Sunday mornings will never be the same

Journalism has lost one of its icons. Tim Russert, Moderator of Meet the press, died yesterday from a heart attack.

Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to see Russert speak at the University of Miami. In his speech, he easily engaged the young audience by mentioning his son Luke in several occasions.

As a journalism student I feel the loss of a great example.

Last night, I was watching Larry King on CNN while he interviewed many journalists from different networks, NBC, ABC, CBS, about Russert. All of them shared similar thoughts about him, hard worker, professional, knowledgeable, and a relentless competitor. They all had something beautiful to say about him, especially as a father and a husband.

One of the things that really touched my heart in this entire situation was the Journalism camaraderie that came together. There were no competitive feelings among the journalists, it was more of a family celebrating his life while struggling to say goodbye to a person that will always be remembered.

Sunday mornings will never be the same.

IRE Conference

Next weekend Miami is going to have the honor of having a group of the best investigative journalist in the United States.

This year, the IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) Conference is going to be held in Miami. Many professionals from the Journalism industry will gather to share and learn new tips and trends in investigative reporting.

Of course, the online world is part of it. Subjects such as, getting your investigations online and giving them punch, best web sites for investigations, and nontraditional ways to present investigations on the web among others, will be part of the discussions.

If you are interested in Investigative Journalism, like me, check the IRE website (www.ire.org) and don’t miss this tremendous opportunity.

See you there!

Motherhood or a career?

Is it possible to have it all? Sitting in my living room next to my beautiful five weeks old baby, I wonder if it’s still achievable for me to have enough time to be a wonderful mom and to have a successful journalism career.

Am I capable of managing it all? The fact that I am not the only woman in this situation gives me courage and motivation, but there are also many journalists out there with the opposite situation.

The industry I am currently studying it is very demanding and consuming. We need to be on top of the news, always alert of what is happening in the world.

As I was thinking about this, I found a very interesting article in the Columbia journalism Review. In this one, Joyce Purnick (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/nyregion/columns/joycepurnick/index.html) mentions how it was easier for her to become the Metro editor of the New York Times without having children.

It is a decision that at some point we need to face or a family or a career. Perhaps some of us are capable of having them both. I guess for me, time will tell.

Check out the article in the Columbia Journalism Review (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3613/is_199807/ai_n8795299/pg_1)

Getting ready for the real world

When I was ready to start writing my blog, I started thinking about the importance of being prepared for media convergence. Convergence is changing the journalism industry, but nobody knows where it is actually going.

As I have said in some of my previous blogs, some schools are incorporating into their curriculum some courses and even majors with the new media focus, but I think it is difficult to fully prepare students for something that is still in a developing stage.

Multimedia packages give websites’ visitors a great amount of knowledge through the convergence of different storytelling techniques, such as text, video, audio, graphics, and photography.

Aside from this, these types of projects also generate the need for constant teamwork and interaction between the content providers and the designers. A small miscommunication can significantly affect the assignment, especially those with deadlines.

One of the assignments for my online journalism class was the creation of a multimedia page. For this project, our professor designated a couple of partners’ students from a web designing class to join us – the journalists and content providers.

Some of the teams experienced miscommunication and some misunderstandings. It was a learning experience for all of us. It wasn’t about blaming anybody; it was more about recognizing the importance of getting prepared for the real world in the new media convergence industry.

The melding of media formats requires more multi-tasking from the reporter, more technology knowledge and definitely a higher level of teamwork.

It is exciting to be part of a new revolution in the journalism industry and it is even better to have the support from professors that truly care about their students in this discovering process.

No one knows where it is all going. But there is no question convergence is here to stay. We’d better be prepared and get used to it.

Blogs: the diary of the travelers

Travelers all over the world have found an easy and accessible way to share their experiences. Blogs allow adventurers to involve strangers to come along on their trips.

Many people like to keep dairies, but the Internet has created an open book of possibilities for the writers to share their thoughts while they are away.

A great website where readers can learn about a young aviator and his historic flight around the world covering 27 countries and its cultures is www.experienceaviation.com. I love it!

Barrington Irving, a 23-year old, who became the first person of African descent and the youngest person ever to fly solo around the globe, has visited countries, such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, India, Italy and Japan. He kept a journal along with photos and videos about his amazing experience.

Websites like his create opportunities to connect with other foreign bloggers. It’s a good way to make new friends.

I love to read blogs about other people and places. It mentally allows me to imagine flying to destinations that I have never been before. It’s just like reading a great book!

Video Biography: The resume of the… present?

New technology is giving us the opportunity to go an extra step further and expose ourselves a little more to our future employers with video biographies.

