Broadcast Announcing

MC 227

Fall 2007

 

Prof. Sally Nesselrode                                              Class Time:   T & R 11:00-12:15

Office: B109 Chapel Basement                              Classroom:    Core 121

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, 2nd edition. Alan Stephenson, David Reese, and Mary Beadle.  2005.

 

Required Materials:

 

*One hand-held cassette recorder

 

*Two 60- or 90-minute audio cassette tapes.

            Please include the following on your labels:

·         Side “A” or “B” clearly marked

·         Your Name

·         Course Name (“Announcing”)

 

**Do not use a used tape nor a 30- or 120-minute tape.  30 is too short; 120 is too thin (it might stretch).

 

 

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.

 

In addition, each student is required to be the PA (Public Address) announcer for the SJC Women’s Volleyball team and the Men’s & Women’s Soccer Team twice during the semester.  A signup sheet will be distributed during the first week of school.

 

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.

Electronic Devices.  All cell phones, iPods, and other electronic devices must be turned OFF during lecture, discussion, and writing class.  Having a cell phone on vibrate mode is not acceptable.  Five points will be deducted from your final grade each time your cell phone either rings or vibrates during class.  In addition, I have the right to ask you to leave class.

 

Exams/Projects. There will be 2 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.

 

            40% of your grade consists of:

            4 Quizzes (25 pts each)                                           100

            Attendance                                                                  40

            PA Announcer (20 pts each)                                     40

Homework Assignments (tba)                                   20     

                                                            Sub-total       200

 

60% of your grade consists of:

(Recorded Performances/Projects)

RADIO

·        “Talk Time”                                               10

·        Voice & Diction                                       20

·        Basic Radio Announcing                       30

·        Radio News/Reporting                           40       

Sub-total       100

 

                        TELEVISION

·        Basic Camera Performance                 20

·        Co-Anchoring                                          30

·        Reporting & Stand-ups                           50

·        FINAL: TV Newscast                              100    

                                                            Sub-total       200

 

                             GRAND TOTAL           500

 

Evaluation.

            A   93-100%      465-500 B+ 88-89%  440-449      C+ 78-79% 390-399

            A-  90-92%        450-464 B   83-87%  415-439      C   73-77% 365-389

                                                            B-  80-82%  400-414      C-  70-72% 350-364

           

D+ 68-69% 340-349

                                                                                                D   60-67% 300-339

 

F   0-59%   0-299

 

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!