THE END OF THE DIAL

Date/Time TBD, Room ???

Professor Derek L. John
Office hours: TBD, Room ???
HYPERLINK "mailto:derekljohn@gmail.com" derekljohn@gmail.com
917-865-1724
Course Description
As the opportunities for quality journalism continue to dwindle, budding reporters will need
every tool at their disposal to find meaningful work. THE END OF THE DIAL offers a solid
introduction to several of these tools with an eye (and ear) toward complementing traditional
coursework. As youll discover, sound has limitless opportunities for storytelling. Its one of
the most compelling media for conveying information and analysis with nuance and intimacy
the theater of the mind, as the hoary-but-true old saying goes. Furthermore, as the
audiences for old media organs and programs shrink, radio that is, public radio, with its 32
million listeners thrives and grows. Few media outlets prize in-depth news and cultural
coverage as much as NPR and PRI. Fewer still have set aside so much airtime for
freelancers.
And then theres the web: while the digital age is rendering much of old media obsolete, they
arent necessarily mutually exclusive. Its no accident that The New York Times Multimedia
division was recently honored with a Peabody Award. The podcasting boom has only just
begun and for innovative creators of audio content, the new technologies represent nothing
but opportunity. In short, audio storytelling is a valuable skill in a media landscape that
increasingly favors backpack journalism.
Students will come to understand the differences and similarities between creating journalism
to be heard and to be read. Youll learn how to interview and gather sound, and write, edit
and produce your own stories and commentaries for radio and podcast. Youll learn how to
write for the ear, and create narrative arcs and effective pacing. Youll learn how to use
sound to help set scenes and tell a story. Youll learn how to ask good questions and pick
good tape. Youll learn about sound design that is, how to use music, ambient sound, and
archival clips to enrich your pieces. You will discover that the properties of good radio can do
wonders for your writing. Even as we learn industry conventions we'll be testing and
questioning them, examining their rapid evolution as journalism moves in new directions.
In addition to guest lectures from luminaries in the field, the course will culminate with a
visually enhanced collaboration with WNYC Radios digital team. Weekly classes are split into
two sections, with one period devoted to more intensive technical instruction. The idea is to
let students reap the advantage of extra in-class editing and mix work to get the most out of
their assignments. You will also be expected to use the schools resources (Edirol recorders &
Pro Tools editing software) to work on your pieces outside of class.
Readings
John Biewen, Reality Radio
Jonathan Kern, Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production
Edward R Murrow, This is London (Witnesses to War)
Walter Murch, In the Blink of an Eye
Other photocopied readings to be assigned throughout the semester along with lots of
listening.
Assignments
Beyond the readings, each student will be expected to select a meaningful excerpt of radio
or audio documentary for in-class discussion over the course of the semester. You will have
four main assignments during the duration of the course, the final assignment being a radio
feature written and narrated by you, incorporating multiple voices. Well begin the course
with a simple Cut & Copy report on a breaking news story. Second, a single-voice
commentary, written, voiced, and edited by you. Third, youll have two options for producing
a 3-4 minute non-narrated piece. Either a single-voiced piece in the format of an Aha
Moment, Studio 360s series on artistic inspiration. Or a classic NPR-style Audio Postcard
conveying a strong sense of place. The final feature project will be the most complex and
open-ended piece with room for experimentation and several rounds of revision. In
collaboration with WNYC Radios Digital team, students will create an online visual
component for Assignment 3 or 4.
1. Cut & Copy brief news spot with student reporter narrating around cut of tape; 1-2
minutes
2. Commentary - written and voiced by student; 3 minutes.
3. Non-narrated two options to choose from, both 3-4 minutes:
a) Aha Moment single-voice piece featuring story of artistic inspiration w/ rich sound
design.
b) Audio Postcard - a piece heavy on audio that uses vox & ambi to convey a sense of
place.
4. Narrative Feature - narrated with multiple voices, scene sound, & music scoring; 6-8
minutes.
All assignments must be submitted via MP3 and, if applicable, with a written script. You will
need a 4GB or higher SD card for the Edirol recording kit, and a USB thumb drive for in-class
playback.
Attendance and Grading
Full participation is expected in class, and attendance is crucial. (Youll be learning a lot in a
short period.) This is a workshop-style class, which requires in-class listening and critiquing of
your classmates work. More than two absences will not be allowed. If you miss class you
must notify me in advance, and you will still be responsible for completing all assignments.
When we have listening assignments, youll be expected to contribute to the discussion
during class. Participation will be a big part of your grade. What the grades mean:
A = Professional quality; ready to show to an editor
B = On the right track but still missing a fundamental element; needs additional work
C and below = A serious liability stands between you and a broadcast-ready story; fixing will
require a shift in approach or concept
You must file by deadline! Plagiarize or fabricate anything and you not only fail the class, but
you will be subject to department sanctions that can include expulsion.
