This approach not only enables students to become competent in operating production equipment, but also to act as cooperative crew members and disciplined directors. Students produce five news projects or four, thirty-second public service announcements for possible airing over local cable television systems. Students' projects are evaluated as if they were working in the industry. In other words, projects are either acceptable or not acceptable according to predetermined technical criteria. A contract grading process is used to assign final grades in the course based on the number of projects successfully completed.
Students have two attempts to produce an acceptable project.
Students will be producers, writers, camera operators and editors, hardly ever talent. When students are producers, another student will be camera operator. Students are to conduct themselves at all times as professionals. For example, deadlines will be adhered to, efficiency in time and effort will be monitored, behavior on and off the campus will be exemplary, operation within budgets will be expected, etc. Any unprofessional behavior will significantly lower grades.