KBIA Stories

These stories were interesting, and certainly done well. But I'm not sure I noticed many of the things we talked about in class for writing for the ear. In fact, I didn't find most of the checklist in the stories, or if items were there wasn't a lot of a particular point (ex: natural sound). I don't think this neccessarily detracted from the stories, but I do wonder if it could have made them better or kept listeners more interested. Perhaps after journalists reach a certain point these guidelines become less important, and while some stories probably don't need any extra help, I still think it wouldn't hurt to throw some in and see if it didn't make the story better.
I like the informal aspect of writing for the ear, and the more I listen to examples of it the more I think I prefer that to newsprint, at least for the less serious aspects of the news or those I don't need to remember direct quotes from at a later date. It makes the journalist feel like more of a person, and more like they're writing (or speaking in this case) for you individually vs for everyone who reads the paper. Basically it makes the story feel more personal, something I think people appreciate in a time when most interaction we have with the media is for mass audiences

developing storytelling styles

These KBIA stories were definitely interesting and really excellent examples of storytelling, but I was surprised to find that they didn't abide by more of the suggestions that we discussed in class. There wasn't a ton of ambient/natural sound, and I didn't notice many "rule of three"s or much alliteration, really- but this made me think, in general, about what are the actual necessities for solely audio-based journalism and storytelling, and I feel like strictly adhering to rules and suggestions can almost detract from good journalism. [Also, someone once mentioned to me that its harder to record audio than it is video, and I'm becoming convinced that while its harder to produce a quality audio standalone story, it can also be more touching or valuable. As a visual person, I never saw this coming, so...this is new for me!] At this point in our journalism careers -- well, as students -- it's a good idea for us to stick with all the suggestions we're given, and try our best to adhere to all given guidelines. But as we become more advanced, the convention of storytelling will start to come more naturally and we won't need to think "okay, I need ambient sound at the beginning and end and to transition here" or "this is what it sounds like to speak in a conversational way,"-- we'll just do it. And as all of that becomes more natural and basic to us, we'll be able to actually develop our own personal conventions and little quirks to storytelling -- discovering what we do best. These stories were all really different in the amount of facts they presented, the types of information they gave and the way the stories were constructed -- but all were really valuable in different ways. It'll be interesting to see how all of our storytellling styles develop over the next few years, too!

Adderall

The KBIA story on Adderall informed listeners about growing issue on campus. More students are taking ADHD medicine without a prescription, which is something that is overlooked at this University because underage drinking and marijuana possession are far more prevalent.
The reporter found excellent sources for this topic. This reporter found a student who was using the drugs without a prescription. This source sang the praises of Adderall’s effects on his study habits. They also found a female student who was distributing the pills illegally. This student also said that the drug is a helpful study tool that should be readily available to all students. These students made Adderall sound fantastic.
On the opposing viewpoint, the reporter brought in some experts, who discouraged the recreational use of Adderall. One of these experts was Kim Dude of the wellness resource center. Dude said that the dangers outweigh the advantages of Adderall. Adderal’s side effects are nausea, increased blood pressure, and mainly supress the appetite. They also brought in a pharmacist who claims that he watches for students who are filling prescriptions more frequently than they should be. Lastly the brought in Donnell Young, director of student legal services, who said that these students might even be suspended from school, if they abuse Adderall.
This story did a superb job of covering both sides of the issue. It provided both the pros and the cons to Adderall use and let the listeners form their own opinion. This is excellent journalism with an undetectable bias. I personally believe that if students need to Adderall to help them study then it needs to be a readily available over the counter drug. College put a lot of pressure on students. The work load continues to expand and make things more difficult, therefore, I support any student doing whatever it takes to succeed in school. Many students pay over $20,000. I’m that they want to pay this money to fail out of school. Therefore, study boosters, like Adderall, need to be legalized.

KBIA Stories

My favorite of the three stories is the Neuticles one. I thought the subject was definitely the most interesting and it was the only story that included ambiance sound with the dogs at the end and in the beginning. I wish that they had been able to talk to someone who had actually given their pet neuticles. The second most interesting was the Mario Manzini story, but it didn't include as many voices or sounds as the neuticles one. I liked the clips of him telling his childhood stories, he has a really good voice and his stories were interesting. They helped draw the attention away from the reporter. I thought the Adderall story was fairly bland. Although it included several different voices, it didn't tell as much of a story as the other two.

All three of the stories included many of the characteristics for writing for the ear that we talked about in class. They were all written in the active voice, the first two put the focus less on the reporter (although the Adderall one seemed to focus more on the reporter's voice). Overall, they sounded good as radio stories, but the ambiance sounds that the last two lacked made them a little less interesting. 

I really enjoyed each of the three KBIA stories.  None of them had a lot of ambient sound, but they were obviously quality pieces nonetheless.  I really liked the incorporation of the dogs barking in the neuticles clip, especially because I tried to do the same thing in my first sound bite.  It was such an interesting story because it was so weird. I didn’t know these neuticals existed!  He had a lot of facts, yet he included them in a comical way.  I was surprised to hear that he interviewed the vet that lives down the street from me at home. It was also perfect that it was a whimpering dog at the end, since he was portrayed as such a prima donna dog who even drinks bottled water.

The story about Mario Manzini was crazy.  The reporter did a great job of storytelling and giving a slice of life.  Manzini’s life is so different from anything I’ve personally experienced.  It was especially interesting to hear how Manzini said he has never been that comfortable in constraint and that sometimes he starts panicking and getting really claustrophobic.  I also found it funny how he said that he might as well die the way he likes…getting out of a straightjacket. 

I liked the Adderall one too.  It was very localized.  He  had a well-rounded group of interviews including students involved in the sales and buying of Adderall, doctors, professionals, and studies.  He probably couldn’t have gotten such honest feedback if he hadn’t had let the student sources be anonymous.  I think he could have included some audio of pouring out pills or shaking them in the bottle though, since that is a pretty distinct sound.

Neuticles - Tomeka Weatherspoon

This story on pet Neuticles is just amusing. Their appearance only matters to us. My dog isn't going to have self confidence issues if I get him neutered. I like how the reporter was able to show many different sides to the story. It sounds as if some of the audio was captured in person and some over the phone. The natural sound is subtle and fits with the story.

