Wednesday, October 17, 2007
MELD round up
Round up of MELD Sheffiled, Paul Egglestone behind the camera.
For moer information on MELD - a new concept bringing different disciplines together to create rich stories go here www.meldonline.org
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Spooks goes Bourne
I have watched a fair fewSpooks - BBC's critically acclaimed fictional drama on MI5 operatives, but I had to smile catching a glimpse this time.
I think son of Bourne would be a more apt definition.
Gone is the long dolly straight line shots of old so characteristic of UK dramas e.g. Holby City, the BIll, (nothing wrong with that)in is the two step lighthouse shot, so prevalent in Bourne.
Tight angles, occasional lens push, hand held, the score is ethnic.
But they haven't dumped he log shots entirely which slows down the narrative.
Imitation is the best form of flattery, but it would also be nice to see Spooks go out on a limb.
It's a solid drama, invent a new visual language
I think son of Bourne would be a more apt definition.
Gone is the long dolly straight line shots of old so characteristic of UK dramas e.g. Holby City, the BIll, (nothing wrong with that)in is the two step lighthouse shot, so prevalent in Bourne.
Tight angles, occasional lens push, hand held, the score is ethnic.
But they haven't dumped he log shots entirely which slows down the narrative.
Imitation is the best form of flattery, but it would also be nice to see Spooks go out on a limb.
It's a solid drama, invent a new visual language
BBC job cuts
Huge cuts set to take place at the BBC.
On the 10 O'clock news its media correpondent Nick Higham set out where the cuts would be.
500 jobs in BBC News - that's a lot of jobs.
But also new ones created in New Media.
It sounded like a strange comment.
job cuts, but also creating new jobs.
It's cold comfort for anyone losing their jobs, but it appears the Director General has put part of his future strategy in this evolving media.
This and a raft of proposals go to the Trustees on Wednesday.
These measures will have wide ranging inpact on the industry at large
1. Media figures wil, depending if the cuts go ahead in light of union reaction, want to know whether the BBC can operate on its new slim line figure.
2. The usual musical chairs and shuffle that creates inevitable jobs at all sectors including new blood may well be affected.
3. It may also signal what sort of employee the BBC is looking for in the future, which in turn may give some ideas to other media execs.
On the 10 O'clock news its media correpondent Nick Higham set out where the cuts would be.
500 jobs in BBC News - that's a lot of jobs.
But also new ones created in New Media.
It sounded like a strange comment.
job cuts, but also creating new jobs.
It's cold comfort for anyone losing their jobs, but it appears the Director General has put part of his future strategy in this evolving media.
This and a raft of proposals go to the Trustees on Wednesday.
These measures will have wide ranging inpact on the industry at large
1. Media figures wil, depending if the cuts go ahead in light of union reaction, want to know whether the BBC can operate on its new slim line figure.
2. The usual musical chairs and shuffle that creates inevitable jobs at all sectors including new blood may well be affected.
3. It may also signal what sort of employee the BBC is looking for in the future, which in turn may give some ideas to other media execs.
I'm melded
That's it! But now Paul and Andy start the gradt at Meld, but by all accounts there is a excitement in the air.
If you're in the US, perhaps MELD as an organisation will have greater currency, for there's a good number of people helping put journalism onto a fresh footing, often with funding to boot.
The Knight Foundation is just one of many. MELD in the end is a brokerer, the yellow brick road between your house and that Wizard of Oz, the programmer/broadcaster.
And along the way lies the journey, the process of creativity which journalism is being asked to deliver.
Alison Waugh, creative consultant and I had a "wow" conversation yesterday, following the post of her interview. She's one of my PhD colleagues, So I hope you to introduce her to you more formally.
Wanna know about water? Don't ask a fish.
It is outside the four walls of journalism that solutions may lie about how we mash and turn it inside out.
Alison is one of those non-fish species. She lives outside the bubble, so has solutions that most will find deeply engaging.
As a journalist who's worked in front and behind the camera, made Ads for ad agencies, graphic and websites, it is fundamental point.
Anytime I get the chance to work with someone inspiring like Rob Chiu whom I'll post to the front of Viewmagazine, I come away enthused at a new idea.
It's this cross pollination, the share economy, the era of interdependency that finds new roads less travelled where we might work new solutions.
Alsion is doing that, MELD is doing that.
Question is do you want to engage?
It's your choice and it really is that simple.
Video coming up soonish
If you're in the US, perhaps MELD as an organisation will have greater currency, for there's a good number of people helping put journalism onto a fresh footing, often with funding to boot.