Syllabus
WEEK 1: From Griot to Murrow
-the singular power of aural storytelling
-why radio, why now? class overview
-listen to classic broadcasts from Murrow to Limbaugh to This American Life
-tech: Edirol recording equipment intro
-students interview each other for 5 minutes
-assignment: Gather tape for Name that Sound exercise
WEEK 2: Tale of the Tape
-what is sexy tape, how do you collect it?
-Name that Sound exercise
-Introduction to deadline news reporting & brainstorm Cut & Copy ideas
-tech: ProTools intro: file management, creating sessions, tracks, etc; start basic editing
-assignment: Cut & Copy first draft
WEEK 3: Cut & Copy
-playback/critique Cut & Copy
-discuss writing for the ear
-pitch Commentary ideas
-tech: more Pro Tools practice
-assignment: Commentary 1
st
drafts
WEEK 4: Commentary
-edit Commentary scripts; read to each other
-voicing exercise: how to read, how to take direction
-tech: In-studio voice-over recording
-record Commentaries, start editing on ProTools
-assignment: complete Commentary edit; pitch ideas for non-narrated piece
WEEK 5: Show Dont Tell
-playback/critique Commentaries
-intro to non-narrated stories
-interviewing techniques
-tech: advanced instruction in field recording
-how to post-produce a 2-way interview: editing for content and sound; listen to examples
-assignment: conduct interviews for non-narrated piece by next class
WEEK 6: Recording Non-narrated
-listen, critique non-narrated pieces
-how to produce a Studio 360-style Aha Moment or NPR Audio Postcard
-introduction to sound design
-guest: veteran producer & sound artist Pejk Malinovski
-assignment: Non-narrated mix due by next week
WEEK 7: Editing Non-narrated
-start logging, editing tape, bring ideas for sound design
-first rough mixes of non-narrated piece, in-class help w/ editing & mixing
-tech: advanced instruction in Pro Tools
-assignment: pitch final feature project ideas
WEEK 8: Sweetening the Mix
-playback/critique of non-narrated pieces
-fine-tuning your sound design
-finessing fades, effective pacing, and scoring with music
-assignment: begin work on final project, Murch reading TBD
WEEK 9: Walter Murch & The Conversation
-watch excerpt of Murchs The Conversation & discuss film vs. sound narrative
-pitch stories for final project (mock editorial meeting) and refine ideas before green light
-discuss NYTs One in 8 Million multimedia series
-guest: New York Times Multimedia guru Sarah Kramer
-assignment: first paper draft due
WEEK 10: Feature workshop 1
-what makes a good radio story arc, characters, driven by a question
-work on feature project recording, logging and editing interviews
-assignment: second paper draft due
WEEK 11: Feature workshop 2
-first draft scripts due; first edits in class
-work on feature project refining script, crafting narrative
-start recording voiceovers
-assignment: first mix due
WEEK 12: Feature workshop 3 & WNYC
-first mix due
-field trip to WNYC to meet Digital team
-real world practical applications for new radio skills
-preview of visually enhanced audio content for WNYC website
-guest: WNYC Culture Editor Allison Lichter heads up the new digital web portal
-assignment: final mix due
[Thanksgiving NO CLASS]
WEEK 13: Audio/Visual Club
-first solid mixes of final projects due listen and work on revisions
-how to create an audio slideshow -- introduction to Soundslides, iMovie, etc.
-how can visuals enhance audio storytelling? How can it be limiting?
-assignment: final piece w/ visuals due
WEEK 14: The End of the Dial
-class listen and critiques of final projects
-radio beyond the transmitter
-going from print to audio and back again
-how to freelance public radio, launch your own podcast, or enhance your print pieces
-guest: NPR Correspondent Mike Pesca
[Syllabus subject to change; check your email for changes to the schedule and/or
assignments.]
References
These suggested websites are not required, but you will find them very helpful.
Transom: A Showcase and Workshop for New Public Radio.
A great site for technical and reporting tips, with sample work from people new to the medium.
HYPERLINK "http://transom.org" http://transom.org
PRX: Public Radio Exchange
An online repository for audio content from independent producers, production companies
and public radio stations. Sign up for a free listener account and gain access to thousands
of stories.
HYPERLINK "http://prx.org" http://prx.org
Third Coast International Audio Festival
HYPERLINK "http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org" http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/
Association of Independents in Radio (see Radio College section)
HYPERLINK "http://airmedia.org" http://airmedia.org
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