"The dog does not care," a female doctor said. "The Neuticles do not change the dog's attitude in any way. Once those hormones are gone, he no longer behaves like a truly unneutered dog, whether there are Neuticles present or not."

No matter how rediculous I thought the idea was, someone was able to justify their way of thinking in a logical way. "Extreme pet owners" could think of their pets as another member of the family. 

"If you're not a pet owner, it's the stupidest thing you've ever heard of," the developer of the product said. He is a male. "But if you are a pet owner and you do have a male dog... and you've got to go have his you-know-what's cut off. They take on a very serious form."

I agreed with the male doctor from Shawnee Mission. He suggested that this product at its basis is about a human male issue, an issue of masculinity. Sizes that range from petite to XXL? Doesn't that sound like other products marketed toward men?

Radio Stories

I listened to all three stories and they all carry some pretty significant similarities and differences that make them work.  That is; multiple sources, abundance of interesting sounds to digest and intriguing stories to boot.  

Like some others have noted, the Neuticles story makes use of the intrinsic humor and comedy that comes hand-in-paw with a story about fake dog testicles.  Natural sound is captured with barking dogs.  The savvy yet quirky inventor and Oak Grove native also adds perspective with unique and confident takes on what positives come of his ballsy enterprise, such as curbed pet overpopulation.  

The Manzini story covers a man from an Italian mafia family turned escape artist.  His character is so interesting that the story thrives on personal accounts of straight-jacket escapes and hand gun birthday gifts.  The more the story rolls, the more intrigued the listener becomes.

In my feeling, the Adderall story is the weakest.  I covers a topic mostly already known amongst my age group.  Kids take ADHD medicine to help them cram for tests.  Big whoop.  But that doesn't mean it doesn't have an audience.  Abuse of prescription medicine in the United States is becoming more of an issue every day as more meds are given out and people often end up with extra.  Responsible adults store or dispose of the extras, but college students (always in need of cash) just sell if there is a market.  Adderall or not, that's a big issue.

Kevin Ornduff 

I can imagine myself smiling in the driver’s seat of my car

I chose to listen to the Mario Manzini story because it was a name I recognized from an ad I saw in a website somewhere – it claimed that you can hire Manzini for your wedding. The story itself was one where a bit of humor was melted down into the interviews (probably because Manzini is just a very outgoing and funny person), one that might leave you with a faint smile while driving your car.

While listening to the approximately 4:30 story, I had the feeling that this was a profile story of a person, but one that was determined to emphasize interesting aspects, even if it meant skipping through his life a whole lot. However, I still thought that it had all the essential information in it, such as what Manzini does and how well he does it, some portfolio of gigs, and a simple but interesting life story.

What I really liked about KBIA’s story version of Mario Manzini was that it was very appropriate for the local people here, mentioning that he currently lives in Columbia, and also mentioning a couple of familiar names for CoMo residents such as Moberly and the Lake of the Ozarks. I think by starting off with what a great escapologist Manzini is with all his performances in NYC and Las Vegas and narrowing down to the local area level probably would have gained more attention of the ears here.

Relating to what we learned in class, I think the part where the narrator describes the outer appearance of Manzini was a perfect example of sound being the catalyst for more imagination. The story mentioned his Brutus-like appearance and Italian accent. Although I have no idea what he looks like, I now have a distinct image of him in my head.

KBIA Stories

We talked a lot in class about utilizing "ambient" sound within the radio medium. I felt that the KBIA story about getting pets nurtured was a prime example of this. Being a dog owner myself, I enjoyed hearing the dogs' barks in the background. I am not a frequent radio listener - I am more of a visual stimulated person, but I felt like I could imagine the dogs easily with this use of background sound. It connected me further into a story, one that I may not have listened to otherwise.

Additionally, the radio/television news medium requires conversational writing. I think the Adderall story was a prime example of this. Each of the interviewees were your "everyday" type of people - college students that just wanted passing grades and adults worried about the side effects of drug abuse. It was a relatable story, and I felt that it was pieced together well. As Rueben said in class, radio is not all about having a set script. Rather, you can piece clips together well and achieve great radio spots. Editing is vital, and they did a good job within this piece. I was surprised that they used an anonymous source within the clip because you want to be able to attribute your facts. Luckily, it worked out well - without her, the story may have skipped vital information.

Lastly, since radio spots are all about the ear and you have to make accurate descriptions the FIRST time around, I thought the Mario Manzini story was written well. I could actually imagine him trying out these stunts! My favorite quote, and what I think I will end this post on, was about how "sooner or later we all die anyway, [he] would rather die in a straight jacket." This made me laugh and made the piece more memorable!

Neuticles

I listened to the Neuticles story and thought it was a good example of a story meant for entertainment. It's a bizarre subject and the reporter approached it from that direction and kept the piece light-hearted. He interviewed veterinarians to get scientific perspectives, perspectives that confirmed the absurdity of the product. Justin Ray made good use of ambient sounds of dogs throughout the piece, and he was clever with is language, using "bones" instead of "dollars." Although it is subtle, he says his last sentence with a little laugh, which I think is appropriate for the piece and its tone.

KBIA- Good journalism first

Amidst all the talk of radio stories and how best to present them, I found the Adderall story on KBIA the best. No, the story did not have any ambient sound. Nor did it have natural sound. It used very little alliteration and even less rule of threes. Everything we were taught in class to do was virtually absent, except excellent storytelling and sound journalism practice.

This story was a great piece of journalism in that it used authentic voices, quoted experts appropriately, told the background, asked "So what?," and tried to map out the future. I felt KBIA tried to thoroughly explain what might be an otherwise confusing situation. I felt attentive the entire time because of how the clips and interviews were arranged. The explanation came first, so we didn't tune out due to confusion. After that came the implications for students, the university, and the community. I appreciated the story's ability to relate to other students by making this a problem about stress and work, not immediately about troubled college students (like we need another story about that!). I simply enjoyed listening to a radio story for once. I had never paid attention to them before, but I feel that if more stories of this quality were on the radio, more people would pay attention to it as a viable news source.