The Knight Foundation is just one of many. MELD in the end is a brokerer, the yellow brick road between your house and that Wizard of Oz, the programmer/broadcaster.
And along the way lies the journey, the process of creativity which journalism is being asked to deliver.
Alison Waugh, creative consultant and I had a "wow" conversation yesterday, following the post of her interview. She's one of my PhD colleagues, So I hope you to introduce her to you more formally.
Wanna know about water? Don't ask a fish.
It is outside the four walls of journalism that solutions may lie about how we mash and turn it inside out.
Alison is one of those non-fish species. She lives outside the bubble, so has solutions that most will find deeply engaging.
As a journalist who's worked in front and behind the camera, made Ads for ad agencies, graphic and websites, it is fundamental point.
Anytime I get the chance to work with someone inspiring like Rob Chiu whom I'll post to the front of Viewmagazine, I come away enthused at a new idea.
It's this cross pollination, the share economy, the era of interdependency that finds new roads less travelled where we might work new solutions.
Alsion is doing that, MELD is doing that.
Question is do you want to engage?
It's your choice and it really is that simple.
Video coming up soonish
Monday, October 15, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A few good books for media folk
If you're particularly new to video, web design or media, here are a few good books that surfaced today whilst rearranging my book shelf.
A must, this quick easy access BBC handbook covers all the guidelines to uphold BBC values, from consent with interviews, risk assessment to secret filming.
You may not be a broadcaster but the guidelines give you the very best of ethics and morals in working your media.
Beg, borrow, steal :) one from a BBC friend.
Websites are produced at such a pace and it would be difficult to name a core number without an encyclopedia.
But this book recounts the early days and some of the zens, inspiring you to create with freedom.
One page would go on to influence an editing style, which I first noticed from The ronin, and I use in my work.
If you want to know more about the early days, this is a good book to have.
Talking of editing, how about this fantastic book, which runs you through the aesthetic and style of editors ranging from pop videos to Rodriguez's editor at work.
Published some 4 years ago, friends have tried to borrow this indefinately for a long time. Well illustrated, not a technical mag, but substance behind the craft.
Woops, how did they let me input my bits into the book.
Seriously, the difference between editing and cutting as an art form et al are waiting for you.
Dvisionaries' Transitions - Voices on the craft of digital editing is curated by Tina Hirsch whom at the time of publication was the A.C.E President of American Cinema Editors.
"No matter what your area of interest or experience, there's something to be learned from each of them", she says
BBC's Sir Michael Lyons Interview on Andrew Marr
Fascinating interview with the BBC's Chairman of the Board of Trustees - the round table guardians of the BBC - in expectation of a crunch meeting this wednesday, when this global institution will learn its fate.
In the new economy, it will be smaller; a default from securing less money from the government.
Anyone, anyone, worth their salt in programming, broadcasting and net thingamajigees will be studying this outcome.
For its true that when the BBC sneezes collectively many institutions reach for a handkerchief.
It was a robust performance from the Chairman; what would you expect, but I disagree on one crucial point.
Sir Michael would rather BBC journalists, the top flight ones, not discuss the BBC's affairs in public. Servicemen and civil servants, even the private sector would possibly understand this.
To paraphrase Sir Michael, he wants that debate to happen internally and that it has an impact on the public's confidence when they hear what really should be an kept in house.
He's right!
Tust and some
But throughout the interview he emphasised the trust factor required of the public.
Those two issues rub. If you can't be honest and open with your spouse, how can I trust you darling.
The BBC has a marriage of millions, not just with its employees, but those who pay for it.
So I may choose not to engage as a shareholder, but I should, I believe, have the option of hearing what's being said; participating in the debate.
The perception I supppose is that there has not been enough. This is Labour's territory.
Go through the land with a rolling travelling show asking people what they think.
A good honest open frank discussion. Not a Mactaggert, though incisive as that is.
Not a yearly one-off public 'fess, but a chance to have your say.
Then, then, if you want to get on with your public policy. . .
You could argue programmes like Newsnight continually push that kind of debate. You might ask whether that's beeen enough?
Trouble is, and you only have to look at some of the BBC blogs to get an idea of some people whose idea of a contribution is to lob a cynical grenade into the fray.
Lots of collateral damage. Is it worth it?
Are the two ideals mutually exclusive?
"Jim we're going to have to let them say something".
"Yes but how efficient will it all be in the end"
The heart of the matter
At heart you sense a couple of things.
Of course any manager would prefer to manage its public face and also respect the mechanism of employer-employee trust.
