Syllabus

ComJour 275: Introduction to Photojournalism
Fall 2020 • 3 credits
Virtual • MWF 9:10-10:00 a.m.

Instructor: Lisa Waananen Jones
Office: Murrow 209
Office Hours: Monday/Friday 10:00-11:00 a.m., and by appointment
Phone: 509-335-5229 (please email)
Email: lisalynn@wsu.edu

The WSU Provost’s office, in partnership with Faculty Senate and Student Affairs, is leading a Syllabus Project to clarify and standardize course syllabi. You can find out more about required and recommended syllabus information on the project site: syllabus.wsu.edu

Course Overview

This course examines the history and practice of photojournalism and its impact on society in the United States and worldwide. Students will learn about the evolving technology, styles and ethics of documentary photography and the role of visual storytelling in our understanding of news events. This is a hands-on, discussion-based seminar that requires students to experiment with technical skills and critically analyze how photographs are created and distributed.

“I know of nothing to equal the happy expectancy of finding something new, something unguessed in advance, something only you would find, because as well as being a photographer, you were a certain kind of human being, and you would react to something all others might walk by. Another photographer might make pictures just as fine, but they would be different. Only you would come with just that particular mental and emotional experience to perceive just the telling thing for that particular story, and capture it on a slice of film gelatin.”
— Margaret Bourke-White, Portrait of Myself

Materials & Resources
• Digital camera (smartphone or better)
• Digital storage device (such as USB drive) or cloud storage (such as Dropbox)
• Readings and materials provided in class (no cost)

Access to Adobe Creative Cloud software, particularly Photoshop and Lightroom, is recommended but not required in this course. If you are considering purchasing a subscription for other courses or personal use, know that there will be opportunities in this course to use and improve your photo editing skills.

Murrow College Course Learning Goals
The requirements of this course are directly related to the three Murrow College Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of communication concepts.
2. Acquire and analyze information per communication objectives.
3. Create communication products via multiple platforms.

Select University Policies

Copyright (2020) Lisa Waananen Jones
This syllabus and all course-related materials, presentations, lectures, etc. are my intellectual property and may be protected by copyright. Selling class notes through commercial note taking services, without my written advance permission, could be viewed as copyright infringement and/or an academic integrity violation, WAC 504-26-010 (3)(a,b,c,i). Further, the use of University electronic resources (e.g., Blackboard) for commercial purposes, including advertising to other students to buy notes, is a violation of WSU’s computer abuses and theft policy (WAC 504-26-218), a violation of WSU’s Electronic Communication policy (EP 4), and also violates the terms of use for the Blackboard software program.

COVID-19 Policy
Students are expected to abide by all current COVID-19 related university policies and public health directives, which could include wearing a cloth face covering, physically distancing, self-attestations, and sanitizing common use spaces. All current COVID-19 related university policies and public health directives are located at https://wsu.edu/covid-19/. Students who do not comply with these directives may be required to leave the classroom; in egregious or repetitive cases, students may be referred to the Center for Community Standards for university disciplinary action.

Discriminatory Conduct Statement
Discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct (including stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence) is prohibited at WSU (See WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment (Executive Policy 15) and WSU Standards of Conduct for Students).

If you feel you have experienced or have witnessed discriminatory conduct, you can contact the WSU Compliance & Civil Rights (CCR) and/or the WSU Title IX Coordinator at 509-335-8288 to discuss resources, including confidential resources, and reporting options. (Visit ccr.wsu.edu for more information).

Most WSU employees, including faculty, who have information regarding sexual harassment or sexual misconduct are required to report the information to CCR or a designated Title IX Coordinator or Liaison. (Visit ccr.wsu.edu/reporting-requirements for more info).

Academic Integrity Statement
Washington State University, a community dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, expects all Academic integrity will be strongly enforced in this course. Cheating is defined in the Standards for Student Conduct WAC 504-26-010(3). It is strongly recommended that you read and understand these definitions: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=504-26-010.

Violation of academic integrity on any assignment will involve (i) an academic penalty ranging from a minimum of both a zero on that assignment and the reduction of a full letter grade on your final grade to failure of the entire course, (ii) filing of case with the Office of Student Conduct, and per university regulations, (iii) inability to withdraw from the course. Instructors may consider mitigating circumstances and have some latitude in assigning sanctions. In addition, the Office of Student Standards and Accountability may impose other punishments, including expulsion from the university.

Some assignments in this course require students to follow professional standards for journalism ethics. Violating these standards (by fabricating sources, intentionally misidentifying sources, presenting staged photos as candid, etc.) is cheating and will be treated as an academic integrity violation.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please either visit or call the Access Center (Washington Building 217; 509-335-3417) to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. All accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center. Students may contact the Access Center and request accommodation at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not applied retroactively.