Video biographies? Yes, you read it right. Online resume is the new trend among students, especially those into media or performing arts.

More and more companies are admitting the use of the search page Google to find additional information about applicants. And more and more applicants are using online resources such as youtube.com, myspace.com, and visualvc.com among others to post more details about their personal and professional lives.

If you are interested in having your own website or perhaps your own online resume make sure to look professional and to let the viewers see your skills and talents.

When doing a video biography, please don’t go beyond two minutes. A simple 30 to 45 seconds video would be more beneficial than a long “film” about you. And if you don’t feel quite comfortable with video cameras, a sound slide would work just fine.

Citizen Paparazzi

The Internet is creating a new movement that involves the community as a whole. This concept is a trend that allows the public to participate in the dissemination of news, photos and information.

Digital cameras and the accessibility to the online world are leading to an increasing popularity of 'Citizen Paparazzi.' More photos taken by non-professional photographers are being published on gossip celebrity web sites, such as Perez Hilton, which obtains many of the content from its own audience. 

If you are one of those people that always carry a camera around, snapping photos of celebrities can earn you some extra bucks. This revolutionary idea is generating tension among competing professional paparazzi. But it also creates new opportunities for the average person to be part of the "celebrity" industry, for better or for worse.

For more information on this subject, read The Rise of the 'Citizen Paparazzi' published in The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120214555663941015.html?mod=technology_main_promo_left

Online Forums = Freedom of Expression

It is very interesting to see how the Internet has become a new place where the public can freely express emotions, insights and frustrations.

After every online story, newspapers, magazines, and even TV stations are giving to their readers and audience a space on their websites to communicate their opinions.

Many of the journalism sites use filters to screen out unacceptable language.  Some websites, such as MiamiHerald.com, are creating a registration requirement to stimulate respectful and non-abusive responses.

These online exchanges cover all type of subjects, such as condolences, support, anecdotes or experiences, anger, disappointment, and an innumerable amount of offensive feedback.

Whether offensive or not, these controversial discussions are giving a voice to the community. Once again, the Internet is providing an opportunity for all of us to utilize our freedom of expression. But be respectuful!

 

Copyrights

The Internet is becoming more available for people all over the world. The amount of knowledge and new technology that individuals are having access to are creating high risks for intellectual property.

Students are being more cautious with the images, music, videos, lyrics and graphics they use for their academic projects or blogs.

If you are a communications student, or perhaps just love the cyber world - as I do – keep in mind that the content found online has an owner, if we want to use it, we have to find out whom that person is and ask for permission or pay the rights.

It is also good to know that there is some content for public use. Royalty free music websites are easily found online. These sites provide free or single-fee music that can be used for production, multimedia projects, film, television, video, advertising, and educational projects among others. 

Keep that in mind!

Interested in Online Journalism?

If you are interested in online journalism as I am, it is important to keep in mind that there are many new skills we must have to succeed in this brave new world.

Every online reporter should have some knowledge about XHTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). This will give us a good foundation for our daily online work, which should come along with basic knowledge of audio recording and photo-shooting and editing.

But most important is still good storytelling.  If we want the audience to pay attention, we have to be able to originally and strongly present a story visually.

Here are a few important techniques given by Ricardo Lopez, a Miami Herald visual journalist:

1.     Make sure you are aware of what you are shooting.  Frame the shot and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds.

2.     Get A Roll (also known as talking head) it normally serves as the narration for your online video. And, of course get the B Roll, it is your action and it must match your A Roll.

3.     Some of the most common transitions are:

a)    Straight Cut – also known as cut.  This shows continuity and is similar to blinking.

b)   Cross-dissolve – also known as dissolve. Indicates a passage of a short period of time.

c)    Fade in/out – also known as fade. Indicates longer passage of time.

4.     Don’t forget to get familiar with the camera before going out to the field. Play with it and understand it before an interview.

5.     Finally, a video work flow consist in the following steps:

·      Think and Plan

·      Shoot

·      Log and Capture

·      Edit 

·      Export and Publish

How video works for story telling

Last night, in our online Journalism class we had the wonderful opportunity to listen to Ricardo Lopez, a Miami Herald visual journalist.  His presentation was extremely helpful and fascinating, especially to those – like me -- interested in media convergence.

Lopez had great tips:

1. Video is an emotional medium, which allows us to show our audience conflict, emotion and motion.

2. In an online visual short report it is very important to let the audience get a full sense of the main character and its story, without interruptions.  As he said, “let the subject drive the bus.”

