staging

I can easily see how someone could fall into wanting to stage an event. Several times, when I've been really excited for a shoot, I'll think in my head of images I would love to capture that I think would be very catching. It's always nice when something close to those ideas actually happens, but I know it's something I really need to get away from. Never for a second, though, have I contemplated staging the scene. I agree with Werthheimer. Asking someone to recreate an event or asking them to do something is just bad journalism.

Mario Manzini

The Mario Manzini story shows why, no matter what the medium, good writing and reporting are the backbone of solid journalism. The lead of this story captured my interest and attention immediately. The interesting quotes in the Manzini clips (such as the story of being asked by his father to kill someone) helped to give an in-depth picture of the story's subject. The reporter's writing was lively and flowed well. I think it's difficult to pull this off on radio, especially for a print guy like me who is used to writing long sentences that don't work on air.

Sacramento Bee-interactive narrative

The Sacremento Bee report on the weight-loss boarding school contained alot of good audio and pictures with it. I really liked the way you could click on people's pictures and see their before and after shot and also get a more personal look into some of their experiences. The audio music video was also fun to listen to and watch. The interactive presentation offers people alot of different options, depending on how much of what they want to learn about. I like that you could also read a print stories as well. It's an interesting way to document several people's experiences and it's all organized to make it easy for people to pick and choose what they want to view. It could of simply been a documentary but instead it's a compilation of several different types of media to tell a story.

adderall

I actually used to date a guy that used Adderall (he actually did have ADD though) and he still had the side effects listed by the woman in the story. He never ate, was always nauseated, and he said it depressed his mood. However, it was very noticeable when he did not take the medicine that day. To think that the people who are supposed to be taking this drug are having these side effects then scares me to think that people who are not diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, etc, are taking the pills. If you think you have a problem, then go to the doctor and get a prescription, but if not, its for your own good not to take the drug. In reference to the story itself, I really admired how he got several viewpoints on this obvious issue, even though his sources would obviously remain anonymous.

Multimedia slideshow

All in all I really enjoy viewing these, and hopefully creating them. I love that you can hear the person's voice, and view a related picture, and neither greatly distracts you from the other. Its a very effective way to get the "picture's thousand words" related to the narrator's take on the story. I liked the Campaign photos. The narrator telling us about his past as a photographer, linked with photos of politician whom with we are familiar really made it seem personal and relatable. His photos were great too, I love the one of the airplane.

Pet testicle implants?

As if plastic surgery was not sweeping the nation enough, we now have the option of implanting our pets with artificial manhood? I found the story idea incredibly unique and compelling, however odd it may have been. I thought the journalist did an awesome job with a seemingly strange story.

I liked his main source, the guy who created the Neuticles. I also liked how he had the vet's response to the Neuticles. I hope one day I can make a great story about an animal's genitals.

Neuticles?

I think the neuticles story really illustrated how effectively a radio style story can be at grabbing your attention. We've become spoiled by the mass amount of imagery we can access, but sometimes the story is lost as the viewer is shocked by or sympathetic to the images. Neuticles told its story through humorous facts and the use of the lively, loud atmosphere sounds of a vet. The images may have been depressing or unsettling, given the subject matter, however the radio story allowed for the lighthearted delivery and keeps the consumer's ear.

Adderall

The adderall story addresses an interesting issue: the use of drugs for academic purposes rather than medical or recreational. I like it as a medical story because it discusses the drug in terms of what it does and how it can be good or bad. The story bounced back and forth between different view points and covered a range of perspectives. There were students and health professionals. The story also balanced out people's personal experiences with adderall and opinions with facts concerning the drug but didin't confuse subjects with too many numbers.

NPR - Sudan Sanctions

I might be injecting a little too much of my own beliefs here, but what positive effects will increasing sanctions on an already impoverished country bring about? I don't know what Bush is doing here. He hopes that cutting economic ties with Sudan over the Darfur crisis will nudge the current regime away from... hmm... genocide. Right. I don't think that cutting funds will really have an impact on something so hateful. There has to be another solution.

Entertaining, yet...informative

The Neuticals story proved that just because it is formatted for radio, it doesn't mean that it has to be stoic or bland. Even the most off the wall topic can find a place in the news line-up when executed well. Nothing can replace good writing and often times a brief sabbatical from ‘typical’ or ‘routine’ stories can be refreshing and allow the listener to be captivated again by the stories being told. In the fast paced culture we live in, it can be difficult to impress a desensitized audience and I think often times news outlets rely too heavily on the sensational. But that in of itself can become routine. This story proves that with a clear goal and catchy, easy to follow jargon, just about anything can be arranged in an appealing and informative way.

Writing for Radio...

Listening to the KBIA stories linked, I realized more than anything how much of a challenge it is for me, a print journalist and accustomed to the narrative style of the reader, to write for radio; it's an entirely different narration style than normal news stories. The basics are still there though; in the Neuticles story you could pick out an inverted pyramid and other basic elements of news writing. The challenge is to keep listeners' attention and still relay the most important information, much like television news.

Chris Leeker
Personally I like to think that I can study without the use of prescription medication. It comforts me to know that I don't need to use a drug that gives you a "high" or increases your seretonin level just get in a few more hours studying. Adderall does in fact play a large role in my specific social scene. While I have never used the drug, I'd say that 80-90% of my friends have used it or use it constantly. I know at least 3 or 4 people that use adderall on a daily basis and sell their perscriptions. Aside from illegality of this widespread use I see two other problems. The first is psychological. How come people feel like they need to use adderall "all of the sudden." I think that most of the college students using the drug did not use it in middle school or high school, why is it that they feel they need it in collge to be successful when clearly their grades were high enough to enable them to be admitted to a University before their introduction to addreall. The second question I ask is, are there any long term side effects of the drug. The students that are taking adderall now are merely lab rats. The drug is not old enough to have given anyone any information about any severe long term effects.
I think this radio story went well. It definitely caught my interest. I think that an interview from a medical doctor could have added to the story, and obviously I think that the students doing the story could have found someone on the MU campus that would have talked about adderall openly. I think identified sources would have been better.

Mario Manzini

I thought that this story was very interesting. I thought that the reporter did a good job of describing Mr. Manzini. Through each of the descriptions I was able to get a very clear picture of just who Mario Manzini was, and just how dangerous the stunts he was performing were.

However I thought that the story was missing some key components. The biggest thing it was missing was ambient sound. It definitely would have added to the story to hear some different sound in the background. However, it would be difficult to get clear understandable audio because I imagine many of the stunts are done quietly unless being performed in front of a large crowd. I also think the reporter should have strived to find another source to talk to, such as a person who has witnessed on of Manzini's stunts. Despite these missing components, the story was still thoughtful and interesting.

News on the Radio

I listened to the Neuticles story a second time and really appreciated the effort that went into the writing and composition of that piece. I've always respected journalists who are able to bring the story home to the listener/reader without the use of pictures. It's truly an art and I think much more difficult than television and visual news. Combining the spoken word with ambient sound and layman writing is a very powerful way to present the news, and it is a medium I think will last for a long time. NPR and similar organizations do a great job, and I think all journalists can learn a lot they can apply to their own medium by listening to radio news on a regular basis.

Boerengolf: A Game For Champions

To listen to audio of this story, click here.