Campus and Classroom Safety Statement
Please sign up for emergency alerts on your account at MyWSU. For more information on this subject, campus safety, and related topics, please view the FBI’s Run, Hide, Fight video and visit the classroom safety page https://provost.wsu.edu/classroom-safety/.

Lauren’s Promise

The Associated Students of Washington State University recommended last year that this statement be included in course syllabi. I’m including it because I support the intention and will adhere to it: I will listen and believe you if someone is threatening you.

Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old honors student athlete, was murdered on Oct. 22, 2018, on the University of Utah campus by a man she briefly dated. We must all take actions to ensure that this never happens again.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you are experiencing sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking, please report it to me and I will connect you to resources or call Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse at 877-334-2887 (24-hour crisis hotline). Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse services are free, immediate, and confidential.

Other confidential resources include WSU Counseling and Psychological Services: 509-335-2159 (crisis services line)

Religious Holidays (Rule 82)
Religious observances do not always conform to state and university holidays. When tests or exams fall on days objectionable to a student because of religious beliefs, the student shall provide the instructor written notice 14 calendar days prior to the holiday.

Retaking Courses (Rule 34a)
Students may only repeat a course graded C- or below one time at WSU during fall or spring semesters. Additional repeats are allowed from another institution or at WSU during summer terms or by special permission of the academic unit offering the course.

Academic Complaint Procedures (Rule 104)
A student having complaints about instruction or grading should attempt to resolve those issues directly with the instructor. If that fails, Academic Rule 104 outlines additional steps to resolve complaints.

Expected Time Commitment
The minimum time commitment per credit hour is 45 hours, as defined in WSU’s Academic Regulations, Rule 27. This means a 3-credit course requires at least 135 hours of student work, including lectures, labs and other course activities, which breaks down to roughly 9 hours each week. Actual time will vary by week and personal skill level.

Select College & Course Policies

University Communication with Students
All official WSU email communication must be sent to students’ WSU email address. Absolutely no communication will be sent to external addresses (e.g., Yahoo, Gmail, and so forth). It is the student’s responsibility to check WSU email at least daily and contact CougTech to promptly resolve any email account issues.

Late/Missed Work
Completing work by the deadline demonstrates respect for your peers and colleagues, and helps you develop professional time management skills. In this course, failure to meet a deadline will lead to a lower grade, and may lead to failing the assignment. The standard penalty for late work is a 20 percent deduction per day up to two days past the deadline (20% deduction for one day late, 40% deduction for two days late). Weekly assignments more than two days late may be submitted through the Friday of Week 16 (Finals Week) for up to 50% of the assignment value. This is not a passing grade, but it is a way to earn some points for completing the work. Completing an assignment late is always better than not completing it.

Penalties may occasionally be adjusted at the instructor’s discretion for unforeseeable extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Deadlines are not flexible except in the case of documented family or personal emergency discussed with the course instructor before the deadline.

Class Participation & Absences
This class meets regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays for virtual, synchronous meetings at the designated class time. Monday meetings are optional. Your participation is expected and essential for this course. Most class meetings will involve group activities and discussions. Your presence is valuable for your own learning outcomes and for your peers, who benefit from your perspective.

Students should miss no more than 9 class meetings (the equivalent of three weeks of the semester) to successfully meet the goals of the course. Meeting notes are posted on the course website and recordings may be available. Students who miss class meetings are responsible for making use of these resources and contacting the instructor with any questions about missed content.

Instructor Communication & Office Hours
Communication by email is welcome and encouraged. You can expect to get a response to any email within 24 hours during the week and 48 hours on the weekend and breaks. All email sent to the instructor must be sent from the student’s official WSU email account. Emails from the instructor to the whole class will also be available under “Announcements” in Blackboard.

Students are welcome to meet with the instructor during posted virtual office hours, as well as other times by appointment. It is helpful to send an email ahead of time about what you want to discuss. The instructor will regularly have other availability at other times, so meetings by appointment are encouraged. To arrange an appointment, please send an email with two suggested time blocks.

Office hours is the best time to discuss any difficulties you may be facing with coursework or life circumstances, as well as any concerns or complaints about the course. Making an appointment early is the best way to keep a small issue from becoming a larger problem. But office hours is not just for problems — this is also a good time for in-depth feedback about your work, talking about campus activities and career opportunities, and letting the instructor know what you’re passionate about.

Original Work
For all assignments that involve the creation of original work, such as writing responses or taking photos, students may not submit any work previously created for any purpose, including other courses, internships or personal activities. All work must be original and created for the purposes of this course. Any exceptions to this rule are clearly stated in assignment instructions. Any overlap with topics or examples used in other classes, or any other conflict of interest, must be discussed with the instructor before submitting the assignment. Violating this policy will be considered an academic integrity violation.

Professionalism & Community
All students in this class are expected to work and act as communication professionals, and are expected to follow professional standards and ethics in all assignments and interactions. Be considerate of the diverse experiences and opinions of your classmates, and be self-aware about how your perspective and presence fit into the larger class.

