Gorillas in the Crossfire – NYT Web Video

Gorillas in the Crossfire by NYTimes.com is an example of a web video that tells a story without a reporter narrating. I really like the opening sequences because it introduces the story nicely. The wide shot shows that the story takes place in the jungle. There is a mix of music and natural environment sound to set the scene.

Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2012.

Orlando Von Einsiedel uses a couple of graphics toward the beginning of the video to give some background on the situation of that the gorillas and the rangers are in. I think that the text graphics work in this case. There is a lot of raw footage that is left without narration or music. Von Einsiedel lets the park rangers tell their stories about how they, and the gorillas survive in the war zones of Congo.

The video has well framed videos with sound bites that show the subjects personality and address the issues in the story. I didn’t get bored because the story was visually engaging. The gorillas, the war scenes and the environmental shots themselves were beautiful.

This is the style that I want to emulate for my final project video.

In web video, a videographer has to shoot as much as possible because once he or she returns to the editing room, that’s it. There is no recorded voiceover to fill in the blanks. There is no stand up to clarify points. There is only the interviews, the broll and the small number of text graphics. Producing web videos is a skill because you have to get crafty.

Interactive Maps and Data Journalism

Losing Ground is a data journalism project from Pro Publica that thoroughly documents the landscape changes of Louisiana in the last 80 years. After a storm surge from category 5 hurricane Katrina completely destroyed New Orleans, Louisiana’s lack of elevation gained national concern. The states coasts are literally losing ground as almost 2,000 square miles of land has gone under.

 

Above are screenshots from the website that show where the land has turned to water. In this project the interactive elements add so much value. On the main page there are buttons to see how canals, levees and oil/gas lines contribute to the loss of wetlands. Wetlands used to be the area that separated the Gulf and communities. Now the wetlands are being flooded. The issue is more than losing farmland and personal property. The loss of land affects the ecosystem, economy in Louisiana. New Orleans is an important city for trade and it is in danger.

Clicking into the specific boxes causes the graphic to zoom in. Then a timeline is given so that you can see the water levels rise over time. This strategy works for the story because it makes the issue real. According to the article, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists say by 2100 most of Southeast Louisiana will be underneath the Gulf of Mexico.

In the body of text, city names and areas are linked to the map. If I’m reading about the area called, “Buras,” I can click the link and the graphic will automatically zoom into the Buras area. I really like how the stationary sidebar includes text, audio and photos. It’s a lot of content and it was produced by many people but they are organized really well. It’s a story about people and how their community is drastically changing.

Boobs & Bras Supports Breasts at Stony Brook

Students at Boobs & Bras 2015 decorated bras and discussed the need for breast health awareness. (Jasmine Blennau)

The Boobs & Bras motto promotes loving the way that you are. (Jasmine Blennau)

On March 25, Boobs & Bras held its second annual event to discuss breasts and breast health. The organization’s mission is to start a conversation in the campus community about society’s perception of breasts and how widening that perception can lead to the spread of breast health information. The program promotes two kinds of empowerment. The first is being empowered by health education and the second is being empowered by having a positive body image. Co-hosts Mallory Rothstein and Alexa Goldstein said they were happy at the turnout of the event, which filled SAC Ballroom B.

Advice from a Grandpa

My grandparents “live the American dream.” They grew up poor in Trinidad and today they live an upper middle class life on Long Island. Oh, and they also had ten children. How did they do it? My grandpa gives me a good talk about saving money in the recording below.

https://soundcloud.com/jasmine-blennau-1/rostant-supersad

Serial: Real Raw Journalism Feels Like a Masterful Con

Serial is a new crime reporting podcast from the creators of This American Life and a production of WBEZ Chicago. The first season aired 12 episodes from October through December 2014. Months later it is still #3 on the iTunes top podcast chart.

“Each season, we’ll follow a plot and characters wherever they take us,” the website states. “And we won’t know what happens at the end until we get there, not long before you get there with us. Each week we bring you the next chapter in the story.”

Season One is the story of Adnan Syed, a Muslim 17-year-old who was convicted for the murder of his Korean ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in Baltimore in 1999. Lee never returned home from school one day and was found in a shallow grave at a local park. After a spotty mistrial and second trial, Syed was sentenced to life although he pleaded, and continues to plead, not guilty.

Adnan Syed, left, and Hae Min Lee, right. Courtesy of TheStar.com

The podcast host, Sarah Koenig, reports and investigates the case for over a year searching for the truth about what happened to Lee on that day and how Syed’s lawyers and the jury contribute to his unfair and incomplete case. She speaks to Syed frequently over the phone and contacts many people with knowledge of the case and its characters. Koenig is back and forth herself on whether Syed is guilty or not because the evidence she accumulates creates more and more questions.