In some third world countries, golf is so popular that getting a membership at a golf course can be too expensive for most people. In the Netherlands, Marketplace reporter Rico Gagliano met a farmer who designed a fiscally responsible golf course. Ronald Diersen uses his land in two ways: as a farm and a golf course. He has attracted many golf enthusiasts to his Boerengolf (golf farm). Players meet all sorts of challenges at each hole from grass eating cows, to animal pies, to electrical fences. The reporter for this story collected ambient sound of each of these obstacles, as they were essential elements in this version of golf. Players use unusual golf equipment like a small ball resembling a soccer ball and a wooden stick with a shoe on the end. Natural sound of the stick can be heard beating the grassy field as players and onlookers with cold beers cheer in the background. The story clearly outlines the process of Boerengolf, and how serious this game is for European farmers. The segment ends with a local touch as the reporter asking Boerengolf inventor Peter Weenink if anyone has ever made the American money maker shot “the hole in one.” Weenink replies, “Uh, no I have not seen it yet. But it will come.”

A 4802 Web Extra:

VIDEO of Boerengolf

KBIA Broadcast: Adderall

I was impressed by the sourcing in this story; Justin Ray and Allison Fonte talked found plenty of people willing to talk about Adderall. I didn’t really hear any ambient sound, but Ray injected urgency into his tone for the lead that had almost the same effect. Radio broadcasting really does involve some acting ability.
The transitions were really smooth as well. I think that if I were reading this story rather than listening to it, I would find the sound bites repetitive. Predictably, the authority figures were mainly saying that students shouldn’t use Adderall, and the students said that it helped them study more efficiently. But the difference in medium definitely results in a difference in structure. Since all the sources had very different-sounding voices, the story remained aurally interesting. Overall, it was an effective broadcast.

Adderall

I have listened to the story about Aderall for this blog entry. To me, this is a interesting story. In my mind, before this story, when people mentioned about illegal drugs, I will linked it with negative impacts. And since it’s illegal, and I am studying oversea, I’ll never think about it. Nor look in to it. However, Justin has brought a new angle to the use of illegal drugs in what I could have considered as possible impact. I can see, if this drug introduced back to China, it possibility will be a big hit, because it seemed like it can get people focus, and making better grades. And that is what a lot of Chinese parents want their children to achieve, and willing to help them to achieve in almost any means. And to be honest, making good grades are the only goal that I can afford to have when I was young, because of the workloads. However, I probably, will not do it myself, because now that I can research about the drugs, and I can make judgments on the benefits, and the affects of the drugs. I’ll rather train my own brain that best I can, then making myself be a dependent of it.
I drink coffee, and tea to stay awake, but even them have side affects, anything that’s over the limits will eventually be bad, and have negatives affects, plus taking Adderall might help student get good grades, but what about their futures? To me this short-term achievements are not worth the cost. I always have one thing in mind-- who stay the last, who smiled the best—I rather take the long and troublesome way, then the get a little boost now, and maybe get hurt in the long run.
Here is an link from Vox magazine about how we can use Caffeine safely, and effectively.
http://voxmagazine.com/stories/2007/05/03/caffeines-buzz-around-clock/

Adderall

Justin Ray's voice in his narration of the KBIA story about Adderall had a great radio/broadcast quality. He speaks clearly and puts the emphasis in his sentances in all the right places. He also did a great job at attributing his sources at the appropriate time in his story without making it confusing or hard to interpret. Unlike print, you can't just say "he said" or "she said" in your story. Even with his annonymous sources, Ray did a good job at making that whole attribution sequence flow. Speaking of sources, I really liked the number of sources that were used in the story and the variation of each of their jobs/relationships to the drug. By using students, faculty, pharmacists, etc, he gave the listeners perspectives from all sides and that helped make a well-rounded story.

Neuticals

I thought this story idea was very unique and that made it interesting. It was actually brought up in random conversation at a friends bbq, which I thought was funny. I also liked the use of the dogs barking in the beginning. It was a good use of natural sound. Who would have known it all started in Missouri! I think that the story has good flow and is easy to listen to. It kept me to want listening to find out more. I thought the quote from the doctor was interesting as well about the procedure pertaining to the male ego. Overall I think it was an excellent story and very well done!

Adderall

The story about adderall was very interesting. I wish he could have gotten the sources to say their name, at least their first name, but I am glad that he got them to talk at all. I wonder if he just interviewed friends, or if he actually found random students that would admit to taking and selling drugs. I realize that these are not your more common illegal drugs, but still, selling a prescription is illegal and could have serious repercussions, even if it is just adderall. I guess me saying ‘even if it is just adderall’ shows how common the use of adderall is. I personally don’t use it because I enjoy my sleep, but I have multiple friends that use it all the time, and I guess its sort of numbed me to the fact that it is an illegal drug. Maybe it is m0re used at Missouri than the lady thought?

NPR: Nascar hitting possible speed bumps-

I heard and read a story on NPR that had to do with the state of NASCAR and sponsorships. The pieces related to fans and drivers as well as owners and big business that own the tracks. It appears that the fans of NASCAR feel that the sport is osing its touch with the fans. No longer can a driver feel free to speak his mind because he is being carefully watched by the sponsor/owner this leads to many of the drivers not being able to show off their personality.

I have a tendency to disagree a bit with what the article conveys. I feel that NASCAR is alive and well- just look at the new commercials on ESPN with the new cast of drivers from the younger generation hamming it up with a driver education instructor. This shows personality, charisma and a sense that these guys are connecting with the common man/fan. I do love the way NPR is able to use imagery words in their pieces like "muffling" of the fans and drives or "breaking" the old way of doing things within the sport.

Neuticles

I really enjoyed the Neuticles story, not only is it an unusual and entertaining topic, but it was a well researched well written piece. I thought the story did a great job using ambient sound and incorporating it as a vital tool to enhance their story. The stories use of jargon and colloquialism was a testament to the skill that the writers have for writing entertaining copy. The reporters obviously did their research because of all the information from advocates of both side. It always adds to the story when you can find professionals with opinions that both support and contradict the claims of the story. I found it interesting that the doctor had found that all of the pet owners who had requested the procedure were males with very masculine reasoning for the procedure. As a dog lover, I feel like the procedure is a good thing and if I had male dogs I would definitely go ahead with the procedure. As I have two female dogs, I have limited experience with male dogs, but the little experience I do have, I have witnessed that male dogs do become passive and shy after they are neutered.

Boarder Crossing

I went to Interactive Narratives and watched a 4 part series about the boarder that 4 Arizona Star reporters did. I thought it was very interesting. They tied video, audio, and pictures together and supplimented their video with writing that enhanced the story. I know at agree that I cannot believe that someday I will be able to make/produce something like this. It seems like a distant idea in the distance. Seeing our websites come together actually makes it seem like an attainable goal. It is really exciting to see where the next check point is. There will never be a finish line because journalism is always adapting and changing, but seeing what we are shooting for is fun. I am excited as to where my skills are heading.

I have to say that I found these examples more intimidating than anything. I realize that being in Fundamentals, I am just beginning to learn how to do anything multimedia based, but I can't imagine producing the kind of work displayed at POY. The most impressive thing to me was the quality of the photography. It may be because that is my area of least experience, but I thought all the contestants had excellent visual components to their stories, proving how effective an image can be for telling the story.

Frozen Basketball

I looked at the Frozen Basketball Interactive by Vincent Laforet of the New York Times. The piece follows Nikki Dill, 16, and her life in Unalakleek, AK as a basketball player. The piece wasn’t extremely powerful and did not evoke a very strong emotional response, as say a piece on those injured in Iraq, but it was thought provoking and interesting.

