Monday, March 23, 2015

Blog #6: A Good Story

Due: Wednesday, April 8
No minimum word count. 
No required links

Your task this week is to create something totally unique. You don’t have to link anything, find any outside sources, or process. Your job is simple, but it’s the most consistently challenging task for great journalists.

Go out and find a person with a story to tell and get a story from them. Pass that story along on your blog in the form of an extended quote. Challenge yourself to keep your post to only the quote and descriptions of their speaking.

You’re not allowed to do email/messenger reporting. Online video and audio reporting is acceptable. This should be a quote you get as a result of a conversation.  Think about relatives, teachers, siblings, bosses, or just interesting people who will let you talk to them. You do not need to put the person’s name in your post if they aren't comfortable with you using it.

The story could be sad, funny, nostalgic, powerful, or mundane. The most important thing is that you’re finding it and getting it down to share. Use your best judgment about what is appropriate to publish online and protect the identity of your source if the story is sensitive.

I can’t wait to read what you guys come up with.

If you want an example of people getting stories from people who they care about, listen to these excellent examples on StoryCorps.

If you want to know what StoryCorps is, check this out. There's also a great NPR story/audio about it.

If you would like to do your update an an audio file or video file, go ahead. I can help if you need it.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Blog #5: Design

Requirements:
Due: Thursday, March 26
More than 400 words
At least three links to sources with Synthesis included
At least 2 original design (the one we did in class for the 50 minute challenge counts)

During class this week, we spent most of our time talking about the importance of Play and Design in our lives, our society, and especially in Journalism and media. The presentations we looked at to base some of our discussions on are below.

Here are some questions to consider as you think about your blog:

  1. How do design elements affect a reader's experience with a publication?

  2. In what ways are you a designer?

  3. In what ways has design influenced decisions you have made?

  4. Write about a time that design has changed your behavior or your way of thinking.

  5. Write about a time when you solved a problem with design.

  6. How could you design a  solution to a problem you've seen.

  7. What have you realized about design that you hadn't before?

  8. In what ways does awareness relate to journalism?

  9. What rules have you constructed for yourself without knowing it that may be limiting your ability or awareness?

  10. How has the role of play changed throughout your life?

  11. What do you enjoy about school or your work?

  12. Explain how play influences motivation.

  13. What have you come to realize about the relationship between work and play?

Optional reading for smart folks:



Optional viewing for smart folks:

Beau Lotto: Optical illusions show how we see



The Beauty of Data Visualization



Stunning Data Visualization