Friday, December 18, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Friday, December 11, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Final Project Details
Final projects are due at noon on Thur, Dec 17.
I know it's a busy time, but please keep this in mind as you work: The goal of this project is to produce a multimedia piece that you will be proud to show future employers. That means that it needs to be as professional and as compelling as possible for that reason, above all else. The job market is increasingly competitive, as you know, and people will want to see your work rather than how many points you got in a class.
Here are some boring but important details about logistics:
Post
your final project to the class blog. The
title of the post should include: Your Name Final Project: Headline.
The headline is important, so make sure to include one.
Post videos to YouTube or Vimeo first and then paste the embed code into the blog post. Vimeo is recommended as it has higher quality.
There is no set length for the final project, but most will generally
run between 2:00 and 4:00 minutes.
Your final project will be a work of journalism. That is, it will tell a story, (ideally
a compelling story) not
simply
document an event, just as we have been talking about all semester. I'll
be looking for a hook and a story arc. I'll also be looking to see that
you've followed all of the composition and technical guidelines we've
covered. There will be significant penalty for late work.
Do not
use music in your project unless you clear it with me first. You can
use "found footage" if it helps tell your story, providing it does not
violate copyright laws. In other words, if you are profiling a student
band, you can use a short clip from their music video if they give you
permission to do that. Such footage cannot make up more than 15 percent
of the running time of your piece. (Most projects don't have such
footage, but it's an option.)
Friday, December 4, 2015
Fall 2015 Advice For Future Students
* Try to spread work out throughout the week.
* Don’t wait until the last minute.
* Don’t be afraid to get out of comfort zone and go up to people to interview. You’ll be surprised by who will talk to you or who you will find.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from anybody – have others look at work to see what could be cut out.
• Use multimedia that you see elsewhere for inspiration.
* Don’t wait until the last minute.
* Don’t be afraid to get out of comfort zone and go up to people to interview. You’ll be surprised by who will talk to you or who you will find.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from anybody – have others look at work to see what could be cut out.
• Use multimedia that you see elsewhere for inspiration.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Guillaume Pierre-Louis - Favorite Multimedia Journalism
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/us/the-way-north.html#p/39
This article asked people all around America what being an American meant to them. The article itself is a collection of quotes from people who describe America in their own words, complemented by photos of them. I think it's really interesting how different people's concepts of what it means to be an American change based on their backgrounds. "The American Dream" often gets treated as though its meaning is universal, that America is the land of opportunity for those willing to grasp it, but this article shows that the "truth" of that dream is not nearly as universal as people pretend that it is.
With these kinds of stories photos aren't the focal point, in this article their purpose is to add context to the different versions of the American Dream. The Mexican man who immigrated illegally is going to have a much different view of the American Dream than the man who immigrated from Ghana after taking part in an exchange program or the woman who lives in the same town she was born in. These photos allow people reading the article to get a peek into that person's life, whether they are waiting in line to find work or are tending to the store that they own.
The article has a much more skeptical view of the American Dream than the view that is normally presented and I appreciate that.
This article asked people all around America what being an American meant to them. The article itself is a collection of quotes from people who describe America in their own words, complemented by photos of them. I think it's really interesting how different people's concepts of what it means to be an American change based on their backgrounds. "The American Dream" often gets treated as though its meaning is universal, that America is the land of opportunity for those willing to grasp it, but this article shows that the "truth" of that dream is not nearly as universal as people pretend that it is.
With these kinds of stories photos aren't the focal point, in this article their purpose is to add context to the different versions of the American Dream. The Mexican man who immigrated illegally is going to have a much different view of the American Dream than the man who immigrated from Ghana after taking part in an exchange program or the woman who lives in the same town she was born in. These photos allow people reading the article to get a peek into that person's life, whether they are waiting in line to find work or are tending to the store that they own.
The article has a much more skeptical view of the American Dream than the view that is normally presented and I appreciate that.
