Final Project Draft

How To Post Soundslides Projects to Blog

How To Post Soundslides Projects to Blog (optional)
As I mentioned, you don't have to post your Soundslide project to the blog -- you can bring it to class and turn it in on a Flash drive. But if you have time and want to try posting it, there are two ways:

1. The first step will be to export from Soundslides (once you're finished), and that will generate a whole folder full of files. Next, upload the Publish_to_Web folder full of files to your Web space.

For Web space, you can use the file hosting service that Maryland provides, ... it's File Manager under TerpConnect
http://terpconnect.umd.edu/myweb

Then post the link to your slideshow to the blog.

The OIT help desk should be able to walk you through any problems that come up with that (http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/4/4781/)

2. Some of you have found that Soundslides lets you convert your project so you can upload it to Blogger or YouTube without having to put it on TerpConnect. Here's how:

First, go to this link:
http://support.soundslides.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=132

Then, after the project is already exported, create a zip file out of the "publish_to_web" folder by using the steps listed based on the type of computer you are using.

Then, click "online video converter." (a link in the first sentence).

Type in your email address and click "continue."

Then, select your file and upload it. It will be converted into an MP4 file and emailed to you.

Go to the link, save it and upload it to the blog.

These steps are all outlined on the Web page.

Issues with Method 2:

Some students in past semesters have reported that the captions are dropping out of Soundslides when the projects are converted to mp4 video files. After doing some digging, I've learned that this is a bug of converting Soundslides to video formats:
(see: http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/using-soundslides/publishing/)

So the best way is to use the first method of uploading that I described and upload the folder of files to the TerpConnect Web space -- that will keep the captions in place.

-Jeff

Links From Audio Week 4

Weslaco Bullriders - Life Lessons Learned Over 8 Seconds

Under One Roof

Slides From Audio Week 4

Audio Week5 Fall2010

Revised Final Project Pitch, by Mark Miller

"As Oakland Hall construction enters final months, ResLife considers UMD student housing's future"

I intend to create an audio slideshow about the construction of Oakland Hall, the student dorm set to open next fall on North Campus. Oakland Hall is newsworthy because of its planned "green" building characteristics, as well as its expected size. The nine-story completed building is expected to house more than 700 students. For my interviews, I will speak to Department of Resident Life officials involved in the project. I hope to also speak to the architects and construction workers, if at all possible. My photographs will focus on Oakland Hall as a work in progress. If I use renders or floor plans of the building in my slideshow, they will be clearly labeled and credited.

Homework Details For Next Class (Week After Thanksgiving)

Homework assignment -- 2 parts again:

Part 1: Produce a profile piece of a person, place, or event.

* Must be at least 2 minutes long, no longer than 3:30.
* Must have at least 2 interviews and 2 ambient sounds.
* Must have hook -- you have to write a headline for the piece. I will ask in class what your headline is.
* Must have a story arc. By this I mean a well-thought-out structure so that it's not just some random collection of facts. Think of how the pieces we listened to in class had a clear beginning, middle, and end, and do that with your piece.
* All sources must be clearly identified with first and last name and one identifying detail (age, year in school, etc).
* You cannot interview close friends or family members in this piece unless pre-approved by your editor (me).
* Your final audio file, in mp3 format, must be uploaded to the iTunesU dropbox by start of next class. Do not wait until class to upload. We'll go by the time stamp on the dropbox, and work uploaded after noon will lose points.
* File names must include your first name, last name, and the word "profile."

Part 2: Assigned Listening:


Ira Glass on Storytelling #3

Ira Glass on Storytelling #4

Links From Audio Week 3

Examples from this week's class:


Ira Glass on Storytelling #1

Ira Glass on Storytelling #2

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Say Something, Romain Quinn

This American Life: Turncoat (starts at about 13:54)

The Hunter (profile of a dumpster diver)

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Say Something, Zora Howard

NPR Morning Edition: Airman Honored For Bravery During Fierce Battle

WSJ: Young Australian Puts a New Spin on Bowling: He Throws Two-Handed

Jeff Samson Final Project Pitch

I was thinking of doing an expose of the conditions on the campus farm and how out of date the resources are. There is a problem with the footing conditions of the footing for the horses. I would talk to a number of students and a few teachers. I would use mainly video, but I would try to incorporate the other elements as well.
It should be about 3-3:30 minutes.

I could call it "A hoof up on the competition" (Bad name I know)

Ashley Koerber, Final Project Pitch

Local tanning salons losing business.

My final project will be based on the topic I discussed this week during my MOS interviews: the tanning tax. In July 2010, a 10% tax on indoor tanning beds went into effect. Ever since, the Beach Tanning Centers in College Park has lost a significant amount of customers. Owner Scott Magnus was forced to lower his prices in order to draw in more customers. To make matters worse, many of the new apartment buildings in College Park have installed indoor tanning beds for their tenants to use for free.

For my project, I plan on interviewing Magnus, as well as some of his employees, about how the tax and the installment of indoor tanning beds have impacted the business. I also plan on interviewing some of the salon's clients about their opinions on the tax. I will construct graphics using FDA's literature regarding the implementation of the tax. As a former intern of FDA, I will try to conduct an interview with an official. This will be majority of a video project, but I will use some audio recordings from my MOS interviews. I will try to incorporate some pictures as much as I can.

Final Project Pitch, Vanessa Pacheco

Camille Michelle Gray is a student on campus, as well as an aspiring musician. In an attempt to market herself as an artist, she has dedicated this semester to attending every possible open mic in the area. She also uses several online platforms to open her music up to an international audience. Her recent cover of a Kid Cudi song landed her with around 20,000 views. I've been following her journey (I even wrote a story about her for a random class assignment) and would love to be able to present it visually.

Possible Titles: I could use "Camille Gray Has Heart" (name of her album is "Have Heart"), but I really liked my title I used for the article "Camille, College, and the Pursuit of Happiness." (the name of the song she covered was called "The Pursuit of Happiness")

Final Project Pitch, Josh Cooper

For my final project, I will be doing an all-audio story about a man I met on the street in my hometown. My plan is to produce an audio story about him, like some of the NPR programs like This American Life. The man was homeless, he goes by the name "Peaches," and I happened to strike up a conversation with him while I had an audio recorder with me. I got hours of tape of him telling his dramatic and tragic life story.

