Syllabus                                                                                              Independent Study    

COMM 4481                                                                      Advanced Radio Production

                                               

Instructor of Record:  Dr. Glenn Novak, Department of Mass Communications/Theatre

Office:  HU 218

Email:  gnovak@westga.edu

Instructor's office hours:  T, Th 1:00-2:00 pm and 4:45-5:45 pm

Phone:  (770) 836-6621

 

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:  To provide students with opportunities to do advanced work in radio production, using both specified assignments and one open assignment selected by the student based on interests.  Students will be involved in planning, writing, interviewing, editing, mixing, and dubbing.  The course learning outcomes support the degree program learning outcome #4:  Students will develop proficient use of technology to produce visual and audio messages for mass media within varying aesthetic, stylistic, technical, ethical, and legal consideration.

 

Pre-requisites:  COMM major, Jr. or Sr. standing, consent of instructor, COMM 3351 with grade of A or B.

 

Credit hours:  3.0

 

Projects, Grading percentages, and due dates:

 

1.  Computer-assisted editing project    20%       due:  Jan. 22nd

2.  Musical Commentary and excerpt    20%       due:  Feb. 12th

3.  Interview                                           20%       due:  March 4th

4.  Air Check Tape                                  20%       due:   March 25th

5.  Open Project (your choice)               20%       due:  April 15th

 

Letter grades will be awarded for each project.  No scripts are necessary to submit with the projects.  Turn in projects on standard audiocassette, CD-R, or 100 MB ZIP.  Late projects will be penalized.  You may use our radio lab in HU 132.

 

Details:

 

  1. Computer-assisted editing project:  Use Cool Edit Pro to perform the specified edits on the tape editing exercise which is found on audiocassette in HU 132 lab.  Dub the exercise from cassette tape onto the computer, edit on the computer, and dub the finished product onto CD or ZIP or another cassette, your choice.  Remember that our hard drive has very limited space, so you may wish to do one part at a time, then dub, then erase, before moving on.
  2. Musical Commentary and excerpt:  Select a piece of music that you enjoy.  It can be classical, jazz, rock, religious, folk, country, hip hop, oldies, blues, etc.  You will introduce the music by giving interesting and relevant background on it and talk for 2 minutes, then bring the music in for the remaining 3 minutes.  The piece will total 5 minutes.  Discuss the composer or artist.  Make it memorable.

3.      Interview:  Find an interesting person on or off this campus and interview him or her.  The interview must be 10 minutes long.  Format will be your question and their answer.  There is no need to edit this or mix music under unless you want to.  Be sure to call ahead to set up an appointment and schedule a time.  Have your questions prepared and bring a portable tape recorder.  You may use your own or check one out from HU 139.  Be sure you have good batteries and make a test first.  Check your test tape for good levels before you waste a lot of time interviewing someone.  The external microphone is highly recommended.

4.      Air Check Tape:  You will produce a five (5) minute air check tape.  You will be the announcer or DJ and show your ability to go into and out of program segments smoothly and professionally.  A script is not necessary, only the tape or CD, cued up, with your name on the label.  It will receive a letter grade and will be penalized if it is more than 15 seconds short or long of the five minutes prescribed.  Your project will include these items in the following order and will feature your voice doing all of the announcing.

 

1.      You introduce yourself by name, station ID, time, and intro a piece by Wagner

2.      Play only 20 seconds of the piece and fade down

3.      Read a 30 second PSA that you write yourself

4.      Intro a piece of music by Vivaldi and give us some background on it

5.      Play only 30 seconds of the piece and fade down

6.      Promote an upcoming event at UWG, name, where, when, etc.

7.      Read a legal station ID

8.      Read a short weather report and crack a joke

9.      Play a piece of music by Mozart

10.  Pot music down and sign off over the music, watch your levels

Note:  You may substitute music by other composers for the ones listed above. 

 

  1. Project of your choice:  Pick your own project for this last one.  It must be 5-10 minutes in length.  It may be radio news with actuality, radio drama or scene, radio comedy, commercials, a lesson, think piece, etc.

 

Questions or Confusion:

Feel free to consult with Dr. Novak in HU 218 during office hours if you are having any problems or are confused about these assignments or how they are to be graded.  He will be glad to help you to understand any of these requirements or expectations.  He will be happy to evaluate any work in progress if you wish to bring it in to him before it is due.  He will assist you with the production facilities in HU 132 if you need help.

 

Incompletes, Drops, and Withdrawals:

A grade of Incomplete will not be given in this course except in extreme cases involving prolonged and documented illness or emergency.  The deadline to drop this class is January 8, 2004.  The last day to withdraw with automatic "W" is February 27, 2004.  Failure to drop or withdraw by these dates constitutes an explicit and unconditional acceptance of all terms on this syllabus.