That's why you won't hear google men and women speak anything but good tidings about their company.
For employees who often feel they're not being listened to, dropping tiddle bits of info to the press is a resort, before if anything you go nuclear and put your face to critical messages.
In physics as in good PR, any seasoned media practitioner will say: If persuasion fails, force is then applied. It's a negotiating position looking for your break point.
Moving on, the cuts will hurt, anyway you look at it, but it's also worth considering this: the BBC is a huge and brill institution. Channel 4 is a huge and brill institution. Channel 4 operates at least within its newsroom on a fraction of the news budget BBC uses.
That doesn't make it right to chop at the BBC, but it illustrates there is a working practice to be met, which will not tear the heart out of this august institution.
Often friends and colleagues muse over what could be done with a BBC blanket. I'm not suggesting IM6 Videojournalism is the norm for everyone, but it is cost efficient and works.
The debate about the BBC's future should be "extremely transparent". For, if anything, it the BBC benefits from hearing from people like you and the solutions you might have to offer.
Once, managing PR was acceptable, but the world has changed. A new open source dominates, where people want and demand to be part of a conversation. That does not amount to anarachy.
Take on board the lesson of how Linux - open souce software - became so mighty.
Trust, that very word is what governs an instiution I have been a member for 14 years, Chatham House, which created the Chatham House Rule.
So, it's possible to engage with people with reciprocal trust, with the effect that they will stay stuum. There's still a wad of things I won't talk about because of this.
If people do feel secure in their jobs, they'll tow the line - even within the army ranks. but it's an old tactic which we will never be rid of.
When you feel threatened, when change beckons, when an unknown future sits at odds with traditional ways, anything you say regarding the direction of a company that doens't look to feed it, will make people nervous.
Consider those who have been part of the structure for a good while; it is a second home, and its about to be, well, made smaller. Big Brother -who stays and who goes, except you don't decide
If it's not broke why fix it.
On the other hand if its's not broken, how do you know the underlying structure doesn't warrant a look and a bit of modernising.
In the new economy, it will be smaller; a default from securing less money from the government.
Anyone, anyone, worth their salt in programming, broadcasting and net thingamajigees will be studying this outcome.
For its true that when the BBC sneezes collectively many institutions reach for a handkerchief.
It was a robust performance from the Chairman; what would you expect, but I disagree on one crucial point.
Sir Michael would rather BBC journalists, the top flight ones, not discuss the BBC's affairs in public. Servicemen and civil servants, even the private sector would possibly understand this.
To paraphrase Sir Michael, he wants that debate to happen internally and that it has an impact on the public's confidence when they hear what really should be an kept in house.
He's right!
Tust and some
But throughout the interview he emphasised the trust factor required of the public.
Those two issues rub. If you can't be honest and open with your spouse, how can I trust you darling.
The BBC has a marriage of millions, not just with its employees, but those who pay for it.
So I may choose not to engage as a shareholder, but I should, I believe, have the option of hearing what's being said; participating in the debate.
The perception I supppose is that there has not been enough. This is Labour's territory.
Go through the land with a rolling travelling show asking people what they think.
A good honest open frank discussion. Not a Mactaggert, though incisive as that is.
Not a yearly one-off public 'fess, but a chance to have your say.
Then, then, if you want to get on with your public policy. . .
You could argue programmes like Newsnight continually push that kind of debate. You might ask whether that's beeen enough?
Trouble is, and you only have to look at some of the BBC blogs to get an idea of some people whose idea of a contribution is to lob a cynical grenade into the fray.
Lots of collateral damage. Is it worth it?
Are the two ideals mutually exclusive?
"Jim we're going to have to let them say something".
"Yes but how efficient will it all be in the end"
The heart of the matter
At heart you sense a couple of things.
Of course any manager would prefer to manage its public face and also respect the mechanism of employer-employee trust.
That's why you won't hear google men and women speak anything but good tidings about their company.
For employees who often feel they're not being listened to, dropping tiddle bits of info to the press is a resort, before if anything you go nuclear and put your face to critical messages.
In physics as in good PR, any seasoned media practitioner will say: If persuasion fails, force is then applied. It's a negotiating position looking for your break point.
Moving on, the cuts will hurt, anyway you look at it, but it's also worth considering this: the BBC is a huge and brill institution. Channel 4 is a huge and brill institution. Channel 4 operates at least within its newsroom on a fraction of the news budget BBC uses.
That doesn't make it right to chop at the BBC, but it illustrates there is a working practice to be met, which will not tear the heart out of this august institution.
