Tips and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are available elsewhere in this site. Please seek further information there if your questions are not answered in this ‘GettingStarted’ guide below.
What is HOTcopy?
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HOTcopy is a suite of simulated scenarios from the working life of a journalist. It has been created with your career in mind, and provides authentic workplace experiences to help you develop the skills required by the profession. It is also our response to student requests for more variety in teaching and learning methods and more practice to improve professional competencies. |
This CD-ROM includes six scenarios for print journalism. In scenarios 1–5 you play the role of a journalist, while in scenario 6 you take on the role of chief sub-editor. The scenarios represent three levels of challenge:
Introductory level (first year): |
‘First Few Pars’ |
Intermediate level: |
‘Fire Fire!!’, ‘Coolabah Council’ and ‘Death Trap’ |
Advanced level (postgraduate): |
‘Cleveland Street’ and ‘Fatal Crash’ |
The structure of the HOTcopy application is as follows:
- Introduction
- Scenario selection
- Guided tour option
- Begin scenario
- Final writing time
- End scenario
- File work (to desktop)
- Reflective questions
- Pub scene option
- Quit program or return to scenario selection menu
We recommend checking the HOTcopy website for updates of interest. We also welcome and value your feedback. Please visit.
Why does HOTcopy detect an internet connection?
HOTcopy will detect if an internet connection is available to your computer because a new list of scenarios may be provided on the HOTcopy website. Click ‘More Scenarios’ if you wish to view the available on-line scenarios.
HOTcopy will also advise if it has NOT DETECTED an internet connection. First, connect the computer to the internet then click ‘More Scenarios’ to view the available on-line scenarios.
Getting started
Critical computer set-up
Ensure that no other applications (such as Eudora email or a web browser) are actively running on your computer before you begin HOTcopy. Check that only the system (Windows or Mac OS) is operating. Make sure that any applications that are likely to interrupt you, such as an automated screen saving, are turned off.
System requirements
HOTcopy will not run well on a computer that is below the minimum required specifications:
- PC Pentium II (or Celeron 333), 120 MHz or faster, running Windows 98, 2000/ME/NT/XP
- Macintosh G3 running Mac OS 9 or above. G4 running OSX or above.
Hard-drive space
10 MB of available hard-drive space for smooth machine running, particularly if QuickTime needs to be installed.
RAM (memory)
Minimum 64 MB RAM, 128 MB RAM preferred.
Screen
Your monitor should have the following minimum specifications (or higher):
- 15-inch (or larger)
- set to 800 x 600 resolution (or higher)
- running the System Colour set to 24-bit true colour (millions of colours).
HOTcopy will display with reduced visual quality if your monitor is only running thousands of colours.
CD-Drive
You will need a minimum 24 x CD-drive to run HOTcopy.
Software requirements
QuickTime
QuickTime Version 5 (or above) is required. If your computer system does not have QuickTime 5 (or above), please install it. To install QuickTime Version 6 from the CD, click on the 'Installers' button in the launch menu and choose 'QuickTime' or click on the QuickTime item in the 'Installer' menu which appears in the HOTcopy.exe application. Then follow the prompts. On Mac OSX open the InstallersOSX folder at the top level of the CD-ROM.
Acrobat Reader
The text resources used in the scenarios are on the CD in PDF format (except the copy in ‘Fatal Crash’, which is not available outside the scenario). You will therefore need Acrobat Reader. To install Acrobat Reader Version 5, click on the 'Installers' button in the launch menu and choose 'Acrobat' or click on the Acrobat item in the 'Installer' menu which appears in the HOTcopy.exe application. Then follow the prompts. Updates to Acrobat Reader can be found at the Adobe website <http://www.adobe.com>.
Browsers
The browsers required to view this help file and HOTcopy website are:
- PC Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, Netscape 4.79 or Mozilla 1.x
- Mac Internet Explorer 5.x or higher, Netscape 4.79 or Mozilla 1.x
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How To
Run HOTcopy
HOTcopy® should autostart when you insert the CD-ROM. Click 'Launch HOTcopy' to begin. If the CD doesn't launch automatically, open the HOTcopy CD-ROM and double-click on the 'HOTcopy(.exe) file.
Headphones
Headphones/earphones are required when using HOTcopy in a public or university computer laboratory. Headphones provide private listening and help reduce distractions. HOTcopy needs your full attention.
CD-ROM compatibility
The CD-ROM is compatible with both PC Windows and Mac OS. See System requirements.
Accessibility
Enhancements planned for future versions of HOTcopy include
integrated accessibility
support for users with vision, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.
If you have specific requirements, please contact the website http://www.HOTcopy.info
for updates on HOTcopy accessibility and information about current practices.
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Guided tour is optional
When you first enter your chosen scenario within HOTcopy you will have the option of taking a tour to see the features of the virtual newsroom. It is important to listen carefully to the tour guide’s instructions and, if necessary, to make notes. A single scenario won’t use all the features described in the tour, so the clickable areas described are not always active.
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Your choices are critical
You will need to assess whether information received from time to time is relevant or sufficiently important (e.g. from TV broadcasts, emails, colleagues, etc.). If you don’t answer the phone when it rings, you will miss out on important information. Carefully note the behaviour of the radio on the desk. It flashes to indicate broadcasts that ‘might’ be useful. You must click on the radio to receive information. On the other hand, the television volume will automatically increase when information is available.
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Time is critical
Use HOTcopy only at a time when you plan not to be interrupted.
