Dave Blumenkrantz: Photojournalism, Documentary, and Visual Communications Studies . . .

What is Photojournalism?

JOURNALISM 2.0
(download PDF and read chapter 8, on digital photography)

ASSIGNMENTS
ASSIGNMENT 1: RANDOM REFLECTIONS
ASSIGNMENT 2: GENERAL/SPOT NEWS
ASSIGNMENT 3: WILD ART/FEATURES
ASSIGNMENT 4: ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT
FINAL ASSIGNMENT: THE PHOTO STORY
BOOK CRITIQUE: "TRUTH NEEDS NO ALLY"
SPORTS (extra credit)

POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS
Angles & Lenses
Composition
Cropping & Caption writing
Depth of Field
History of Photojournalism
Ethical Issues in Photojournalism
Law & Ethics
Lighting
The Environmental Portrait
The Photo Story
Documentary History & Philosophy
Richard Avedon's "In The American West"

NOTES
Caption writing (pdf)
Caption writing II
Composition
Editing & Cropping
DIGITAL DARKROOM: How to file and submit work

LINKS

AIDS IN AFRICA
(photo gallery with audio by Carolyn Cole, L.A. Times)

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials
http://www.good-tutorials.com/

Magnum Photos
http://www.magnumphotos.com/c/Home_MAG.aspx

National Press Photographers Association
http://www.nppa.org/

California Press Photographers Association
http://cppaonline.org/

Press Photographers' Association of Greater
Los Angeles
http://www.ppagla.org/

NEWSEUM: The Interactive Museum of News
http://www.newseum.org/

PoynterOnline: Photojournalism
http://www.poynter.org/subject.asp?id=29

American Photography: A Century of Images http://www.pbs.org/ktca/americanphotography/

ORGANIZATIONAL NOTES

Since this class only meets once per week, it is imperative that you attend class as often as possible. Remember, missing one class in this format is the same as missing an entire week of instruction in a daily class. Three points are subtracted from point total for each absence, one point for each late arrival.
All finished assignments must be submitted for class critique in jpeg format, transferred to instructor’s laptop with your USB mini-drive at the beginning of class. Certain assignments will require the use of PowerPoint presentations.
This is a laboratory class. Although you will not be expected to adhere to a formal lab schedule, you should treat each assignment as if it came from a publication, and remember that you have a deadline to meet.The work can be completed at your discretion, though you are advised not to leave your lab work until the last minute. Lab hours for independent work will be posted.
Although there are lab techs to assist you in the computer labs and darkroom, all students are expected to clean up after themselves. Common courtesy is expected, and appreciated. Failure to leave the workspaces in good working condition for others may result in a lowering of your grade.
If you are shooting film, a 35mm manual camera with interchangeable lenses is required. “Point-and-shoot,” auto-focus digital cameras are not preferable, will be permitted. Your lab fees go toward hiring lab techs, but you may incur additional expenses for film, paper and other incidentals.
MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS
As the semester progresses, your skills should improve, and you might want to re-shoot an assignment for a new grade. Simply turn in the new assignment, along with the original for a re-evaluation. Assignments that were initially turned in late can be re-shot, but any penalties (lowering of grade) still stand.

EXTRA CREDIT
OPTION 1: Shooting an assignment for the Daily Sundial or El Nuevo Sol earns 5 points. Must be published. Maximum of two (10 pts)

OPTION 2: SPORTS (download details)
Submit two action photos and one portrait of an athlete. (Maximum 10pts)

FINAL GRADE BREAKDOWN
A 93-100 A- 90-92
B+ 88-89 B 83-87 B- 80-82
C+ 78-79 C 73-77 C- 70-72
D+ 68-69 D 63-67 D- 60-62

PREREQUISITE
Students must earn a `C' or better in this class in order to enroll in J450. A `C-' does not count as a `C.'

PLAGIARISM: DEPT. OF JOURNALISM STATEMENT
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated, and anyone caught cheating will be reported to the dean of students and will receive a failing grade in the course. For a further explanation of disciplinary procedures, consult pages 522-524 of the 2002-2004 CSUN catalog. Please also remember that much of the information posted on the Internet is protected by U.S. copyright laws. Passing this information off as your own is a violation of CSUN's plagiarism policy, and carries the penalties outlined above.

JOUR. DEPT. POLICY STATEMENT ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Students in this course are strongly encouraged to broaden their journalistic experiences, with the instructor's help, by including in their work people and subjects such as ethnic, racial and religious minorities; the elderly, disabled and poor; gay men and lesbians; and other similar groups. The intent is to ensure that student work reflects the diversity of the community.