Broadcast Announcing

MC 227

Fall 2010

 

Prof. Sally Berger                                                      Class Time:   MWF 11:00-11:50

Office: B109 Chapel Basement                              Classroom:    Science 108

Phone:  866-6211                                                     e-mail: sallyn@saintjoe.edu

 

Course Purpose & Objectives.  Broadcast Announcing is a performance class, and the overall purpose of this course is to help you become a more effective communicator.  Thus, it is designed to teach you to analyze and improve your voice, your pronunciation, and articulation.  You will also learn specific broadcast announcing techniques used in radio and television, such as news anchoring and reporting, commercial announcing, and interviewing.

 

Required Text: Broadcast Announcing Worktext, 3RD edition. Alan Stephenson, David Reese, and Mary Beadle.

 

Materials Needed:

 

*One hand-held digital or cassette recorder (optional)

 

*Two CD-R’s or CD-RW’s

            Please label the CDs:

·         Your Name

·         Course Name (“Announcing”)

 

 

Structure of Course. Broadcast Announcing is divided into two sections: Radio (Aug.-Oct.) and Television (Oct.-Dec.).  Class sessions will consist of lecture, playback/evaluation of performances, and exercises conducted in the classroom and in the radio & television studios.  Most evaluation sessions will begin with comments from the performer followed by comments from class members and the professor.  Evaluation is ALWAYS constructive.  Under NO circumstances will I allow deliberately demeaning comments in the classroom. 

 

NOTE: In order to learn proper broadcast announcing skills and to become better at it, you must practice, evaluate, and practice again.

 

Attendance. You are expected to attend every class session (see Course Attendance policy in SJC Catalog).  Five points will be deducted from the attendance points for each unexcused absence.

Sickness:  If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please seek medical attention and do not come to class.  You will not be penalized for your absence.  However, for this to count as an excused absence, you must seek and forward documentation from the College nurse or other medical professionals which attest to these symptoms as a reason for missing class. Please e-mail me before class to alert me of your absence.  Keep in mind that you are still responsible for any missed work as well as keeping up with course content.

 

Moodle:  All project criteria sheets will be posted on the Moodle website: moodle.saintjoe.edu.  Any paperwork you submit must be uploaded to Moodle.  Enrollment key: announcing
Electronic Devices.  In the business world, it is considered poor etiquette if you text, receive phone calls, or use any electronic device during a public performance (movies, plays, concerts, lectures, meetings, classrooms).  Therefore, all cell phones, iPods, and other electronic devices must be turned OFF during class.  Five points will be deducted from your final grade each time your cell phone rings or you text during lecture/class.  In addition, I have the right to ask you to leave class.

 

Quizzes/Projects. There will be 5 quizzes based on reading assignments and lecture.  Performance ability, creativity, attendance, class participation, and quiz scores will determine your final grade.  What does it take to earn an “A” in this course?  Simply completing all assignments/performances does not guarantee you an “A.”  Rather, it is the quality of your performances that determines a large portion of your grade.

 

            50% of your grade consists of:

            5 Quizzes (20 pts each)                                           100

            Attendance                                                                  50

Homework Assignments (tba)                                   50     

Final Exam (tba)                                                        100    

  (Dec. 13 @ 8am)                                 Sub-total       300

 

50% of your grade consists of:

(Recorded Performances/Projects)

 
RADIO

·        “Talk Time”/Voice & Diction                  20

·        Basic Radio Announcing                       30

·        Commercial Announcing                        40

·        Radio News/Reporting                           50       

Sub-total       140

 

                        TELEVISION

·        Basic Camera Performance                 20

·        Co-Anchoring                                          30

·        TV Commercial                                       50       

·        Reporting & Stand-ups                           60       

                                                            Sub-total       160

 

                             GRAND TOTAL           600

 

Evaluation.

            A   93-100%      558-600 B+ 88-89%  528-539      C+ 78-79% 468-479

            A-  90-92%        540-557 B   83-87%  498-527      C   73-77% 438-467

                                                            B-  80-82%  480-497      C-  70-72% 420-437

           

D+ 68-69% 408-419                   F   0-59%   0-359

                        D   60-67% 360-407

 

Finally, my casual manner does not reflect a casual attitude toward the course or the broadcast industry.  My expectations are high and my standards professional.  I expect your best effort.  You, and only you, are responsible for your improvement.  By December, you can be a far more effective communicator than you are right now, but only if YOU WORK AT IT.  Good luck and have a great time!