San Antonio College -- 1300 San Pedro Ave. -- San Antonio, TX, 78212-4299

Credit Hours: 3-2-3

Instructor: Instructor Yuk-kwong Edmund Lo

Office: Loftin 212B   Phone Number: (210) 733-2878  
FAX: (210) 733-2868

Email: ylo@mail.accd.edu     Web Address: http://www.accd.edu/sac/j-p/Lo.html

I. Catalog Description: COMM 1316 - News Photo 1 Prerequisite: COMM 1318 Photography 1

This course presents the problems and practices of photography for newspapers. It includes instruction on camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing and printing media. The emphasis is on communication through photographs. This class provides training under deadline pressure in a variety of basic news photography situations. Students cover campus and off-campus events for the college newspaper. NOTE: Students who are pregnant should not take photography classes because of possibility of chemical exposure.

II. Pre-requisites, co-requisites and other requirements:(1) COMM 1318 or approval of instructor

III. Texts:
Photojournalism: The Professional's Approach by Kenneth Kobre (5th Edition), 2004 (required). Associated Press Guide to Photojournalism by Brian Horton (2nd Edition), 2001 (optional).

IV. Instruction will consist of: Much of the learning in this course depends on the practice photo taking, reading and critiquing course materials. We will survey the course information through class discussions and lab experiences. Learning to meet deadlines and developing the ability to manage time also are part of the course.

V. Course Content: - This course emphasizes journalistic communication through photographs. Students will be introduced to the world of photojournalism by reviewing photographs taken from professional photojournalists from local and around the world. Students also will learn the principles and techniques of producing news photographs by working for the college newspaper and magazine as staff photographers. Students will be trained to work under deadline pressure in a variety of basic photojournalistic situations. After taking this course, students should be able to build a portfolio and have a basic ability of critiquing and producing news photography in a professional manner. Methods of teaching include reading, discussion, video and slide presentations, demonstrations, news photo critiques and guest lecturers.

VI. Learning Outcomes and Performance Objectives with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students' mastery of those outcomes.

Learning Outcome 1: Students will demonstrate understanding of the development of photojournalism and its impact on society.

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. Students will demonstrate basic understanding of concepts, skills and history of photographic communication by researching and presenting important photographers in photojournalism history and receive critiques and grades on their work.
2. Students will demonstrate understanding of how to communicate with photography by analyzing and discussing works from current and historical photojournalists and presenting their findings to their peers for discussion and a grade.
3. The student will be able to identify major individuals involved in the development of measurable mass media by completing written examinations, participating in organized class discussions of the various periods in media history and completing enrichment assignments such as writing a letter to the editor and developing a mock magazine cover to demonstrate understanding of the formula or mix of a magazine.

Learning Outcome 2: The student will develop the conceptual and technical skills of those who pursue a professional career in photojournalism .

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of combining words and images by producing story-telling news photos for the college newspaper and have the work critiqued and graded.
2. The student will demonstrate the ability of taking different categories of photojournalism by successfully completing exercises and college newspaper assignments and receive critiques and grades for the work
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to interact with subjects and play a responsible role as a photojournalist by completing exercises and photo assignments for the college newspaper, writing self-critiques and writing reflection papers on photojournalism issues such as ethics and law.
4. The student will compile the best examples of work into a portfolio which will be analyzed, discussed in class and graded. The portfolio will be used to apply for internships and part-time freelance work.

(SCANS COMPETENCIES are only required for courses which are a part of an AAS degree plan.) SCANS Competencies: See attached for a list of competencies related to the workplace as outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

VII. Course requirements and grade computation:

Methods of instruction include lecture, discussion, videotapes, slides and group activities as well as readings.

News Photography emphasizes communication through photographs. This course presents the practices and problems of photography for news publications. We will focus on taking, editing, printing and/or preparing still photographs for media use. Students will cover campus and off-campus events for the college newspaper, The Ranger. We have entered the digital age, all work will be shot and produced digitally. However, it is not necessary to own a digital camera to take this class.