Often friends and colleagues muse over what could be done with a BBC blanket. I'm not suggesting IM6 Videojournalism is the norm for everyone, but it is cost efficient and works.
The debate about the BBC's future should be "extremely transparent". For, if anything, it the BBC benefits from hearing from people like you and the solutions you might have to offer.
Once, managing PR was acceptable, but the world has changed. A new open source dominates, where people want and demand to be part of a conversation. That does not amount to anarachy.
Take on board the lesson of how Linux - open souce software - became so mighty.
Trust, that very word is what governs an instiution I have been a member for 14 years, Chatham House, which created the Chatham House Rule.
So, it's possible to engage with people with reciprocal trust, with the effect that they will stay stuum. There's still a wad of things I won't talk about because of this.
If people do feel secure in their jobs, they'll tow the line - even within the army ranks. but it's an old tactic which we will never be rid of.
When you feel threatened, when change beckons, when an unknown future sits at odds with traditional ways, anything you say regarding the direction of a company that doens't look to feed it, will make people nervous.
Consider those who have been part of the structure for a good while; it is a second home, and its about to be, well, made smaller. Big Brother -who stays and who goes, except you don't decide
If it's not broke why fix it.
On the other hand if its's not broken, how do you know the underlying structure doesn't warrant a look and a bit of modernising.
Link here for David's work at the BBC in the early 90s and here for one of his news features for Channel 4 News.
The Culture Show peachy
Did I hear someone say the BBC's considering ditching The Culture Show?
It's 1.40 a.m and I'm sitting here watching this week's show and it's brilliant.
Tarantino and the music that influences his movies.
Book Awards (Man Booker( - good film making where Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist is the people's favourite.
And Once a boy meets girl Irish musical flick, written and directed by John Carney. Nice site as well.
Made for 80,000 bucks it's taken 8 million at the US box office.
Incidentally if you're a book buff I've an interview with hari kunzru who talks wonderfully of how to strike it big as a writer.
Wow and now the Culture Show's got an interview with Neil Young
It's 1.40 a.m and I'm sitting here watching this week's show and it's brilliant.
Tarantino and the music that influences his movies.
Book Awards (Man Booker( - good film making where Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist is the people's favourite.
And Once a boy meets girl Irish musical flick, written and directed by John Carney. Nice site as well.
Made for 80,000 bucks it's taken 8 million at the US box office.
Incidentally if you're a book buff I've an interview with hari kunzru who talks wonderfully of how to strike it big as a writer.
Wow and now the Culture Show's got an interview with Neil Young
Saturday, October 13, 2007
C'mon England
England into ectasy France into oblivion. England once again are in the Rugby World Cup Final
Subtle changes to viewmagazine.tv with some background pieces finally coming together.
* Have been going through tapes to finally put together the making of. . . from Cairo
* And then forget everything you've ever read about The Telegraph (UK) and its multimedia studio and news convergence. Viewmagazine.tv presents an EXCLUSIVE video feature behind the scenes with senior editors, the Telegraph's first VJ and the 8 students chosen from 800 to be the UK's first newspaper multimedia journalists.
Facing the press - up close and personal
England meet France for semi-final place in the World Cup
Often working this side, you forget what it's like when you approach people for stories or even doorstep.
I recall working at Channel One and my editor Peter instructing me to doorstep a government minister who it was alleged was having an affair.
I got into a conversation with a Pap - weathered beaten skin, he asked me: "Are you a monkey, a snapper or distorter?" ie a lensman or a journalist.
Charming eh, how each regards their own
I never did like door stepping.
Lately, I'm feeling similar - nerv emotions - for my uncle and aunt.
In the last fortnight since their son Paul Sackey cut shreds on the rugby playing fields of the World Cup, they have had almost all the press in some form on ther door step.
The first to turn up at the door was the industrious News of the World, followed by . . . and then the Evening Standard.
Media management may sound like a sexy topic in theory, but in practice it's the management also of people, their expectations and that of the client.
With England on the top of their game, it's likely there's going to be more than enough press attention to go round, but the captain and star players share a special place on the press podium.
Every one's going to be nice to you. That's their job. But also beware of sliding door effect.
If you read former Capatain Will Carling's account in one of the papers last week you'll know what I mean.
I'm noticing some interesting things so far.
Often working this side, you forget what it's like when you approach people for stories or even doorstep.
I recall working at Channel One and my editor Peter instructing me to doorstep a government minister who it was alleged was having an affair.
