General expectations:
Our projects involve applying a diverse set of skills to completing a complex project. Students are organized into four-person field production teams with specific responsibilities and deadlines. Unless there is absolute teamwork, the teams will be unable to complete their assignments on deadline.

While certain aspects of the project involve faculty and students in a teacher-student relationship, the primary model is that of an employer-employee relationship. Consider that the faculty is senior management in a media production company, and you are the staff. We are all on short-term assignment abroad to meet a news objective -- four stories from each production unit.

Given this professional context, the following are the expectations we have for each team:

- While teams are expected to develop their own story ideas and to manage their time in order to meet deadlines, they are subject to the directives of the supervising producer, who will have the last word on all proposed projects.
-Units will show up on time for all outside appointments, team meetings and group meetings/classes.
-While unit members will have specific responsibilities for each story, they will support each other in meeting their goals and deadlines.
-Units will self manage their time off, including extended weekends, based on the requirements of the project. Weekends are free in so far as a field production unit is on schedule with all its work and there is no story or event that requires coverage on a particular weekend.
-The workweek for the project is Tuesday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the lab closes. This does not mean that every minute or hour will be scheduled; it does mean that when the unit needs a member or there is work to be done, all must be available.

We expect that all participants in the project:
• Will be courteous and considerate in dealing with members of their team
• Will not allow personal issues to interfere with the objectives of their team
• Will dress and act in a way that will convey respect for the culture of the people whose stories they are telling
• Will meet all deadlines, no matter what it takes
• Will respond to criticism professionally rather than personally
• Will take the initiative in developing stories (leadership)
• Will be prepared to adjust to sudden changes in schedules and priorities
• Will be organized in meeting all the responsibilities of the program
• Will put forth the maximum effort to meet the objectives of the unit and program

This is a media project and as such it requires that participants exemplify the traits expected of those in the profession:
• Commitment: Journalists are committed to fair play and equal treatment for all and the opportunity to be of service to those in need,
• Accuracy: Journalists are expected to tell the truth and to double check everything that they plan to print. Remember the old saying, “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.”
• Dependability: Journalists do not guess or assume. Whether it be the spelling of a word or an address, the journalist checks.
• Readiness: Journalists are ever alert to story possibilities and meet all deadlines.
• Discipline: Journalists work steadily at a task until it meets the highest level of their ability.
• Openness: Journalists are always ready to learn new techniques and experiment with new forms.
• Involvement: Journalists welcome involvement with a variety of people in order to expand their awareness.
• Objectivity: Journalists write in a way that is free of bias, positive or negative.
• Dedication: Journalists are dedicated to truth telling, but with compassion.

Anyone entering the communication field -- journalist, ad/pr operative, filmmaker, photographer, videographer, designer -- is responding to a higher calling, like a teacher or a doctor. The impact of media on all aspects of society requires that all those in the field adhere to a moral and ethical standard that does not undermine societal values and democratic process and is respectful of social differences. We must choose not to sell our services to those organizations that contribute to undermining all that we hold dear in common. Gratuitous sex and violence are unacceptable as “hooks” to get people to read our stories, see our movies or buy our products.

Grading:
Our expectations for all student performance are quite specific. First, each production team of four students will be expected to produce four Web stories; the student’s responsibility on each story will rotate through writing, designing, photographing and video shooting/editing.

Students will be graded in the following areas:

• Writing
• Web Design
• Photography
• Videography
• Intercultural Communication/Journaling
• Italian language/culture
• Initiative
• Professionalism
• Good citizenship
• Podcasting

Grades in each module will be: HP (high pass), P (pass), LP (low pass) or NP (no pass). The director of the program will use a point system to combine the grades into an overall numerical rating, which will determine the distribution of the letter grades. Any student with a grade of NP in any module cannot receive an “A” for the course.

Attendance:
Attendance at all classes and participation in assigned lab and field work is mandatory. The success of the project depends on teams working closely together, learning all the technical/creative aspects and meeting all deadlines. Only serious illness or disability will be permitted as excuses for absence or lateness. Lackadaisical participation will be considered a serious breach of the professionalism required in this course. Students are expected to come to every class prepared to continue work on their projects.