Bootcamp Ends

Bootcamp closed today with messages from Pulitzer-Prize winner Jan Schaffer, I.F. Stone’s son, and former CBS correspondent Thalia Assuras. A fitting way to end a course packed with professional insights.

Schaffer, founder of J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism, spoke about her path to interactive work.

Jeremy Stone, son of I.F., spoke about the erudition of his father and the ground-breaking independent newsletter I.F. Stone’s Weekly.

I sense a definite tension in the journalism climate between neutrality and opinion. I.F. Stone’s example shines for its subjectivity. But Assuras emphasized removing political associations from Facebook.

This experience has been rich and…crazy. Class for eight hours a day plus hours of blogging, reading, and studying takes its toll. But I am not afraid of hard work, and the content of this program so engaged me that three weeks flew. I am so grateful American University provided us an opportunity to build such a well-rounded base for our studies.

I’ll always remember the stories of Pomfret and Zirinsky, Bolling’s energy. I know images from our trips to the Associated Press and Newseum will drive me on frustrating days.

I’m excited for the year to come. If I’ve learned anything these past weeks, it’s that I want to be a part of the solution to the challenge facing journalism.

Breaking-Down Video

I’m always excited to show others my work. As a kid, I literally ran off the bus with my essays and tests to show my family. It’s obviously a little different in graduate school, but I was excited to get feedback on our video after so many hours of learning and editing.

Keosha Johnson’s words about coming here to learn, not to get good grades, stuck with me. This week made me so eager to improve my skills.

We began our last full-day of Bootcamp with a class critique of our videos. My personal favorite video was “DC Screams for Ice Cream,” by Claritza Jimenez and Will Cummings. I loved its story-telling and shooting.

Criticism for our piece included the relative low volume of Pat Beerothai’s audio and the overhead angle from which we shot her interview. The class also said they would like more close-ups and interviews of the kids.

Generally, the class learned the importance of framing the interviewed subject so that he or she is talking into the environment space. Many videos — ours included — framed subjects so they appeared to talk to the screen’s edge.

A talk from Jim Brady, executive editor of washingtonpost.com, and a lecture on video terminology completed our day. Brady spoke about the considerations of entrepreneurial journalism and explained how to monetize content and maximize blog readership.

Professor Olmsted broke down the elements of a television news broadcast. We watched examples of VO’s, SOT’s, and B-roll and then defended our selections for inclusion in a news story.