The first picture I felt was a great way to start the piece. It shows the narrator of the interactive, Dill, at head height with the rim of a ten foot basketball goal due to the snow being piled so high. You could see the dedication and desire by Laforet to capture the feel of the community with the aerial picture of Unalakleek. A subtle, but I think definitely intentional message from the piece was the strong bonds and feelings of community that are present in the Inopia people. These are ancient people that have lived together for hundreds of years, and have been forming communal bonds through many different mediums and it is amazing to me how it has transitioned to basketball as the medium through which the community comes together. Dill mentions in the piece that that is was ‘everyone’ does at night, is hang out in the basketball gym. I applaud Laforet for finding an interesting and unique story idea, and sharing it in a way that reaches people who may have never known what goes on in Unalakleek, Alaska.

Mastery versus ability

When I decided to enter into the convergence sequence, the main thing in my mind was that I wanted to be adept at all forms of journalism. I love photography. Audio journalism immerses listeners in the story with the voices of the subjects and the sounds of the story's setting. Video journalism enables people to actually see what's going on. And print journalism gives in-depth information necessary to be informed on a subject.

Beyond all this, the integration of these various media has the potential to add even more richness to stories by combining all these media, giving the best of each medium.

Yet I most emphatically don't want to be a simple "jack of all trades, master of none." By devoting oneself to one subject, one can work through the nuances of a craft by going through a variety of situations and observing the results of ones work, over time.

Barring innate ability in a variety of media, the only way to achieve the best results with anything is to go through this time. Without this time, the highest quality can't be achieved.

Ability in one form of journalism doesn't translate to ability in others. The most striking example I can provide for this is by comparing print to photojournalism. Photojournalism requires a heightened aesthetic sense, the ability to capture the feeling of a situation, while print requires verbal skills. These two things mostly use totally separate sides of the brain. Clearly, someone who's visually oriented may not have the skills to compose good written stories at all.

By expecting one person to handle both visual and verbal tasks and produce a compelling product, you're expecting someone to be both adept with words and with visuals. What are the chances that someone who can tell the story that gets to the heart of the matter will also be able to capture the image that people will remember years down the line? Not likely.

By having the same person produce a variety of media, backpack journalism gets in the way of people giving the time it takes to produce mastery in something they're predisposed to.

So, with all this anti-backpack journalist attitude, I'm sure you're asking, what do you think the point of convergence journalism, anyways?

One, to compile the work of the finest people in each media and make it into a cohesive package, giving the benefits of inter-media crossfertilization.

Two, to report those stories where you really do need to take your all-in-one multimedia backpack and create a multimedia story on the fly, whether it be in an inaccessible region or at the scene of a breaking story. Because sometimes backpack journalism is essential, and the ability to use all media essential, not just economically expedient.

MSNBC Multimedia 2004

I watched "MSNBC.com's Multimedia from 2004". I liked this program because it has the options of having the “Editors’ Choice”, “Readers’ Choice”, and “Your Vote”, which make viewers feel like they have the opportunities to direct their own shows. And their background of the show is more attractive to the one that the New York Time had.
Although, viewers can soon recognized, if they have look though all three of the sections, their choices of pictures are a lot less then the ones that editors can choose from, that could be a turn down point. However, in another way to look at it, they are just running their gate keeping functions of filtering out the picture, so that it fits the breakfast rules. And I have noticed that the “Readers’ Choice” are more of the scenery pictures, whereas in “Editors’ Choice” it’s more even oriented.
I do feel that looking at “Photography on NYTimes.com:2004” was not very inviting at first, because of its plant background, and the abundant links and the ways that they were layout. I won’t like to look at it in the first glance. However, when I went back, and really do spend time looking at the contents, I found them very organized, and it even has a very specific grouping orders. Therefore, when I put my Journalistic hat on, I understand why it won the first place.
Sure, contents is very important, however, if the multi-media miss the graphics that are more likely get the readers’ instant interests, some reader might lost their opportunity to read and vote for this wonderful site.

Photo Slideshows

I really enjoyed browsing through the interactive multimedia packages, especially the Kentucky Mountain Workshops. The combination of sound and images guides the reader in a way that really benefits both the basic dissemination of news and grabs the reader’s attention at the same time. I thought the journalists who composed all of the interactive packages are exploring an easy way for media to bring the events right into the computer screen of the news consumer, and it raises interest for the subject of the piece.

Interactive Photojournalism (Multimedia)

Melissa Lyttle
(Interactive Photojournalist)

I checked out the multimedia presentation by St. Petersburg Times photographer Melissa Lyttle. Lyttle followed Lillie, a 14-year-old mother, through the pains and struggles of motherhood. Lillie is young and helpless, and even though she is starting a family of her own, she is in desperate need of a foster family for her and newborn Thomas.  A judge approves 37-year-old Amy to be her foster mother, and orders Lillie to be supervised when she is with her baby. Lillie needs to demonstrate she can responsibly fulfill the duties of motherhood.

Throughout the photo essay, Lillie’s moods are documented.  From giving birth to her child, Lillie is happy, determined, and unselfish, but as the months drag on, the stress that comes with motherhood takes a toll on her. There’s one photo where Lillie hands off her motherly duties to Amy because she is “exhausted from a long day of many firsts.”

In another very powerful image, Amy appears 50 years older as she sits in front of a television set almost in a trance. Her childhood has been taken away from her for another childhood, and her optimism for her own future is on the decline. This is my favorite image in the set because it expresses so many emotions including feelings of uneasiness, isolation, and a duty to keep things in place.

I watched the multimedia stories about the four men injured in Iraq and found elements of each that really enhance the storytelling.

In Christopher Leverkuhn's story there was no background or ambient noise. It was just his voice telling his story. I thought this was an effective way of emphasizing how important his story was without adding too many outside details that would complicate things.

In the second video about Gabriel Garcia, having his mother speaking about his condition and how she has left her job to assist his needs brought out the emotion behind these stories. You see a mother who desperately loves her child and would do anything to improve his quality of life.

The images alone of Aaron Coates made a strong impact in the story. Normally, you would view pictures of burns like this and think about how gross they were or how unfortunate it was, but the photographer really made his burns beautiful in a way, by telling his story and telling how he still, after his injuries, feels going to Iraq was the right thing to do.

Having BJ Jackson's wife and kids in the audio and photos of his multimedia story added a different feel to his story. It showed how his life has continued despite his injuries and how he has learned to make the best of his situation, without complaints. I think having the audio from a doctor's appointment illustrated to the viewer about what his life was like.

Multimedia slide shows are pretty cool.

I really like multimedia slide shows. I feel like a lot of convergence stories are overwhelming; with all the pictures, text, video clips, and hyperlinks, sometimes I don't know where to start. Multimedia slide shows use technology to guide the reader. And if part of a journalist's job is to organize information, isn't that kind of guidance important?

Anyway, I especially enjoyed "Photographer's Journal: Campaign Moments" by Geogg McGhee, Stephen Crowley, Lisa Tozzi, and Judith Schlieper of NYTimes.com. Since photography in general is not particularly new technology, still photos gave a historical, almost nostalgic quality to this piece. The photos are superb, and I love hearing journalists talk candidly about their experiences -- I think they're more reliable than people give them credit for.

China's Great Divide

I watched The New York Times' multimedia presentation "China's Great Divide," which examines the increasingly problematic gap between the country's urban wealthy and rural poor. The presentation contained slide shows with captions and concurrent audio from reporters in nine chapters that addressed various topics such as education, pollution and riots.