I'd take this story that had no ambient sound over a poorly done story with ambient sound any day of the week.

great stories, Adderall my favorite

I really liked these KBIA stories because they showed great examples of stories we can do as students.  The stories we saw in class were fascinating and very well done, but I'm not on the level where I would be able to edit all those clips and write a story that flowed like theirs.  These stories were examples of great stories that students have done that I could see myself doing as well.

The Neuticals story was hilarious, I'm sorry.  I think what made it so funny was that it was NPR-style which is very serious but it was pertaining to this weird subject.  I liked that the journalist kept it light though by using phrases like, "it costs 900 bones".  That way I didn't feel completely ridiculous laughing because it was written to be entertaining.  I also liked the Mario Manzini story although it took me a while to get into it.  However, after it got towards the middle of the narration (especially the part about the dad giving him the gun) I could really see the beginning and middle of the story.  By the end I appreciated the start he took and could fully see the whole picture.

My favorite story was about the prescription drug Adderall which I knew somewhat about, but I had no idea as many people used it.  The journalistic aspect I really appreciated about this story was that the journalist localized it.  So many times in our classes they stress that point, but it's really hard to do.  This guy took the time to track down some local people and experts and related it right back to your average MU student.  Even though I'm not familiar with much of the drug scene here, I could imagine sitting next to that guy in class who takes these drugs just by listening to his story.  I thought this piece was very well done.

I would have liked to hear some more stories with natural sound though.  The story about the fake dog testicles had some in there, but in most of these stories it was basically the journalist speaking.  I'll try to look for some of those in the following days.  By the way...is Alex Grigsby THE Gary Grigsby's son? I'll have to ask him tomorrow!

'Adderall' story on KBIA

I found the KBIA story titled "Adderall" very interesting. The story had at least five sources, including two anonymous sources, a pharmacist and MU officials.
KBIA reporter Justin Ray used a clever introduction to segue into a serious story about prescription drug use among college students. He uses an "avalanche" of words — "Tests, papers, stress, projects, deadlines, sleepless nights ..." — to describe just how difficult the end of a semester can get, and then transitions into interviews with two anonymous students about their use/sale of a prescription drug.
Of course, the issue is that one student is using the drug without a prescription, which is illegal, while the other is selling the drug to which she alone is legally entitled because of a prescription.
But the intro provides a sense of compassion, and one of the objectives of good journalism is to do the least amount of harm. Therefore, the introduction mitigates a sticky situation in terms of the legal implications of drug use.
In this case, I think anonymous sources were appropriate — these students could face serious consequences if identified. It's an important story, and it helps others understand the situation.
The story didn't rely so much on natural sound as it did in-depth interviews and explanatory narration. Again, in this case, I think that was an appropriate decision. Ray does a good job of explaining how people who use these drugs obtain them, how much they pay for them, what the implications of those actions are (legally, physiologically, etc.) using narration and source commentary.
It was interesting me that Ray also mentioned the name of his producer as he closed his piece. I think it's a nice touch.

I was impressed and surprised by "The Bottom Line," a project that explored several significant and heart-wrenching issues affecting children right here in the United States. The sentence on the first page essentially summed up the brilliance of the entire site- "How many children will have to live lesser lives before we get the picture?" The Dallas Morning News juxtaposed facts, numbers and information with striking pictures— pictures that stick in your mind and make you deeply, emotionally care about the topics at hand. The voices and music in the background of the sound/picture slideshows made a huge impact on the power of the pictures as well; you could put a story to a face, something really special and unique to multimedia projects. The compilation of text, audio and photographs achieved an effect that could not have been achieved by just one of the three; it was eye-opening, touching and motivating— it made you want to make a difference.

I was most affected by the story of Carolyn and Rich St. Pierre and their struggle with her liver cancer.  I have never seen anything like this and thought that the multimedia platform it was shown on made it that much more meaningful, with the music and interviews intertwined with the pictures.  I was so emotional as I watched each section.  I was a little nervous before the ones that showed her death because of the warning given before saying it might be hard to handle for some viewers.  Although so many photographs are taken about every aspect in life, we don't see many of the actual death of a human being, yet the story would not have been complete without including those pictures.  I just keep thinking how it would feel to be Preston Gannaway, the photographer, in those scenes, taking those pictures--that is a time when a photographer certainly feels out of his element, yet I'm sure the family appreciates all the moments he has captured.  

Rich, Carolyn's husband, seems very aware of the power of a picture.  He often talks about all of the priceless and golden moments that they he and the kids had with Carolyn before she died. He was really worried about Elijah remembering his moms too and I bet these pictures are going to mean so much to him one day since he was so young when he died.  Nothing was more sad, though, than when Elijah was interviewed talking about his mom being dead and the way he described it.  

The photography captured all the emotion so well.  All the facial expressions, the shots in the bathroom and the ones showing just how much Rich struggled with Brian and Elijah are represented so well in the pictures  Carolyn's pale hands, the shots in the dark,  and and the photo sequence of Elijah getting so excited for his presents on Christmas were so real and made me feel almost like I was there.  This project truly shows the power of a picture and how a story can unfold with the combination of pictures over an extended period of time.

The Coulter Family: a moving saga

The Minneapolis Star Tribune did an excellent job with their heart wrenched profile on the Coulter family. The Coulter family was just a typical American family. Brad, his wife Paula, and their two daughters, Brandi and Brianna were driving to meet relatives when the I-35 bridge collapsed. The photo slide show unveils the horrifying details of the collapse that lead to the deaths of thirteen people and the survival story of the Coulter family. The photographs are all excellent and show the ordeal as well as the triumphant recovery of Paula Coulter. Coulter was in the hospital undergoing rehabilitation procedures for 4 months before she returned to warm reception from neighbors, family, and pets.
The audio that accompanies these photos makes the photos stronger. The shots of the bridge collapse are accompanied by police switchboard calls from victims of this tragedy and bystanders alike. The switchboard seems uncaring and unaware of how enormous this crisis really is in reality. It makes you think about historical tragedies such as September 11th and just how unfathomable these events are to people who are not seeing the pictures on TV or the people who are actually there in person.
The photos of the daughters receiving treatment also provides context that every member of this family suffered injuries in this tragic accident. The slide show also has some speeches made by survivors who lost loved ones. It shows how the event effected more people then just the centered sources. The photos of the people taking cell phone pictures made the story more real. I also feel like this photo essay was necessary because the aftermath of this event was never really covered in national news. I was always curious about what happened after the bridge collapse and this poignant photo essay provided this info.
The photo essay by Jim Gehrz is moving and a necessary reminder about an event that has gone forgotten by many Americans. It deserved the POY award of excellence.