I got into a conversation with a Pap - weathered beaten skin, he asked me: "Are you a monkey, a snapper or distorter?" ie a lensman or a journalist.
Charming eh, how each regards their own
I never did like door stepping.
Lately, I'm feeling similar - nerv emotions - for my uncle and aunt.
In the last fortnight since their son Paul Sackey cut shreds on the rugby playing fields of the World Cup, they have had almost all the press in some form on ther door step.
The first to turn up at the door was the industrious News of the World, followed by . . . and then the Evening Standard.
Media management may sound like a sexy topic in theory, but in practice it's the management also of people, their expectations and that of the client.
With England on the top of their game, it's likely there's going to be more than enough press attention to go round, but the captain and star players share a special place on the press podium.
Every one's going to be nice to you. That's their job. But also beware of sliding door effect.
If you read former Capatain Will Carling's account in one of the papers last week you'll know what I mean.
I'm noticing some interesting things so far.
Blog call around
Collection of deeply engaging stories from Multimedia shooter site
Watch FilmMakersInResidence - Health issues - Reminds me of one of Michael Rosenblum's first early series about hospital traumas. This is multiple access film making at its best
At war which sees a a former National Guard soldier now film maker, Scott Kesterson behind the lines for a year in Afghanistan Pulitzer David Leeson is producer/Editor. Raw real stuff reminiscent of US drama "Overthere"
At teaching online journalism Mindy Mcadams opens up a disco on storytelling Connection: The core of storytelling, and deconstructs producing digi-stories on Multimedia package: Fat kids.
Mindy's site is a favourite pull up in our Masters online journalism class. Ta.
At Boston's SND Visual Editors Robb Montgomery hands over his mic to a student Nina Mehta whose pod discusses the transition and issues from print to mm stories.
At Peter Ralph's shooting by numbers- value added video Lily Allen stubs something on a photographer's camera. What's more intriguing Lily's actions or the small digi-cam mounted on the photographers stills cam?
Plus techniques on improving your shooting skills
More round ups coming up
Friday, October 12, 2007
Mobile phone production
Cross post from responding to a piece on Andy's site about a late night conversation how indespensible mobile phone story telling could or might be one day.
The driver was one Fee Plumley ( in the middle of above pic) who's been in this space for quite a while
So here goes. . . The thread for the piece can be picked up here over at Andy and the pics from the night including the one here are from his photo stream.
It certainly was some conversation. What time did we leave the drinks bar? 1.30 am?
For me the conversation resonated something like this.
Fi does a range of projects with the phone. Right!
But could it become a must have for journos in say the same way the A1 is fast becoming?
Its obvious benefit is that it's on your person. An increasing benefit is that you can post straight to your blog.
And what else?
I don't doubt it has huge value, but perhaps like video journalism with its rocky start, we just haven't seen the trees from the wood yet.
My thoughts, trend extrapolating ( oh dear I'm off again) is that it should/might/may be beg a new visual language.
I remember talking to Clyde Bentley, Associate Professor of Journalism at Missouri School of Journalism who told me some years back now that Mobile programme use in S. Korea is huge.
In visual narrative, I guess it's more of the FBCU's than the CU, given the screen size.
And while it may be great for Citizen jo and "open wide" shooting, what about the construct?
One major K.app I said to Fee would be when the handset either by max-fi/wifi or some device lets you broadcast straight into a TV show/site or say with millicent.tv you stream live with multiple cams.
Voila a minature sat kit on the cheap.
Or what about having the lens on a rotating gimble or attached to key hole camera so you can do clandestine stuff?
My A1 despite its size would have been too intrusive.
Just two ideas. I'm sure they're more.
Fees in Leeds on Monday. She might be able to enlighten us further.
Creative Journalism & the confessions ( David's) of a would-be creative journalist
NB Otherwise for a 600X300 viewing experience: file size 17mb go to Viewmagazine.tv here.
After speaking to Paul Egglesone and Andy Dickinson behind MELD, David reflects on his own background in this hitherto undefined space of journalism creativity.
I confess I didn't comprehensibly realise what Meld was from the press release, until their launch and later interviewing the architects Paul and Andy the morning after; Mike Ward on the day itself.
It wasn't the press release. It's my head that needs sorting.
I need a clear out; one of those Johnny Mnemonic downloads.
The evening, from looking at the attendants and how upbeat Team Meld were, came of very well.
With the exception of me running through a makeshift keynote (Apple) trying to marry too many themes in a 20 minute window, but I have a new plan for their next outing.