It's clear from the outset why this presentation would receive honors. The ease of navigating through the slide shows, coupled with the information communicated, make it an excellent example of serious reporting disseminated via new methods. The only possible problem I saw with this method is that it requires the consumer to watch, listen and read simultaneously. Sometimes it's hard to fully absorb the information in the captions while keeping up with the audio narrative and also taking in the pictures.

Nonetheless, this presentation is powerful, informative and of excellent quality.

Whoa

David Swanson of the Philadelphia Inquirer won the first place prize in general news reporting for "Echoes of War". The photograph is of a soldier attempting to start a Hum-V that is riddled with bullet holes. When I first saw the photograph, it took a moment for me to comprehend what I was seeing. All I could focus on was the devastated window, but as I focused on the man inside the vehicle, I could see the apprehension on his face as he stared at the holes. It seems like unintentional foreshadowing. The caption says that the soldier died at the same intersection three days later.

Photojournalist elect: Stephen Crowley

When viewing this multimedia award winning slide show by Mr. Stephen Crowley, I was really taken aback by how well he was able to tell his story through his photographs. Mr. Crowley is a political photojournalist who officially began his career by taking pictures of Ronald Reagan in his final moments of office.

Through this mans journey you really got a sense and feel for what these Presidential candidates go through. You see sides to them that isn't always portrayed in the "main stream" media. As a viewer I wish I could have seen this side more during the election, its possible that it may have swayed me in one way or another to see these titans "humanized" by pictures and stories.

Crowley has had an amazing career as a photojournalist in the political scene- His photographs are complex and are filled with continuity giving you many layers to break down. The element of his voice enhances the photos but only to a certain extent. The pictures most certainly tell the story, Crowley just aids in the fabric of it. Being a photojournalist in the technological world we live in only continues to be enhanced as evidence by the multimedia piece that Mr. Crowley has put together. It was an inspired piece and he certainly knows how to touch the audience or shall I say visualizers?

--SSliker

Stan the Man

I viewed the audio slide show titled Stan the Man. I could not help but smile during this entire slide show. Every picture just made me feel as if I were in the middle of the ball park, or standing next to the Stan Musial statue. This does not only appeal to Cardinal fans or baseball fans, but it appeals to every American. Baseball is our past time and this slide show puts the glove back on our hand as we stand in our backyard playing catch with our fathers.

I think the most powerful idea in this story was the bridge between each and every generation. It had a voice of an older gentleman discussing how Stan Musial played the game because he actually witnessed him play the game, and it also had a picture of an infant in their mothers arms and it is clear the infant might not yet know who Stan Musial is and will never see him play, but that statue is as much a part of them as it is a part of the stadium and the city of St. Louis.

POYI Winner Christopher Anderson

I chose to write about Christopher Anderson's photographs. I feel that he reall shows the grittiness of everyday life. I thought his pictures from "Caracas" were truly thought provoking. It made me wonder how some people could live in a place like in the photographs. He captured emotion of the people and their surroundings. I hope to someday take pictures as powerful as these. I also think that doding them in black and white added to their feeling. It gave them sort of a gritty, raw, and scary feel to them. The pictures tell a story of what it would be like living in that part of town. Also I think the picture of the family living in the low poverty apartments gave a good emotional tie to the photographs. I see why he won first place! Anderson is an awesome photographer.

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.

A picture's worth a thousand words.

I chose to write about the winning photo, "Children's life in Malawi." This picture was amazing to me because as the viewer, you didn't seen any of the subject's facial features. You couldn't make out any faces, or clothing on any of the children in the photo. Yet, you still got a great sense of the photo. The use of contrasting light was amazing! I loved the shadows and the the way I could make out all the individual leaves on the trees. I liked that I knew what was going on in the photo without having to actually see the details of the faces. The clapping hands, the slightly open mouths, the rocks on the ground outside; the detail is incredible. I, as a terrible and underskilled photographer can only look at this picture in awe and wonder, "how did they do that?"

Street Pictures and Wannabe Thoughts

Small confession.
I've always secretly wanted to be a photojournalist - to me it's the same thing as feature writing, looking with your eye for angles and moments others miss or cannot see, and then showing those to the world. David Snider's Street Pictures are representative of that - a collection of moments, each one singular and each one so fleeting it can only be captured in a photograph.
On another note, did anyone else catch where David LaBelle advised journalists to always be prepared - and included bribe money in the list of things to have?
Hmm.

Street Pictures Reflections Of The Society

A picture is better thousand words. When I am free, taking picture is one of habits. Well, not always with purpose, since it was just a way for me to relax. I do “snap-shoot” quit often. But when I do take pictures with a purpose, I do like to like pictures with around, even just people who walk passed. To me people and their emotions are what bring photos to a higher level.
In David Snider’s pictures, “Tompkins Square Park”, in New York City is my favorite, because it really gives the picture a happy characteristic. And maybe even because that kid in the pictures looks like an Asian to me and it give me a feeling of home, and similarity. I went to Atlanta during spring break, and I took some similar pictures in the Olympic Park as well. To me the park was empty and boring at first, however, when I saw a group of people playing with the “unpredictable” water fountain make that became one of my favorite days in Atlanta.Street picture is one of the good ways to reflect time in society, it record that how the society functioned, and how people’s reactions to this functioning society.

The Streets

David Snider's Street Pictures showed me one very important thing that I feel I missed with my photographs. He is very good at using people to tell the story. His pictures are so compelling because the viewer can see the human element and react to their emotions. I tried using symbols and buildings in my photos but felt they were lacking something. Snider captures the life of his stories through the people in his photos. My personal favorite was the man sleeping outside the train station. To me it was a man so exhausted or bored that he could not stay awake, no matter the setting. This one image was able to tell me a lot about the man's life, and if it were in the context of a story, would be able to represent much more than what it really is.

David Snider's Street Pictures

When I first saw the title "Street Pictures" I expected another montage of depressing "real-life" people resembling those of the Hoover era. As it turned out, I was mistaken. While there are some photos with a dismal edge, I think Snider's pictures are an excellent portrayal of life today. The pictures definitely come from the aspect of a "patient watcher of humanity."
Putting the photographs aside, I do think that Snider's story as a successful photographer is more inspiring. Whenever I hear the word "freelance" or think of the idea of myself as a photographer I become disheartened. To me photography has always been a journalistic facet that requires enormous amounts of effort and yields few rewards. However, after reading the short description of Snider's photography success my mind has changed. Even though I have always heard that success is measured by effort and passion, Snider's story confirms this theory.
My personal favorite is the photo of the waiter. I think this picture is great. I think it captures the activity of the scene photographed. I think the most important aspect of the photos in the waiter's foot. Snider captured the waiter in mid-step which adds to his "hurry." The photo makes me want to know what is going on in the background.
Another important aspect of the small article was that it addressed the hesitation of the photographer to photograph people without their permission. For me, this is a major obstacle. But I have come to realize that to be a good journalist you must be forward. When it comes to finding the perfect story or shooting the perfect photograph, there is no room for hesitation or self doubt.

Two paths diverged in a yellow wood.... Well, now they're converged.

The two paths being photos and text. I’ve always admired photojournalists, but I am definitely more of a “words person.” I look at the headline and even the captions before I glance at the photo. But the more I look at photos, the more I understand how important they are to telling a story.