Virtual meetings can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Be patient and compassionate toward yourself and others in the class. Be mindful of potential distractions and do your best to be attentive and present in the moment. Expect some unavoidable interruptions with internet connections, pets, roommates, children and more. You are not required to have your Zoom camera turned on during all-class meetings, but be prepared to turn on your audio and camera for small group discussions to better connect with your classmates.

Sensitive Course Content
This course involves viewing and discussing important visuals from history and current events, and many images may involve difficult and uncomfortable subjects. Images may depict violence, discrimination, death, nudity and hurtful stereotypes. Students who are concerned about the personal impact of viewing or discussing particular types of images should speak with the instructor early in the semester.

Recording Policy
Audio and video of class meetings may be recorded by the instructor for internal uses, such as posting the recordings on Blackboard so students can later review class material or catch up when absent. These recordings may not be shared or used externally, and will be deleted once the course is complete. Students are allowed to record class meetings — audio, video, screenshots — for personal use, but must not share any recordings publicly or with any other students without permission of the instructor. Sharing class recordings without permission is a violation of university policy and may violate state law.

Form of Instruction

The instruction for this course is a combination of online materials and synchronous class meetings. Online materials are organized into weekly modules based around a single topic, which includes related readings, videos, visual examples and recorded lectures. Class meetings will include a group critique and discussion, typically on Wednesdays, and small-group discussion-based activities, typically on Fridays. This is a discussion-based seminar, and students are expected to contribute to the learning outcomes of the entire class by finding and describing relevant examples, arriving prepared to discuss course readings, and respectfully sharing and listening in conversations with classmates.

Recommended weekly schedule:
• Monday: Start the week’s online materials and readings; attend optional class meeting to keep yourself on track or ask questions
• Tuesday: Finish going through weekly materials; begin assignment(s)
• Wednesday: Attend class meeting for critiques of professional photos and student work
• Thursday: Complete assignments and readings
• Friday: Attend class meeting for small-group discussion or guest speaker; ideally submit the week’s Find-A-Photo and assignment/quiz
• Weekend: Finish assignment/quiz if necessary by Sunday night deadline

Materials and readings are posted each week on the course website: http://murrowcourses.com/photo

Occasional emails will be sent out with announcements and answers to common questions that may come up. A copy of each email will be archived on Blackboard under “Announcements.”

Grading
Grades are based on a point system, with a total of 500 points for the course. Final grades will be determined by percentage (scores on the edge between two letter grades will be rounded up):

All assignments will be judged on accuracy, clarity, effort and application of course principles. Assignment requirements and deadlines are described on the course site, along with requirements for submission. Grading rubrics are available to view in Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all described requirements and ask questions if any aspects of the assignments are unclear.

Find-A-Photo (10 points each; 140 points total)
Each week students will find and briefly research a specific photograph based on topic or theme. The description and submission requirements remain the same each week, while the topic/theme changes to correspond with the course content. Photos selected by students will be the primary discussion examples used in class critiques and discussions.
Learning Goals:
• Become familiar with documentary photography as it appears in contemporary media.
• Explore the photographer’s role in creating photos.
• Shape class discussions by contributing photos that interest you.

Photography Assignments (20 points each; 140 points total)
Every two weeks, students will create a set of photos based on a particular photography prompt. Some prompts are thematic, related to the content of the photos, and some are technical, related to the techniques used to create them. Many photography assignments also include a written portion. Students will frequently select one favorite photo to share for class critiques.
Learning Goals:
• Practice photography composition, exposure and visual creativity
• Become comfortable giving and receiving photography feedback

Quizzes (typically 20 points each; 160 points total)
Every two weeks, alternating with the Photography Assignments, students will take a quiz on recent course content from readings, online materials, class discussions and group work. Class meetings are designed to go over many of the questions and topics that will appear on quizzes. Questions will be multiple choice and short answer. Each quiz is worth 20 points except for the final quiz, which is worth 40 points and includes a cumulative portion.
Learning Goals:
• Demonstrate understanding and engagement with course materials and discussions
• Practice writing explanations and opinions that relate to course concepts

Either a Photography Assignment or Quiz is due at the end of each week from Week 1 to Week 14, beginning with a Photography Assignment. They are always on alternating weeks.

Final Project: Washington Photos of the Year (60 points)
Students will evaluate professional photographs and select a top photo for a class project recognizing excellent photojournalism. The project involves curating a collection of notable photos taken in Washington state in 2020 by a variety of photographers on a particular news topic, then selecting a winner with a written justification. Students will present their collection and winner to a small group.
Learning Goals:
• Demonstrate knowledge of photojournalism practices, conventions and ethics
• Explain judgments about photo quality using professional vocabulary and concepts
• Develop expertise in a particular type of photojournalism that reflects personal values and interests

See the full course schedule here.