Creative Ditherer - The 90s
Back in the days, I recall the many meetings I had job and project hunting.
One minute I was at Newsnight or Channel 4 News, the next I was out of work with no prospect in sight for finding work.
A meeting with a senior BBC Journalism executive Vin Ray in the late 90s will always live with me.
"Mmm good CV, seems like you've done a lot, but what do you do? What would you want to do?"
And then followed my explanation, stretched, bended delicately propositioned, as not to seem a ditherer.
I filmed, reported, wrote for magazines, was freelancing for radio.
To many, and I am not attributing this to Vin, I was either a media whore, confused, befuddled at my calling, or I was this bit- too-clever who still didn't know what he was about.
I never did get a follow up from Vin working the reporting boards in the BBC.
I can imagine the oh so many reasons for that.
All journalists are ambitious and you could argue there are just so many spots going available, however. . .
At BBC Breakfast where I was freelancing as a producer I bumped into an old mate from journalism school, the indefatigable and steady hands Daniel Boecher.
A new crop of journalists were coming through the ranks and I knew quite a few of them: Daniel, Iain Pannel, now Egypt Correspondent - whom I recall seeing shift at BBC Leicester, where I started my career. Paul Kenyon at BBC Panorama, we worked together at BBC GLR and Rageh Omar from my days at the BBC African Service.
I wanted to be a reporter, yes, but a weeny bit more please. Can I make a film?
There appeared no place in the industry to do that.
Journalism is creative with a "c" that varies in size depending who you talk to.
The morning meetings elevate telephone discussion and diffused idea to what you see on screen. And some of the aforementioned journalists are among the most creative in words, pictures and delivery.
But the medium of TV and journalism has parameters that you can not stray far from.
Beyond the VJ days
Videojournalism circa 1994 showed you can expand, but by 1997 I was having doubts.
The industry wasn't interested and I was stuck with a skill set going no where.
And in between that hiatus rather than concentrate on a singular path; how not to run an economy on an economc downturn, I invested more time in other aspects of visual story telling, meeting the likes if Jon Staton - an Ex Saatchi head.
And along that road came Flash with Hillman Curtis; graphic design, I have the first issues of Computer Arts, and then more DV stuff.
For me back then it was part about survival and part about enjoying a wider canvass to play on.
No one could have told me about this future convincingly, where being "confused" has a currency, though a number of magazines and experts flagged this up.
One of the most rewarding jobs to date in this new pot of the mash-up has been with Rob Chiu of the Ronin.
Rob's short film here looks at Global Refugees. It will likely do for its audience something news will not come close to. This is hard bitten story telling meets.
He rang me up asking if I could be in the animation, reporting sim world sound like real world. Here's the article I produced for viewmagazine.tv .
You can hear me in the first few seconds. . .
And it's that collaborative space of interdisciplines, which thinkers like Paul, Andy, Mike Ward etc are carving out. A playground where we've all had the same thoughts staring at a blank piece of paper imagining what could be.
So I tip my hat to the MELD team for making this happen, for giving form to these thoughts, guidance to a world which only looks to become more and more complex.
The Future?
Worry about now said McLuhan.
Last year I met Vin Ray again. A colleague and I had devised a game, News City, based around Simms to test journalists and their reporting skills.
The BBC's Journalism College paid us as consultants to show them the bonnet and have since built their own. Version 2, 3 and upwards is ripe to be made.
What both Any and Paul say on tape makes clear what MELD is about.
And so version 1+ at Leeds, I have a plan, to pull out a few collaborative pieces that add to the conversation in this space.
Rob Chiu, Nato, the brilliant mashup guru Rob Montgomerry, and the new telegraph multi media journalists will do.
Like they say If you want to know about water don't ask a fish or as Andy adds, it's not just about the end product, but the process.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Post meld
Just got back from Manchester and Meld. Posting intro video of Andy Dickinson and Paul Egglestone very soon, but saw this on Andy's blog.
What the authorities should be doing here, which we do with NATO is put reporters into the sim.
Go to the Masters programme of your nearest or top journalism school and let loose the students so they can report from within the theatre of combat warts n' all.
I spent 18 months reporting from South Arica during its troubled time, and looking back on the more recent Nato reporting excercise I can tell you it it would have helped me no end on my real assignment.
Understanding stripes (ranking); three letter acronyms (Forces language); what not to do in theatre i.e. no room for histrionics actions and reportage; risk assessments about your own safety and the use of video journalism field editing and sat back packs - are just a few of the elements to look at.