Tests and Grading:
Attendance & class participation 5%
Quizzes & examinations 5%
Oral and Written Report 10%
Weekly exercises 15%
Portfolio 5%
Photo Story 10%
Ranger photo assignments 50%
You will be expected to publish a minimum of 10 photos in The Ranger. You will receive weekly grades for Ranger photo assignments. Missing a deadline will constitute a failing grade for that week's work. More details of gradings from Ranger will be discussed early in the class.

Methods of instruction include lecture, discussion, videotapes, slides and group activities as well as readings.

Your Ranger assignments will be evaluated and graded as follows:

Publishable quality 90 or above
Publishable with revision 80-89
Substantial revision needed 70-79
Marginal quality 60-69
Unacceptable 59 or below

Your weekly exercises will be evaluated with the following criteria:

1. Journalistic standard: storytelling value, caption and information gathering, capturing of appropriate moment, informational quality, news value, social significance and professional journalistic practice.
2. Aesthetic & Technical standard: Creativity, composition, lighting, graphics, motion, proper exposure, color correction, use of proper equipment.

A. College Requirements: A written, comprehensive final examination, not to exceed two and one-half hours in length, shall be given at the end of each semester for each course at the regularly scheduled time. Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the appropriate dean. Other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor.

A student who must be absent from a final examination should petition that instructor for permission to postpone the examination. A student absent without permission from a final examination is graded "F." Postponed examinations result in a grade of "I." The final exam must be taken within 120 calendar days from the end of the semester or the grade automatically becomes an "F." (San Antonio College Bulletin, Faculty Handbook - January 1995)

B. Departmental Requirement: A student wishing to withdraw from this class during the semester must process a formal withdrawal through the Office of Admissions and Records. Failure to withdraw formally will result in the assignment of a failing grade (F) for the  course.  You may drop by going to the Office of Admissions and Records, or you may send me an e-mail requesting that I drop you from the class. If you do the latter, please be sure to type your full name at the bottom of your request. You also may drop by Room 204-a of Loftin Student Center to pick up a drop slip.

The college bulletin allows absences for the equivalent of two weeks of class, but you will be dropped after that number. After the drop date, each absence over six will take three (3) points off your final grade.

C. Instructor Requirements:
Students should prepare to learn to use digital camera and digital photo processing equipments. Student should also prepare to learn basic interview and information gathering technique as well as communicate with people as a journalist. Students should also pay extra attention to what a deadline means to a news publication. VIII. College Policies:<p> A. San Antonio College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to access, employment programs or services.

B. Students are urged not to bring children to either a class or a lab. Minors under the age of twelve (12) must not be left unattended on campus. College Academic Council - April, 1998

C. ADA Statement: "As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if accommodation is needed contact the Office of DisABILITY Support Services, CAC 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

D. A Rapid Response Team exists for the purpose of responding to emergencies. If you have a disability that will require assistance in the event of a building evacuation, notify Disability Support Services, Chance Academic Center 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

E. Academic Dishonesty: Students may be subject to disciplinary proceedings resulting in an academic penalty or disciplinary penalty for academic dishonesty. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion. For additional information refer to the "Student Code of Conduct" in the San Antonio College Bulletin.

F. Students are required to silence all electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, etc.) when in classrooms, laboratories and the library. College Academic Council, 01/ 2000.

G. San Antonio College Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance at all classes and laboratories, day and/or evening, is required. A student absent for any reason is responsible for all work missed. Both tardiness and early departure from class are forms of absenteeism. The instructor establishes the policy with regard to each.

Absences of each student are recorded without exception. The counting of absences begins on the first day of class. A student absent the equivalent of two weeks of instruction in a 16-week semester may be dropped by the instructor. If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences, the instructor will record a grade of "W' (withdraw). It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the withdrawals have been submitted.

H. San Antonio College is a smoke free campus.

I. ACCD DPS Emergency Phone Numbers:

ACCD DPS Emergency Phone (210) 222-0911
ACCD DPS General Phone (210) 208-8099
ACCD DPS Weather Phone (210) 208-8189 (For information on college closures)