Title: "Peaches for Lunch"

Final Project Pitch Williamson

Possible Headline: A Never Ending Balance of Powers: Managing Pedestrian and Automobile traffic on campus

I plan to focus on the pedestrian traffic in three different spots: near the M, outside of Stamp, and by the construction near CSS. Furthermore, I plan to ask students what they think about this issue and interview someone from DOTS to get an official source on the matter. I'm also going to add some first hand driving experience to show viewers what it's like driving at a bad time on campus. It will be a combination of video and audio. I think the piece will last about 4 minutes

Final Project Pitch, Allison Trobiano

I would like to do a combination of video and audio for my final project. I want to focus on the "blue laws" that are still enforced in Bergen County, N.J, which prohibit basically all kinds of shopping on Sundays. The laws have been in affect for a long time now, but have stirred controversy as Bergen County is one of the last areas in the country to still enforce blue laws, but it is one of the biggest retail areas in the country too with 5 major shopping malls. With the holidays coming up, the malls become much crazier, and I think I could get some good footage to display the chaos on Saturdays and even weekdays. I would like to interview several people with different opinions on the blue laws as well, some of which could act as audio over video footage. I also think I would include audio of myself as well to give a short explanation and background information on the situation to fill in what isn't said by my interviewees.

Potential headline: Bergen County Shoppers Held Back on Sundays

Final Project Pitch, Jon Wolper

I was thinking, for my final project, of doing a profile piece on WMUC, the campus radio station. I would talk to a few of the students who have administrative roles at the station, and also sit in on a couple of DJs while they do their shows. I could focus the piece — a video piece, most likely — around a certain DJ, maybe, and what they do, highlighted by the administrative interviews. Also, I know bands are sometimes brought in to the studio, so I'd definitely try to film one of those performances. Ultimately, I want to bring light to the daily operations of WMUC and the kind of people who work there.

Potential headline: "Music to their ears: The DJs of WMUC"

Final Project Pitch, by Mark Miller

Possible headline: "Student Comedy Troupe Aims to Stand Up, Stand Out"

I'm considering a video-based feature on Erasable Inc., one of the student comedy groups on campus. For my project, I will probably film one of their performances in front of McKeldin Library and use clips from it along with interviews with members of the group and probably also members of the audience. I am particularly interested in exploring the cohesion (or potentially, the lack thereof) within a comedy group like Erasable Inc., as well as the type of people who are members.

Final Project Pitch, Erin Borg

I want to do my final project on the huge flea market that is held every weekend in New York City’s SoHo. I am not sure what the flea market is called, but I manage to go at least once every year with my mom, my sister, and some friends. There are always all kinds of artists who sell their original creations. I am going there this weekend, so I will get all of the visuals and audio I need for my final project then. I plan to use only photos and audio--no video. It will be very feature-y: I’ll ask the various artists to describe a little bit about themselves, how they became interested in art, how long they have been selling their art at the flea market, etc. I know that some of them have another job on the side, but for some, the flea markets are their only source of income; I will try to focus on the latter. There are usually many eclectic, sometimes crazy, artists who are willing to explain their motivations behind the art, so I think I will be able to get some good audio. The visuals are sure to be interesting because many of them will be of art and NYC.

Final Project Pitch, Elby Hernandez

I've always been intrigued by the Maryland Food Co-op, which is located in Stamp Student Union. I never really understood what the premise behind it was, why they only accept cash, why students can work for food, and so forth so I thought I'd profile the store and the people that work there. I recorded some video there for a video project earlier on this semester for the video slice, so that's where I kind of got the idea to profile it. I would want to interview managers of the store, as well as some volunteers, and record what they do on a daily basis. Maybe being able to sit in on a meeting would be important/useful as well. It would be mostly be video but with photo and audio in it as well.

Elby Hernandez

Final Project Pitch, Jessie Brecher

For my final project, I wanted to do something on my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I wanted to see they holiday from many different perspectives and ask many different people what they're thankful for. I'm planning on taking pictures and video of my own Thanksgiving, but I also took sound and pictures at the dining hall's annual Thanksgiving dinner this past Wednesday night. My idea is that no matter how young or how old you are, you are always thankful for something. I think the interesting part to this piece will be both the similarities and differences that are found amongst the different age groups. I'm really excited to see how this project comes together with the audio, photos and video I collect.

final project pitch, Claire Saravia

Possible headline: It's in the Bag--the People of the Takoma Park Farmer's Market

For my final project, I was hoping to do an audio/photograph slide show of the Takoma Park farmer's market, a weekly outdoor market that comes every Sunday morning and fills up the entire town center square with people, vendors, and entertainers. The farmer's market itself is open year-round and has been a fixture in the city for almost 30 years. Out of all of the farmer's markets in the metropolitan area, the Takoma Park farmers market has cultivated a strong following over the years for the variety of vendors and the strong clientele. But the farmer's market is more than food--it's a place for the community to congregate or for people to express ideas, a place where you can watch a 5-man orchestra play classical pieces, and a place for kids to draw on the sidewalk and listen to a man sing songs on a banjo or watch someone juggle.

I was inspired to do a photo-audio slide show after seeing one on the Washington Post website. I want to have a slide show of photos that correspond to the audio that's going on in the background to make it a story. I already have some good photos I want to use from the photography slice, and I'm planning on using some of the audio I used my audio man on the street project.

Final Project Pitch, Spiegelman

Possible headline: When Sports Journalism Has Gone Too Far

Basically, I want to extend the coverage from the annual Povich Symposium where sports journalists and media personalities alike discussed the everchanging landscape in sports coverage today. There is essentially new rules and responsibilities to the profession -- Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and a greater emphasis on fast-breaking news than credibility, quality and accuracy. I plan on using some of the audio clips from the Symposium, in addition to some in-person interviewed w\ established reporters and hopefuls, and photos as well.