David Snider’s street pictures are a perfect example. I especially like one he took in Orange, France. It shows two elderly people walking down a well-worn street. This photo’s technical aspects are interesting, particularly its lines. The road leads the viewer’s eye right to the frame’s focal point. The couple is slightly off-center, though perhaps not enough to strictly adhere to the rule of thirds. But the photo’s most important quality is that it inspires curiosity. Because the couple is not walking in the direction the arrow points, I feel like there is a story to be told. Are they lost tourists or long-time residents who know their way so well that they don’t need to follow signs? Where are they walking? (Now I see why photos should always have captions.)

Picture Hunting

Photojournalism is something new for me, the one aspect of journalism for which I have not had any formal training or classes up until now. And after reading David LaBelle’s article on “Picture Hunting,” photojournalism is something I’m willing to learn about. However I know that along with learning a new thing comes some growing pains. I’ve tried to take LaBelle’s advice with me as I worked on the photo assignment and have found the new perspective to be both challenging and exciting. LaBelle talks about finding the emotions and composition in your subjects, two aspects that are difficult to put into words for print but absolutely essential to photography. By searching for the humanity in a situation the readers will get the best possible representation of what is happening in the photo. This is shown beautifully in David Snider’s photos, which are really engaging and inspiring for me as I try out this new medium.

Through the Eyes of a Camera

This weekend certainly proved interesting as I moseyed around the Old Hawethorne Golf Course looking for perspective subjects. I tried to use some of David LaBelle's advice in being creative and finding an interesting subject. I found myself following a threesome (grandfather, father and son) through a few holes on the golf course, and they actually turned out to be very interesting subjects as the bickered and laughed and struggled with their golf games.

I tried to use LaBelle's idea of capturing a story through my lens as i walked around from hole to hole. It was interesting to see how each person in the threesome struggled not only to prove themselves to the group but tried to prove to them self that they could actually play golf.

After reading LaBelle and struggling with the camera this weekend I feel like I have a new found appreciation for photojournalists as they attempt to recreate the world through their camera.

Street Pictures

Snider's photos reveal a photographer whose eyes are always searching for a great shot, and whose camera is always ready to take one. In his introduction, he mentioned that he had to surmount his fear of taking someone's picture without their permission. From the expressions on some of his subjects' faces, it's clear that they weren't too pleased being targeted by a lens. I think these photos were his weakest. Unless the subject is a controversial figure who doesn't want their photo taken, I think a glowering face looking straight into the camera kind of erodes a picture's authenticity.

David Snider

When I was reading David Snider's introduction to his street photos, one thing really stuck ou to me and that was the quote, "It's not the heat. It's the timidity." I admire Snider's motivation to carry his camera with him at all times so he can always be ready to capture a good photo. Many times when reporting I find myself shying away from a deeper story due to my own timidity. However, I have to realize that I need to get rid of my shyness if I'm going to have success in the journalism field.

I love the details in Snider's photos. He always seems to have the perfect combination of lighting, subject, and background. One of my favorites is the picture he took in Hyde Park, London of the two people in the boat. I love the way the light is hitting the water so that each little ripple is highlighted perfectly. I also like how the boat, as well as the fence at the bottom of the photo follow the rule of thirds. Because the focus is not in the center , it makes for a much more interesting picture.

Snider and road flares

I found myself incredibly drawn to the second photograph in Snider's gallery. You can feel history in that person's hands. In such a simply gesture, you can practically feel the age, work, pain, and patience in those hands. It was incredible, and it gave me chills. That is the mark of a great photograph, in my mind. It should make you feel something.

I have to admit that part of the picture hunt piece amused me. While I think that I sometimes get a little carried away with photography (I've loaded up my car with film and disappeared for days at a time, much to my parents' chagrin), I somehow doubt I will ever find the need to keep road flares in my car. Then again, it's very easy to picture myself becoming a journalistic pack-rat, stashing batteries and notepads and other pieces of kit around my house and car. I suppose now I just need to figure out how to temper my curiosity with patience.

David Snider's Street Photos

David Snider

Even before the digital age of instantaneous snapshots and quotes, journalists have for a long time acted in many ways as historians.  With every photo, video, and audio bite, journalists preserve history by freezing various moments in time.  While telling an honest story and informing the public are two responsibilities of a journalist, keeping history alive is another major job.  Looking through David Snider’s album, I could not help but think of the lives of each person he photographed.  Snider’s intentions to capture natural moments in time created the “ultimate realization of photography's power to record the river of life.”  

When I studied the first photo, I was immediately drawn to the skater gliding away at Rockefeller Plaza on a cold New York day.  However, after a few moments my eyes began to drift to the onlookers in the photo: the girl sitting on the ledge, the group of men on the top left corner with their backs turned to the camera, or the bundled up observer standing just a few feet away from the skater.  Even though these people are unidentifiable, there is a story behind each and every one of them.  There is no way to know what was going through their minds when this photo was taken.  This picture might have been the last documented image for some of these people.  There are a million and a half inferences that can be made.  The best photos are the ones with stories that can be read between the lines.

Another photo that caught my attention was the one of the man sleeping on a bench outside of a French train station in Tours.  He looks so exhausted to be willing to sleep in such an awkward and uncomfortable position.  He might even be awake, and talking on a cell phone (his mouth is open).  His black bag is another feature that can leave the imagination racing.  It appears there is a large, peculiar object in the bag.  My first instinct was that it was an accordion, and this finely suited fellow is a performer of sorts.  Needless to say, this image leaves the viewer with a lot of questions.

After taking nearly 150 images this weekend for my project on panhandling, I was struck by all the features that I did not notice the first time around.  Each and every photo contains so many stories and so many emotions.  It is the photographer’s job to capture these moments before they are lost in time.


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David Sniders Street Pictures

The thing that I found most impressive about David Snider’s Street Pictures was his commitment to his craft. I cannot imagine spending twelve years of my life developing my portfolio, and meticulously selecting from that twenty-three photos as representation for the entire period. It truly shows his dedication and passion for photography.

I think the thing that I can take from this discussion and apply to my place in the journalist world is the great quote from his critiques class, "It's not the heat, it's the timidity." I think that passiveness is probably the number one attribute that separates a story, from an acceptable story. In all areas of journalism, journalist must learn that they cannot shy away from asking the right questions no matter how tough or risky they seem. A timid approach to journalism will get you nowhere and leave you quoteless, angleless, and in the end storyless. You can not and must not be afraid to go that extra mile, down the path less traveled.

As for his pictures, I found them delicate and passionate, and they displayed Snider’s ability to capture the human drama. My personal favorite was the split photos of the young man in the tuxedo and the old man walking the streets portraying the changes in a man’s life as time passes.

The Great Picture Hunt by David LaBelle

Trying to capture a story through the limitation of a camera lens alone was a difficult task for me over the weekend. Looking through a camera lens, I wasn't sure what I should of focused on and from what angle.
Naturally it seems we're so prone to noticing things in our environment for the purpose of protecting ourselves and feeling out how we fit into the overall picture, I felt I had to retrain my way of thinking. With photography, it seems we're forced to look at our environment in a different way and consider factors such as composition, lighting, angle, etc....
LaBelle's discussion on orginality, having an interesting subject, and looking for a fresh angle were all helpful in balancing my understanding of how I should try to capture a story through a camera lens. I'm prone to thinking I need to make sure subjects already have something visually interesting about them, but people's talent can really show through when it comes to their way of capturing a subtle and everyday moment as well.

David Snider's Photographs

I like how David Snider said that when he began making photos they were to show photography's power to "record the river of life that flowed around" him. Sometimes I feel that I have t he same timidness that he had about taking someone's photograph without their permission. Like he said he learned though is that it's those moments in life that need to be captured. I do think photography is meant to capture those raw in the moment scenes. Snider does a good job of showing that in his photographys. I like the detail of his photographs and angles. He captures people in the moment and I think that's what makes his photographs shine and stand out.

