USF School of Mass Communications

About this original series

Florida Focus is a "by invitation only" class at the University of South Florida's School of Mass Communications. Students compete for admission; 70 students applied for Spring 2009 - 19 were admitted based on writing tests, demo tapes, performance and grades in previous classes and faculty recommendations. For the news/editorial students, this course focuses on reporting, writing and formatting of a professional quality newscast. Students learn how to pitch appropriate story ideas and how to write under deadline pressure within a specific time limit. Editorial students also put together a newscast rundown. News/editorial students participate in the course as writers, anchors, producers, reporters and photojournalists. News students are also required to shoot and edit and to run teleprompter and are responsible for at least one hard news reporter package.For the production students, this course focuses on directing and technical directing, being the tape operator, running the audio board, working as studio camera operator, and performing as photojournalists, videotape editors, graphics designers and general production assistants/writers. Production students are also responsible for one hard news reporter package and therefore are required to learn how to pitch an appropriate story idea for our broadcast outlet (WUSF-TV).For the web producer students, this class offers a chance to work in both production and news helping to direct and create daily content for the Florida Focus newscast and its website. However, all students in the class are required to contribute work toward the website including video encoding and web posting.