Final Project Pitch, Kelsey Miller

Tentative Headline: Welcome to Bagel Place, Can I Help Your Hangover?

For my final project, I was thinking of doing a video/photography presentation on the restaurant Bagel Place on rt. 1. I have a friend that works there and I was hoping she could help me get in touch with a manager and other employees about doing some interviews, getting footage, etc.

The restaurant has a lot of unique, University of Maryland-related menu items and always has long lines on Saturday and Sunday mornings as students are just waking up. I want to speak to a manager, employees and customers and get some footage of the bagel-making machine and their operations to add interest.

Final Project Pitch, McKenna Grant

For my final project, I intend to use video, audio, and photography to capture the behind the scenes rehearsals and final performance of Ballet Company M, a dance company on campus that performs every semester at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.  I am a member of Ballet Company M and choreograph for the company so I will have access to all rehearsals, practices, and members.  I want to use video for the majority of my final project because dance is such a visual art form.  The sound of pointe shoes tapping against the floor does not supply the image of the actual movements the dancers are creating to the sound of music.  I know that I will be able to get a lot of great video and photos of the dancers, as well as interviews with the dancers through audio that I could pair up with the images I gather. 

Final Project Pitch, Sarah Meehan

Tentative headline: U of M students belt it out

For my final project, I plan to do an audio slideshow on Florencia en el Amazonas--an opera that the University of Maryland School of Music is putting on this coming weekend. When I found out we were having an opera, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for an audio piece. I'm not sure what the photography situation will be, but I'll find out at the dress rehearsal tonight if I can take pictures during the show, and if I can't during the show, hopefully I can get into the dressing rooms or backstage ahead of time. I plan on attending multiple performances and conducting interviews with performers and producers after the show is over.

Homework for Next Week

2 Parts (but no assigned listening this week)

Part 1: Produce a Man-on-the-street piece
Interview at least 3 people
All people must be identified with first and last name
Capture at least 2 pieces of natural or ambient sound to add to the piece
Edit together the piece, with an introduction, using Audacity
Must be at least 2 minutes, no more than 4 minutes
Post to iTunesU dropbox by start of next class

Part 2: Post a Final Project Pitch
Post to the blog a short pitch for what your final project will be on. Provide a short description of what it will be, what format you want to do (audio slideshow, video, etc), and a tentative headline. Pitch must be posted by start of class.

Links From Audio Week 2

Here are the examples I played in class:

BackStory -- Coming Home: A History of War Veterans

NPR: Crafting Radio's Driveway Moments

Audio Postcard: Sounds from the Appalachian String Band Festival

NPR: A Mission To Save Real Jewish Delis, A Dying Breed

Audio Postcard: The National Hollerin' Contest

Slides From Audio Week 2

Audio Week 2 Fall2010 Group2

Homework Details: Expert Interview

Assigned listening:

On The Media: Pulling Back the Curtain

Audio Production Homework: Conduct interview with an "expert" (no editing)

Think of it as a podcast interview for a newspaper Web site or an audio extra to go along with a newspaper story online (feel free to use a subject from an article you're working on now for another class, etc).

Start your interview with some sort of short intro, similar to what we did in class today.

And have some sort of ending, like: "Thanks for talking with us.” and the person saying “great to be here” (or some such).

What am I looking for?
+ no less than 2 minutes no more than 5 min.
+ did you find a quiet place to record?
+ did you avoid handling noise?
+ did you hold the mic the proper distance?
+ clear intro and some sort of sign-off?
+ did you ask good questions? (were you prepared?)

Due by start of class -- upload to the iTunes U Dropbox.

Links From Audio Week 1

NPR: Despite GOP Wins, Hill May See Fewer Women

Radio Diary: Growing Up With Tourette's

Radio Lab

NYTimes Back Story

Slides From Audio Week 1

Audio Week 1 Fall2010 Take2

Welcome to The Slice is Right

I guess I should say 'Come on down!' Welcome to group 3, the final audio slice, which has chosen to name their audio show "The Slice is Right."

Favorite Audio Piece-Ellen Fishel

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/interactives/dcschools/galleries/coolidge/coolidge.html

I really enjoyed this audio slideshow, because it took an extremely important topic and made it personal and relatable. The pictures are vivid and match perfectly with the audio. The audio is extremely captivating and had a great mix of interviews and natural sound. The part of the piece I found most profound was the still of the principal talking to a student, praising her for her hard work. It was clear that the reporter was there capturing this exact moment, which is so important for great audio pieces. I really enjoyed the way this piece was put together, and I was definitely moved by it.

Nancy Pham | audio piece

The Bride Price is an audio slideshow depicting the lives of girls, as young as 8, who were forced to marry a stranger decades older than them. In many developing countries, girls are devalued, unappreciated, basically just tools for men. The slideshow, by Stephanie Sinclair, didn't include video, which I felt was unnecessary. Pictures and audio were all you needed. If you look at the photos of these young girls, you can see a lost world in their eyes. Their eyes are so empty, you wonder if there is even a soul left in that body. There were a few graphic images of several girls who actually burned their whole bodies; I thought that was horrifying. As a female, I could not imagine living this way. No one should have to, but these girls do.

http://www.mediastorm.com/clients/the-bride-price-for-icrw

Alexa Kravitz, Favorite Audio Piece

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4800480

I really love this piece because cupcakes are a favorite of mine, yet I am fascinated by the widespread success a trendy dessert has had in spanning the country. This piece discusses the opening of the "cupcake boutique" Sprinkles in Los Angeles as a competitor to New York's famous Magnolia Bakery. The Brian Unger Report covers this trend in a humorous but true way. He compares the Los Angeles New York cupcake rivalry to the East Coast West Coast rap battles of the 90s. What makes this piece so interesting is his intermittent script with wonderful ambient sound like the customer checking out a cupcake. Although I find it difficult to listen to audio, he paints a picture of what it looks like inside the store through his questioning of the store owner. I thought this piece was a wonderfully done report of a topic that I am interested in.

