SOCIAL & MOBILE MEDIA JOURNALISM May 6, 2014 Week 11: Verification Handbook Journalism Now, Chapter 7 Class project Today s agenda Verification Handbook Journalism Now, Chapter 7 Class project Verifying images Who took the photo? 1
Verifying images Who took the photo? Image location, date, time Metadata or EXIF data Photoshop or online tool 2
Verifying images Who took the photo? Image location, date, time Metadata or EXIF data Photoshop or online tool Is the photo s description accurate? Ch 7: Audio journalism Audio stories can be powerful Radio didn t get a lot of respect But now, all journalists can use audio on the Internet Why audio? Fastest way to provide info Great for breaking news Engaging way to tell and discuss a story Advantages over text & video Listen with MP3 player or phone or in car Do you? Tools Recorder (maybe cellphone) Microphone if possible Editing software (Adobe Audition or Audacity) Free sounds clips (Creative Commons) 3
Best lens of all Lets audience see with the mind Requires people to listen, concentrate, use imagination Painting pictures with sound More intimate & personal Audio s advantages Presence: You bring reader to a location Emotions: Tone of voice, expressions, pauses Atmosphere: Natural sound pulls listener in close Authorities have made four arrests in connection with a bridge collapse that killed nearly a dozen people Saturday in the village of Liangping in south China. Two local officials and two people with the company building the bridge were held responsible for the accident, investigators said. Eleven people died and two were severely injured when the stone bridge under construction in Liangping collapsed Saturday afternoon. Village officials had not received a license to erect the bridge, and they were ordered in April to stop working on the project. But construction apparently secretly resumed during the May Day holiday. Chinese regulators recently ordered the country s video streaming sites to remove four popular American television shows, including The Big Bang Theory, a comedy about four socially awkward scientists. But a few days later, China s national broadcaster began airing HBO s violent and sexually explicit series, Game of Thrones. The contrast points to what may be the real motivation behind China s latest censorship measure. Authorities speak of cleaning the web of offensive content. But their real reason may be to remind the country s flourishing private Internet firms that the government is still in charge. Who even needs a dog these days? Especially when you have a loyal head of cabbage that will never leave your side. Well, that's exactly what a handful of teenagers in China must think: They have been taking cabbages out for walks, tied to a piece of string, to fight loneliness and depression. The trend was evident during a recent music festival in Beijing, where some attendees were seen dragging cabbages behind them on leashes. Going out in public to 'walk' a cabbage reportedly allows for teenagers to seek out likeminded individuals with cabbages of their own. Typical audio report Recorded interview Voiceover (you) Natural (environmental) sound Sometimes sound effects for transitions 4
National Public Radio U.S.; nonprofit; funding from foundations, government and listeners donations Growing audience, on air and online Driveway moments : when NRP listener stays in car What different pieces (or kinds) of audio made up that story? Some uses of audio Reporter overview Podcasts (audio blog) Audio slide shows Breaking news Recording tips Pick quiet location Gather natural sound Prepare your subject Explain what story is about, who audience will be, provide questions Watch what you say 5
Recording tips Keep quiet Interview / rehearse first, then record your subject Mark best spots For your report Write a script Short, simple sentences Creative hook to get listener interested Warm up; exercise voice Find operative keywords Natural & conversational Gear Range of recorders Cellphone MP3 player Record with computer Microphone Headphones Editing process Copy files from recorder to your computer Name & manage files Open in editing software Crop out bad stuff ( um ) Editing process Add & mix sound tracks Introduction, interviews, ending Transitions (fades) Make it stereo Export as MP3 Podcasting Distribution of audio over the Internet using RSS Download to phone, MP3 player or computer Make available on itunes Vodcasting (with video) 6
More tips Speak naturally Don t use big words Keep it simple; readers must understand on 1 st hearing Drama & suspense Write for the ear Performer & a journalist Class project Groups (3-4 students) Each group has a focus Choose 1 day (week of May 13?) We post all our photos, text & video on a website 7
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