3. Be always open for changes, but make sure you have a direction! Be constantly aware of what your story is about.

4. Seventy percent of the video is audio.  It is what moves a story forward.

5. Make sure to avoid noises when doing an interview. Questions for video are few, focused and to the point. Get full sentences and make sure to don’t interrupt… let the subject talk. 

That means: shut up and listen, listen, and listen!

What a great concept!

How Universities are being part of New Media Convergence?

Technology is rapidly evolving.  The expansion of media convergence is awaking in students a higher level of interest on media and its new divertive ways to tell a story.

Students – and reporters -- are expected now to have a higher level of skills – and must also have a better understanding about technology and new developments.

A few universities are taking the initiative to prepare young students for the new multimedia newsroom. 

The University of Miami is becoming more aware of this new media process and it is incorporating convergence into its academic outlines. UM is presently engaging students and faculty members on new courses, such as Online Journalism, along with conferences and special events about the subject.  But more needs to be done.

The Missouri School of Journalism, for instance, offers a Convergence Journalism program, along with its five other majors of Magazine Journalism, Newspaper Journalism, Photojournalism, Radio-Television Journalism or Strategic Communication.

The Internet is a very powerful tool that is significantly influencing our lives. It is directly affecting the way we interact with one another.  But more importantly for us students, it is opening a new world of endless opportunities.

Many of us in the print journalism program are just realizing how important it is to learn how to use this new medium to our advantage instead of being manipulated by it, or scared of it. 

How the Internet influences our lives

Everyday I am more surprised about how the Internet is highly influencing people’s lives.  From receiving to sharing information, from falling in love to finding a life partner, the Internet is now a big part of our daily existence.

Today a person has the opportunity to have a real life or perhaps a cyber life.

One of the most interesting websites I have ever seen is secondlife.com. In this site a person and/or corporation has the opportunity to create a “new life” in the virtual world. There are several communities, and a company, a TV Show or a product represent each of them. 

The new member has to join a community that relates to his/her interests. If you are interested in traveling, join “STA Travel Island”, if you are a TV curious get involved in “Virtual CSI NY” or if you are a business minded person join “Orientation Station.”

On this site, each person has the opportunity to create a completely new identity, different from the one in real life.

The first step is to choose a name and a last name. That’s all!

The Internet is affecting individuals’ lives at many levels.

A few weeks ago, I heard from one of my elementary school friends in Facebook.com. I hadn’t spoken to her in almost 14 years. She found me through another friend’s profile. This made me think about how years ago we didn’t even have cell phones to communicate with one another. Today, all our information is out there for personal interest or commercial purposes. 

In this 21^st century, given the circumstances, we even have the possibility to become reporters of the web. Web sites such as ireport.com, youtube.com, and ourmedia.org make all of us involved in a community or in citizen journalism.

We all have in front of us the medium to share “news” with anybody around the globe.  Photos, videos and information come and go, but the question that remains is: Is this safe? 

Online Journalism, the journalism of the community

A very interesting point about online journalism, is the opportunity that the audience have to interact with journalists and producers. There is no longer a one way street relationship, there is now a chance for conversation.

Readers can give their opinions or perhaps share their testimony about a certain story. Subjects like crimes, high prices, sports games, and events are highly interesting for the community and we all want to be part of it. 

The internet has become not only the center of a gathering with friends and family, but also a great information source and communication medium. 

Online journalism is opening a door for all the readers to not only be informed but to be part of the production of news. 

New Media Reporting Video Workshop

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to enjoy a very interesting panel:  New Media Reporting Video Workshop with Ricardo Lopez, a Miami Herald visual journalist; Brent McDonald, a New York Times visual journalist; and Will Payne, from Current TV.

One of the subjects touched that really caught my attention was that a multimedia video story could be told in several ways.  In all of them the attention is centered on the story, not on the reporter. 

I am particularly fascinated with telling a pure visual story without distractions. The main focuses are the subjects.

As Brent mentioned, a really good documentary is the one that allows you to fully understand it with your eyes closed. It just makes sense.

That morning I reassured my high interest on visual journalism.  I love the way video and audio are mixed together to convey a message. It is phenomenal the access and insight that this medium gives into different people and their cultures.

For all those that are interested in online journalism: focus on the content and always be open to learn new technology. 

The right attitude for an online journalist

Online journalism it is becoming very common in the interests of college students. I am majoring in journalism and international studies. Until today, I was pretty much confused about what path within the media business I was going to follow. When I started investigating about the world online, I found a variety of things that captivated me.

Online journalism requires mainly an open-minded reporter willing to learn and obtain experience about new technology and new creative ways to expose content. The uses of diverse media channels to interpret a story are possible and necessary in this online thinking.