The Great Picture Hunt

At the core of every good photograph is a story, a fact to which LaBelle enlightened to me. Yes photos in many cases can speak volumes more than words but in day to day pieces, I always tended to view photos as supplements to a greater story. So many qualities that apply to being a good journalist overlap with capturing powerful moments on film. As a journalistic community we should always be prepared and interact with the moment while maintaining a sense of separation from what we are reporting. What I am also quickly learning is that taking a picture is easy, encasing an entire being within one small film cell is an entirely different story.

Within the mediums of print or video, there is plenty of play room. Information can be gathered in large quantities and edited appropriately for size and content. When discussing composition, I was particularly struck by LaBelle's statement that "your individuality as a photographer is expressed by the decisions you make about the arrangement in the viewfinder". Not even snapshots of life are independent of bias. The perspective you choose can reflect one's own worldview. The lay-men's terms used have given me a great sense of ease concerning my upcoming task. For the first time I will have to be silent and interact with the subject in an entirely new way. To be compelling (though with my lack of expertise, I’ll settle for just being effective) you must in many cases present old information in a new way, just as in other forms of news. By remembering that what you publish will be viewed by real people who want to see themselves, or at least how what is presented is relevant to them.

David Snider

Firstly, I liked Snider's comment from the introduction about how he always would strive to be a photojournalist, and he distinguished this from what he was, a street photographer. But he then said that he was "a patient watcher of humanity". Photojournalists, then, must be a proactive, sometimes impatient watcher of humanity (you know, deadlines!)

Secondly, the pictures of his that struck me to be the most interesting struck me because of a huge bias. I loved the photos from France. I've been to Paris and it was awesome. The one with the cat sleeping on the sidewalk was cool. I liked the more urban ones too, but the ones from France just looked "French". Also, the one taken in Amsterdam, I mean, a guy smoking? PERFECT!

An by the way, black and white rules!

Street Photo's and David Snider

After reading Street Pictures by David Snider I looked at his photo's in his portfolio. I was touched by many of them, finding that all had the elements of a "good photograph" within them. I found it to be really interesting how I could relate to even the most dated of pictures. Some styles were different, but the people seem to remain the same no matter where in the world you are, nor what period in time you are taking the pictures.

Then I saw the last photo in Snider's portfolio. A picture of his parents. I was stunned, it appears they are both blind. This got me curious, I wasnt sure if they had been blind since his birth or if they recently have had blindness thrust upon them in their old age but what a coincidence that they wont be able to enjoy his life's work because of an impairment of eye sight- I dont know if showing them was meant for shock value or not, but I was really taken aback by them.

Snider does excellent work- He obviously was trained well, but more importantly he had a passion, went out and did what he loved. We all can learn from the photograph's he has taken and the work he has done.

Picture Hunting

Our upcoming assignment has me worried. I have never been a good photographer, I have never taken any classes. I have never had high aspirations to be an award-winning photographer. But after reading the assignment by LaBelle, I feel a little more confident about the whole thing. I like the way the author related photojournalism to a hunt. The camera is like a gun and you point and shoot at your target. Your aim must be precise, and you must not be quick to shoot without deliberating. I can see photographers in my mind, all coming back from the hunt, showing off their photos like a hunter shows off his prized Buck.

I liked how the author broke up the chapters in such a way that they progressed through the steps. The tree and it's branches example was beneficial and helped to remind me not to just shoot the obvious. Branch out and try to get something original. I had some problems reading in some places, the print was too light on the screen and I have terrible eyesight. But from what I gathered, I feel much more confident about our upcoming photo assignment.

Hunter

Although the "Great Picture Hunt" was a long read, I feel that it did have some great information. Especially the "make a tree" idea. I never thought about it but it forces you to get down to the important stuff of your story. Once you have your main topic you are forced to focus it into the smaller branches and I have never thought about something like that before. I really think that it will help us to find different parts of our stories over the next couple of weeks.

I also liked how LaBelle likened a photographer to a hunter. I really agree, the camera is the weapon and when he was driving around looking for a feature that could take up space, those windy roads he knew so well were his forest. And obviously the story his prey, a perfect example would be the time he was driving around and found a tire with legs sticking out.

I do not think that I will ever be a great feature hunter, but a decent photographer is not out a reach. After reading this I feel that I might be able to find a good feature when put on the right story someday.

Mush of Need-iocrity

Despite its title "Backpack Journalism a Mush of Mediocrity" was largely positive toward the concept of multimedia journalism. I saw it as being a warning against losing quality work by people who specialize in one area. Both articles blatantly say that a multimedia approach must become the norm for news organiztions if they want to remain relevant with modern consumers. Both articles stress the impotance of not removing the journalist's effectiveness by forcing them into uncomfortable new mediums, if they excel at only one. These two articles are meant to discuss the need for quality backpack journalist, neither was against the concept.

Backpack Journalism: all of the above

It's hard to see the Stevens article and the Stone article as contradictions of each other, because what they are saying is essentially the same thing at the end: news organizations need to completely restructure their newsrooms to think differently of news as a whole, and reporters across all mediums need to consider presenting their story in different mediums. Stone does not like the term "backpack journalist" because it implies a Jack-of-all-trades idea; however, even she admits that it is possible, just not something that the average person is good at. I also do not see the convergence sequence as preparing us to be that Jack-of-all-trades; but if at the very least we can think out of our first comfort zone and report stories with multimedia presentation in mind, I think we will have succeeded.

Backpack Journalism is the applications of all other Journalisms

In the back of my mind, someone has said that journalist suppose to know at least a little bit of everything, if not all things. And convergence is the sequence that fit this definition best.
The readings called it “backpack journalism, but we called it convergence journalism. This is the filed of journalism that supposed to know and apply all the relevant technologies to present stories.
Because we might not be as good as the traditional specialized journalists, we are criticized as “Jack of all trades, and master of none.” In Mizzou however, we have to pick our concentrations, while we develop our convergence skills. And this education system is a great way to counter such criticism, prepare ourselves better towards examples from “Backpack Journalism Is Here to Stay”.
Using mini camera to record or podcast is pretty common on the internet; the existence of MyMissourian is one of the examples. Tons of “grassroot reporters” contributes their parts to report what happened in their community and our job as convergence journalists are here to make such reporting better for the larger audiences.

"Backpack Journalism is here to Stay"

As a backpack journalist, I always make sure I am equipped with the essentials: marantz, hammer head mic, mini disc recorder, regular mic, Olympus D-545 Zoom digital camera, notebook, a pen, extra AA batteries, a cell phone, and sometimes a handheld video camera. Whenever I am “on the job” I feel like a new wave of journalist. When I look at myself with all this equipment, I resemble the moment when multi-talented Bob Dylan surprised and shocked the world when he went electric. In the back of my head, I can hear a vocal “Judas!" screaming out in the distance. I love the direction journalism is going. Combining various forms of media (i.e. TV, radio, photography, newsprint, and the Internet) to tell a story is simply mind-boggling.

Dylan went electric, and so did I.

