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University's Weather Hotline: 442-7669

Digital Media Workshop I: Web Publishing and Design

JRL365Z

Fall 2003 semester, University at Albany

Instructor: David Washburn

Room: Digital Workshop 3, Science Library

Time: Mondays, 7:15-10:05 p.m.

Phone: 469-7157 (cell), 242-8934 (work)

e-mail: canadaeh@nycap.rr.com

Office: Social Sciences 138-A (442-2647)

Course overview

Digital Media Workshop I focuses on the science and art of editing and design required in today’s world of online journalism. The class is taught in a hands-on workshop atmosphere in an electronic classroom. Students will learn to use the following software: Photoshop, notepad and an HTML editor. Students will also be required to report and write original works of journalism, which will be included in personal and team projects.

Because of the emphasis on writing and editing and the assumption that students have a base knowledge of these skills, JRL 300Z (Intro to Journalism) is a prerequisite.

Goals

To provide students with an overview of HTML, online journalism and online storytelling. To enhance students’ editing, design and computer skills.

Grading and attendance

Three projects are worth 85 percent of your final grade. The first is worth 25 percent, and the other two are worth 30 percent each. One quiz is worth five percent. Attendance accounts for 10 percent.

Perfect attendance equals 10 points; one absence equals 9 points; two absences equals 6 points; three absences equals 3 points; more than three absences equals 0 of possible 10 points and means you will struggle to achieve a passing grade. You will also hurt your teammates in the workshop atmosphere. Also, leaving early will also adversely affect your grade. Lectures are only a small part of this class; in-class practice is a large part. Please be considerate. If you are late, make sure you see me before class is over to make sure I have not marked you as absent; the mark I include when taking attendance is the official record.

This is a journalism class, so a late assignment is the equivalent of missing a deadline. For each CLASS an assignment is late, one full letter grade will be deducted.

You will be asked questions and be asked to demonstrate your progress during the term. Your answers and participation level go toward the final grade.

Textbook

"HTML for the World Wide Web, 5^th Edition" by Elizabeth Castro

Also “Web Style Guide” by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton (refer to the book’s website at www.webstyleguide.com) and other handouts TBA

CLASS 1 Monday, Sept. 8

Welcome and syllabus overview.
Guidelines for computer use and file storage, including FTP and how to upload computer files to a Web server.

See University’s Web Space Guide at http://www.albany.edu/web_builders/diskspace/guide.html
Also see Web Page Creation at http://www.albany.edu/computing/documentation/QuickStarts/qs-webunix.html

Brief introduction to HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), the standard language used for World Wide Websites.
Your first Web page. Everyone creates an individual Web page in class tonight. It’s the first step toward the completion of Project I – personal Web site.
Reading due Sept. 15: Read textbook chapters 1 (Web Page Building Blocks), 2 (Working with Web Page Files), 3 (Basic (X)HTML Structure) and 4 (Basic (X)HTML Formatting).

Monday, Sept. 15 -- Last day to add/drop semester-length class

CLASS 2 Monday, Sept. 15

In-class practicing of information covered in chapters 1-4.
Refine your first web page from last week and create a second page.
QUIZ (5 percent) on chapters 1-4.
Reading due Sept. 22: Read textbook chapter 7 (Links).

CLASS 3 Monday, Sept. 22

Analysis of local, national and international newspapers and magazines online. What works and what doesn’t. Discussion of how the World Wide Web has changed publishing and created a competitive career field. How newspapers, magazines, TV and radio have reacted. A discussion of the future of publishing, on paper and the Internet.

The anchor tag. Create links to sites for your assignment below.

Assignment due Sept. 29: Research and link from your personal Web page to the home pages of three (3) newspaper Websites, two (2) magazine Websites and one (1) E-zine site that are examples of quality design work. Be prepared to discuss these in class Sept. 29.
Reading due Sept. 29: Read textbook chapters 5 (Creating Web Images) and 6 (Using Images).

CLASS 4 Monday, Sept. 29

Student discussion of links to news websites from Sept. 23.
Photoshop for the Web – creating and using images online.
The process: acquire the image, crop, adjust resolution, adjust size, adjust levels, sharpen, compress, and prepare IMG tag and ALT attribute.
The terms: GIF vs. JPG, Web-safe colors, dithering, download speed.
Online resource: http://builder.cnet.com/webbuilding/0-3883-8-4892140-1.html

Assignment due Oct. 13: Add at least three images to one of your web pages. Create a second web page with reciprocal links to each.

