Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The American Dream?

Having just watched "Immigration Stories" from the NY Times website, I feel as though my understanding of an immigrants struggle and experiences have been enhanced in ways that words and pictures separate from each other could not do. Within this piece encompasses 8 distinct stories and plays hosts to countless unique scenarios. Because still photos can be captivatingly powerful in their own right, supplementing them with well-crafted words creates a new medium to explore. I was very encouraged by this project because it employs the strengths of words, photos and music.

It's forte lies in the combination of the three in a carefully balanced model where one aspect doesn't overpower the other. What draws me to this type of work the most is the fact that it isn't your typical news. It's a new twist on storytelling that is rooted in the same principles as good journalism. The pictures in this slide show were as diverse as the people and each corresponding set was equally stimulating. The reporting necessary for this type of product requires the same vigor and thoroughness but utilizes a different set of presentation skills.

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