Lareine Karpouzian. Multimedia Piece.

http://livewirez.wordpress.com/features-stories/crystal-barnes/

I really liked this piece. It's by a student at an Australian journalism school, and she talks about bipolar disorder and how it affects a person diagnosed with it and her significant other who does not share the disease. Also being a psychology major, this story touched me and I really understood where the couple was coming from. The interviewee, Crystal Barnes, is very professional in her speaking and I thought, overall, that the piece was well-composed and informative as well as being touching.

Alissa Gulin, Favorite Audio Piece

This audio piece, “Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: Hendrix for Kids,” drew me in because the title put an intriguing spin on a tried-and-true profile subject who I’m already interested in. Jimi Hendrix’s music is rarely approached from this angle, but the National Public Radio staff got in touch with the author, Gary Golio, of a book interpreting Hendrix’s life and music in a kid-friendly way, allowing him to explain what children can learn from Hendrix. It was a very unique piece and I enjoyed listening to the author’s perspectives. The author said Hendrix’s mother died when he was 15, and Golio discussed the impact that tragedy had on his childhood and ultimately his music. He said many of the less typical Hendrix songs were based on events that left a drastic impression on him during his childhood and exemplify the values that our children should be learning. The author focuses on the fact that Hendrix dreamed from early on in his childhood of being a rock musician, but many young children today whom he’s spoken to said they don’t know what they want to be when they grow up. Golio found that response troubling, and decided to present the story of Hendrix’s life through a child-friendly story, using pictures and simplified a story structure to relay his ideas. He said he became “a detective” as he researched Hendrix’s life and music influences for the book, and it was interesting to get the inside scoop of his motives for writing such an unexpected book. I really liked this piece because Golio's soothing voice somehow held me captive while he talked about the rock legend’s legacy that’s relevant for people of all ages.

favorite audio piece - Rachel Karitis

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/88/numbers

This is a link to one of my favorite "This American Life" audio pieces. First of all, I really enjoy "This American Life" because I think Ira Glass seems like a really cool guy, and I just find his voice very relaxing to listen to. I also like the variety of topics discussed on the program, whether they're whimsical or more serious.

I picked this piece in particular because it's one of the more light-hearted ones, called "Numbers." It's the entire episode, and I enjoyed pretty much all of it. I liked it because it was about using numbers in unconventional ways, as in an attempt to quantify things which can't and probably shouldn't be quantified. I enjoyed this topic because despite the fact that I want to be a journalist and deal with writing, I have always enjoyed numbers and have often tried to quantify the unquantifiable. I find solid, objective viewpoints to be comforting. In journalism, this can be hard, but trying to be as objective as possible is a valuable goal.

Angela Wong: "Out My Window"

Out My Window

http://interactive.nfb.ca/#/outmywindow

My favorite audio piece, Out My Window, is a compilation of interactive soundslides that tells 49 stories in 13 languages of people around the world who live in high-rise buildings in 13 cities.

The project, by Katerina Cizek, aims to replicate a 360-degree setting on the website and in its videos. I've never seen 360-degree footage before that invites viewers to practically stand in an apartment, look outside the windows and examine the people who live there. Out the Window is part of a larger project called HIGHRISE that is a multi-year multimedia project about people who live in these buildings.

Out My Window is made up of brief soundslides that focus on a city and a person who lives in a high-rise there. To me, the soundslides give a better understanding than if it were video instead. With the still photos, I could focus on each shot's message and listen to the audio narration and natural and ambient sounds in the background that really pulled things together.

The interactive elements made it into a user experience unlike many others. For example, the clicking and dragging to encompass the 360-degree view increased the interactivity on the limited medium of a simple computer screen that only allows users to look at something from one direction. It also showed animated text. The text and audio matched so one video had a word flash when an interviewee said the word gunshot; another video had switched the order of two words when the interviewee said trade.

I found the stories very moving. As diverse as they were, these people had a few things in common, such as living in tall apartment buildings in cities and existing within a community. It's interesting to see the different perspectives and viewpoints expressed in each documentary and to see a small glimpse of what their lives are like. These were ordinary people whom you would not know by name, however, each have a story. Where they live helps form their identity as a member of that community. This project emphasizes the importance of each person because they are a part of a group, regardless of their lack of fame. It depicts members like a man in Havana who organizes underground poetry slams that are forbidden by the strict government, to a mother in Istanbul who holds on to letters from her son living in another country, hoping better things will come for him. The project shows what people are doing within their own high-rise communities to build and maintain relationships that hold the community together given what they have.

Joel Barnes, Favorite Audio Piece

Microsoft’s Kinect is a new video game technology that enables users to engage in a controller free gaming and entertainment experience. Kinect is for Microsoft’s XBOX 360 gaming system, and with it people can use physical gestures to control what goes on in the actual video game. Instead of using a traditional controller, all you need is your arms and legs. This NPR piece does a great job of explaining this new technology. I like how the people in this piece are actually using Kinect and I felt as though I was right there while they were playing. Kinect utilizes a camera with a sensor to detect your physical motions, the sensor recognizes your gestures and your avatar in the game virtually performs your gestures. The technology is very interesting and this piece effectively illustrates how to use the technology. You can also use spoken commands to control Kinect, which is highlighted in the piece. I like the natural sound of the people using Kinect, particularly when they were playing the exercise game.

