FALL 2025
On-Camera Field Reporting
Fall 2025 Schedule
On Camera Field Reporting will provide you with the opportunity to write, shoot and edit stories. You will also learn the art of live shots, interviewing techniques, story element selection and other aspects of television news. This is a hands-on, team-oriented course as you will be working in teams when you are out in the real world.
Deadlines:
If your work is late, 15 points will be taken off of the top of the grade. 5 points off a week that it’s late thereafter. Meeting deadlines is a fact of life in broadcast news. Please take this seriously. More than one person will normally be counting on you to perform at the highest level of expectation and professionalism.
Attendance
This is a participation course. Students are required to attend all classes. Attendance is 10% of your grade. Each missed class is 10 points off of your attendance grade.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in the grade of an “F.” You are not allowed to have people outside the class do any of the work on your stories. That includes shooting, editing and any other creative/editorial work. Plagiarism also includes turning in written assignments in which you represent someone else’s work as your own and/or do not properly source the material.
Evaluation and Grading
Laboratory assignments will be made throughout the semester which will implement the practices learned in class. Grades will be based on packages, other writing and video assignments, in class activities and short pop quizzes on current events. Grades will be divided as follows:
Packages: (reporting, video, editing) 40%
Live Shots 30%
Attendance 10%
Portfolio Website/Final 20%
Late pitches = 15 points off package grade
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Stories that are pitched late will result in 15 points off your final package
Late Packages will get 15 points off- NO EXCEPTIONS
GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER TRACK
Package #1 Rowan Related Story - TRT 1:10-1:20
Package #2 Enterprise a story related to Medicine or Sports TRT: 1:30
Package #3 Enterprise a story related to Food or Politics TRT: 1:30
Package #4 Enterprise a story related to Technology or Housing TRT: 1:30
SPORTS TRACK
Package #1 Rowan Related Sports Story - TRT 1:10-1:20
Package #2 Enterprise a Sports Story related to how sports has impacted a community 1:30
Package #3 Enterprise a story related to Sports & Human Interest and TRT: 1:30
Package #4 Enterprise a story related to Sports & Technology TRT: 1:30
ABOUT YOUR PITCHES: All story pitches will be presented by you verbally in class. You should be prepared to answer questions your topic, your angle, share potential interviewees and potential visuals. This is a story that will be shown in the NJ/Philadelphia market so you must justify why viewers would care to watch this story. Is it timely? Relevant? Does is have great visuals?
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September 4
Syllabus Review
Make-Up Review - Click here for make-up purchase information (Links to an external site.)
LIVE SHOTS:
How to Create and Perform Your Live Shot
Live Shot Grade Sheet Here (Links to an external site.)
September 11
Your Make-Up Purchases
The Live Shot ( Your First Live shot is September 25th
Using Your Camera to shoot
Writing A Package
Rules & Formatting
USING PHONES WE ARE LEARNING:
Rule of Thirds
Gathering B-Roll
How to Create Your Track: Separating Your Voice from the Video
The Art of the Stand Up
Jump Cuts
Lower Thirds
Tracking/Marking your script
Covering Track
Shooting Techniques
Sequencing
Shooting B-Roll
September 18
Pitch Package #2 Via email
PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK'S IN-STUDIO APPEARANCES AT BOZORTH HALL
Two of you will be assigned one topic to cover as a reporter. You should both research this topic in depth. You are both reporters on the story and as reporters often do, You will make two live appearances:
1. The two of you will apper on set and cover the story in the studio. I will ask you the questions. This segment has a TRT of 5:00.
2. On your own, you will also do a live shot on the same topic on the same day. RT: 1:00
September 25
Show Me Your Make-Up Purchases
MEET INSIDE THE TV STUDIO IN BOZORTH HALL
AGAIN, TODAY, YOU ARE MAKING TWO LIVE APPEARANCES:
1. PERFORM IN STUDIO/ON SET INTERVIEWS YOU ARE THE INTERVIEWEE/REPORTER COVERING A STORY.
TRT: 5:00
Practice Editing
Prepare for Rowan Package #1 due next week
TRT 1:00 on the Rowan Shooting
October 2
Due at the End of Class
In the Field- You will remain with your partners from last week's on-set interviews.
