A Witness to History

Yesterday, I made my way to Capitol Hill to watch as Sen. Edward Kennedy’s motorcade drove past on its way to Arlington National Cemetery. According to CNN, there were approximately 1000 people gathered to witness history.

The crowd waves and applauds as Sen. Edward Kennedy's motorcade pulls up to the U.S. Capitol

I was a bit surprised by the atmosphere when I arrived – it felt more like a picnic than a funeral. People brought their dogs with them (I saw plenty of Portuguese water dogs), and children were running around and playing. Once the motorcade pulled up, I did not see any tears. It seemed as if the entire crowd was applauding and cheering. Some even began chanting his name.

Because I got to Capitol Hill so late, I was not able to see the ceremony that took place, but from my vantage point, I very clearly heard them singing America the Beautiful (the people around me joined in).

I was curious as to what I didn’t see, so I’ve included video I found of the ceremony outside the Capitol.

As I watched coverage of Kennedy’s funeral on TV, I’ve constantly been impressed by the way his family members have conducted themselves. My mom passed away in April and I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have to share my grief with the world.

As the Kennedy family left the Capitol to continue the journey to Arlington, I was struck by the fact that they shouted thank yous to those who had gathered to watch.

I almost didn’t go to the Capitol. It was a text message from my dad, asking if I was there that motivated me to head out. As he told me afterwords, I saw history yesterday.

A news crew getting ready to file a report from a building across the street from the Capitol

The hearse bearing Sen. Edward Kennedy's body stops in front of the Capitol where his current and former staffers joined members of Congress and the Senate to say farewell.

Changing my point of view in three short weeks

When I first decided on journalism as my career, I was under the impression that I would work solely in print. I was adamant that I would go nowhere near a camera, and I certainly would not be putting video stories togther – that was for the technical people, not me.

Kristin McGrath takes a photo while Sean Connolly and Kristin Tangel decide where to visit first.

Now that I have gone through bootcamp, I have completely changed my tune. I cannot wait to get behind the camera again or grab my digital recorder and create a story by melding still photos and audio. While gathering what I needed for my multimedia stories was challenging, I couldn’t help but feel exhilerated when I saw the final product, knowing that I had done it.

In addition to getting hands-on experience, we were also given the opportunity to listen to some pretty impressive guest speakers. They came from different perspectives (some were more old-school while others embraced the changes in journalism) and from different media, but they all had valuable insight to share with us.

They all had different experiences with journalism, but there seemed to be some common themes running through all the talks:

• have specialized knowledge in one area, but have a passable knowledge of many others
• be able to use all types of media – don’t limit yourself to one platform
• you must be passionate about what you do
• the Internet may be making life difficult for some journalists, but it’s also opening a lot of doors for others, especially those of us who know how to take advantage of technology

The past three weeks have been overwhelming and stressful, but they have also been eye-opening. Despite all the claims that journalism is a dying field, I came away from the course with a new sense of optimism. It may be difficult, but I know that if I am determined, I can find a way to do my dream job.

Bootcamp was a great way to get me ready for my classes in the fall. I am more curious and more motivated to experiences new forms of media and to break out of the box that I had confined myself in. I have no idea what the future holds, but I can’t wait to experience it.

Throughout bootcamp, we were encouraged to record our lectures and I’ve decided to include a slideshow to give an idea of what the past three weeks have been.

Bootcamp: The Last Day

The major lesson I am taking away from the last three weeks is the need to learn how to use new forms of media.

One of our last guestspeakers was Jan Schaffer, the executive director for the Institute for Interactive Journalism (J-Lab). The goal of the institute is to rethink and reform journalism.

J-Lab works with the intention of giving citizens more resources to report what they observe.

Schaffer commented that “jourmalists today have become almost stenographers.” They simply report what is being said regardless of whether it is true or not. She wants to change the idea that once a reporter has told a story, it’s over.

From Gadfly to Respected Journalist

“Be prepared for hostility and isolation if you want to do anything worthwhile.” This was the lesson Jeremy Stone learned from his father, I.F. Stone.

Jeremy watched as his father was punished for his “radical” views through increasing isolation. He compared his father to Walter Lippmann, a reporter who was able to interview the most important sources, but never questioned what his sources told him. Jeremy pointed out that decades later, his father’s writings are considered more important than those of Lipmann.

Because he started his own weekly, I.F. is called the first blogger. His son admitted that his father would have had a much easier time publishing his works today.

Although our two guestspeakers today were quite different, they both came with the same message – it’s important to tell a story in a different way. As journalists, we must not only report the facts, but question their veracity and provide our readers with the most accurate information we can.

