Sports: John; Entertainment: Dustin. Crew: Beth, Haley, Tracy, Jen

Homework due Thursday: Log sheets from today (Wednesday's) shoot, and your newscast analysis for KSDK. Don't forget to copy and paste your newscast analysis on your blog. Only one student (Tracy) followed directions for KMOV's newscast analysis. Also, bring with you your Guest Speaker Summary about Virginia Kerr.

Also, guess what? Virgina Kerr blogged about her visit to our class Tuesday! Check out the link here.


Check out this story from KSDK.

Welcome to Advanced TV Talent!

It's J-Term everyone! That's means it's time for the Mass Communications and Journalism students to take advantage of the unique courses offered during Lindenwood University's J-Term. Advanced TV Talent is just one of the offered courses, and I'm so excited to have all of you in my class! Aren't you glad you're not taking World Literature?

This blog should be a daily guide for you as we work hard these next 12 days. That's right, ONLY 12 DAYS! That means we are cramming in as many opportunities as we can for you to get involved and learn more about the TV news business. You are each coming into this course at a different skill level and I expect you to work forward from there. It's going to be very important for all of you to be prepared each day and be ready to work as a team. You will get out of this class what you put in.

It's my hope this course will be one of your favorites at LU.Please take a moment to post a comment introducing yourself and letting me know what you hope to take away from this course.