Link:http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=130979892&m=130979879

Matt Birchenough, Favorite Audio Piece

I really love this piece remembering Bob Sheppard, the longtime public address announcer for the New York Yankees. Sheppard, who died in July, had a legendary voice that became a key part of the experience of going to a Yankees game. His longevity and the eloquence of his voice made him one of the few P.A. announcers whose name was just as well known at the players he introduced during the games. This NPR piece captures the unique qualities of the man who became known as "The Voice of God." NPR used the audio of his actual game announcements to give an idea as to why he was so unique. The sound bites from the interview with Sheppard explains why he adopted that style and revealed parts of his job that one would never really think about, such as the enjoyment of saying certain names. I also like how it ended on the fact that Derek Jeter will continue to have a recording of Sheppard introducing him before every at-bat at Yankee Stadium for the rest of his career. It acts as a way to extend the story and Sheppard's legacy into the future.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128470514

Yaman Shalabi, Favorite Audio Piece

http://www.mediastorm.com/publication/friends-for-life

The clip I choose is about two complete strangers that meet at an old age in a Wal-Mart breakfast booth and eventually become the best of friends. I don’t usually listen to audio pieces but this one made me laugh and almost made me cry. It evoked in me feelings of happiness and sadness. At times I found the material extremely cute and others absolutely depressing. Julie Winokur was able to take such an easy simple subject and turn it into something compelling, something complex.

The story follows a 76-year-old man who has been single his entire life and a 90-year-old man who is struggling to take care of his ailing wife, who is dying of Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease. His undying loyalty to his wife in such a difficult and stressful situation is absolutely inspiring. I think it’s also funny how the two men kind of develop their own bromance. They move in together. The younger of the two starts cooking and doing much of the work. Although it doesn’t end well for any of them I still think this piece is exceptionally breathtaking.

Jason Lewis, Favorite Audio Story

My favorite audio clip is a story about a young 21-year-old man named John Mills who is serving prison time for robbery. Mills was given a tape recorder in order to record his life as a prison inmate. I was drawn to the piece because I figured that it would have really cool natural sound, and it did. It reinforced the fact that natural sounds should not be arbitrarily used, but should instead be used to advance the story along and provide a sense of setting.

I particularly liked the fact that we were constantly reminded of the lack of control that prisoners have over their own lines. Each time the story transitions to another physical location or point in time, it is the voice of the officers inside the facility that dictate the location and time that the story transitions to. Every time Mills experiences a moment of normalcy and outside reality, it is eventually taken away by the voice of some prison official or loudspeaker message. This is exemplified in the scenes where his mother is visiting him and where he’s zoning out to his music at the end of the story. We are reminded by the voices of prison officials, from over the loudspeaker, that he is still a prisoner.

http://www.albany.edu/talkinghistory/radiodiaries/rd-pd-john.mp3

Favorite Audio Piece -- Sarah Katz-Hyman

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130148461&sc=emaf

Although this story is very short I think it does a perfect job in evoking what its subject is all about.

About two months ago I started playing the ukulele. My mom, sent me this link last month and I never checked it out. When we were told about this assignment I remembered that my mom had sent me something from NPR, so I decided to see what it was. It turns out that this was my favorite piece, even after searching for the past week for something longer.

I really like the use of NAT sound in this piece. The sound selection is so witty and the NAt sound is really used to give you an idea of space and time. I especially like the song that closes out the piece because it gives the ukulele and more importantly the people who play it character.

I do think the story sidetracks a little with the portion talking about other records being broken, but comes back nicely with the final song. It does, on the other hand, give you an idea of what music means to people, even if what they play can sometimes be considered childish.

This piece had witty character, great NAT sound, and even the short time helped express what the ukulele was. Its a quick and fun listen that will put a smile on your face.

Colleen Jaskot, Favorite Audio Piece

http://mediastorm.com/publication/evidence-of-my-existence

Generally, I am not a fan of audio pieces—maybe because I am scarred from growing up listening to my dad’s talk radio. But whatever the reason, I always feel like I’d rather be able to see what is going on rather than just listening, even if people are just talking. For the most part, I also feel that in multimedia pieces, I’d rather see video of what is actually happening than audio accompanying pictures. However, I think that this kind of project is the perfect fit for what this piece is about, which is Jim Lo Scalzo’s experience as a photojournalist and what he has learned. As he talks about all the horrific things he has covered, it is more effective for him to narrate it and for people to actually see pictures of what he is talking about. There is some video too, but I think it would be just as effective with only the pictures. This is one of my favorites because it was one of the few times that I saw a multimedia piece I did not think I’d rather see in some other form of media.

It also explores a topic that I think is universal, whether you are a journalist or not, or your job involves traveling or not. It is about juggling your job and family, the sacrifices you make for each and choosing what is more important. The answer is different for different people, obviously, but I think it is something interesting that everyone deals with in some way or another.

Audio Story by Jared Wosleger

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=3235125

I chose this clip because I am a die-hard Mets fan, and the comeback in the 10th inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is one of the greatest miracles in baseball history.

Down by 2 runs in the 10th inning of an elimination game; 2 strikes on Gary Carter, the Mets pieced together a remarkable and historical rally to force a Game 7. The radio call when Mookie Wilson slapped the ball down the 1st base line gives me chills every time I hear it. "Little roller up along first, behind the bag, IT GETS THROUGH BUCKNER, here comes Knight, and the Mets win it!!!!!!!!!"

The call was made by legendary sports caster Vin Scully on NBC. After making that legendary call, Scully said nothing for nearly 3 minutes after that play, allowing the pictures and sounds of the Shea Stadium crowd tell the remainder of the story. When he finally came back on air, Scully said "If one picture is worth a thousand words, you have seen about a million words, but more than that, you have seen an absolutely bizarre finish to Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The Mets are not only alive, they are well, and they will play the Red Sox in Game 7 tomorrow!"

Julie Baughman, Favorite Audio Piece

http://mediastorm.com/publication/new-york-reacts

This is a piece by television producer Ray Farkas which was composed two days after the bombing of the World Trade Center. All of the audio and video in this piece is recorded as discreetly as possible in that, he wasn't asking people for interviews but rather recording conversations as he came across them. The combination of the ambient sounds of the places that he records and the heartfelt words of the citizens of New York make this piece not only informative and realistic, but inspirational as well.

Audio Story Jamie Lee

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/47/christmas-and-commerce

David Sedaris is one of my favorite authors, simply because he's funny. It's easy to laugh in a full theater, or even in an empty living room with a good comic on TV. It's a lot harder to laugh while reading a book. But Sedaris manages to elicit this reaction consistently with his written work. This link is a replay of the original airing of his short story "Santaland Diaries," which chronicles his work as an elf in the Herald Square Macy's for two Christmases. In typical Sedaris fashion, it's funny without trying too hard, and hearing his intonations while he reads his own work adds more flavor to the already well-seasoned piece. It demonstrates how audio can still provide excellent entertainment--maybe even better than movies or the TV.