In her article, Jane Stevens discusses how two of multimedia’s most important characteristics are context and continuity. A common belief is that journalism should be cut and dry: a magazine journalist should just write text; a radio journalist should just work with audio; a TV journalist should only focus on pictures and sound. These classifications made sense at one point, but with the influence of the InterWeb, journalists are thinking outside of the box. By exploring multiple formats, journalists are discovering their ability to go even deeper with a story. The Internet is playing a powerful role in this new age of storytelling. Instead of getting the “whole” story in the paper or on the airwaves, audience members are getting part of it. If people choose to do so, they can go online and get even more information from bonus audio, video, or a flash presentation. The general public has greater control over their exposure to information provided by the media. Stevens predicts over the next 20 years, it is likely that the content provided by newspapers and the television news shows are likely to be transmitted primarily over the Internet.

Because convergence places a lot of emphasis on the multifaceted reporter, there is less of a need to send a ton of people with different roles to cover one story. Now, non-journalists are taking it upon themselves to tell the story. As Stevens avers, backpack journalists need proper training before their work can go on the air, but it has become clear that anyone can potentially tell a story with limited resources and little to no training. For the average Joe or Joanne, gathering a home video camera is all that is needed to tell a story. An average person can step into the footsteps of journalist, and provide an accurate account of what is “newsworthy.” Often a news report will miss the big picture, but including the members of the community in the storytelling process helps contextualize a story.

A 4802 Web Extra...The Road to 2014:

Backpack Journalism

I have to say that I think journalism is heading in the do it all direction. This is why I chose to do convergence. I wanted to have the skills that can help me excel in many situations. While I see the argument that we can't always do everything on our own, it doesn't hurt to aqcuire the skills to do so. I do feel like most people are looking to the internet for their news because you get a little bit of everything (audio, video, pictures and text). I also like the point that multimedia reporting offers an interactive arena for the consumer. They can choose whether they want to watch a video or read the story all in one place. They get many different views all in one location. I think converged media is more efficent for the user. I agree that we are moving into the years where you have to know computer skills and the more you know the better!

Journalism for a Consumer Culture

As I was reading "Backpack Journalism Is Here to Stay" I couldn't help but see a strong correlation between the media and the very powerful consumer culture we live in. Journalists are using their individual skills in collaboration with colleagues in order to cater to the needs of the individual reader. Our field is being tailored to fit the demands of an audience with increasingly specific requirements and preferences. We are learning how to be relevant in the lives of consumers who expect immediate, accurate and readily accessible results. By converting to a multimedia way of storytelling, journalists are allowing the public to interact with their news.

As discussed in the reading, we must present a complete package of current and past information in various forms. The synthesis of information from different news stations, as is prevalent now, seems to be changing as time progresses and more people are emerging with formal training in media convergence. What we must keep focus on is that specialization is not, and probably will never be, obsolete. There will always be a need for well-trained individuals with specific fortes who can contribute to any number of projects. To be accurate in presenting information, certain qualities will always be necessary and is important to remember to not get lost in the montage of gathering numerous surface level skills.

Backpack Journalism

Obviously, my decision to pursue a major in convergence lends to my opinion on the future of our industry. It wouldn't be wise for me to buy into this shift in journalistic practice if I didn't believe it was in fact, here to stay for a while! And I'd like to think I'm a wise person so I agree with a lot of what Jane Stevens argues in her article. One of the greatest attributes of a "multimedia" journalist is his ability to embed himself into stories and situations where he will find compelling stories to tell. We see this everyday in the coverage of war and conflicts, in the aftermath of natural disasters and in other breaking news events when on the scene reporting grabs the greatest number of viewers. As Stevens says, "Two of multimedia's most important characteristics are context and continuity, characteristics that television and print don't have to multimedia's degree." The convergence reporter and producer both know how to work in teams in retrieving the news content, and it is the job of the backpack journalists to deliver the best possible selection of material to the consumer.

Backpack Journalism

I think convergence journalism can be accomplished in two ways: either a few sensationally talented people will create the bulk of the stories, or journalists will work in groups. In “Backpack Journalism is a Mush of Mediocrity,” Martha Stone mentioned journalists’ individualistic nature, so maybe the latter is unlikely. But if overcoming our characteristic introversion means producing the better stories, isn’t it worth a shot?

Yes, it’s difficult for one person to juggle three or four different materials while covering an event. That’s where the group dynamic makes a difference. Jane Stevens’ ideas about producer- and reporter-driven stories rely on a group of talented jouranlists. The story they produce together will be more cohesive, more readable, more interesting, and more accurate if each one understands in some detail the intricacies of what the others are doing.

The demand for converged reporting is there. Meeting it might require journalists to leave their comfort zones, but the result has enough potential to merit that effort.

The ups and downs of backpackin'

In my opinion, it is really upsetting to say people are unable to produce quality news using only their own brains and equiptment. Even if not every journalist can, that's not to say that there aren't enough journalists who can to consider backpack journalism, or convergence, a worthwhile or legitimate job. Not everyone could be a doctor. Not everyone could be a convergence journalist. But we still need doctors. Right?

I liked the North Carolina hurricane example. I think its invaluable to give readers as much as possible as soon as possible. Getting to the core of a news story...to initially say as much as we know about what happened. I think this exemplifies our true objectives as journalists.

Whats most important

I see both sides of the argument. I realize that not developing your skills in one area and devoting your time to it, and only it, does make your work more mediocre. I agree that you cannot understand all the forms of journalism as well as someone that devoted themselves to one specific area. But, I think there are reasons that convergence journalists will take over this industry. Journalism is about bringing the news to the people in the best way possible. Timeliness is just as important, if not more, as writing skills for a newspaper or magazine guy or gal. And giving the reader/viewer the most information possible, which only a “Backpack Journalist” can do, is probably the most important. Having a camera there and writing a story while posting a video and slide show, I believe, is more important.

Backpack

I thought that Martha Stone brought up an interesting point in her article about backpack journalism being a "mush of mediocrity." There was a quote in this article about the fact that sending more people into the field to cover a story would create a package of much better quality than if you were to send a single reporter. While this concept does make sense, I feel that backpack journalists are being taught to compensate for their lack of manpower when in the field. Their training should include how to get the best, most efficient and unique angle of a story.

Also, I did like how Jane Stevens credited some of her best work to her producers and editors. Because while backpack journalism does only have one reporter, there are often still producers and editors along the way to check the work. That's why I don't agree with Stone's comments about convergence reporters not creating well thought out or executed stories. There are always others along the way to assist with the story.

Backpack Journliasm

Multimedia "backpack" journalism is now longer a thing of the future. The future is now. In fact the demand for "do-it-all" journalists has never been higher.

I agree with what Jane Stevens says about how backpack journalists will rule the world of journalism. I think it is incredibly important for a journalists to understand how to be able to communicate across all mediums of which people get their news. If a journalists is sent to cover a breaking news story than can immediately begin to cover it via the internet posting updates on a web page that they created in just a few short minutes on their laptop. With a small camera they will also be able to upload short flash videos as well as still photographs onto their website. This would not be possible if a reporter had to constantly move back and forth from the scene of the story back to the newsroom in order to do their reporting.

However, While I do not entirely agree with what Martha Stone had to say, I think it is important for a journalist to be a master of some trade. I do believe that in the very near future we will begin to see journalists who are masters at being back pack journalists.

Though backpack journalism and convergence journalism are quickly becoming common place in newsrooms, straight forward everyday reporting can never be ignored. While backpack journalism may be necessary for covering a breaking news story, nothing can replace the quality of a well done news story.

Convergence Journalism: All you need is a backpack and a dream...

When I began to read the first article "Backpack Journalism is Here to Stay" I though Jane Stevens was quite pompous. Dropping names whom I had never heard of and speaking as though she knew everything there is to know about the new "multimedia" journalism. Talking about where she came from and throwing in how she was at the New York Times made me want to click the X in the upper right hand corner of my web page. As I continued to read and gave her more of a chance I thought she made some interesting points, even if they are now dated.