It is also very important to know that in online journalism the reporter should be able to work under pressure.  The ability of this medium to get the news immediately to the readers allows the different news web sites to compete for breaking news and updated content.  This fast speed process can create constant tension to the online team.

This last sentence brings me to another major point.  Online reporters not only should be capable of multitasking but working as a team is crucial.  Whether two or more people compose the team, the synchronization of everybody will be perceived in the final product.  Good communication and great amount of energy are needed in the online industry.

The greatness of convergence

I love the new convergence of journalism. I think it is amazing the fact that audio, video and photography have the same importance as writing in our new cybernetic world.

 

Online reporters can significantly use their imagination and originality while creating beautiful and intelligent stories, mixing all the different resources that the new media provide us.

Audio combined with photos is a great addition to an online piece because it creates a sense of place and environment. It allows the reader to see and hear the story, feeling it more deeply as additional senses are now also in use.

 

Allison Bezold-Diaz is a freelance photojournalist for the Miami Herald and a recent UM School of Communication graduate.  She told a class of young journalists about the importance of photography for a story. 

 

Most relevant to me were Allison’s words that reinforced my own feelings.    A photographer has the opportunity and challenge to think outside the box, she said.  And it is right!  I have felt that all my academic life.

 

I like news writing but love photography.  It fascinates me to see how some great images and audio can add to a final story.  The more I learn about it, the more I love it.  All the visual elements combined with good writing makes a story not just more appealing to the reader.  It makes it complete on every level.

 

I love media convergence. 

Bloggers: the online community

Having a computer with an internet access is like having a door that will take you to an endless world full of everything you can possibly imagine. Within this infinite cyber life it is very common to find the modern blogs. Even though we cannot be fully certain about their accuracy, they can be a great source of information. 

Are you pregnant, a new mom, do you have a cureless illness or are you one of those people that speak out and complain about everything that happens in your daily life? Guess what? You are not alone anymore. Now a days it is possible to find a diverse community of people that will advise you and support you during a life changing situation. 

Who are they? Are they therapist or perhaps professional advisers? They could be your neighbor, a pharmacist that lives in Europe, an entrepreneur wanting to share his personal experiences or a savvy student willing to serve. They are the new bloggers, ready to answer, help and give their words of wisdom at any time.

Bloggers can be more than just simply internet writers. Bloggers can become the new "online heroes."  

Think about it and make the right choice...

Today’s world is rapidly changing and the words “competition” and “ambition” are becoming a must in the list of adjectives of students and/or young professionals. Even though graduation day is one of the most desirable days of a person’s life, it is also the moment where the doors open for feelings such as confusion and uncertainty. “What’s next?” “What are we going to do with our lives?” are a few of the questions that pop in our minds while trying to find a job.

“Don’t underestimate working in a small place” were the words of Suzanne Levinson, the director of site operations at The Miami Herald. This short sentence got stuck in my mind and made me reflect about my last few years and the ones that are coming. In a small company your work is very valuable, you get to do a lot of different tasks, but more importantly you get to learn. When you work for a big corporation, your work might not be as needed and your presence can be just as that a “presence.”

I believe this is something that all journalism students should keep in mind, especially today where a mixture of media is replacing the individualism of the past. Multimedia is today’s reality in journalism and the more you know the more you get. Journalists today need to multitask. We all should be able to manage video, audio, writing, editing, and photography. This means that knowledge is completely welcomed and small companies may be able to give us that chance. Make a smart choice.

To blog or not to blog...

To blog or not to blog... that is the question. I have to admit, it takes some courage to actually sit down and write down your own thoughts online. In current times, this is what’s in style, and personally, I think it is a good strategy to keep everybody sane. Keeping a blog allows people to express themselves freely and to bring out all those suppressed emotions. It also gives you the feeling that there is no audience, when in reality there can be an infinite amount of readers. 

While writing this message, thoughts such as "do people care about what I think?" and "What's the point of writing a blog?" cross through my mind. At the end it still feels good to write a few words down and why not to check out other people's blogs. It is interesting to see how different or similar we all think. More importantly, a blog can remind us that we are all supposed to have freedom of speech and we are all supposed to live in a democratic and free world. 

Some bloggers don’t earn any income from their ability to share their opinions on the internet. Many of them (or us) are full time employees and/or students that perhaps consider this task as a hobby.

Some fortunate entrepreneurs (possibly with journalistic or academic background) in the blogging industry have their own websites and obtain some profits from advertising. Many others are in the celebrity “news” business and attract readers’ attention causing controversy with gossips about famous people’s lives. Writing a blog can be a profitable business, or a non-salary medium, that allows us to keep our heads and thoughts in balance. So, to blog or not to blog... that is the question.