Reading due Oct. 13: Read textbook chapters 13 (Lists), 14 (Tables) and 15 (Frames).

Reading due Oct. 13: Read "The Process" chapter from "Web Style Guide"

Monday, Oct. 6 – NO CLASS (holiday)

CLASS 5 Monday, Oct. 13

Page layout, tables and frames
In-class workshop time – designing your personal website. So far, you have created a few pages. Now it’s time to design the hierarchy, linking structure and content that turns pages into a site.
Review “The Process”
Your personal Web site will consist of a “home page” and a minimum of three interior pages. The site should say something about who you are. First draft due in class Oct. 20. Final due Oct. 27.
Assignment due Oct. 20: Choose your three favorite websites. Create an HTML page with the names of those sites, links to those sites and a description of what you like about each. Include images.
Reading due Oct. 20: Read textbook chapters 8 (Creating Styles) and 9 (Applying Styles).

CLASS 6 Monday, Oct. 20

Continued: Page layout, tables and frames.
In-class working on style sheets.

Review of progress with personal website.

Assignment due Oct. 27: Personal website project.
Assignment: Begin brainstorming for your reporting project. An executive summary with a “home page” sketch is due Nov. 3. Final project is due Nov. 24.
Reading due Oct. 27: Read textbook chapters 10 (Formatting with Styles) and 11 (Layout with Styles).

CLASS 7 Monday, Oct. 27

Personal website due. Please turn in printout of homepage with your name, contact information and site URL.
Continued: Practice with style sheets.
Announcement of teams for storytelling assignment. Discussion of possibilities, requirements and restrictions of this project. It will include original writing by each team member. You and your partner will design a site that tells a story. Consider interactivity. Allow users choices and options. Grade is based on creativity, clarity, design and a good story. Final project is due Dec. 8.

Reading due Nov. 3: Read textbook chapter 19 (JavaScript Essentials).
Assignment due Nov. 3: Executive summary with a “home page” sketch of journalism project.

CLASS 8 Monday, Nov. 3

Executive summary of individual reporting site with a “home page” sketch is due today. Final project is due Nov. 24.

Team building -- design the structure and goals of your site using sticky notes.

Continued: Practice with style sheets.

In-class demonstration of common uses of JavaScript.
Continue individual project and team project in class.

CLASS 9 Monday, Nov. 10

Continue individual reporting project and team project in class.

CLASS 10 Monday, Nov. 17

Continue individual reporting project and team project in class.
Assignment due Nov. 24: Individual reporting project due next week.
Reading due Nov. 24: Textbook chapter 20 (Symbols and Non-English Characters)

CLASS 11 Monday, Nov. 24

Individual reporting project due. Please turn in printout of homepage with your name, contact information and site URL.
Continue individual reporting project and team project in class.

CLASS 12 Monday, Dec. 1

Continue three-person team project in class.

CLASS 13 Monday, Dec. 9

Two-person team project due.
Full demonstration by each team.
Please turn in paper with names, contact information and website URL.

Projects

1 – Personal website

Due Oct. 27

Produce a site that describes you – personal history, favorite places and things, resume, personal photos, friends, activities, academics, links to outside sites

2 – Individual reporting

Due Nov. 24

Produce a site that emphasizes writing, journalism and research. Tell an original story, whether it’s hard news or feature. It should illustrate generous amounts of research, using links to sources rather than bibliography. Final product can be displayed in chapter format, chronological format, subject format or other.

3 – Storytelling

Due Dec. 8

Two-person project that tells a story and gives user a full, interactive experience. For samples and brainstorming concepts, see last year’s projects (http://www.albany.edu/~washburn/fall2002/threeperson.html), National Geographic (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/siteindex/index.html#history), Around Maine (http://www.aroundmaine.com/Around_Town/stories/archives/Default.asp)

Please include notes, sketches, maps, etc. as well as your team URL and contact information. The notes, etc. will be part of grade.

Bonus: You have an option to redo either project 1 or 2 between the time you are returned the critique and the semester’s final class. Please hand in the original critique and a home page printout.