Weekly Overview

Syllabus

Assignments and projects:

Weekly: Each week, there will be assigned reading and each student will be assigned a specific piece. A structured critique is due before class the following week. The parameters and format for this assignment will vary each week, so please listen closely in class and consult the class page for details.

Projects: There will be two major projects, both will require you to pitch a story, report it out and design a compelling, digital presentation that integrates multiple storytelling mediums. The midterm project will be a joint effort (teams will be assigned) and the final will be an individual project. The exact details will be shared later.

Your professor:

Tyson Evans is a senior editor for Opinion product and strategy at The New York Times. He previously worked on the newsroom strategy team and The Times’s interactive news desk. He has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and the d.school at Stanford University; and serves on the board of the Society for News Design.

Office hours:

It’s best to contact me via email to arrange for an in-person meeting. I will do my best to respond quickly but it may not happen immediately.

We’re in this together:

This is a brand-new course, in a relatively new program (at a school that literally has “New” in its name!), so: Things might change in-flight and there could be some turbulence as we reach our cruising altitude. Don’t be shy if you think things are moving too quickly, too slowly or we’ve steered off course.

Expectations:

• We’re covering a lot of ground in this course. You are not expected to master every technique we cover, but I do expect you to refine the skills you already have and stretch yourself to learn a few new approaches.
• Bring your laptop and be sure to secure any gear or software you need ahead of time. Don’t work on personal projects, social media or non-class work while in this class.
• This course will not dive deep into technical training so you will need to rely on resources like Coursera, Skillshare, Treehouse, Lynda, Codecademy or many other books, virtual and in-person venues to master specific software or coding basics.
• You are creating journalism in this class. Accuracy is essential. Don’t fake quotes, misattribute information, otherwise make up details or plagiarize under any circumstances.

Reading & Resources:

There are no textbooks for this course — specific readings will be assigned each week. However, there a handful of foundational books and resources that I would recommend — at least spend time browsing them at the library:

• Feature and Narrative Storytelling for Multimedia Journalists by Duy Linh Tu
• Designing News by Francesco Franchi
• Designing the Editorial Experience by Juliette Cezzar and Sue Apfelbaum
• News Reporting and Writing
• API: Journalism Essentials

Grading criteria:

• Weekly assignments and exercises (20%)
• Midterm project (20%)
• Final project (40%)
• Attendance and participation (20%)

If your expectation is to receive an A grade, please contact the professor to confirm expectations throughout the semester to avoid any surprises.

New School Policies

Attendance

The Journalism + Design program has rules that are more strict than the University. Three absences = failure.

The attendance and lateness policies are enforced as of the first day of classes for all registered students. If registered during the first week of the add/drop period, the student is responsible for any missed assignments and coursework.

For significant lateness, the instructor may consider the tardiness as an absence for the day. Students failing a course due to attendance should consult with an academic advisor to discuss options. Divisional and/or departmental/program policies serve as minimal guidelines, but policies may contain additional elements determined by the faculty member.

Responsibility

Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent. Late papers, failure to complete the readings assigned for class discussion, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions and presentations will jeopardize your successful completion of this course.

Participation

Participation is an essential part of class and includes: keeping up with reading, contributing meaningfully to class discussions, active participation in group work, and coming to class regularly and on time.

Canvas

Use of Canvas may be an important resource for this class. Students should check it for announcements before coming to class each week.

Delays

In rare instances, I may be delayed arriving to class. If I have not arrived by the time class is scheduled to start, you must wait a minimum of thirty minutes for my arrival. In the event that I will miss class entirely, a sign will be posted at the classroom indicating your assignment for the next class meeting.

Resources

The university provides many resources to help students achieve academic and artistic excellence. These resources include:

• The University (and associated) Libraries
• The University Learning Center
• University Disabilities Service

In keeping with the university’s policy of providing equal access for students with disabilities, any student with a disability who needs academic accommodations is welcome to meet with me privately. All conversations will be kept confidential. Students requesting any accommodations will also need to contact Student Disability Service (SDS). SDS will conduct an intake and, if appropriate, the Director will provide an academic accommodation notification letter for you to bring to me. At that point, I will review the letter with you and discuss these accommodations in relation to this course.

Academic Honesty and Integrity

Compromising your academic integrity may lead to serious consequences, including (but not limited to) one or more of the following: failure of the assignment, failure of the course, academic warning, disciplinary probation, suspension from the university, or dismissal from the university.

Students are responsible for understanding the University’s policy on academic honesty and integrity and must make use of proper citations of sources for writing papers, creating, presenting, and performing their work, taking examinations, and doing research. It is the responsibility of students to learn the procedures specific to their discipline for correctly and appropriately differentiating their own work from that of others. The full text of the policy, including adjudication procedures, is found at http://www.newschool.edu/provost/academic-honesty-and-integrity-policy.pdf

Resources regarding what plagiarism is and how to avoid it can be found on the Learning Center’s website.

Guidelines for Assignments

Work from other visual sources may be imitated or incorporated into studio work if the fact of imitation or incorporation and the identity of the original source are properly acknowledged. There must be no intent to deceive; the work must make clear that it emulates or comments on the source as a source. Referencing a style or concept in otherwise original work does not constitute plagiarism. The originality of studio work that presents itself as “in the manner of” or as playing with “variations on” a particular source should be evaluated by the individual faculty member in the context of a critique.

Incorporating ready-made materials into studio work as in a collage, synthesized photograph or paste-up is not plagiarism in the educational context. In the commercial world, however, such appropriation is prohibited by copyright laws and may result in legal consequences. Intellectual Property Rights