Serial is special because it makes you feel like you’re listening to a murder mystery audiobook. The creators made many intentional choices in the first season to execute the show this way. The music of the podcast is gripping and unsettling, just as the story itself is. The theme song, it’s opening and closing, serves as a dragged, creeping transition to the next episode.

The plot line is confusing because of all the lies and discrepancies between the characters. Koenig lets the characters tell their own sides of the story, their own versions of the truth. The sound bites express the speakers personality and emotions regarding the case. When Koenig speaks she is clear and explains the contradictions and holes in a way that doesn’t lose the listener. When something really major is about to develop, she’s not afraid to say, “you better listen to this part, it’s important.” Each episode is paced appropriately and the episodes don’t feel long. You’re left ready for the next.

I refused to write about Serial until I finished Season One in its entirety. If you haven’t listened to it and plan to, please stop reading here. SPOILER ALERT BELOW.

Malaysia Flight 370 – 1 year later

Many publications cover the same story in a breaking news situation. Who does it better? Below is a summary of coverages of Malaysia Flight 370 by a newspaper, broadcast and blog.

1. Newspaper Website-

Search beacon battery had expired on Flight 370 was published by USA TODAY at 6:32 p.m. on March, 8, 2015.

The piece starts with a timeline video that covers 1 year of Flight 370 news from March 8, 2014 when Flight 370 took off until this January when the Malaysian government declared the disappearance an accident with no survivors. One thing that I liked a lot about the story was that in linked to the interim report, or the safety investigation for Flight MH370, that it and the other following stories cite frequently.

The story was written by Calum MacLeod, of USA TODAY, who was in Beijing on the one year anniversary of the disappearance of the flight. Because the Gannett Company is a huge company, USA TODAY has the resources to have reporters in foreign bureaus. MacLeod also took her own photos for the story.

At the bottom of the page there is a small gallery of Getty Images photos.

Overall the story was shared a lot : 

2. Broadcast Website-

MH370 One Year On: What Can Boeing 777 Flight Simulator Tell Us? by NBC News was first published at 5:19 am on March 8, 2015.

The story includes three videos and text with highlights from the first video about what may have happened to the plane based on the little information available. 

The story was tweeted out at 3:13 p.m. rather than when it was originally published at 5:19 a.m. because it was more likely to get views and shares in the afternoon. 

The second video titled, “Listen to Air Traffic Control Interaction With Flight MH370,” allows viewers to listen to 7 minutes of the pilots talking back and forth with air traffic control. The last video is reporter Lester Holt with a pilot learning how simple it is for a plane to be turned off course.

3. Blog Website-

The Slatest’s MH370: Plane’s Underwater Locator Beacon Battery Expired One Year Before Disappearance was originally published on March 8, 2015, at  11:29 a.m. The author uses photos from Getty Images to break up his text. The text often cites other news publications such as the Associated Press, BBC, Reuters and the Sydney Morning Herald. When you highlight text on the blog you are given the option to share the highlighted text to Facebook or Twitter. There are 20 comments, 10 Tweets and 9 Facebook shares.

Blogs have followers that they want to start a conversation with. Slatest had its viewers talking about Flight 370.

These 3 publications covered the story the way they are supposed to. The newspaper website had thorough text and an informative slideshow video, the broadcast website had a long package covering all aspects of the story and the blog cited other publications in a way that still allowed the story to flow.

All 3 headlines had 370 in it. NBC was the only one that didn’t lead with the battery expiration, but took a more broad view at what had been learned over the last year. If I had to rank the three I would rank it NBC, USA TODAY and then Slatest.

Slatest did not come up in the search as easily as NBC and USA TODAY. I think the best coverage floated to the top of the search engine in this case. I think NBC had the fullest coverage and didn’t just focus on the battery of the black box being expired.

Recreation Clubs at Stony Brook

Projects, homework and midterms got you down? What better time to take a break from all of the studying — or Netflix watching — and get the blood flowing while having fun and trying something new like a recreational sports club?

There are 425 organizations available for students at Stony Brook University to join, and 30 of them are exclusively sports-related. Here, there is something for everyone. From athletes who favor contact sports like women’s rugby, to others who enjoy the art of hula-hooping, students have the opportunity to choose from dozens of clubs and activities that suit their fancy.

Regardless of your skill level, here are seven recreational sports teams you may not have heard about that are fun, exciting and always looking for new members:

Women’s Rugby 

Alexa Barricelli, left, a senior psychology major and art minor, is looking to break the stereotypes of women’s rugby as the teams captain. “Whether you gain weight or you lose weight, we have a position for you,” Barricelli said. “You can do anything in this sport with whatever body shape or size you are. You come in and you’re on the team – you’re in our family.” Photo by Jasmine Blennau (Feb. 27, 2015).