The Coulter Family

The first one that caught my attention was from the Star Tribune in Minnesota about the Coulter family and the 35W bridge collapse. This happened in my home town (I was still in Columbia that summer) and I used to drive on that bridge almost everyday. I still remember trying to call home the evening that it happened and not being able to get through because of the number of calls in that area. Luckily, none on my family/friends were hurt. But that's the reason why this one caught my eye first. 

I thought the pictures did a really nice job of conveying emotion through facial expressions. The portraits helped convey the emotion, but I also thought the number of scene setter shots used was good. They did a good job of showing the entire scene-and it isn't everyday that you see a major bridge collapse. I thought the audio was really good too, the phone ringing was creative and reminded me of what I personally had experienced that day trying to call home. When the reader/viewer feels a personal connection to the piece (especially if they weren't directly involved) it's a sign that they did a good job with it. 

The Women of Evangel

I looked at "The Women of Evangel" and was immediately struck by the heavy use of portraits in the beginning of the piece.  James Kenney used one portrait after another and the effect was rather powerful.  By emphasizing on the faces of these women, he showed us that they are people first, women first.  We see them as women before we even learn about their disorder and that is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the piece.  Instead of viewing the women as helpless victims, we see them as hopeful and strong women who are being proactive about their lives despite their hardships.  Kenney does show women sick in hospital beds, but he focuses more on their joy at being at Evangel Hospital and being together.  In this piece, hope is more prominent than misery.

Alison's Storytelling

Zach Wade

Alison Yin's project-format storytelling reveals a clear purpose in some profiles and a simple curiosity in others. I think anyone can appreciate Alison's visual activism in reducing gun violence in the Oakland community, and documenting the grief and pain in the area serves a powerful force to people.

I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to reduce the slideshows to a selection of only 30 or so photos. And ordering them in the most telling sequence is a task reserved for the most diligent and reflective of us. 

My favorite presentation of Alison's was "Crabbing with the Hoopers" because I think it captured the lifestyle of the Hooper family without the melodramatic techniques she used in other projects that appeared self-insistent with too much reliance on unnecessary subtlety in an effort to feign sophistication. (e. cropping someone's head and focusing solely on the sports cap..... it didn't tell me anything and I don't like it)

I think sometimes photographers guise their discretion with the popular perception of the 'lens of truth' that is forever honest. But sometimes they emphasize aspects within the photo and manipulate the context. I think Alison's photo essays are fascinating regardless however.

Intended Patience in Observation

If I would ever get a chance to meet Preston Gannaway of Concord Monitor, the photographer of “Remember Me,” I want to ask him how many days he spent in the household of the St. Pierre family in order to get his photographs. In this story presentation of Carolynne St. Pierre and her family and their struggle toward and through her death, the pictures were so good that I thought at times the pictures could have been posed for. However, when I took a second look at the slideshow for the second time, I noticed a set of photos taken from the same angle, only with different people in them. Then, I began to think that this photographer was just awesome in an ability to wait for the right moment. I was able to find emotion in all photos, and I now definitely know that it is a very difficult thing to catch. I was able to think about and appreciate the effort of this photographer and the amount of frames that could have been pondered upon to fit the content of the story.

The story is pretty much a chronicle, which covers about two to three months of Carolynne’s life and how her family – Rich, Melissa, Brian and EJ – cope with her death. Most photos are taken within their home, shifting from the living room to each of their bedrooms, the kitchen, dining room, yard and the sidewalk – everyday places that we can all relate to. I noticed that there were several taken in the bathroom, and I thought it was very brilliant because it will give you a feeling that the photos are very personal and we feel as though we are merging into their family life. As Carolynne was ill, a lot of pictures of her lying in bed or the couch were taken, which also probably gave it that up-close and personal touch.

My favorite photo(s) is that of EJ on their last Christmas together. A series of about five photographs were taken from the same angle, and you can see and follow EJ’s excitement as perhaps his gift from Santa was opened. I thought it was just amazing how Carolynne was sitting next to him and how I was able to see her face lit up as EJ ran out with joy.

The only thing is I thought that sound editing could have been better. They did an excellent job on the interviews, but I thought some music or short audio clips actually taken from the photo shoot (like they had in “A New Dawn?”) would have been even better. However, overall I must admit am just emotionally full today at just taking a look at the award-winning multimedia projects.

Compassion

Scrolling through the list of Pictures of the Year Award winners, the title "Remember Me" caught my eye. I clicked on it, and the tears started almost as soon as the pictures and the story came out. Carolynne St. Pierre, a wife and mother of three children, was diagnosed with liver cancer and given days or months to live. Preston Gannaway and Kari Collins of the Concord Monitor chronicled her last few months of life. The situation itself would be enough to make me feel for this family, but the pictures, just the way they captured their everyday life and how they were dealing with the grief; it was indescribable. The audio added to the images, impacting the viewer in even bigger ways because it made it all the more real. The picture of Rich picking out his wife's casket.. That was one of the best images in my opinion. It just brought everything home in a way that none of the others did. This family was preparing for their wife and mother to die. Then Melissa, the daughter, said that it's become "normal" to see her mother in the hospital and that she's gotten used to it. I can't imagine having to become used to seeing my mother constantly sick and tired, laying in a hospital bed with no energy to move. A time goes on, you can see Carolynne get progressively thinner, look more tired, and just fall into the "sickly" category. This combination of pictures and narration really brought this story together and did an unbelievable job of bringing the reader into this family's story.

A Thousand Words

The "Marlboro Marine" was one of the most powerful shots to result from the Iraq War.  To many, the picture stood out from innumerable others in ways that couldn't really be articulated.  The emotive nature of the photo is as wide and deep as any of Earth's oceans; here we have a man who is weathered physically and mentally beyond his youthful years, obviously trying to relieve whatever burden he carries with a Marlboro cigarette.

