OMG - Video journalism what!

I have been somewhat tawdry posting in recent days, and it'll probably slacken some more.

The last few days have seen me at the coal face in submitting 5000 words towards my thesis.

Everything from reading newspapers like the Hampshire Chronicle, (HC) from 230 years ago, to more contemporary excursions such as Jenkins H., Convergence Culture Where old and new media collide, New York University Press, 2006.

It's exhausting, because not least it involves challenging paradigms, or making sense of them and thus has involved reading around 50 different books.

Foucalt for instance asks: What is an author and how much is required of them?

In announcing the death of Lincoln, the HC, April 29th,1865, says:
Appalling and astounding news comes from America, such as never before was borne across the Atlantic.

Try such language in today's Times.

The past has very little to do with our busy lives, while we try and make do with the 'here and now'. But history throws up so many answers for how we might cope with events.

Nothing you could say is new.

It's relevant to politicians, which is why President-to-be Obama has recommended to his newly formed cabinet that they read the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. An item on this was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today this morning.

New tools
New tools give us new ideas to cope, or even help us push ahead with new methodologies and there are copious questions still warranting attention within the media and journalism.

This morning two emails that should help provide an insight into how we are developing and the trends abreast came through.

Sadly and understandably I won't be able to talk about the matter, if any, until after the events.

But the first, International Video journalism Awards will give an indication of the trends in video journalism, while the RTS, Royal Television Society Innovation Awards, will illustrate other trends in innovation.

In both cases I've been invited to judge submissions.

Competitions like the aforementioned act as a repository for a wide pool of work, but we also know there's untold untapped talent who don't take these routes, for a number of reasons.

We find them online or stumble across their work. And as the web blooms farther and farther, and new talent enters the fray, its important they play the game: blog, twit, deli. and the likes, and aggregate with kith and kin.

You don't need validation belonging to any number of portal sites. Get involved yes, but then build your own citadel.

Sock Puppet takes Film Awards

Meanwhile this press release from Filminute, which has found a winner

LONDON/BUCHAREST, October 12, 2008 – Maniacally competitive sock puppets, an innocent take on the proverbial “quickie,” and a sci-fi rendering of the wonders of antacid take top honours at Filminute, the international one-minute film festival. The 2008 Filminute Awards were announced today at a live event at the Orange Concept Store in Bucharest and on a televised special on ShortsTV in Europe.

Filminute’s seven-member international jury awarded the Best Filminute to UK director Oli Hyatt’s animated romp STITCHUP SHOWDOWN – GYM JAM. Produced by Blue-Zoo and Nickelodeon, Hyatt’s animated film features sock puppet warriors in a death-defying gym work out.

more

Viewmagazine.tv helped in producing a pre-awards show, now being shown on Adobe's player with interest from a TV network

Determined by a worldwide audience from more than 90 countries, Filminute’s People’s Choice Award goes to Hungarian director Pici Papai’s QUICK, which looks at an adult relationship through the eyes of children.

Web site awards - with strong video journalism, thisiscornwall - give it up

Ladies and gentleman, please join me in giving it up for Gareth Bartlett and crew at Thisiscornwall for being crowned Website of the Year at the South West Media Awards.

A wee bit of history, Gareth and I crossed paths and had a couple days of swapping ideas and doing some Gonzo VJ stuff.

In no time, after heading back to his outfit he completely transformed it with some stunning video journalism pieces.


Outtakes - I love the way they're not afraid to take the P*** out of themselves

There are some 369 pieces, a truly delightful with a twist TAGGING story, and long format series programmes.

Go take a look, why don't you?


Me thinks this one is the Adidas made advert, but there's some interview stuff ThisisCornwall did with Beckham

Gareth has one of those eyes for VJ, in which an idea is never replicated and ideas are built upon.

He's already trained a whole lota staff, had a format which has been praised by management as a potential roll out, and appeared in the Press Gazette for his "Unusual Suspect" video.

He's only been doing video journalism for about 6 months

Bravo, Bravo Bravo!

+++++

Here's what they said about thisiscornwall and I'm sure this is one of many awards to come.

The site, competing against thisisplymouth.co.uk, The Bradley Stoke Examiner and thisissouthdevon.co.uk/nigelgreen, was praised for its use of video and for transforming itself in a short time period.

The judges said: "Since devoting resources to online news provision for the first time in 2007, thisiscornwall has seen a significant increase in traffic to its website. Visitor numbers for the first quarter of 2008 were up 54 per cent, compared to the previous year.

"The judges liked its strong use of videos, with some footage of police and trading standards showing just about everything that had gone on.

"The winner is a website the judges felt is still developing – but which showed real potential for the future."

Digital Editor Gareth Bartlett, who took control of the site in October, collected the award with Editor-in-Chief Andy Cooper and Assistant Head of Content Suzie Smith from EDF's customer account services director Steve Hayfield and paralympic swimmer Giles Long MBE. Giles overcame cancer to win more than 20 major medals including Paralympic, European and World Championship gold medals.

The event, held in association with holdthefrontpage.co.uk, welcomed more than 150 journalists to Swindon's railway museum, Steam, for the event.

The awards took in print and broadcast journalism from across the region, which includes Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.