One sim I experienced was so real world frightening, using Special Forces, that a student broke down crying.
So go set up the relationship Northwestern's Medill School, Columbia and the Missouri School of Journalism.
And if you need any assistance pleae do drop me a line :)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Collaborative journalism
In speaking at MELD today, 20 mins or so, here's more or less what I think I'd like to talk about
* Collaborative journalism
Despite massive changes in production, I feel collaborative journalism should be a big deal, but reflecting the sign of our times.
I mentioned this at Circom ( gathering of EU regional Television) that it was possible to become a jack of all trades and master as well.
Why not?
That's the whole point of multiskilling
And frankly the demise of traditional media that some hoped for will not materialise, as those that have adapted have found a new lease of life and audiences.
But there is a working relationship, not fully realised between the traditional and new, between using the miltary analogy a division about a 20,000 fighting force and a fire and maneuver team - 2 soldiers.
You could argue that traditional media already does with correspondents.
Part of my goal is to use technology and the net to look inside news and personalised programmes, and as such we'd do best to move away from the: If it's not broken why fix it.
This very thought hampers any semblance of experimentation and progress - one reason I suppose that last few years have a huge shock for the media.
Any successful CEO will talk to you about diversifying and trying to stay ahead of the competition
The disruption that's just occured has been brutal but many have been fortunate. The next technological wave may not give fixed thinkers time and space to realign and bring their audiences back into the fold.
More recently some of the methodologies I have been looking at closely within our field is
historical vectoring, Future Casting, Trend Extrapolation, and Scenario building, and based around that I think we'll have a few more disruptive processes in the short years ahead.
One question for instance dogs me. Why is the web an xyz medium presented to use in 2d? Which is why Second Life presents an interesting scenario.
And why are we still fixed to a method and construct of info flows that are being challenged by modern methods.. just some of the things I'm likely to raise with some new work
* Collaborative journalism
Despite massive changes in production, I feel collaborative journalism should be a big deal, but reflecting the sign of our times.
I mentioned this at Circom ( gathering of EU regional Television) that it was possible to become a jack of all trades and master as well.
Why not?
That's the whole point of multiskilling
And frankly the demise of traditional media that some hoped for will not materialise, as those that have adapted have found a new lease of life and audiences.
But there is a working relationship, not fully realised between the traditional and new, between using the miltary analogy a division about a 20,000 fighting force and a fire and maneuver team - 2 soldiers.
You could argue that traditional media already does with correspondents.
Part of my goal is to use technology and the net to look inside news and personalised programmes, and as such we'd do best to move away from the: If it's not broken why fix it.
This very thought hampers any semblance of experimentation and progress - one reason I suppose that last few years have a huge shock for the media.
Any successful CEO will talk to you about diversifying and trying to stay ahead of the competition
The disruption that's just occured has been brutal but many have been fortunate. The next technological wave may not give fixed thinkers time and space to realign and bring their audiences back into the fold.
More recently some of the methodologies I have been looking at closely within our field is
historical vectoring, Future Casting, Trend Extrapolation, and Scenario building, and based around that I think we'll have a few more disruptive processes in the short years ahead.
One question for instance dogs me. Why is the web an xyz medium presented to use in 2d? Which is why Second Life presents an interesting scenario.
And why are we still fixed to a method and construct of info flows that are being challenged by modern methods.. just some of the things I'm likely to raise with some new work
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Walking through websites viewmagazine.tv
If second life is anything to go by, one day we're all be walking and talking and sharing info physically within our sites? Or maybe not!
Conservatives Promo - Saving the world
To a techno beat ( modernity); where's Vaughn Williams ??, the conservatives promo is a goody bag extoling a changing Britain under their office.
Fact? The streets of Soweto are safer than Hackney? That's pulling some comparison, based of course on crime, but its arguable whether all crime is recorded in the Township. I'm not suggesting it's less safe, just, perhaps the stretch of statistics.
It was produced for delegates so no doubt would have raised a few shrieks of delight and woopees. However as a promo for the masses, it does an Obama.
Not out of the US presidential race yet, but belatedly Obama has been obscuring his message with a wide splattering of "what he would do", rather than some laser precision hits.
The end tag for the tories is the old Clinton play: "Its time for change".
But what would be more effective for weary waverers would be a number of spots, illustrating Cameron's visions.
If the next election is at least two years off, I wager it will be a different landscape for the video's influence in the UK.
Meaning the parties will really have to work harder differentiating micro communities if they want to appeal to new constituents.
p.s whoever wrote the code for this, if they want it distributed through blogs needs a smack. Change the code!
