Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Northern Kentucky University's Recreation Center Renovation

Untitled from Brandon Barb on Vimeo.


My group was assigned to shoot and edit video of any news story related to Northern Kentucky University. We chose to cover the upcoming remodeling of the Albright Health Center. Our footage was edited on Adobe Premiere Pro and compiled on Vimeo.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Group Audio: Most Embarrassing Moment

First audio edit. Created on Garageband, complied through Kiwi6.


Ben Franzen: Assistant Coach & Full-time Student

My groupmates and I were assigned to profile an interesting person or someone that does something unique.Tasks involved interviewing the subject using a digital recorder,editing the audio, taking still shots that illustrate the audio, editing those, and ultimately creating an audio slideslow. This was my first time editing audio with Garageband and using Adobe Premiere Pro to create an audio slideshow. It proved to be more challenging than I anticipated.

Ben Franzen Video from Courtney Pugh on Vimeo.


Ben Franzen is a junior at Northern Kentucky University. For the second consecutive year, Franzen juggles assistant coaching the NKU women's basketball team and a full-time student course load. His responsibilities involve attending weight lifting sessions, multiple practices a week from 6:30am to 9:00am, being present at every game and helping with the recruitment process--all while staying on top of homework and maintaining his grades.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Dynamics of Digital Media and 'Jack-of-all-Trades' Journalism

   With each new technological breakthrough, the definition of journalism and what it means to be a journalist gets a little more confusing. Not too long ago the duties of a journalist pertained to only print or broadcast news. However, the increasing prevalence of digital media in journalism has changed the traditional role of the "gatekeeper" to moderator.

   The ever-changing realm of news makes it easier for the public to access information, but it also requires a more innovative coverage approach from veteran and cub journalists alike. It’s no longer just about reporting the news as concisely and accurately as possible. With the emergence of blogging, social networking, podcasting and photo/video sharing, journalists aren’t just the writers. They are now the entertainers, teachers and moderators. Journalists must write to engage readers and develop a following, explain and clarify unfamiliar terms and regulate content shared by followers. An article by Alfred Hermida entitled,“Rethinking the Role of the Journalist in the Participatory Age,” discusses the shift in journalistic responsibilities.

   Unlike traditional print news, online news platforms enable all who access to communicate with one another. Not only is the author of the news article a journalist, so are the individuals who share information via Internet. It’s even considered journalism when someone posts a tweet on Twitter or keeps up with a weekly blog. In other words, anyone who uses the Web as a means to share information is a journalist. Some believe this to be true; that journalism is nothing more than an academic concept and an excuse to believe one source over another. Buzz Machine's Jeff Jarvis argues this idea in an article entitled, "But is it Journalism? (Damnit)"

   While Jarvis raises a few strong arguments, I still believe there are definitive differences between committed web communicators and professional journalists. Just to name a few: true journalists are trained professionals and have had formal instruction within the field. Also, journalists strive to always follow the structured Code of Ethics formulated by the Society of Professional Journalists. An article written by Jolie O’Dell entitled, “How to Tell a Journalist From a Blogger,” examines in detail ten general characteristicsof a journalist.

    So whether you're a devoted news reader, amateur blogger or professional journalist, the dynamic world of digital media impacts the way you deliver, receive and share news. While it may be getting increasingly effortless for readers, catering to the constant changes in journalism proves to be all the more challenging for news writers.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Cincinnati Plots for Peace, Plants Monument

The Cincinnati School of Metaphysics celebrated International Peace Day on Sunday by inviting local residents to participate in the planting of a Peace Pole.

An audience of all ages gathered in Findlay Market’s butterfly garden in Over-The-Rhine to help spread the message of peace. Volunteers from the school, Findlay Market representatives and local advocates expressed the meaning behind the celebration by singing inspirational songs and leading a group reading of the Universal Peace Covenant.

Started by the World Peace Prayer Society, the Peace Pole is considered an international monument. The Cincinnati School of Metaphysics constructed this particular pole to represent the city's dedication to the tradition. The words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” were engraved in the monument in four different languages—English, Spanish, German and Swahili.