Michaela Johnson
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/8-times-obama-has-responded-to-mass-shootings/2015/12/02/e72569aa-996d-11e5-aca6-1ae3be6f06d2_video.html
The video I chose is a compilation of President Barack Obama's speeches on mass shootings in the U.S. While this piece is not complex and does not contain narration or other elements, I don't feel that they are necessary solely because the subject of this piece. The number of different speeches that are included in the video (8) in itself stresses the issue.
If I created this piece, I might have just added a closing at the end giving a little bit of context and summarizing what it might mean moving forward.
The video I chose is a compilation of President Barack Obama's speeches on mass shootings in the U.S. While this piece is not complex and does not contain narration or other elements, I don't feel that they are necessary solely because the subject of this piece. The number of different speeches that are included in the video (8) in itself stresses the issue.
If I created this piece, I might have just added a closing at the end giving a little bit of context and summarizing what it might mean moving forward.
Favorite Multimedia Piece-- Cara Newcomer
http://www.upworthy.com/experience-60-seconds-of-how-it-feels-to-live-with-autism
This multimedia piece is about what it feels like to have autism. While it is not a breaking news story, or a long video, it is chilling and had a lasting impact one me. While watching this video does not make a viewer an expert on autism it helps to give insight on a topic that is very hard for outsiders to comprehend.
The accompanying article describes the different problems that people with autism face and how the video correctly depicts these problems. I chose this piece because not only do I believe it is unique, but it is also something well composed and that anyone could be interested in learning more about.
http://www.upworthy.com/experience-60-seconds-of-how-it-feels-to-live-with-autism
This multimedia piece is about what it feels like to have autism. While it is not a breaking news story, or a long video, it is chilling and had a lasting impact one me. While watching this video does not make a viewer an expert on autism it helps to give insight on a topic that is very hard for outsiders to comprehend.
The accompanying article describes the different problems that people with autism face and how the video correctly depicts these problems. I chose this piece because not only do I believe it is unique, but it is also something well composed and that anyone could be interested in learning more about.
http://www.upworthy.com/experience-60-seconds-of-how-it-feels-to-live-with-autism
Jennifer Pham: Multimedia Piece
This is a VICE video profiling a Japanese female sushi chef named Miki Izumisawa. There are several reasons why I love this video. I love food videos. I have watched almost every video with Gordon Ramsay. There is something about camera footage of food that grasps my attention. On top of that, sushi is my favorite food! I also love VICE videos. VICE always uploads videos that are informative, attention grabbing, professional yet casual to watch as well. Like many of VICE's other videos, the featured individual for this video is an extraordinary one. Izumisawa pushes gendered and traditional boundaries which is always something I look up to as a female myself. She creates sushi with nature-inspired fusion dishes that some might may find unprofessional and pretentious. In addition she runs a sushi staff with an all female staff - something that is not only uncommon in Japan, but in the U.S. as well. Her story is very moving and I felt that VICE did very well to convey her genuine thoughts and feelings.
Besides the content, I really loved the footage of this video. In my opinion, everything was in place. Subtitles were used appropriately and the rule of thirds were implemented throughout the video. It is videos like these that make me want to be a journalist. Food, extraordinary people and professional footage that is easy to watch.
Multimedia Piece
This piece is about a young girl that finally has the opportunity to attend college. She is portrayed as a hard working student by her mother who says that she spent days and nights studying. She is also portrayed as caring by her brother who suffers from a disease that she helps her mother care for with. This young girl Sonya Ortiz is following her dreams. She is getting the chance to attend college due to all her hard work and she also gets to dance. This piece truly impacted me and caught my eye. As a dancer and a current student I know how it feels to work for something and to maintain a certain GPA to attend college so that is why I liked this piece. I think it's a positive story. I would not change much of the piece maybe get an interview from a former teacher from high school since she just graduated and maybe some footage of her in a classroom not only her dancing.