The Stony Brook Women’s Rugby team is looking to recruit. The team gathers year round, with the main season in the fall and tournaments in the spring. The club was established in 1981 and last year was the first time it went to nationals, where the girls came in 5th place. The team currently practices at the Multi-Activity Courts in the basement of the Campus Recreation Center because of the snow and ice outside. These indoor practices are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Fridays, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays. When the outdoor conditions clear, the practice times change to 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. Photo by Jasmine Blennau (Feb. 27, 2015).

Badminton

Jackie Tang, a senior biology major and the president of the Stony Brook University Badminton Club, hopes that students are not afraid to join the club because of inexperience. “We have all different skill levels and we all have fun,” Tang said. “I think it’s a good environment to meet new friends and exercise at the same time.” Photo by Lauren Fetter (Feb. 28, 2015).

Elan Maduro, left, and Janice Loh, right, concentrate on keeping a constant volley while at practice. The Stony Brook University Badminton Club was started in 2011 and currently has over 80 members. The badminton team, which includes a handful of selected members of the club set to compete in tournaments, recently won second place in Division II of the 2015 Boston Collegiate Badminton Tournament. The club meets regularly in the Multi-Activity Courts in the basement of the Campus Recreation Center on Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Photo by Lauren Fetter (Feb. 28, 2015).

Fencing

Janelle Bawayan, the president of the Fencing club, said that people should join fencing because it is a unique sport that offers three different sports, each with their own weapon, within it: Epee, foil and sabre. “The team is like a small family and we bond over the course of each passing tournament,” Bawayan said. “With the right people in leadership and the right attitude about the sport, I think that the club can weather any hard times that hit it and build a sense of resilience.” Photo by Lauren Fetter (Feb. 28, 2015).

The Stony Brook University Fencing club was started in 2004 with 21 members. The club will be attending two championships before the end of the semester. Practice is held at the Multi-Activity Courts in the basement of the Campus Recreation Center for practice on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday practice is held at the Campus Recreation Center basketball courts from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Photo by Lauren Fetter (Feb. 28, 2015).

Quidditch

Freshman and English major Rebecca Zimmerman, left, said that the Quidditch team is one of the reasons she decided to attend Stony Brook University. “The club is a great introduction to sports,” Zimmerman said. “It’s very nerdy and tight-knit, but it’s also competitive and rigorous.” Photo by Lauren Fetter (Feb. 28, 2015).

The Stony Brook University Quidditch team was founded in 2010 and competes in a variety of tournaments and competitions against other colleges in the Northeast region. The team meets at the Multi-Activity Courts in the basement of the Campus Recreation Center for indoor practice from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays until March 23. From March 23 until May 9, the team will hold outdoor practice from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Open to all skill levels, the Quidditch team is looking to continue to bring this fictional sport to life and build up their roster while having fun. Photo by Lauren Fetter (Feb. 28, 2015).

Hula-Hoop Enthusiasts

During the warmer months you have probably seen the Stony Brook Hula-Hoop Enthusiasts dancing and spinning at Staller, but from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 0.m. on Tuesdays they are practicing in SAC 307. This club provides students with a fun, relaxing activity to express themselves. They have about ten regular members during the colder months and they would love it if you joined. No experience, or hoop, necessary! Photo by Jasmine Blennau (March 3, 2015).

The Stony Brook Hula-Hoop Enthusiast club founder and president, Lily Nack, is a senior environmental humanities and civil engineering double major who believes that hooping is a great release for students who stress about things like school, life, work and money. “It’s play, it’s dance, really it’s whatever you want it to be,” Nack said. “It’s a joyous activity. We teach each other and it’s very beautiful in that regard.” Photo by Jasmine Blennau (March 3, 2015).

Boxing

Regina An, a senior economics major and philosophy minor, is all smiles while practicing jabs. “Boxing club is known for a hardcore workout,” An said. “I like to sweat and feel myself making progress. You’ll make progress here.” Photo by Jasmine Blennau (Feb. 27, 2015).

The Stony Brook Boxing Club values fitness and boxing technique. The club welcomes anyone who wants to get in shape and learn about boxing. Members spend the first hour of practice conditioning, and the second hour working on their boxing forms. The club meets from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays. Photo by Jasmine Blennau (Feb. 27,2015).