What is missing from this excellent piece of photojournalism is closure.  Did this marine make it through hellish Fallouja?  Was his despondent look a product of the war-zone or something that goes far deeper?  That's just the thing - a picture may be worth a thousand words, but it's all speculation until the subject reveals the truth to the viewer.  Multimedia can accomplish this.  And certainly did in the second-place, "Marlboro Marine" effort by MediaStorm.org (Mary Cooney, Michael McGehee, Stephanie Ferrell and produced by Brian Storm and Chad A. Stevens).

MediaStorm took the already intriguing Fallouja Marine in the famed picture and provided insight to his personal story through sound, video and namely pictures.  They took that nameless emblem of the Iraq War and revealed him, James Blake Miller, as a human being.  The presentation is based around Miller's personal experiences following his time in the war and how he handles with post-traumatic stress disorder.  How he copes with his nightmares, deals with the troubles of today and hopes for tomorrow.

A single shot may be worth a thousand words but, combined with personal accounts among other techniques, it has potential so much more vast.

Kevin Ornduff 

Nothing short of amazing

I was confused at first when I saw the website, because I didn't see any pictures. After scrolling down to find some, I noticed the links for the multimedia projects and decided to click on one just to waste some time and check them out. They were nothing short of amazing.
The first multimedia project I viewed was "A New Dawn?" about a mother of five in Kentucky who was strung out on drugs. I admit I am not always sympathetic to drug abusers because I feel it's a problem they brought on themselves. This was the first time I was moved by a story like this one. I actually felt like I was one of her family members or something by the content of the photos and the quality of her story. After having taken pictures myself, I have so much respect for the photographer. It reminded me of a broadcast story in that the photos matched very well with the dialouge, but there was nothing else distracting in the scenes that took my attention away from this mother.
The second multimedia that really moved me was "The Malboro Marine". What is interesting about this project is that the title suggests it may about a Marine who smokes cigarettes, but it isn't. Cigarettes are tied heavily into the photos and setting of the project, but the photographer and the soldier never directly talk about it. I think that's the essence of good story-telling. Neither the photographer or the soldier who narrarated the piece ever had to directly talk about the cigarettes, but it's evident in the shots and in his voice that it's deeply entrenched in him, but that there's so much more to his problems than cigarettes.
On a personal level, these projects left me very depressed. For hours after watching them I couldn't bring a smile on my face because I kept thinking about the pictures and the problems of this world. After having some more time to reflect on them, it revealed to me even more the power of good story telling. Here I was just killing some time in between classes, and these projects changed my outlook on the world. Each story dealt primarily with one person, but there was something in their story that made a connection with you. I don't think I'll ever forget that Kentucky mother, or even look at single mothers with numerous children the same. And it's not to say that every mother or every soldier or every encaged animal (from "Black Market") has the same story, but the point is that there is a story for every subject. I was nothing short of amazed.

Grief: Context Gives More Meaning - Tomeka Weatherspoon

I would like to make some comments on Scout Tufankjian's Grief, a Pictures of the Year International Award of Excellence winner.

Its most absorbing qualities are emotion, authenticity and foreign appeal. Emotion is unquestionably the most powerful element. It is a slice of humanity. Any person should be capable of feeling a connection to these people and feel sorrow for their pain.

The caption state the photo was taken in 2006. Even if the view has no background knowledge of the photo, from an American standpoint, it would still be particularly interesting because of the wars in the Middle East. The scene also appears to have had little to absolutely no manipulation or influence on the part of the photographer.

I believe the photo's weaknesses are in composition and lighting. Lighting is only a small issue because everyone's features can clearly be seen. However, not much else can be seen. There is no idea of where the setting is because the background is so dark. Composition is the most distracting issue. It seems that the photo was meant to be a close up, showing personal features in grief. However, there are possibly too many subjects in the photo. I do not know where I should look. It is also distracting how much clothing is in the picture. Some of their faces are even blocked (not purposely) by it. If you really look at the photo, half the frame is wasted with clothing.

I was struck by how none of these "issues" no longer distracted me once I read some background information on the photo. It was taken at a funeral for the subject's relatives, who were killed after an Israel tank's shell hit their home in the Gaza Strip. It's a deeply moving image, but context gives it that much more meaning.

Mountain Workshops: Effective Storytelling

So much can be made of multimedia storytelling. Marriage of sound, pictures, video, and music can enhance any story and attract audience attention quickly and hold it for longer than before. It’s no surprise that multimedia has experienced success despite it’s relative newness. We are a visual culture, obsessed with seeing and experiencing the story. Multimedia presentations represent the way of the future, and the POY multimedia competition highlights the best of current media packages.

When scanning through the various projects, I came upon the presentation about Danville, Kentucky, and was pretty impressed.

I particularly liked the combination of words and sound to accompany the photos. I feel the creators of the package strived to completely represent the town and what it stands for. The clips about Hal and Gladys were touching and serious, while the dog trainers clip and the skateboarding teen clip provided a slightly lighter feel. Danville is a diverse and special place, and the authors of the package accomplished their goal. I noticed several little things, like the subtle changes in the music. For lighter clips, the music was more aloof, while the serious clips featured softer piano cues. Attention to the little details set this package apart and made it award winning.

Multimedia Presentations - Pictures of the Year (Kate Chizek)

As I looked at the list of awards for the POYi competition, the multimedia presentations stood out most to me. While I understand that pictures should usually speak for themselves and tell a story, what stood out to me about these stories were the amount of pictures and the use of sound. The story that stood out specifically to me was "The Coulter Family" by Jim Gehrz of Star Tribune.

To be honest, I thought the story was about Ann Coulter's family. I just clicked on it, interested in the political commentator's home life. What surprised me was that the story was about the I35W bridge collapse. The pictures of the family after the incident were devastating. What stood out to me most was the picture of the spectators, taking pictures on their cameras, with the look of shock on their faces (notably the priests at the Archdiocese) . To me, it seemed like September 11 - you don't really know how bad it was until you were there.

Gehrz did a fantastic job of covering the family through their recovery process. The mother, Paula, was most effected by the incident - to be honest, because of the pictures after the collapse, I thought she had died. I literally cried when I saw that she had lived. This recovery process is probably still continuing for the Coulter family, and to get a glimpse of their everyday life - their dogs excited to see their owners again, the daughters trying to get back with high school friends on sports teams, and the family testifying in court about the incident - really touched me. I am glad I took the time to watch!