Forcing Old Media to Embrace the New

One theme  that I have been noticing throughout bootcamp is the idea that established news organizations just don’t seem to get new media. Jim Brady’s account of working as the executive editor of washingtonpost.com. While major newspapers bring prestige with the name, they also bring the “baggage of an old legacy brand.”

Brady said that when he first helped launch the Washington Post’s Web site, the attitude he encountered was, “Who wants to get information that way?” With newspapers, the print publication will always come before the online edition.

The Problem with Print

In order to appeal to the widest segment of readers, newspapers have to be general interest publications. This may work in print, but according to Brady, the general interest model doesn’t work on the Web. Because there is such a wide range of content online, for a Web site to do well, it should find its niche and do it well.

Print publications are also so focused on beating the competition that they do not look at Web sites as a way to share information, but as a way to expand revenue. Web sites instead provide a way for the author to share their expertise and the readers to interact.

“You can’t just produce a site assuming you’re the only one writing about that topic,” Brady said. “You have to make yourself the go-to source.”

Rather than acting like readers will not go to any othe Web site if you don’t remind them to, it is necessary to create a community – to share links to related sites and to interact with readers.

Preparing a New Generation of Journalists

Editing: Day Two

Anel and I had finished editing the majority of our video project on Tuesday, so we spent today fine tuning what we had. My biggest concern was creating a coherent story that had a natural flow. Unfortunately, while we were editing, we realized that our piece would benefit for additional B roll that we didn’t have. (In particular, I felt that the second interview segment with the tour bus driver would have worked better.)

I was surprised that using Final Cut Pro came as easily as it did to me. When I was in high school, I attempted to use Avid in one of my media classes and failed miserably. When I do video stories during the semester, I want to work on my interviewing skills and on making my editing tighter. While I know I my video skills leave much to be desired, I’m proud that I was able to work in a new medium and create a finished product.

Remembering a Legend

Watching the special on Walter Cronkite’s life (of which our guest speaker Susan Zirinisky was executive producer) reminded me of why I want to be a journalist. I hope to avoid the current politicization of news and follow Cronkite’s example of providing a calm and unbiased look at the nation and the world.

Although I was not able to see him in action (I was born after he retired from CBS), he still was the voice of history; when I watch footage of the major events of the late 20th century, he was always there. I agree with the commentators in the Cronkite special that there will never be another journalist with his influence (and that probably is a good thing), but I hope to be in a generation of journalists who will be a throwback to the values he obviously held closely – he didn’t feel the necessity to share his opinions, he simply reported the news.

Susan Zirinsky – “I embrace the fear”

Anyone entering a new career is bound to experience anxiety. According to Susan Zirinsky, an executive producer of CBS’s “48 Hours,” told American University journalism graduate students that they have to learn to embrace the fear, that it is important.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a job I felt I was ready for,” Zirinsky said.

I always assumed the on-the-job fear goes away, but Zirinsky’s frank admission, especially considering her accomplishments and experience, made me feel a little better about my own anxiety.

While her talk covered a multitude of topics, she continued the theme we have heard for the last two weeks during bootcamp – embrace technology.

While some of our guestspeakers have sounded a negative note about the future of journalism, Zirinsky explained that because of the Internet, we will have many more places to get a job. We will face the challenge of finding out “how to have a voice” though.

Zirinsky advised us to find a job that we “can’t wait to get to the office in the morning” even if it terrifies us.

My First Video Story

I have come to the conclusion that the ability to edit video is an art form. Capturing our footage was a challenge in and of itself, but deciding the most effective way to put these separate pieces of video together was harder than I thought it would be. I have a new respect for B roll and how, if used effectively, it can bring an entire piece together. Here is my first effort creating a video story (I worked with  Anel Ramazanova . I look forward to learning techniques that will improve my skills.

Learning Skills for the Future

Yesterday we learned about shooting video footage. Today we learned how to take that raw footage and mold it into the story we want to tell.  But before we could create something new, it was time for our toughest critics, our classmates, to give feedback on our audio slideshows. It was hard to hear some of the comments, but rather than nursing my bruised ego, I will take those critiques with me next time, and hopefully create something better.

Rob Roberts, USA Today’s senior video editor, returned to give us a crash-course in using Final Cut Pro. (He admitted that he normally dedicates days to teaching the program to his students; we had an hour.) I felt as if Roberts was bombarding me with information, but once I sat down and began editing the footage my partner and I captured yesterday, I realized that quite a bit of what he said had sunk in.

AU journalism students learn the first step of video editing - putting the footage onto a computer.

After Professor Carolyn Brown showed us how to transfer the video from the camera to an external hard drive, we were free to create. I’ve learned through this course that learning new programs and unfamiliar technology is a process of trial and error. There’s only so much we can learn in the classroom.