The screen listing the six scenarios displays (when the titles are rolled over with your mouse cursor) the following information about each scenario:
- running times
- your role in the scenario
- its level of difficulty
- its curriculum focus.
During your scenario experience, elapsed time is displayed. Once you begin, the ‘unstoppable scenario’ will move ahead of its own accord. You have a fixed time to complete the scenario, but you will not be reminded of the remaining time, and you won’t know how long elements within the scenario will be available, or when the next interaction will occur. This uncertainty is part of the representation of real life in the newsroom.
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Working with text
Source material is provided in various locations
In each of the print media scenarios, source material (e.g. a media release) is available for reading by clicking the icons on the top-right of the screen. This material is readable throughout the scenario, but not usually editable (except in the ‘Fatal Crash’ scenario, where the copy is editable). While reading, make sure you don’t miss other important information in the office area.
Some of the source material is provided in PDF files on the CD-ROM. Availability depends on the purposes and challenges in a given scenario. You might choose to print these document files from the CD, and annotate your hard copies while working on the scenario.
Typing your copy
When you begin HOTcopy, the narrow typing window at the bottom of the screen (referred to as the ‘work area’) will prompt you to enter some text (e.g. a catchline for your story).
You may create separate work areas for any additional purposes, such as recording conversations, listing items for research, and so on. You will be prompted to provide text in each new work area (you may create a maximum of five areas). You may choose to use a work area for your own note-taking at any time, but remember that at the end of each scenario all work areas automatically combine to form a single text document of your work. This file is saved to the computer desktop. You should copy this file for your own purposes and for submission, if requested.
Completing your copy
Take every opportunity to complete your copy or your notes in the work area. Note that a period of dedicated writing time is provided to you at the end of the scenario. For easier editing, this occurs in a larger typing window. (See also ‘Filing your copy’.)
Cut and paste
To discourage the uncritical copying of ideas and phrases provided in source material, HOTcopy limits your ability to copy, cut and paste. Therefore you cannot move text from the source material window to your work area(s).
However, in the scenario ‘Fatal Crash’, the source material (journalist’s filed copy) is editable, and you may cut and paste within the window, and between it and any of the work areas.
At the end of each scenario, in the ‘Final Document
Revision Area’, text can be edited and moved within and between
your work area(s). In ‘Fatal Crash’ you can also move text
to and from the text box for the caption.
Filing your copy
The separate work areas, in which you complete stories or other typing, will be saved as a single computer file with the naming convention ‘HC_username_01.txt’. DON’T CHANGE THIS FILE NAME as it ensures that yours is a UNIQUE NAME when submitting it.
The file is saved to a folder named ‘HOTcopyfolder’ on the computer desktop. The folder can be saved to a disk if you’re not able to store it on the desktop. Before leaving a public computer laboratory, trash (bin) the folder and file from the desktop.
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Responding to questions
The area in which you type your copy will occasionally be replaced by a question to which you must respond by selecting one of the two options available. You will be given feedback on the consequences of your decision—note these for future reference. The scenario will continue automatically and quite quickly.
Several reflective questions appear at the end of each scenario. These require only your careful attention and reflection. No response is necessary.
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HOTcopy terminology
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Tour
An optional tour (before beginning a scenario) introducing the basic features in the newsroom that you will use to receive information and complete work.
Scenario
This is the simulated workplace that appears to run as an interactive movie. The CD contains six scenarios: ‘First Few Pars’, ‘Fire, Fire!!’, ‘Coolabah Council’, ‘Death Trap’, ‘Cleveland Street’ and ‘Fatal Crash’. The scenario ends when final copy is saved. You also have the option of visiting the ‘Pub Scene’ when the scenario ends.
Quit
There are opportunities to ‘Quit’ before and after the scenario. However, once in a scenario you are committed to the ‘running-time’ of that scenario. In a panic situation you would need to force-quit HOTcopy.
Pub Scene
The ‘Pub Scene’ is a short ‘debriefing’ session available after each scenario. At this stage the pub scenes are in a simplified form where characters speak briefly about some perspectives on the scenario you may not have considered. Although optional, they are highly recommended.
Notebook
As a journalist you will need a physical notebook and pen to record HOTcopy events such as instructions and conversations.
Work area
The typing window at the bottom of the screen is referred to as the ‘work area’. You may create up to five work areas in any given scenario. These may be used for purposes such as drafting headlines, typing stories or simply taking notes.
Troubleshooting
Graphics
If the scenario scene appears ‘blocky’ (i.e. square blocks are visible in the scene area), check your QuickTime settings using the following steps:
- Open the control panel.
- Select QuickTime settings.
- From the dropdown menu select ‘Video Settings’.
- Check the ‘Safe Mode’ option.
HOTcopy is running too slowly
Other applications may be open
Check that all other applications (including Eudora email or a web browser) are closed, as these can use up precious memory (RAM), which is required to run HOTcopy.
Your CD-drive is a CD burner
Slowness may also be experienced if your machine is fitted with a CD burner. If this is the case, try using the HOTcopy CD-ROM on a machine with a regular CD-drive (minimum 24x).
Copying the HOTcopy CD to your hard-drive
HOTcopy is designed to run from the CD. However, if you experience poor playing of the movie characters, perhaps due to the speed of your CD-drive, you might like to copy the entire contents of the HOTcopy CD into a folder on your hard-drive. This provides the option to run HOTcopy from your hard-drive, rather than from the CD. You will require a minimum 450 MB free hard-drive space to successfully copy the files to your hard-drive and run HOTcopy.
Enjoy!
Good luck!
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