::FINAL VIDEO PROJECT::

My final video project piece.

::Online Journalism Chapter 12::

This chapter talks a lot about what we have been talking about in class all semester. It talks of the impacts online journalism has on society and the future of the medium.  Online journalism has become an important source of information for people. people will continue to use the internet as a means of getting the news and as a result a shift in jobs related to the news will continue to grow in the online markets. This focus of attention to online journalism is a result of the preferance people seem to have made by chooing online news over print form.

The readings this semester were of great help to me in understanding how much journalism has transformed. It has clued me into really how much it still has yet to change. From what I understand now, we are merely at the beta version when it comes to this. The possibilites are endless…and with the constant reshaping of media, online journalism will most likely become THE source for news above all others.

This class has helped me understand what I’d be getting into if I chose journalism as my vocation. Journalismk isn’t what I thought it was when I first became interested in it. It is expanding into new territories that are very exciting.

::Video Explosion::

“Virtually every paper in the country is, if not diving head first, at least dipping their toes into video.”

Video media on newspaper websites has been an increasing trend that has spiked in the past year or so. A move of complimenting the written word with visual aspects has become a vital part of how news is digested online now.

Personally, I prefer reading stories, however, these videos illuminate points even more and cerat an emerssive experience when it comes to experiencing the news.

This video explosion is affecting jobs. While jobs in newsrooms are on the decline, there is a demand for video production and this explosion of appreciation for this media has opened a new wave of career opportunities that I find my generation to be particularly lucky to have.

The internet as a news source is growing in dominance, and it can be attributed to videos and the presence of new media to facilitate the stories being told.

::Gatewatching::

“Is blogging Journalism?” Blogging and journalism have many connections and similar intrinsic qualities, but are they equal? “When citizens contribure photos, video and news updates to mainstream news outlets, many would argue they’re doing journalism.”

This is the key question and answer in the article. I believe bloggin and journalism go hand in hand and that blogging is merely a subset of journalism. I stress subset because blogging can stray from the unbiased, however, it is a vital part of our new media landscape.  It is important and allows people to have a voice in news and debate on the world stage. The internet presents an even playingfield for the most part, and the ability to have a blog just as accessible to the world as a news site adds richness to dialogue.

::Production Experiences So Far::

This semester has presented me with a challenge of understanding visual journalism. I took this class thinking writing would be a big part of it, however, I was suprised to find it was imagery that would be the key.

In terms of production, the skills I have learned are not all together foreign to me, however, a formal look at hos to utilize certain programs and equipment was very useful. Before the class I never had owned a video camera. Having this camera with me I was constantly wanting to try shots of things I saw around me. This urge to make something visually appealing while at the same time thematically relevant was an exciting aspect of the class.

When it came to the programs, I had had experience with video editing like Magix Video Delux, however, imovie was a welcomed and helpful learning process that I think is invaluable when it comes to understanding how to create new media. Audacity was fun to play with and soundslides is a skill that I look forward to using in the future for personal use when it comes to organizing photos of trips or events in my life.

All in all, i’m grateful for the chance to be exposed and instructed on how to use these programs and this equipment. It was an at times stressful but albeit enjoyable learning process.

::Looking Through the Viewfinder::

“Effective camera operation depends not just on which details you choose to show, but on how you show them on the screen.”

Readings this semester have helped me develop an eye when it comes to using my Kodak Zi8. Time with the camera has of course helped, however, the techniques and the advice in the articles given by those with experience have helped shape the way I look at a story, a shot and the makup of imagery and its relation to a story.

Depth, motion, frame….all aspects of discussion in this article. The article showed an array of examples of shots that were helpful in understanding the capabilities of a shot. It was very helpul in facilitating an understanding of what to do when presented with imagery and a need to film it.

On Location: An Independent Buffalo Film (Video)

I was invited on the first day of a 14 day Independent Feature film shoot. Not only did I get to observe part of the shoot, but I was able to play the part of a pizza delivery boy in a short scene. From what I understand this project is a smaller cast than this director’s previous works and is a low budget romantic comedy. Chris Santucci was very kind to let me film along side him, and director Aaron Doolittle, whom I’ve worked with before, was very accommodating.

::Eugene Allen, White House butler for 8 presidents, dies at 90::

As a butler at the White House, Eugene Allen saw eight presidential administrations come and go.

::A BUFFALO Film Industry (Slideshow)::

My final Photo Slideshow.

A Buffalo Film Industry

My Photo Media Story. The media part of my article “Wait…A Film Industry In Buffalo??”