"Two of multimedia's most important characteristics are context and continuity, characteristics that television and print don't have to multimedia's degree." was a point that really stood out to me. I was in New York on September 11, 2001. I remember watching how people with cameras became journalists, if you thought it was overkill nationally on affiliates like FOX news or MSNBC then you can imagine how force fed the coverage was from local news channels. Images, sound bites, slide shows, simple video all played a role on that tragic day and has evolved into the latest tragedy at VA TECH. Images and sound bites bring continuity and more importantly context to the story which lead to complexity in turn making your story authentic.

On the flip side, while reading the second article "Backpack Journalism is a Mush of Mediocrity" I started out agreeing with Martha Stones viewpoints of convergence journalists being multi-taskers being able to operate many things well but master nothing. That being said, as I continued to read I grew out of favor with what she had to say because I didnt think her statements were valid.

For one, to say that "do-it-all journalists" are not needed to propel media companies is completely untrue. I know many adults who dont have the foggiest idea as to how to operate a computer let alone a high tech camera, or create a website with a technical program like DreamWeaver or even iweb! That being said I believe it is essential for journalists to be "triple threats" when it comes to how they do their jobs especially if they want to continue to be employed. The world is moving at the speed of light when it comes to technology and soon Newspapers and even books could become obsolete. If you can "do-it-all" you give yourself an edge in a world full of "specialized individuals".

Secondly, journalists who are able to live with their backpacks consisting of a laptop (I have a Macbook which consists of all I need to make a story) they can do great work. In the previous semester, my external hard drive broke 2 days before a story was due- I couldn't sign out a video camera so I grabbed my Macbook and redid the story in 6 hours- I got an A on the project and my friends and family, when I showed them what I had done thought they were watching a real live package that could be seen on any local news company in the country. Had I not had the technical skills to know how to operate my tools, I am convinced I would have had to do twice the work with a lesser end result.

SO moving forward in the journalism world will only continue to become more technical as computers become more complex so will journalism. Thats why to be a success, all you need is your laptop back pack and a dream~

-SSliker

Backpack journalism

Even if people have their hang-ups about backpack journalism, there is still the rare and talented bunch that will prove it can be done, and they will be the ones to get good jobs. Since journalism is such a competitve field, I think it's important to embrace the idea of becoming a multimedia journalist to keep up with the rest of the herd. I just look at it this way: you might as well sharpen up your technical skills rather than resisting the inevitable.
Though I don't really care for the idea of seeing one person applying their mediocre skills to various story telling devices, not every story requires fancy editing techniques and flash animation to tell a compelling story. I think it's also really important to have a good sense of what makes a good news story such as knowing which medium/media is the most appropriate for the story and the most appropriate use of the medium/media for the story.
I liked the reporter-driven story model Jane Stevens' discusses in her blog. To me, it makes the most sense because it allows the journalist to work with the beat and medium they specialize in while also integrating other forms of media to the story when appropriate. This way, the reporter can still deliver news that is in-depth but also have the smaller, shorter packages. People have so much more control over what information and how much of the information they're going to digest, it makes sense to provide more options.

A Backpack reporters place

More than anything else, the idea of interactive, non-linear story telling sets a backpack report apart from specialized journalists. In today’s 360-degree society, the backpack journalist provides the opportunity for 360-degree coverage.

Never has there been a greater demand for streaming audio and video and instant access to news as it happens than in today’s media world. News is fluid and as it changes journalists should have the ability to adapt to the story, to public opinion, and with developing situations as they happen. Traditional reporting is permanent. It is story telling with a beginning and end. Convergence reporting allows the public to become involved and by doing so become better informed about the world around them.

Of course there are arguments against backpack reporting and some are probably valid, but a “mush of mediocrity?” The only way a journalist’s, be it traditional or cross-platform, finished product will be mediocre is if that particular journalist settles for mediocrity.

It would be nice if in every situation, every breaking story, an entire team of specialized journalist was ready and available to pick up and go to the far reaches of the earth, but that is just not possible. It is in these cases that a backpack journalist thrives and has been used thus far. However, as media changes so must the role of the journalist and that is why the backpack journalist has become more and more necessary in every news situation.

On Backpack/Multimedia journalism

As with most things, there are positives and negatives to multimedia journalism.

Multimedia provides a way to deliver news in a format that more easily maintains continuity than newspapers or TV, and can be arranged in such a way to target consumers who are interested in a specific story in the news.

However, I’m not a big fan of viewer/reader responses. Typically this devolves into an extremist, often childish argument between a couple of posters, or otherwise rude and ridiculous comments (think YouTube).

One danger of focusing more on multimedia delivery is that depth may be sacrificed. For instance, if a written story is packaged with video, it’s quite likely that many consumers will simply watch the video (if it stands enough on its own) rather than getting the depth provided through the written word.

It’s important that as converged/multimedia journalists, we maintain a focus on ethics, the truth and good storytelling – not simply on the medium(s).

Just remember, people who carry backpacks are always prepared.

I was personally upset by the article that referred to backpack journalists as "jacks of all trades and masters of none." I think the article went about the whole idea of converged media the wrong way. We are bringing the news to the public; that's our job. We are informing them and we are also trying to be as available as possible. With technology changing, we too must adapt. We are not just putting stories on the internet for the heck of it. We are going to the internet to make news more readily available to the public. People can get more information than on other mediums such as print and broadcast alone. It is at their fingertips any time, they don't have to wait until the morning paper arrives, or the ten p.m. news comes on. It is automatically archived so people can easily go back and research it later.

The article goes on to say that the author does not believe that converged media can report a breaking story and although I think that it will take more time to put a website story together than to interupt your favorite televison show, the other article "Backpack Journalism is Here to Stay" puts the whole idea into perspective when it discussed the September 11 attacks. "...many news organizations created specific sites for the continuing developments after the September 11 terrorist attack. These sites contain the stories of the day. Wrapped around them, in a "shell", are archived stories, including slide shows and/or video of the events of Sept. 11; information about Afghanistan, Pakistan, the history of terrorism, etc.; and other resources in the forms of links. Print and television simply can't provide that much information around each story."

The online websites contributed more than those on-air and in print alone because if a person missed the six o'clock news, the weren't able to see what they had missed later. With these websites, people could now look at the new material, as well as what was new yesterday.

I believe that the author of "Backpack Journalism is Here to Stay" was correct when they said, "You can't expect in-depth multimedia or cross-platform reporting unless you provide continuous training and support for early adopters." If the author of the condemning article says that backpack journalists are not good enough at using all the varieties of technology to put a successful online story together, she needs to understand that with the proper training, anything is possible.

Backpack Journalism

I must admit I see compelling arguments for both sides of this issue. While I personally relish the idea of being incredibly versatile in my ability to deliver news stories, I have also heard concerns voiced from professors at this university that the Convergence sequence will produce reporters who are "an inch deep and a mile wide". I think that the issue can be circumvented by training journalists who have an in depth grasp of a few specific areas, as opposed to attempting to master everything. If agencies are trying to save money or expand to include multimedia, it is still more efficient to have two people work a story (one doing video and sound, the other doing the photography and writing and cooperating on the internet applications, for example) than to send an entire crew. I think that while convergence journalists should have experience in all aspects of news production, it would be more beneficial to the journalists to specialize, with the benefit of also having familiarity with other skills to call up when needed.