Ultimate Frisbee

The men’s and women’s ultimate frisbee clubs practice together outdoors on the grass practice fields by South P from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Fridays. The team was established in 2006 and this year is the first year that the women’s team has competed on its own in tournaments. The fall season is used for recruiting and practicing, while the spring is more focused on winning tournaments. The team is always looking for new members and no experience is required. Photo by Jasmine Blennau (March 4, 2015).

James Green, an information systems major and the captain of the men’s ultimate frisbee team, said that he is excited to have more people in the sport. “Students should join our club because it’s a sport that’s great for everyone,” Green said. “We cater to every kind of player, casual and competitive. It’s a good mix of fun and competition.” Photo by Jasmine Blennau (March 4, 2015).

NYC Subway Tunnels by MTA Photographer Patrick Cashin

An Unbelievable Glimpse of The Tunnels In Progress Beneath New York City was shot by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and assembled into a photo story by Fastcodesign.com.

MTA Staff Photographer Patrick Cashin has been shooting for the MTA since 2000. He has covered major events and projects such as this, the East Side Access process, connecting LIRR to Grand Central Station, Winter Storm Juno, and rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy.

The Photos:

The photos from this gallery speak for themselves. The depth of the tunnels is tremendous. The intricacies of the construction are artlike. And the realization that it’s all happening underground makes man realize how minute he is in comparison to our Earth.

New Yorkers are aware of the average size of a train car, cherrypicker, yellow excavation digger, bulldozer — the average size of a man. But in this setting, not so deep underground, these usual objects seem different.

These objects are different here because we will never get to see them with our own eyes down inside these giant holes. These photos successfully tell the story of this tunnel construction by exposing the true volume of them this way. With a variety of shots, Cashin documents the effort and amount of work that has gone into developing and improving the already complicated system of railways. 

The Layout:

I like the way the interactive gallery feature is used to display the photos one by one. The captions are visually clean and do not take away or distract from the photos. The fonts are clear and I like the multiple sharing options. It was a good idea to have the interactive gallery but to also have a single photo to separate the blocks of text.

The simplicity of the layout allows the photos to be front and center. Fast Company maintains this design throughout their websites in order to highlight the photos and videos of the online magazine.

At the end of the body there is a helpful link to see more of the MTA’s photos and a courtesy “Hat tip” to Gizmodo.

The Content:

The captions tell the story in short bursts as the reader clicks along in the interactive gallery and it is also told in the couple of blog-style paragraphs in the body of the post. The content in the captions and in the body is the same.

Some of the captions are jokes or just don’t say anything substantive. That doesn’t work for me. I think that the person who put this together could have made a couple of calls to get more information about the underground construction and maybe interviewed an MTA communications representative.

Overall I think this photo story is great. I get the point. I’m seeing something that normally I wouldn’t see and something probably very few people have actual access to see.

Patrick Cashin is an incredibly talented photographer and his work on the MTA Flickr Account show it. Although he isn’t a photojournalist, he and his employer shared the photos online for the public to see and blogs began making photo stories. These photo stories were then shared on social media and picked up by other blogs.

The public was engaged to the photos online because the MTA posted them on Flickr and wanted people to share them. The album on Flickr has over 90,400 views.

The fastcodesign.com post had:

51PINS  84GOOGLE PLUS  100LINKEDIN SHARES  819TWEETS 1.2KFB LIKES

The Gizmodo article that fastcodesign.com credited also had 251,300 visitors to it’s page and over 11K Facebook Likes to the post. We must keep in mind that these are only two of the many places online where these photos are featured. The MTA is publicizing itself online through its free, widely circulated original photography.

Photo microblogging with Jericka Duncan

Duncan’s coverage of the recent winter storms in New England is an example of microblogging because she provides her Twitter followers with a story about her experiences in the field. By putting out behind the scenes looks at the production of her packages and stand ups, she is almost posting a sneak peak to what you might see more about on the CBS Evening News that night.

Her microblogging is strong because not only does she post photos about what she sees on her travels in the snow, but her retweets are all also relevant to the winter weather. Her retweets give context to the photos she is posting on her own. As a field reporter she is out speaking to people, writing her scripts and producing packages with her team. She doesn’t have time to write her own blog to provide context to these pictures. So by retweeting stories that can give followers the big picture she is creating and sharing content that matters.

She used her cell phone effectively to give her followers and fans instant looks at where she was and what she was discovering in Maine and Massachusetts. These posts are obviously supplementary to her broadcast reporting. Although she has a cameraman and producer with her on her adventures, Duncan keeps her social media presence strong by using her smart phone.

Social media plays into the story because it is promoting the story. By posting on social media and retweeting relevant information Duncan is promoting the information, CBS, and herself. Social media gives the public these images instantly, whereas without it viewers would have to wait until the news came on television that night.