Homework Details for Next Week

It's already that time again -- to rotate slice sections. Next week you'll meet one room down in Jamie's video slice.

But you have one last homework for this class... to post a favorite piece of audio to the class blog. It must be a journalistic piece of audio, but it can be any genre -- feature, news, sports, personal essay, etc. It has to be online somewhere so you can post a link to it. Just post the link to the blog and write one short paragraph about what you like about it. That's it -- it's part of your class participation grade, but it's mainly a chance to go out and find some audio you like and think about why it works.

Due next Friday by start of class.

Links from Audio Week 4

Here are the examples shown in class today:

Weslaco Bullriders -- Life Lessons Learned Over 8 Seconds

Under One Roof

Slides for Audio Week 4

Audio Week5 Fall2010

Jared Wosleger: "War Photographer" Reflection/Review

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, WAR PHOTOGRAPHER accounts roughly two years of a photographer James Nachtwey's journey throughout the globe, capturing the essence of war in Indonesia, Kosovo, and Palestine during violent times.

Nachtwey's detailed photographs depicting suffering, pain, and death speak to his enormous amount of courage and bravery in telling the true nature of war; serving as a model for any aspiring photographer's today.

A great photojournalist Robert Capa said "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough." Nachtwey's pictures are good enough because he does whatever it takes to get close enough to the scenes, even if he is risking his own personal survival. What is more inspiring is his ability to demonstrate respect and understanding for those grieving. He believes there is an unspoken agreement with his subjects and environment; by capturing the events in great detail, he is able to capture the attention of people all throughout the world.

One of the most compelling themes of the documentary is the degree to which a covering journalist should become involved in the events, people, and environment that he or she covers. Nachtwey's ability to overcome language barriers and find a bond with his subjects brings up a current issue facing the journalism industry today. Objectivity is stressed as an imperative action that all journalists must take, hoping to remove any biases or opinions from the story. Nachtwey arguably was not objective, however this documentary is an example of why objectivity comes in various forms. He is able to remain calm and highlight the events as they would unfold, and was able to show the true nature of war and what it's like to be a war time photographer.

Some of the images shown through the eyes of Nachtwey are truly moving, and really opened my eyes to wartime photography. Some of the images of riots and poverty in Jakarta Indonesia, or images of abandoned and starved children allow the viewers to understand the life of a war photographer. Throughout the footage of Nachtwey covering in various parts of the world, he appears unmoved by the horrific scenes, almost lacking human emotions and seeming to be a very cold person. By including personal interviews however, he is able to explain the reasons for his behavior, and instead shows how touched and compassionate he is.

Nachtewy's photos are evidence to the world of the enormous potential of a powerful picture. When done correctly, this still portrait can tell a story in a way no other medium can deliver. I am constantly reminded of the age old saying, 'pictures speak a thousand words,' and after watching this documentary I have seen how true that statement is. With the snap of a shot, journalists can educate the public and call attention to societal issues, conflicts, and tragedies occurring in our planet's most ignored regions.

I have gained enormous respect for war photographers after watching this documentary. All to often people are reminded about how taxing a doctor or lawyers' profession is on their lives; however a war photographer must face the real, untamed, brutal and often deadly environments and the sorrows and afflictions of innocent and helpless victims. It can be a saddening and depressing career for any human being, however, I believe this documentary showed me how rewarding war photography can be if done correctly.

Homework Details: Profile of Person, Place, or Event

Reminder: Bring audio recorders and headphones to class this Friday (Oct 29) for an in-class project!
\
Homework assignment:

* Yep, produce a profile piece of a person, place, or event.
* Must be at least 2 minutes long, no longer than 3:30.
* Must have at least 2 interviews and 2 ambient sounds.
* Must have hook -- you have to write a headline for the piece. I will ask in class what your headline is.
* Must have a story arc. By this I mean a well-thought-out structure so that it's not just some random collection of facts. Think of how the pieces we listened to in class had a clear beginning, middle, and end, and do that with your piece.
* All sources must be clearly identified with first and last name and one identifying detail (age, year in school, etc).
* You cannot interview close friends or family members in this piece unless pre-approved by your editor (me).
* Your final audio file, in mp3 format, must be uploaded to the iTunesU dropbox by start of class next Friday. Do not wait until class to upload. We'll go by the time stamp on the dropbox, and work uploaded after noon will lose points.
* File names must include your first name, last name, and the word "profile."

Links From Audio Week 3

Examples from this week's class:

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Say Something, Romain Quinn

This American Life: Turncoat (starts at about 13:54)

The Hunter (profile of a dumpster diver)

The Chronicle of Higher Education: Say Something, Zora Howard

NPR Morning Edition: Airman Honored For Bravery During Fierce Battle

WSJ: Young Australian Puts a New Spin on Bowling: He Throws Two-Handed

Slides From Audio Week 3

Audio Week 4 Fall2010

Alissa Gulin - War Photographer Reflection

Photographers like to say that their still shots are the most powerful medium for conveying emotion, and if this film is any indication, then they’re right. I was struck by the intensity of the sadness and empathy that War Photographer evoked in me and, from the looks of it, my fellow classmates who covered their mouths with the same captivation that I felt myself. The pictures themselves would have been moving enough to provoke tears from most people who view them, but getting the behind-the-scenes perspective was even better able to put me in James Nachteway’s shoes as he moved from one violent scene to the next. It was a shocking, eye-opening perspective that lent the film an element of reality unmatched by any other special effects the director could have used. The vantage point behind the lens that was achieved from his attachable video camera made me feel like I was actually the one on the scene, snapping photos of atrocities I can only imagine.

