Going to the movies, made simple.
Does anyone else remember the days of having to look up movie times in the newspaper? or at best, calling and listening to the recording provided by the theater?
I had long forgotten about this archaic process until recently. A few friends and I decided to go watch a movie and immediately, everyones first instinct was to pull out their iPhones and check for movie times. Not only did they have access to the list of showing movies and times within seconds, but each title was accompanied by a trailer and links to review websites.
To me, this occurrence signified two things; the first being that I must be getting old because this was one of the first times I genuinely thought “back in my day….,” and secondly, it signified the great leaps technology has made and the usefulness of cross-media platforms.
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed ,Uncategorized Tagged: personal blog item May 9, 2012
BBC 5 Shot Method
Every new video journalist needs to have at least some basic knowledge of video production. The news is all around us and you never know when a story might erupt right before you. You need to be prepared to shoot on a moments notice and there are two things that can equip you for this:
- A smartphone (my personal preference is the iPhone)
- Basic knowledge of the BBC 5 Shot method
In the workshop given by Jake, we learned the basic steps to creating engaging and interesting shot variety:
- Medium shot: focuses on the subject but gives a view of the surroundings
- Close-up shot: typically best to focus on the face of your subject
- Closer shot: move in even closer on a detail (ex: hands typing)
- Over-the-shoulder shot: this shot is in the perspective of the subject
- Final shot: pan the general area. this acts as a transition to the next segment
Posted in Uncategorized May 8, 2012
http://mashable.com/2012/04/11/facebook-workplace/
This article discusses a study done at Academy of Management which claims that Facebook in the workplace makes for happier, more productive employees.The research showed that those that were allowed time to surf the internet were:
- 16% more productive than those that were given rest breaks
- 39% more productive than those that were given no break at all
I must say though that I am not totally convinced. Although visiting Facebook and other social media sites may brighten employee’s spirits and result in higher productivity, I think that in the long run it would hurt more than it helps. Social media sites can be addictive and they may distract and take away time that could be better spent from tempted employees.
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed Tagged: personal blog item April 12, 2012
http://pinterest.com/delrashed/
Pinterest has officially become one of my favorite social media sites. I am slightly ashamed to admit it, because the site has so much to offer, but it has become my best friend in online shopping.
It allows me to save and organize images of items that I’ve come across while scouring my slew of go-to shopping sites so that I can easily revisit them all in one place later; and even better, it brings the clothes to me.
There are hundreds of online clothing stores available and rather than having to search for them all, I can scroll through fashion boards and view items which other women have found and posted. It’s as if I have thousands of personal shoppers at my fingertips eager to help me fill my virtual shopping cart.
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed Tagged: fashion, personal blog item, pinterest March 25, 2012
There is no such thing as information overload, only filter failure
In today’s world of technology it can be easy to get lost amongst the sea of information, emails, social media, etc.. The key to staying afloat is organizing your online life.
- first and foremost, organize your email account(s). Something as simple as logging into your email account to find dozens of unread emails can spur a spout of anxiety. Set up a folder system to organize your emails. Respond to those that can be dealt with immediately, and file those that need a little more time
- find the right productivity tools: Try storing your documents online a program like Google Docs, so that you can access your work from any computer.
- learn your keyboard shortcuts: Though it may seem very simple, this trick can save you time that could be better allocated to another task.
- create a doable to-do-list: group together tasks that need immediate attention and that can be easily completed so you can cross things off your list. Long-term goals should be grouped into their own list so that you’re not overwhelmed by a list of things that can’t be completed at the moment.
How does this pertain to Journalism?
Journalists have to filter through an endless array of information on a day-to-day basis. You can’t possibly organize and share information with others if you aren’t able to organize yourself and your time. In Journalism every second counts; to be first is everything. Who knows what important story you could fall behind on while busy trying to navigate your disorganized email account.
Posted in briggs ,comm361 ,deena elrashed March 22, 2012
Video Journalism
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth a million.
video captures the whole story; it immerses the viewer in the moment and conveys the story of the subject in a way which not even photography can.
The advent of cheap digital video cameras and free video-editing software has revolutionized the role of video. It’s no longer an expensive medium reserved for news crews with large budgets; now all it takes is a digital camera or phone and a standard computer and anyone can be a video journalist!
A few tips to help you along your path to becoming a video journalist:
- storyboard: it’s important to have some sort of plan before you start filming so you can get all the material you need for your story
- mix your shots: a video shot from a single position and angle gets very boring, very fast. Try to create variety in your shots. the BBC 5-shot method is a great basic formula to follow.
- learn effective video interviewing: try to engage your subject and move them away from simple answers which don’t make for very interesting video
- mix in still images: still photographs haven’t lost their place in journalism and they certainly have a place in video. Including still shots creates variety in your video.
Posted in briggs ,comm361 ,deena elrashed March 22, 2012
As a self-proclaimed un-technologically savvy person, zotero was yet another program I had not heard of. I picked this workshop simply because the time it was being offered fit into my schedule, but It proved to be incredibly useful.
I discovered that zotero, a program run through Firefox, allows you to build and organize a bibliographic library as you surf the Internet.
I only wish I hadn’t discovered this in my last semester of college. Zotero would have greatly simplified my research process for almost any class.
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed Tagged: Workshop, Zotero March 13, 2012
My map includes my childhood home, my elementary school, the library I frequented, the historic Colvin Run Mill, and the location where Thelma’s Ice Cream, a local mom and pop business, once stood.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216275545977006043897.0004bb040dfe121da8711&msa=0
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed Tagged: Google maps, Workshop March 13, 2012
iMovie is the program I never knew I always wanted.
Prior to its mention in class, I didn’t even know that the Mac program iMovie existed. At first, it was a little overwhelming but after meeting with Jake, i was finally able to get a handle on things. I now fully understand how to make the best use of the iMovie program.
It’s perfect for putting together slideshows with music and pictures of a fun event or vacation; as well as editing videos of family and friends!
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed Tagged: iMovie, Workshop March 12, 2012
http://mashable.com/2012/03/11/top-10-twitter-pics-8/
Make Kony famous
Pictures and posts aimed at exposing the Ugandan guerrilla leader have exploded on the Facebook and twitter scene.
Whether you agree with the cause or not, credit has to be given to the non-profit organization Invisible Children for their outstanding display of the power of the internet.
Within days of the release of their documentary Kony 2012, the 30-minute video had gone viral earning 71 million viewers. According to the the program Skylines, Kony was the most tweeted about subject this past week.
The Kony 2012 campaign demonstrates the breadth of influence of social media. If you want to make the world pay attention to something, you can.
Posted in comm361 ,deena elrashed Tagged: kony, mashables, personal blog item, social media March 12, 2012
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