POYi multimedia: A new Dawn?

Post for Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008
POSITIVES:
David Stephenson's first-place winning "A New Dawn?," a multimedia project for the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, boasts fantastic black-and-white photos put together over several chapters. It tells the story of a single mom who has undergone significant abuse and is now working her way through drug court.
As I moved through the project, I was touched by the photographer's compassion, especially those photos involving the mom and her children, because they showed her for who she really was, despite her shortcomings. The best picture, I felt, was one in the final chapter in which she is holding her youngest child. In the background is a two-way mirror, indicating she still hasn't broken free of the court system and of being monitored. The ending was sad and real, because I wasn't sure whether she would succeed in her efforts to regain her children.
The photographer is clearly skilled in getting access to this woman in all aspects of her life. I've had to arrange for court photos before, so I can appreciate a little of how complicated the process is.
CRITIQUES:
On the other hand, I wasn't completely impressed with the soundtrack, and I wasn't convinced that aspect was even necessary. As I understand it, the use of music is controversial, because while it is great (when chosen right) at evoking emotion, it can also be seen as a crutch or a gimmick, much like tilting a camera at an angle for a diagonal-looking shot. I didn't think the music was entirely appropriate. I automatically draw the connection between the music and the mom, and since the music sounded, at times, like a hip-hop beat, I automatically assume this is the kind of music the mom is around most days. That would be fine if it were accurate, but for all I know, she's a hard-core country fan or way into John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" album. I would have liked to know more about how the music was chosen.
I would have also liked more identification of the people in the photos, whether by captions or by people introducing themselves by voice ("My name is Bob Smith, and I'm Dawn's parole officer," or something like that).

the challenge of photojournalisms

The central lesson I picked up on while reviewing the readings was that excellent photography is, essentially, about being an excellent observer. I feel like that's a key skill to tone in order to be any kind of journalist, and when it comes to photojournalism— where you only have one opportunity, really, to get a given shot— knowing what's going on around you at all times and "hunting" for the best people, environments and action shots is incredibly important. Although I like taking pictures with my small point and shoot camera, I've never worked with professional equipment before or taken pictures for a journalistic purpose, so this is definitely new to me, and to be honest I'm a little bit nervous. While the article was interesting and fascinating— I like the romanticized view of feature photography— it reminded me of how many little things there are to remember in order to produce a good feature photo, and I'm a little worried about how my assignment will turn out. But I'm much more excited than nervous— this is something totally new for me, and something I'm really ready to try out.

Good Advice

"The Great Picture Hunt" made me think about things related to photojournalism I've never considered before, packing toilet paper not being the least of them. I mean, who would think they need to make sure there's gas in their car before they head out on a shoot that isn't that far away? But David LaBelle has been there and experienced the need for these things, and pointed out to me their usefulness. So when I go to do my own shoot I'll be better prepared, and be ready to expect the unexpected.. Perhaps I won't find much surprising in Columbia, Missouri, but I'll never know what the future holds. I might as well be ready for it.

The pictures by David Snider were probably my favorite part of this homework. I love how he can take an ordinary experience or moment, and make it into something worth looking twice at. Having always been a people watcher, I've seen little things that most people assume go unnoticed, and I can't wait to get out with a camera and try to capture them on film. He brings forward the everyday that doesn't usually get looked twice at, and the everyday simple things have always been some of my favorite parts of life. David made me excited to see what I can do, and gave me confidence in my own potential.

Always pack toilet paper

I had to laugh at first, at the underlying them of "The Great Picture Hunt". The author suggests shooting great feature photos is like going out hunting in the woods. It sounds a little romantic to me, but then again -- I've always been a words guy.

One thing I think was a little misleading by this analogy is the idea that photographers "sit in wait." It seems to me that you have to be aggressive, you have to get on your feet and move around, and make your presence known. Obviously you want to be as little of a distraction as possible, but I have a problem with the notion that a photojournalist sits, almost in hiding, and waits for something to happen. People are going to know you are there -- because of the click-click of the shutter if nothing else. So I think we're fooling ourselves if we pretend we are able to totally blend in.

Another thing I found really interesting was the list of items to pack. Toilet paper? I mean really... everyone is not a photographer for National Geographic. We aren't out in the jungle in search of an elusive subject for weeks at a time, never stopping to go back to the office or shower. We have deadlines to meet.

On the other hand, I really liked a lot of the advice. In particular, having enough gas in your car. It sounds like a no-brainer, but I've been caught on the wrong end of that stick. One of the first stories I ever wrote was to cover a drowning outside the small town where I was staying. I was relatively new to the area, and had no idea exactly how far away the location was. My editor made it sound like it was just around the bend. Fourty minutes later, with my photographer and I coasting on scene on fumes, I had learned my lesson. It actually got to the point where I turned off my lights and the A/C in some naive plan to save gas mileage. We didn't conk out on the way back to the office, thankfully, but I've always made it a habit to have at LEAST a half-tank of gas in my car.

The Biggest Quality of them All - Audacity

by Klive Oh
I thought “The Great Picture Hunt” by David LaBelle was the exact set of guidelines for me in this point during the course where I am about to take some photos of total strangers. Most helpful were photographs set right next to each rule and explanation. They were so deliberately put together with a purpose to illustrate exactly what the rules meant; most photo examples spoke for themselves.

The best photographer I personally know is my brother. Whenever you have him on a trip together with a camera, you can be pretty sure that your Facebook will be loaded with some nice pictures. However, he probably won’t make a good photojournalist just yet, mainly because of his bashfulness. He is the kind of guy who is gentle, a little too much at times, and detests talking to strangers. That means even if he has a great idea, technique, angle or whatever to shoot the perfect picture, he might miss the chance to even start because he can’t reach the subject matter. If he were to be a photojournalist, he ought to get beyond himself and talk, mingle and react with them. I think this quality – audacity – is one of the most important, if not THE most important, characteristics of a photographer.