Nachteway said if he were to become any photographer, it would be a war photographer. His motivation to educate people on the tragedies and injustices of war and other social crises is inspiring. He called his photography a “powerful indictment of the war,” and that just by showing people what was going on, it was an undeniable contradiction to what the government wanted the public to believe about the Vietnam War. His photos show the authentic emotion of ordinary people in situations that no one should have to find themselves in, and Nachteway portrays them accurately. I thought that the film covered every aspect of his job that a viewer could want to know about, right down the minutiae of his day-to-day labors, like meticulously labeling the film rolls and sorting out the placement of each photo. It was a strange reminder that taking these photos is his job, a job that he takes as seriously as possible.

His narratives answered many of the biggest questions I found myself asking throughout the course of the film. Most notably, I wondered how he could bring himself to snap close-up shots of people in utter agony, grieving over the mangled bodies of their children or lying on a hospital bed in terrible physical pain. He recognizes that taking photographs in private moments such as these in someone’s regular life would be unheard of, absolutely out of the question. But in a war zone, where people are forced to suspend any sense of normalcy, his presence was accepted, even welcomed. Through his photos, he told their story. Even when there was a language barrier, the universal understanding of injustice extended to an understanding that he, as a journalistic photographer, was doing them a great service by showing their pain to other people. Without him there, their grief would only be experienced by those around them, people who are not in a position to do anything productive about it. But through his pictures he evokes empathy, one of the most important ingredients in bringing about action. The people in his pictures realize they are victims, Nachteway said, and therefore allow him to document what they’re going through.

I thought the film did an excellent job of giving the viewer a complete picture of what Nachteway does every day and also included powerful video of action in the field. When a crew from NBC was reporting on the mass graves where anthropologists were identifying body parts, the film showed children throwing flowers onto the covered bodies. That one portion was so compelling because it conveyed the horrible, all encompassing effect that the war had on the environment they were in. Children seemed to respond to the scene as though it were just another sad day in the life, and it was incredibly depressing. The contrast of the shots of him in the field with the clean, unemotional, hard-tiled office scenes and the interview with the editor he had a relationship with was jarring and further illustrated to the viewer the enormity of his undertaking. He sacrificed everything in order to follow what he felt to be the ultimate fulfillment — doing whatever he could to show what happens to the people who were unlucky enough to live in a war environment.

His strategy of distancing himself from the horrors he sees through his lens is understandable, but at times baffling. That Nachteway sees people dying, starving, bleeding, sobbing or worse when he goes to work everyday is almost mind boggling, and several times throughout the movie I caught myself wondering whether I could do it. I never arrived at a definitive answer. I would like to think I could thrive in the dangerous environments if I knew that my doing so would show people who can’t be there what war is really like for those involved. But when I try to imagine myself in such a scenario, I know I would be too overcome with emotion to continue taking pictures. One of his colleagues said after a long day, several of their coworkers like to unwind with a beer, but Nachteway never felt the need to recover from what he’d seen, at least in public. He often came across as too distant, but because his experiences set him apart from most other people involved in the other steps of the process it is impossible to fault him for his personal way of dealing with the atrocities he has photographed.

Jason Lewis War Photographer Response

Nachtwey Mini-Analysis

Through his work as a photo-journalist, James Nachtwey demonstrates what it takes to achieve excellence in a given profession. He attacks his work with passion, diligence, patience and a laser-like focus. In the beginning of the film, War Photographer, fellow colleague, Christiane Amanpour, comments that it is the “single mindedness” that Nachtwey approaches his work with that allows him to capture the breathtaking images that he does. There are few people in this world that are able to “lock in” to their craft the way that Nachtwey does.

In War Photographer, we see Nachtwey taking pictures under some of the direst of circumstances. We watched him take pictures during exchanges of gun fire, explosives and chemical warfare. Yet throughout it all, he remains poised and focused on getting the shot. When people envision fearlessness, most do not envision someone like Nachtwey. He is soft-spoken and reserved, but there is nothing timid about him. During the film, one of Nachtwey’s colleagues says that what separates Nachtwey from other photo-journalists, is his instinct to run towards a tense or dangerous situation—where as it is natural for most people to distance themselves from danger. The scene where Nachtwey’s follows the angry mob that is chasing and torturing a man through the streets is particularly astounding. There were no guarantees that the mob wouldn’t lash out at him for taking pictures of them murdering the man. But, he has the uncanny ability to endear himself to the people that he photographs. He doesn’t try to talk them up and make them like him; he just quietly communicates to them that he is there to document their pain or anger.

Nachtwey’s pace is also incredible. He’s never in a hurry when he takes photos, no matter what the circumstances. And yet, he always gets the right photo. The greatest quality about Nachtwey is that his work is not motivated by the desire to garner notoriety for his work. He truly does what he does for the sake of true journalism. He wants the entire world to see the despair so many of its inhabitants must endure. He puts his life on the line in order to inspire people to remember the forgotten ones.

Julie Baughman, Movie Review

World famous war photojournalist James “Jim” Nachtwey is profiled in the movie entitled, “War Photographer.” This movie is an inspiring documentary that depicts the situations and strategies that Nachtwey has been though and used throughout his career.

            Throughout the entire movie there are certain clips that were shot from a small video camera that was mounted atop his personal camera. This technique was very effective in showing Nachtwey’s point of view as he was shooting. This also allows the audience to see when he presses his finger down on the shutter, therefore showing the exact moment when he takes his pictures. By showing his point of view it provides the audience some insight into what he may think is a worthy photograph as well as depicting some of the terrible and terrifying things that he has seen through the lens of his camera during his career as a war photographer. If the producers of this movie had not used this point of view method, the drama of Nachtwey’s career would not have been as effectively personified.

             The use of anecdotes by his colleagues and friends as well as by Nachtwey himself also provides the audience with a more personal insight into Nachtwey’s mind. Throughout the entire movie he is being depicted as a very stern, solemn, and almost frightening man, but the personal accounts of people’s interactions with him as well as his own stories provide a more humane aspect to his personality that one wouldn’t be able to perceive on their own. Throughout  the footage of Nachtwey shooting in various parts of the world, he remains unemotional and appears almost inhuman, however, he discusses how, “it’s very important to stay centered inside yourself,” and how, “for me to go to these places and cave in would be useless,” which give him a slightly more emotional and compassionate appearance. Without these personal interviews, Nachtwey would appear a scary and unemotional man.