Sebastian Obando: multimedia piece
http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000004052536/addicted-to-a-fantasy.html?playlistId=1194811622182®ion=video-grid&version=video-grid-thumbnail&contentCollection=&contentPlacement=26&module=recent-videos&action=click&pgType=Multimedia&eventName=video-grid-click
The above video is about a man, Josh Adams, who is recovering from a gambling addiction and retells his experience with fantasy sport gambling sites. The piece highlights a main issue in today's society about whether fantasy sports should be regulated as gambling sites. I chose this piece because, despite the topic not really having a "visual", the video maker still managed to effectively use his b-roll in a way that didn't subtract from the piece, but rather, reinforced it.
One thing I would have changed about the piece was to get more interviews from his family members and the people Adams owed money to, as I believe this would have added to the humanization of the piece. Moreover, by adding his family members interviews, the piece would have further showed the vices of gambling, as it would have incorporated several people's views.
The above video is about a man, Josh Adams, who is recovering from a gambling addiction and retells his experience with fantasy sport gambling sites. The piece highlights a main issue in today's society about whether fantasy sports should be regulated as gambling sites. I chose this piece because, despite the topic not really having a "visual", the video maker still managed to effectively use his b-roll in a way that didn't subtract from the piece, but rather, reinforced it.
One thing I would have changed about the piece was to get more interviews from his family members and the people Adams owed money to, as I believe this would have added to the humanization of the piece. Moreover, by adding his family members interviews, the piece would have further showed the vices of gambling, as it would have incorporated several people's views.
Erica's Story
It's not very often that I see a piece of journalism that actually moves me, but this video is one that had a profound mental and emotional effect on me. Everything from the story to the subject matter to the way that the video was shot was a contributing factor that makes this and incredible piece of journalism, in my opinion.
Erica's story is one that addresses a larger issue that is especially prevalent on college campuses, so it is newsworthy. I especially appreciated the use of photos from Erica's childhood and testimonies from her family; they personalized the story, making it more relatable to the audience. In other words, it helped them to feel more personally invested in the topic (at least for me).
I highly highly suggest you take the time out of your day to watch this video. Its message says something extremely important about a culure that all of us are living in as college students.
Multimedia Piece- The Water Dance
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/31/fashion/20090131-street-feature/index.html
This piece was intriguing to me because the creator of the piece, Bill Cunningham, took such a small action, something everyone does almost everyday without even thinking twice about it, and turned it into an entire multimedia piece. Cunningham had noticed how the people of New York would react differently to walking off or onto curbs in the city in the winter time, in order to avoid puddles of water or mounds of snow, and he noticed some people would not take notice and ultimately mess up their clothing. He also makes a connection as to how people with different styles of fashion and the type of footwear they have can change the ways they react to walking off or onto these curbs.
It was amazing to me how such a small nuance of life could be analyzed so thoroughly. While the pictures are very clear action shots that grab the audience's attention, what really makes the piece, however, is Cunningham's enthusiasm. The joyous tone Cunningham uses to explain his piece, along with the laughter he interjects, makes the audience feel like Cunningham genuinely enjoyed working on this piece and loves what he does for a living. I was hoping the piece would have contained some video segments, as they would have provided greater context for how people reacted in these situations, but nonetheless Cunningham was able to make something out of almost nothing with his piece, and it seems as if he had a lot of fun while doing it.
This piece was intriguing to me because the creator of the piece, Bill Cunningham, took such a small action, something everyone does almost everyday without even thinking twice about it, and turned it into an entire multimedia piece. Cunningham had noticed how the people of New York would react differently to walking off or onto curbs in the city in the winter time, in order to avoid puddles of water or mounds of snow, and he noticed some people would not take notice and ultimately mess up their clothing. He also makes a connection as to how people with different styles of fashion and the type of footwear they have can change the ways they react to walking off or onto these curbs.
It was amazing to me how such a small nuance of life could be analyzed so thoroughly. While the pictures are very clear action shots that grab the audience's attention, what really makes the piece, however, is Cunningham's enthusiasm. The joyous tone Cunningham uses to explain his piece, along with the laughter he interjects, makes the audience feel like Cunningham genuinely enjoyed working on this piece and loves what he does for a living. I was hoping the piece would have contained some video segments, as they would have provided greater context for how people reacted in these situations, but nonetheless Cunningham was able to make something out of almost nothing with his piece, and it seems as if he had a lot of fun while doing it.