Coming from Korea, a country interspersed with IT, I am a blogger myself. I like to pick a photo out of my camera and write a couple of sentences – sometimes about the photo, or sometimes thoughts arising from that photo. I have considered myself a photojournalist in my own little world. Through my amateur experience, I guess I have had a chance to learn some of the major points made in the reading. However, I think the article was significant in that it give an idea of how to make all of that actually happen in your viewfinder. Everyone knows that emotion in a photo is important, but in order to reach out and grasp that emotion, that angle and that humor – you will have to be audacious. Yes, LaBelle speaks of hunting and puts the photographer in the position of a hunter for feature photos; a hunter requires being audacious most of the time, too!

The latter parts of the reading about his tips regarding hunting methods are written down in my notebook. Although some of these points may be obvious, I think abiding by the rules as a novice will be of great help in completing my future assignments.

About David Snider’s street photos, I just loved how everything was black-and-white. My favorite picture was one with little kids on a playground bridge. It seems that the kid on the left is trying to wiggle the structure and the kid on the right is scared (I won’t assume the gender of neither). I just love it because of the humor and emotion in the picture. It was also a good example of what were said in the reading.

photo j really is an art!

I am one of those people that absolutely loves photographs. I believe it's truly an art to be able to capture a particular moment in a single photo, and that it's not a gift everyone has. The first point about curiosity being a great characteristic for great photos really stood out to me. I think curiosity is one of the main qualities that makes a great journalist, so why not a photojournalist as well? This is something I hope to enhance as I continue my journalism career. While I am a hard-worker and I pay great attention to details, I think that natural curiosity for things beyond your own world is something I will have to cultivate within.
An aspect of finding a good feature was preparedness, which I am proud to say is a great quality of mine. Backing up your work (whether by saving or double checking those facts), starting projects on time, and staying organized are skills I love having. Although this applies in a different way to photographers, I think being prepared is a skill benefits all careers, but especially journalists.
From the second chapter, I really like the parts about catching the emotions of people. It's a difficult thing to do, but when accomplished really speaks to people. The areas of composition and humor were a little harder to grasp, but I think it's because I'm a beginner.
My favorite part of this week's readings by far were the photographs by David Snider. My favorite photo was the one of the children on some sort of bridge on a swing set in the park. This was partially due to it being children, but also because it really caught their emotion. One child is crying, another is staring blankly away, and so on. Children are not reserved in their emotions and I think this photo did a great job of showing that. I can't wait to take my own pictures next week!

Reading The Great Picture Hunt and looking and David Snider’s pictures was extremely motivating.  I have always loved pictures, but have little experience with the camera, except little snapshots of my family and friends, which hardly counts.  David Snider’s pictures perfectly captured so many little moments that LaBelle described—those fragments of life that make statements about the human condition.  I especially like his line, “A moment is that magic time when all the elements, like bars on a slot machine, come together to pay pictorial dividends.”  The last picture of the two blind people was especially touching, especially because the caption says “My Parents.”  I’m assuming that means LaBelle’s parents are blind which is an interesting twist for a person with such a heightened sense of perception to have blind parents.  But then again, that is probably why he has developed such a keen eye in the first place.

I’m going to really work on patience throughout my journey in learning how to photograph well.  Not just patience, in waiting for a quality moment, but patience in developing the techniques, methods, and characteristics that LaBelle describes.  I am eager to instantly possess all these things, but I know it will only come after numerous trial and errors.  I really like the concept of his idea treee too.  I am a habitual note taker on pretty much everything, but I’m going to start incorporating more visual notes. Also, I never thought about searching the classified ads, the personals, or the yellow pages for ideas.  There were some very humorous examples of the odd things people have going on in their lives that few people know about…such as the man looking for a room to let his snakes exercise.  

An Unwritten Language

Everyone has heard the saying “a picture is worth 1000 words.” After scrolling through David Snider’s photography album, I can say I could probably write at least 1000 words about each photograph, but I’ll spare everyone that travesty. David Snider has successfully captured, with the help of his trusty camera, poignant street scenes unlike others I have seen. To me, Snider has written a language compiled of images, faces, actions, and emotions. The photos in the album are no mere Facebook pictures. No amateur, like myself, could attempt photos like these. Snider has the unique ability to, with his art, reveal the true story behind each person in his photos.

I think what we, as amateur photojournalists, should strive for is what Snider exemplifies so well. We need to tell the story of the photo subject. One photo in his catalogue comes to mind immediately. The photo captures two people using canes to feel their way along the sidewalk. I am assuming these people are at least partially blind. They’ve come to a crosswalk, but halt at the street, waiting until they have some sign to cross. What is so unique in the photo is that hanging right above them is a crosswalk sign that is flashing the clear to cross signal. To me, it shows the plight of visually disabled people in America. We live in a very visual world, but not everyone has the ability to enjoy this world.

Another point we can take away from Snider is his ability to talk across differences (sorry for the Cross Cultural throw-back). We see him capturing people from different races, religion, age, class, etc. He gets on the level of the people. By doing so, he gains the trust and respect of subjects, I would assume. Taking lessons from Snider is important, because he is able to convey a complete message through just one image.

Without much experience with photo journalism, I would normally be slightly intimidated by articles like these, assuming I wouldn't understand the techniques they explain. LaBelle's article was actually really interesting to me. He gave very basic (and smart) tips about being prepared and patient for the shoot. I guess the article gave me a little more confidence when it comes to photo journalism. I like that he compared photography to hunting- it seems like a silly comparison at first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Photographers do need to hunt for the shot, it won't always just fall in your lap (unless you're really lucky), and i think that's important to remember. Snider's catelogue was also cool to look at. It seemed to include all the aspects of "good" photography, and I liked that many of the pictures were light hearted and fun. Overall I have a better idea of how photojournalists do what they do and a little more confidence about doing it myself. 

A little more confident now..

I just sit in awe. (Kate Chizek)

"It's not the heat, it's the timidity." David Snider's pictures of strangers wow me. Honestly, his detail shot of a rosary in a man's hand display the dedication of an older person to their faith. The different situations he captures leave me envious. I wish I could capture such things in France and on the streets of New York. But what he says about capturing strangers is something I can actually understand as an unexperienced journalists - I am afraid to simply take photos of people without their permission. I want to shoot "timeless and precious photos," but I think I need to grow a backbone. I am too hesitant to simply snap photos of a stranger. I know I need to overcome this.