Monday, October 08, 2007
BBC radio goes interactive IPM
PM, one of the BBC's stalwart radio news analysis progs is to launch a new show on Saturdays called IPM.
A show shaped by you the listeners, says the presenter.
It's a great idea, but why stop at the thought: You send us your ideas and we'll make the programmes etc. .
Why not give the whole thing over to listeners?
A show shaped by you the listeners, says the presenter.
It's a great idea, but why stop at the thought: You send us your ideas and we'll make the programmes etc. .
Why not give the whole thing over to listeners?
Read this legal issues for video
This is Kathyrn Corricks find on Facebook. Go read!
Kathryn Corrick posted a link
at 10:46pm Oct 7
Press Complaints Commission >> Adjudicated Complaints
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?artic...
A man complained to the Press Complaints Commission that a video published on the Northwich Guardian website on 14 July headlined �Teenagers torch moving train� and an article accompanied by images from ...
A wonderful modern morality tale. Or as Tom Watson puts it: "So your teenage son firebombs a train and records it for You Tube posterity. What do you do? You complain to the Press Complaints Commission..
Link here
Kathryn Corrick posted a link
at 10:46pm Oct 7
Press Complaints Commission >> Adjudicated Complaints
http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?artic...
A man complained to the Press Complaints Commission that a video published on the Northwich Guardian website on 14 July headlined �Teenagers torch moving train� and an article accompanied by images from ...
A wonderful modern morality tale. Or as Tom Watson puts it: "So your teenage son firebombs a train and records it for You Tube posterity. What do you do? You complain to the Press Complaints Commission..
Link here
MELD - When old and new media collide (UK)
While in the US my many friends revel in the dynamism of work and play in this interactive sand box, we in the UK have been sorely lacking in sticking are heads out.
Well OK we haven't then, but there's comparatively little PR on our ventures.
Take the Telegraphs new dedicated multimedia journalists - the first in the UK to go through the whole gamut of this black art. Nada!
So I believe a toast is due to Paul Egglestone, Course Leader of MA International Documentaries at the University of Central Lancashire.
Paul an accomplished doc maker, together with his colleague Super blogger and respected all rounder Andy Dickinson will be hosting MELD.
It looks like a fantastic idea knitting academia, industry and a number of agents together. (see below)
I have crossed paths with both, but this time am looking forward to sharing a few drinks and ideas, as Paul has invited me to be one of the talkers.
I have got a couple of tentative ideas; the most recent a small film I'll see if I can finish on time that looks at the first multimedia journalists hired by the Telegraph, who I had the pleasure of mixing with for a bout of video journalism.
See you at Meld
Press Release
MELD:
A convergence of platforms requires a convergence of skills
Journalists know how to find a story and to tell it well. Interaction designers know how to get that story out to the right audience. MELD will bring the best of both worlds together to find out what happens when the two worlds collide.
The role of the journalist is changing. Affordable and connected technologies (blogs, YouTube, Flickr etc) means that everyone can make and broadcast content to hundreds, if not thousands, of like-minded people across the globe
How will the skills of traditional journalism fit into this shifting digital landscape?
How will a story stand out from the crowd when everybody is a reporter?
What will give professional comments and analysis more clout than an amateur blog?
How will journalists adapt to stay ahead of the breaking wave?
How can they harness the wisdom of the crowd?
Successful networked journalists will be open and interactive. They will understand how to facilitate and collaborate
MELD is an ideas-generation and development workshop designed to explore these issues
Selected journalists will be paid to join selected new media practitioners at a five-day residential lab. There they will learn the necessary skills for success in the connected world
The lab will be held on 10-14 December in Preston
Teams will work on real briefs from Industry partners, including some from Simon Bucks, Associate Editor, Sky News Online. Projects will be designed through a process of collaboration, ideas generation and development before pitching them to industry partners with the resources to make the ideas into reality
This is a unique opportunity for freelance journalist and interaction designers based in the North of England
The project will be launched at two evening events:
MANCHESTER EXCHANGE SQ. Selfridges Moet Bar 10th October
LEEDS Boutique Bar 15th October
For more information mail info@meldonline.org or phone 0114 221 0454 and put “MELD Enquiry” in the subject line if you would like to come along or find our more
MELD is brought to you by the Department of Journalism and Sandbox at UCLAN with Just-b. It is supported by the Northern Edge and the Northern Way
Ends
Press contact: Greg Povey, 0114 221 0454 or mail info@meldonline.org
Limited press passes available
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