You will work with your partner and do a
Rowan Package package on your Phone
TRT 1:00 on the Rowan Shooting
October 9
View Packages
View In Studio Work
Review Scripts for Voice Performance
Prepare for Next Week's Live shot
Guest Speaker
PORTFOLIOS
Use this class to edit if needed and send phone Package #1 Due: Send Via Email
Perform VO/SOT
Review Reels from Previous Students
Review Portfolio Formats/Portfolio Creation
Begin Creating Your Portfolio on Wix.com
Guest Speaker
October 16
October 23
Portfolio Building
Camera Checkout
October 30
MOS Package
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Today you will go out to get short soundbites
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When you return to class, Back in class, cut 4 MOS's together and deliver a live intro/outro as if you are tossing to a package.
November 6
Explainer Segment with Visuals
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Create a 2-minute “explainer” on a trending issue
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Incorporate on-screen graphics, social media clips, data charts.
November 13
Due Package #3
Review Packages
PERFORM TWO LIVE SHOTS:
1. One Student Center Live Shot (includes interview with student)
2. One Live shot where you are giving the story on camera - TRT: 1:00
November 20
Anchoring Clinic
Due Package #4
PREPARE FOR STUDENT CENTER LIVE SHOTS ON DECEMBER 7
Guest Speaker: Producer
Review Portfolio Contents: This review will take 15 minutes.
The link to your portfolio is due December 20 at midnight.
This portfolio link will include your resume reel.
The general contents or a resume reel are as follows but we will review:
:05 of your name and contact info.
3 Stand ups
2 Packages
Live shots/Anchoring if you have it
:05 of your name and contact info.
November 27
Thanksgiving
December 4
Student Center Live Shots- Interview A Student
I will send your topic at 3pm
We will then go to the student center where you are responsible for finding someone to interview about the assigned story. (In the past, we have covered college related topics including health & the Freshman Fifteen and using Adderall as a study aid).
WHAT MUST I DO TO PREPARE FOR MY LIVE SHOT?
You must DO the following:
1. Create 3-4 questions for your interviewee
2. Select a random interviewee at the Student Center
3. Prepare your guest. They will have questions. Let them know you will ask them questions as well as how long the interview will be. Make sure to tell them to NOT answer questions with :55 answers! This is a conversation.
HOW SHOULD I BREAK UP MY TIME FOR THIS LIVE SHOT?
I will throw to you with an Anchor Lead that I write:
Set up the story & Guest (include guests name) :10
Interview Guest: 2:00
Wrap/Throw back to desk:10 - No you don't need to use the regular Tag out. Simply wrap up and throw back to the desk.
SEE EXAMPLES
See the type of live shots you will be performing below:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/125042609
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/243121018
December 11
Due: Portfolio Link
The portfolio link should include the resume Reel Created in this class
The Resume Reel is built as follows
:05 Nameplate
3-5 Stand Ups
2-3 packages
Anchoring/Live Shots/Other On Air Performances
:05 Nameplate
ROWAN UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC POLICIES:
Students are expected to read and abide by all University policies, including:
Student Conduct
https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Student+Code+of+Conduct
Attendance Policy
https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Attendance+Policy
Academic Integrity https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Academic+Integrity+Policy
Classroom Behavior https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Classroom+Behavior
Mobile Electronic Device Usage https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Mobile+Electronic+Device+Policy
All policies are outlined in the University Policies website
https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Home
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION:
Rowan affords equal opportunity to all and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected class in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies and practices.
ACCOMMODATION POLICY:
Your academic success is important. If you have a documented disability that may have an impact upon your work in this class, please contact me at the beginning of the semester. Students must provide documentation of their disability to the Academic Success Center in order to receive official University services and accommodations. The Academic Success Center can be reached at 856-256-4234. The Center is located on the 3rd floor of Savitz Hall. The staff is available to answer questions regarding accommodations or assist you in your pursuit of accommodations.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY:
The University has made it a practice to hold classes during inclement weather whenever possible. As the Attendance Policy states, it is the student's decision, based on his or her assessment of the situation, whether or not to attend class. Students will not be penalized for missing classes because of inclement weather; however, they must contact their professors prior to class and make up any work assigned.
JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT CODE OF CONDUCT:
The Department of Journalism Code of Conduct was created to serve as a practical guide for students as they advance in their academic careers. These policies are meant to encourage students to meet the high standards in the news industry and earn the privilege of becoming a journalist with ethical standards. It is a compliment to Rowan University’s Academic Integrity Policy, which students are required to read and follow.
Journalism is by its nature a public act. As stated in the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, journalists must recognize that the work of “gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort” to others and must do all they can to “minimize harm” and ensure their work is “accurate, fair and thorough.” Therefore, student journalists must always be clear, upfront and honest about who they are and what they are doing. They are expected to abide by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Students must take full responsibility for their conduct and work.
The policy below is not all-inclusive, but identifies situations that frequently arise among Journalism students.
Prohibited Conduct
Plagiarism is a serious offense. Do not use words, phrases, or ideas without proper attribution. This includes copying content from the Internet. When in doubt, ask if it is acceptable or see the Rowan University Student Information Guide http://libguides.rowan.edu/c.php?g=248143. Essentially, plagiarism means trying to pass someone else’s work off as your own. It does not necessarily mean copying an entire paper, although that would clearly be plagiarism.
For example, you plagiarize if you:
Use an interview someone else did or use a quote someone else obtained and don’t credit the source.
Cut and paste a variety of sources and cobble them together without proper citation and with no evident thought on your part as to the thrust of the piece.
Lift a segment verbatim without citation. A few words here or there are permissible – there are only so many ways to say “Edward R. Murrow died of lung cancer” – but you can’t drop in even a sentence of somebody else’s work verbatim into your piece if you don’t credit it. Just listing the title of a source in a bibliography is not sufficient. You must be very clear about the source of words that are not yours, put quotes around verbatim usage, and cite the source in the text of your paper or article. Remember, if you take a direct quote from another source, word-for-word, you must not only cite but you must put it in quotation marks. Failing to put quotation marks around something you have appropriated is a serious issue and could result in lowering of your grade or a formal referral for academic discipline.
Use facts and figures that are not common knowledge without citing the source, creating the impression you gathered the information yourself.
Use your own work from another context without citing that it was used previously. If you are researching or reporting on a topic that you have written on before, you must clear it with the professor before hand.
In addition, under the Journalism Department’s Code of Conduct, students may not:
Fabricate – Deliberately invent or alter information with the intent to deceive.
Cheat – Misrepresent one’s mastery of material on an academic exercise or help someone else do so.
Misrepresent oneself or work.
Submit late work without penalty.
Use others’ words or media without proper attribution and copyright permission; it is always best to use third-party content that is licensed under Creative Commons.
Use friends or relatives as sources for stories.
Submit work, in part or in full, from another class.
Pitch same story or assignment in multiple classes.
Conduct interviews via email without prior approval from instructor.
Submit assignments in alternate form than required (i.e. via email when required to submit in person).
Act unprofessionally to the instructor or other students in the classroom.
Habitually leave class early or arrive late.
Repeatedly fail to participate in class.
Use cell phones or electronic devices in class for non-class activity.
Consequences for Violations of Journalism Department Code of Conduct
Instructors will use their discretion to ensure that these policies are met. The consequences for violating the Code of Conduct will be based on the seriousness of the offense and be determined by the instructor, and when necessary, in consultation with the chair of the department.
For serious violations (i.e., plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, lying), students may:
Fail the course.
Have the incident reported to Academic Integrity Review Board for further disciplinary action.
For major violations, (i.e., violating copyright, improper sourcing, submitting work from another class), students may:
Receive no credit for the assignment.
Be required to attend a workshop on academic integrity.
Have incident reported to Provost’s office.
For significant violations (i.e., submitting late work, failure to attribute facts, using friends or family as sources), students may:
Lose points or fail an assignment.
For minor violations, (i.e., using cell phone in class, failing to participate, or repeatedly arriving late) students may:
Be asked to leave classroom.
Lose points for participation/attendance.
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