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.

Telling a Story in the Digital Age

Enthuaistic graduate students make their way to the National Zoo.

Today was the day my classmates and I finally received the opportunity to practice the techniques we’ve been learning about for the last two weeks. After a brief lecture, we were unleashed on the National Zoo. Our professors charged us with the task of creating a story through photos and audio.

The biggest challenge I encountered was finding a way to capture the sound I wanted without the noises I didn’t want getting in the way. Since we were in such a public place, it had trouble finding places where we could interview visitors without the background noise drowning them out.

When it came to taking photos, I attempted to put some of the suggestions Laura Pohl gave during her lecture, in use. I tried to find new angles and vary the types of shots I took. It was odd for me to really think about the scene I wanted to catch before taking the picture.

A young girl watches the turtles and ducks in an exhibit at the National Zoo.

I looked at the whole assignment as a challenge to present the zoo in a new way. Rather than focusing only on the animals (who all seemed to be hiding), my partner Kristin and I decided to focus on the people. While I attempted to get photos of the animals, I also made sure to include the human reactions to them. Sometimes, the best part about going to a public place is the ability to observe human behavior.

Because there was so much to document at the zoo, I know that I will have a difficult time deciding which audio clips and photos will best tell my story.

Storytelling through Audio

Professor Jill Olmsted explains what equipment is needed to record good quality audio.

I’ve never considered the importance of sound as a storytelling tool. As a writer, I’ve always thought of words as the most important aspect of communication, but after spending a day focusing solely on audio, I realize that sound can say much more than words ever could.

Professors Jill Olmsted and Josh Hatch focused on the technical aspects, including what type of equipment to use and how to edit the audio clips into a final product.

Deborah Bolling, a journalist and producer of Youth Voices, put that lecture into practice by leading us to listen to the noises heard in the campus’ quad. We then had to create a story based on what we heard.

In addition to discussing audio in radio productions, Bolling also discussed its use in multimedia projects. Bolling executive produced Millennial Maestros: The Obama Chronicles, in which high school students used video, audio and print to document what they experienced on inauguration day.

Bolling used the evolution of the music industry to explain what people now expect from journalists. She explained that we must be able to take advantage of the available technology and know how to use more than one medium.

Here is a clip I practiced editing.

Muckraking Makes a Comeback in the Digital Age

According to most of the guest speakers who have spoken during bootcamp, passion for the job is necessary for success in journalism. Chuck Lewis and his determination to “hold the bastards accountable, whoever they are, wherever they are” through investigative reporting provided us with the perfect example of passion for one’s job.

Chuck Lewis explains how technology and the Internet help investigative journalists gain access to documents.

In the run up to the invasion of Iraq, the Center for Public Integrity, which Lewis founded, received the then text of the Patriot II Act (the government had denied the existence of this piece of legislation). When the Justice Department asked the center not to publish the document, or “we would sorry,” Lewis said, “We asked them to spell their name, and we posted it immediately.”

Lewis is the epitome of the fearless journalist who doggedly goes after a story, regardless of the consequences.

Many of the guest speakers during bootcamp expressed pessimissim about the future of journalism. Lewis, on the other hand said that because electronic information makes it much easier to do global stories, the “heyday for investigative reporting is yet to come.”

Nothing Can Stop a Determined Journalist

My fellow bootcampers and I caught a glimpse into out professional futures Thursday. Lagan Sebert, a graduate of AU’s master’s program in journalism, shared the experiences he’s had in the field, both during his time studying at AU and after.

Lagan Sebert shows journalism graduate students his multimedia story on the Nationals opening day.

An important part of his message was the importance of being self starters. Despite the fact that he had only just begun his graduate studies, Sebert took initiative and, as a result had the opportunity to contribute content on WAMU, the National Public Radio affiliate licensed to America University.

Citing his interest in international correspondance and the influence of Bill Gentile, the journalist-in-residence at AU’s School of Communication and a backpack journalist who has covered the war in Afghanistan, Sebert arranged a week-long trip to Colombia, where he filmed a documentary “Busco Personas: Faces from Colombia’s War.”

While he, too, emphasized the on-going theme that we must be proficient in incorporating new technology in our reporting if we want to set ourselves apart when looking for jobs, his lecture was a reminder that there is no substitute for determination and persistance when going after what we want.