Chris Dimas' favorite multimedia piece: The Boat
http://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/
This is a pretty heart-wrenching piece about refugees who fled Vietnam following the end of the Vietnam War. It retells a short story about life on one of the refugee boats, mixing text, sound, and watercolor illustrations beautifully, alongside bits of video. I chose this piece because I don't think it is something many people are aware of, despite knowing of the Vietnam War. It humanizes the refugees as well, which is a topic that continues to be relevant today in regards to Syria.
I wasn't a huge fan of the length of the narrative, although I can understand why the length was necessary. It takes around 15 minutes to view the entire piece, which doesn't seem like much, but can be a pretty big time commitment for someone just looking for "news" pieces. While I think condensing it would have damaged its overall impact, it is tricky considering how short the attention span of the average viewer seems to be nowadays.
This is a pretty heart-wrenching piece about refugees who fled Vietnam following the end of the Vietnam War. It retells a short story about life on one of the refugee boats, mixing text, sound, and watercolor illustrations beautifully, alongside bits of video. I chose this piece because I don't think it is something many people are aware of, despite knowing of the Vietnam War. It humanizes the refugees as well, which is a topic that continues to be relevant today in regards to Syria.
I wasn't a huge fan of the length of the narrative, although I can understand why the length was necessary. It takes around 15 minutes to view the entire piece, which doesn't seem like much, but can be a pretty big time commitment for someone just looking for "news" pieces. While I think condensing it would have damaged its overall impact, it is tricky considering how short the attention span of the average viewer seems to be nowadays.
Kristen Seto's favorite piece of multimedia journalism
This piece is about Italy's oldest horse race called Il Palio di Siena. I found this interesting because it was about something that I had know prior knowledge on and it is an interesting aspect of Italy's history and tradition. What I liked about the piece was that it was very authentic, and I could really feel like I was at the horse race myself. All the dialogue is in Italian with subtitles on the bottom, which gave it an even more authentic feel. I also liked how there were different elements that were shown besides the horse race, such as the "benediction of the horse" which takes place before the race. It made the piece more well-rounded.
Although having everything in Italian gave the piece the feel of authenticity, there was one word that didn't translate, which was "contrada"and it threw me off a little bit because I had to research it to find out what it meant. What I would've done differently is explain what a contrada was somewhere in the piece and also get more of the spectator's reactions to the race.
https://news.vice.com/video/gangs-of-el-salvador-full-length
For this assignment, I watched a very intriguing documentary about gangs in El Salvador by VICE news. There are many aspects that I enjoyed such as the variety of stories there are in the documentary For example, they interview a gang member, a police officer, and government persons who are on the side of the gangs/ government. The documentary also had an aspect of photos such as photos of victims that were gruesome, but not too gruesome. With those photos, it allowed the viewers to understand the extreme of violence that occurs in the country. Also, the way they conducted the safety of the people that were too afraid to be on camera was great. They stated what that person said, but instead did b-roll in the market area. Another interesting part in the documentary was when the crew of VICE was told that they could not be filming in that area anymore. To me, it was interesting to see their reactions, just to show how crazy the life is in El Salvador.
For this assignment, I watched a very intriguing documentary about gangs in El Salvador by VICE news. There are many aspects that I enjoyed such as the variety of stories there are in the documentary For example, they interview a gang member, a police officer, and government persons who are on the side of the gangs/ government. The documentary also had an aspect of photos such as photos of victims that were gruesome, but not too gruesome. With those photos, it allowed the viewers to understand the extreme of violence that occurs in the country. Also, the way they conducted the safety of the people that were too afraid to be on camera was great. They stated what that person said, but instead did b-roll in the market area. Another interesting part in the documentary was when the crew of VICE was told that they could not be filming in that area anymore. To me, it was interesting to see their reactions, just to show how crazy the life is in El Salvador.
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