Photojournalism

 Things to know about this course:

• Files, assignments, and deadlines are shared with students through Schoology. Even if you are absent, you should be able to get all the necessary information simply by logging in.

• At the beginning of this course, students will learn basic camera operation and composition. Canon digital cameras are available in the newsroom, and students may also use their own digital cameras (or phones, if we are allowed). Film will not be used. If you are looking to buy a camera, I recommend the Canon R50 or R100 kits, as they will work with all the lenses we have.

• This course requires some writing. Photos must be accompanied by journalistic captions. You will learn how to write these and practice throughout the year. Writing will be graded and must adhere to the standards of the Associated Press and the WHS publications. You’ll be expected to get your facts right, use proper punctuation and other conventions of standard English for the sake of clarity, and follow journalistic style. This is not negotiable. There will be a lot of feedback, and your job is to use that feedback constructively to get better at photography.

• Journalistic photos strive to tell the truth. There is very little creative license. This is journalism, and the most important qualities of journalism are truth, clarity, and accuracy. Photos will not be heavily edited or altered in any way that changes the meaning. The goal is to capture the existing moment, not create a new one. AI generative features are not to be used.

• Another thing you’ll hear a lot about in journalism is deadlines. It is a critical component of news coverage to get things in on time. Deadlines will be clear, reasonable, and announced well ahead of time. Your responsibility is to meet every deadline with a finished, high-quality product that demonstrates learning and represents your best effort.

• There will be a lot of sharing and discussion in this class. Your work will be critiqued. We will maintain a supportive and helpful atmosphere with the goal of all students improving their work. You will be expected to contribute meaningfully to the group.

• Social media matters. One assignment for this class will be to create and maintain a website featuring your photography. In addition to this practice, students are encouraged to maintain a  Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram account, etc. They should follow professional journalists as well as other students in order to stay informed and connected to the community. It is especially requested that students follow the Westwood Student Press and other relevant Westwood and Austin accounts. Activities on social media must be professional and appropriate. The purpose of this activity is to form and express one’s own informed opinions and to practice interacting appropriately in the context of news sharing.

• Students will cover WHS events as photographers. Events might include sports matches, concerts, performances, club activities, labs, or class presentations. Coverage will be in a variety of modes, such as still photography, video news, photo essays, and multimedia packages. These modes will be presented and discussed in class before students are required to use them. Sometimes a certain mode will be required; at other times the student will be free to choose the most appropriate way to present the story.

• Student work may occasionally be published in the Heritage, on WestwoodHorizon.com or on WestwoodDreamcatcher.com. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the adviser if they do not want their work published for any reason.

• For the video unit, some assignments are designed to be completed on a smartphone. If that device is not available, the student may make arrangements with the adviser to adapt the assignment for different equipment.

• Students will learn basic photo editing with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. All software will be provided at school; it is not necessary to purchase software or a subscription.

• Most assignments for this course will involve an online component–all assignments are made through the online learning management system (Google Classroom or Schoology), and most are submitted for grading there as well. Photos must also be uploaded to the shared drive used by Westwood Student Press. Therefore a computer and an internet connection at home will be very helpful. However, the newsroom will be open from 8-9 a.m. most mornings for computer use, and students may occasionally check out a laptop from the newsroom overnight if needed (see below). Some assignments can be completed on the student's district-issued Chromebook.

• Students are encouraged to bring their district-issued Chromebooks every day and use them. They may also onboard their personal devices (such as iPhones and laptops) to the school network.

• Occasionally students may check out equipment from the newsroom, such as cameras, tripods, or laptops. Students will fill out a form before taking equipment from the room and it is understood that any equipment checked out to the student is his/her financial responsibility until returned to the adviser. An inventory is kept of all equipment along with serial numbers and replacement costs.

• Enrollment in this course does not guarantee eventual placement in Advanced Journalism. However, hard work, a good attitude, and real effort at growing as a journalist have a lot of weight in the application process…so if you want to work for the yearbook or news staffs, work hard in the Photojournalism class.

• One of the most important contributors to success in journalism (and in this course) is clear communication–both in your journalistic work and also in your interactions with the teacher and your classmates. If you’re having trouble, ask for help! If you have a technical issue, let me know! If you need emotional support or understanding, come talk to me! We are a community of problem solvers, and we will help each other. You will be responsible for overcoming obstacles. You will learn that excuses are useless to the journalist–an excuse cannot be published in place of a photo.