            The use of a point of view video camera atop Nachtwey’s personal camera as well as interviews with friends, colleagues, and Nachtwey himself are what make this movie truly informative, moving, and inspiring.

Ellen Fishel-James Nachtwey, War Photographer

Every day, we open the newspapers and turn on our televisions only to be greeted by gruesome images of war and destruction. However, it is not often that we think of those who capture those images. The film “War Photographer” gave a fascinating portrayal of the career of James Nachtwey and emphasized the immense influence photojournalism can have.

All of Nachtwey’s travels portrayed in the movie were filled with emotion, carrying a great, overwhelming impact. Nachtwey’s ability to capture all of this intensity so perfectly with just a few still images was astounding. It clearly could not been done by just anyone with a camera. Nachtwey possesses an amazing talent for photography, and the movie showed that much of his success comes from his immersion in and dedication to his work.

From the beginning of the film, it was clear that Nachtwey was passionate about war photography. He said that he felt as though he was witnessing history, and more specifically, what happens to ordinary people throughout the course of history. This point really resonated with me, because the fate of the ordinary people during war and disaster is never something that is discussed heavily. Destruction, despair and hopelessness are always glazed over in history books. However, Nachtwey experiences it almost every day. Through these experiences, he said, he was able to find himself.

Nachtwey is unlike any journalist I have ever heard of. In all of our journalism classes, we are taught that objectivity is key and to keep our opinions far away from our work. Nachtwey completely contradicts all of these tenants. He refuses to stand by and simply photograph scenes of extreme injustice, cruelty and destruction without expressing compassion. I believe that this is what makes his photographs so profound—he truly feels for the subjects he is photographing. One of the most moving parts of the film, in fact, was when one of Nachtwey’s colleagues was describing such compassion. Nachtwey once put down his camera, got down on his knees, and begged a group of people not to kill an innocent man they were torturing. I believe that just this one incident sets Nachtwey apart from any other photojournalist.

Throughout the movie, it is evident that Nachtwey has a clear purpose for his photographs. He wants desperately to enact change—social, political, economical, or really any type. He recognizes the potential impact photojournalism, and specifically war photography, can have, saying “The way you cover a story defines the way the world sees a story, so you better do it right.” Well, Nachtwey is clearly doing something right. The physical manifestation of Nachtwey’s success is shown, I believe, at the end of the film when Nachtwey receives a letter from someone who has viewed his photographs. This person pledged to send 20 dollars a month to the family that lived between railroad tracks that Nachtwey photographed. This man was clearly affected by Nachtway’s pictures, and although he barley had much money himself, he was motivated to help those even less fortunate. This is the epitome of what photojournalism is all about.

Angela Wong: James Nachtwey "War Photographer" Essay

James Nachtwey is a combat photographer who utilizes photography to promote social, political and economic change. His work is a voice for those in war or extreme poverty and devastation who cannot speak themselves. To capture expressive images, he thoroughly documents war refugees and mourners in the midst of their grief. However, he is so meticulous and calculating that I wonder whether or not he offends his subjects and invades their privacy.

The documentary “War Photographer” (2001), directed by Christian Fei, shows how Nachtwey uses photography as a medium to evoke a human response. Throughout the documentary, he is mostly expressionless and reticent, with deep grooves in his hardened face as proof of what he has witnessed. He is relentless, silent and calculating; he and his camera are always focused, trying to get the shot, even if that means risking smoke inhalation by approaching a burning building.

His relentless is exemplified by his thorough, up-close, invasive documentation of the grief and misery of families, friends and communities who have lost loved ones or are suffering themselves. For example, early in the movie, Nachtwey is in a village in Kosovo during the height of the region’s conflicts. He pursues an elderly woman as she discovers her home in ruins. He follows her, stops to take a few pictures of her from afar or in front of her face and continues moving with her throughout what used to be her house. She seems too distressed to care he may be invading her privacy, or she pretends Nachtwey is not hovering over her.

In Kosovo, he also takes pictures of a family mourning over the death of one of their own. Nachtwey documents everything from the dread that the young man has died, to the discovery of the body, to the arrival of his coffin at his family home. He quietly observes the scene and moves around the mourners to concentrate on the man’s mother. Nachtwey snaps photos as the woman in hysterics, beats her breast, calls out loudly and unable to stand on her own, leans on female family members behind her. His meticulousness again calls into question the appropriateness of his work in such situations and whether or not he even considers his subjects’ privacy.

Their nonchalance may be an expression of their desire to be left alone, however, Nachtwey firmly believes they are allowing him to cross over the usual lines of privacy and that they want him to be there documenting their pain. He explains he cannot take these photos without being welcomed, accepted or wanted by those suffering because they demand he show the world what is happening to them, to give them a voice they will never have. They understand he is there draw attention to their crises and send a message to the rest of the world; they support his purpose by granting him such exposure.

Nachtwey says he is never felt complete or satisfied with his work, possibly because of his greatest fear, profiting off someone’s misery. He gains grim satisfaction on bringing attention to devastating events. He does not want to be seen akin to a cold-hearted surgeon, says the foreign editor of Stern magazine interviewed in this documentary. Nachtwey says he tries to approach with respect for his subjects and their situation. He intentionally does not move fast, speak loudly or act openly, but they acknowledge him and with few to no words, permit him to work. He says he would not be able to overstep privacy lines if he did not work in war or other devastating scenes. War changes the rules because there are none. The chaos created by the absence of rules allows Nachtwey to chronicle this.

Nachtwey’s work appeals to humanity’s sense of right and wrong. We must look at these pictures, he says, we are required as humans. Nachtwey recognizes this need, and his response is to take pictures as proof to show the rest of the world in the hope that these photos will help prevent future suffering. He recognizes that his work at best can be a powerful ingredient to end war, not the solution.