Today was overwhelming and exhilerating. I have never considered myself to be a technology-friendly person, but this course has challenged me and forced me to realize that I am capable of doing more than just print stories. I need a lot more work before I will be capable of producing professional pieces, but I am confident that I will not always feel out of my element when I am introduced to new technology.

All the equipment needed to get started in the editing process.

Out in the Field

“Video isn’t that hard,” proclaimed Rob Roberts, senior video editor at USA Today. After toiling in the DC heat, trying to get tourists to talk in front of a camera, I’m not so sure I believe him. In addition to getting compelling quotes, my partner and I had to be aware of how the shot was composed and that we were capturing quality audio.

Before sending us out to create our own stories, Roberts, with input from professors Josh Hatch and Jill Olmsted, explained how to create a video story that will compel people to  watch. His rules about shooting video include:

• It’s time-consuming.
• We have to know our audience and the medium.
• It’s all about the story.

Roberts explains his rules when creating an online story.

Video stories can provide viewers with a more engaging product because they can see and hear the story. At the same time, unless a reporter is willing to actively market the content, posting a well-made video online does not mean people will watch it. In order to build an audience, Roberts said, “In Web video, being fast is more important than being good.”

What it takes to be a videogropher

Roberts emphasized the fact that, in order to create good video, we have to be “pushy.”  Unlike in other forms of media, there is more gray area in what we can ask our interviewee to do. While we cannot tell them to do anything they wouldn’t do normally, we also have to keep in mind lighting and audio. The question, “Am I changing the situation; am I creating something that isn’t real?” should always be on our minds.

Putting Advice into Practice

After a quick camera tutorial, our professors assigned us stories and sent us out into the summer heat.  I was surprised by how willing people were to talk, but then clam up at the sight of the camera. I definitely need to work on my interviewing skills and discover ways to put my subjects at ease.

I appreciate the advice of professionals who have worked in the field, but these real-world experiences are even more valuable. What is said in the classroom remains an abstract idea until I am able to put it into practice.

The Final Product

This audio slide show is the result of hours spent gathering audio and taking photos at the National Zoo and even more hours spent editing the audio and deciding the best order for my photographs. This is my first attempt at this type of project and hopefully this project has put me on the path toward being more multimedia friendly. Here is the final product.

http://hatchomatic.com/slideshows/becker/

A Day Dedicated to the Radio

My journalistic experience lays solely in writing, editing and designing the layout for newspaper pages. After hearing lectures on what it takes to put together a radio (and experiencing the challenges that come with collecting audio), I am convinced that I had it easy. In print, if a quote is not compelling or the person got to the idea in a roundabout way, I can simply paraphrase the quote and be done with it. In editing audio, not only do I have to find the most compelling part of a quote, but I also have to make sure that it was said clearly. After this experience with audio, I prefer print.

Taking heed of what professionals in all parts of news media have said about embracing technology, AU journalism grad students record Jim Asendio, news director for WAMU, as he shares his words of wisdom.

Unfortunately, changes in journalism make it certain that I will not be able to stick with just one type of news reporting. Jim Asendio told us, “what is being asked of you is much more than what was asked of me” because we will have to be able to write, work with audio, take photographs and shoot video. When I decided that I wanted to be a reporter, I had no idea what I would be expected to do.

Part of what is causing this change is the evolving ideas of the audience. Rather than being content to read newspapers or watch evening newscasts for information, they expect news from multiple places, such as on the Internet or through their cell phones. “If you stay still, you’re crazy,” said Asendio, news director of radio station, WAMU.

Despite the emphasis on new technology, Asendio reminded us that we still need “tell a damn good story.” The best video or audio cannot cover up a poorly written story.

The Limits of Technology

A lower-tech solution to technical problems allowed graduate students to listen to Rawand Darwesh, an SOC alum now living in Kurdistan in Iraq.

We have continually heard how much technology can assist reporters with their stories. Today we also learned its limits and the importance of always having a plan B. Rawand Darwesh, an SOC alumni, lives in Iraq and had agreed to talk to us via Skype. Skype had other ideas. After numerous tries, the tech people had to go back in time and resort to a landline speaker phone and a mic. It was interesting to hear what Darwesh had to say, but it proved to be an even more effective lesson not to expect technology to always work.

Getting Practical Experience

After Asendio’s lecture, we had the opportunity to use the skills we’ve heard. Most of the afternoon was dedicated to editing audio and putting together an audio slide show. I was excited to finally put theory into practice, but after listening to the same piece of audio ten times over, my enthusiasm started to wane. Now that I have finished my first multimedia project, I am proud that I was able to put it together, but also embarrassed at what I’m sure is a sloppy end product.