As I begin to pinpoint my convergence project, these words of David LaBelle in "Picture Hunt" hit me most: "Simple, uncluttered images . . . are easy to read because the reader doesn't have to hunt for the message. These pictures are called 'quick reads.'" This speaks to what my photography friends have always told me about pictures. I have borrowed their cameras and tried to capture emotion and original phots, but they always tell me I need to step back. I don't need multiple subjects in a photo. Rather, like LaBelle says, simple pictures help you to see the moment, rather than give you a whole background story of the situation. I hope to sit back and let my subjects do the talking. Hopefully I can achieve this in 4802.

Picture-Taking 101

By Zach Wade

LaBelle's article is an incredibly comprehensive guide to shooting photos. He guides the reader with the expertise of a seasoned photographer. I appreciate the tips such as keeping enough gas in the car and keeping extra cash. LaBelle probably learned these things from countless trial and error.

I can identify with LaBelle's description of the reluctant student photographer who feels sightly aimless (no pun intended).  Photography is very different from other areas of journalism because it requires a more passive stance than the classic aggressive reporter. I am personally used to having a lot of control over sources, language and they general way I craft a story. Photographs tell a story, but the photographer must wait for it and demonstrate active patience. I think it will be challenging for me to tell a story with photos because I have very little autonomy in terms of how I can craft it. This is not to say I skew news stories when I write them, but photos are very exacting and objective pieces of work. I feel like I will have to focus on the angle and the lighting and the presentation of the photo rather than the discretion I exercise with traditional story-telling. 

There are some very good photos in LaBelle's essay, and I think those examples help more to direct the photographer than even his words. It makes clear that human emotions and faces are very important, and most fill the frame completely. I found this article particularly useful and I feel a little better about taking on the world with a camera and notebook now!

Photography and Me

Photography has never really been my gig.  I've never even owned a camera, let alone heard of things like "Shutterspeed" and ISO.  So one can imagine how LaBelle and Snider might be speaking a foreign language, in my ears (or in this case, eyes).

However, after giving these articles and pictures a once-over, I can say with a semblance of confidence that I might possess some aspects that help photographers thrive.  Take LaBelle's nostalgic recalling of his childhood in the forest, "hunting" for whatever.  That was me.  Except take those woods and switch in a little concrete, metal and tar.  Maybe some greens in my mother's garden or my father's nicely manicured lawn.  Yeah, I was a suburban sightseer.  My mother would often realize that it was 4:20 in the afternoon on a school day in 3rd or 4th grade and I was nowhere to be found.  She'd scramble out of the house to find the seat of my pants sticking up as I examined whatever insects or foliage had emerged while I was in class.  Curiosity is one of my fortes. 

Another thing that clicked when I was reading LaBelle's article was his observations on the necessity of the preparedness of the photographer.  Being an Eagle Scout, I'm familiar with laundry lists of items organized solely for the purpose of living up to the Scout Motto.

I also found it amusing to see many of the elements of "good" photography play themselves out in Snider's catalogue.  Be it a humorous moment, simplicity, interaction, angle, or whatever.

'The Great Picture Hunt'

I really enjoyed David LaBelle's "The Great Picture Hunt" because of its practical suggestions and, of course, the photos.
I came to appreciate the importance of captions tonight as I came to the end of the PDF. The final picture shows a moose, presumably the one that, only a page before, was up and running from police, still and on the ground.
I was so afraid that it was dead, but upon reading the previous caption, discovered it had merely been tranquilized and moved elsewhere. Whew.
It was mentioned in class on Tuesday and again in the reading, but talking to sources and networking seems to be key. Great photo ideas can emerge from this, and these conversations lend themselves to rich captions. I'm guessing that conversation also helps put photo subjects at ease with you, the photographer, standing around and waiting, as the reading suggests, for that perfect moment.
I think that when I do my assignment for next week, I'll try to ask my subjects about what it is they're doing, or things they're very comfortable with, that they know like the backs of their hands, which takes the conversation off of them and onto the things they're familiar with, their work. That way, it becomes easier for the subject (and me as the photographer, for that matter) to talk about ourselves without being totally put on the spot.
I'll also plan to keep an eye on my ideas, and perhaps do some brainstorming about photo possibilities in advance. It never hurts to have a game plan.

Photos and Words - Tomeka Weatherspoon

The photographer thinks in a way that asks, "what would make an interesting photo?" When the photographer is in the news industry (or at least into capturing images with meaning) that initial question becomes attached to, "what would make for an interesting story to tell?" In this way, there are parallels between photojournalist, street photographers and investigative reporters. During the readings, these connections were the most interesting part for me to contemplate.

For example The Great Picture Hunt described methods for finding photos for feature stories. They are the same ones an investigative reporter could use. The search is the same, though the requirements for "what is interesting" may be different. You do not need a fantastic photo to have a great story. You do not need a great story to have a fantastic photo. However, it is nice how photos and words can complement each other.

A difference between the professions is that photojournalism and street photography are primarily investigative work on humanity. They are able to gain appreciation and understanding of the human condition. There is a certain depth in storytelling only an image can show. Correspondingly, there is a certain level of understanding only words can provide. And a captivating image can be inspiration for good writing. 

Curiosity and Humor

When David Labelle wrote about the importance of curiosity, it instantly reminded me of my friend who recently completed an assignment for one of his photo classes. His assignment was to take pictures of 10 different strangers. He decided to leave Columbia for this project, but on his way out of town he saw an old man with a cane walking along the side of the road. Curiosity led him to double back and pick up this hitchhiker, and he not only got good and original photos, but he got to hear an incredible story as he volunteered to drive the old man to a town 10 miles away. My friend said that if he didn’t have classes, he would have tried to follow the man for a week to get more of his story. He has the curiosity that will make him a good photo journalist.

Something else that stood out to me in this assignment was David Snider’s picture of a man ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza. It has so many of the elements of good photography that David LaBelle describes. My first reaction was laughter. There is definite humor in this photograph, and that is greatly due to the composition of the photo—the ice skater exactly mirrors the statue. Additionally, LaBelle captures a single moment. Any other moment with the skater’s body positioned in any other way would not have created such a great photo or such great humor.