We'd like to think our users/readers/viewers see us as great pillars of journalism, but a quick tour of Brand Tags reveals this isn't always so. The site asks visitors to play word association with some world-famous brands, including Microsoft, Pontiac and Jagermeister(?).

There are a large number of media companies represented on the site. Here are the words, sorted by popularity, that users most often associated with the brands:

Newsweek

(pictured at right)
magazine, news, boring, newspaper, paper, information, old, liberal, informative, time, weekly, politics, biased, conservative, tabloid, american, business, news magazine, dull, crap

CNN

news, tv, biased, liberal, lies, boring, cnn, propaganda, information, bias, ted turner, american, atlanta, crap, james earl jones, liars, turner, war, lie, anderson cooper

Oprah

fat, black, women, oprah, boring, tv, bitch, rich, annoying, harpo, money, woman, cult, talk show, lame, o, stupid, overrated, power, talk

ESPN

sports, boring, sportscenter, tv, jocks, fast, football, men, espn, american, jock, news, lame, guys, gay, sports center, nothing, sports channel, sports tv, hockey

New York Times

news, newspaper, liberal, paper, old, smart, serious, crossword, reliable, classic, boring, information, biased, quality, intelligent, trustworthy, good, established, journalism, informative

Financial Times

money, newspaper, boring, pink, news, serious, business, british, paper, economy, stuffy, magazine, london, dull, informative, old, wall street, reliable, quality

NBC

tv, peacock, news, television, 30 rock, friends, the office, old, funny, boring, office, seinfeld, rainbow, gay, network, heroes, nbc, comedy, american, conan

The Los Angeles Times

news, newspaper, paper, old, liberal, read, new york times, la, reliable, boring, american, official, classic, gothic, newspapers, hollywood, lies, crap, apple, smog

PBS

boring, tv, educational, public, sesame street, smart, education, people, free, quality, kids, television, intelligent, nova, liberal, learning, good, old, pbs, documentary


Brand identity is important so if users do see us as boring (which seems to be a common thread amongst many of the brands), then we have a problem on our hands.

I have a stack of books on my nightstand just waiting to be read, including Tanner Stranksy's Find Your Inner Ugly Betty: 25 Career Lessons for Young Professionals Inspired by TV Shows and Not In My Family: AIDS in the African American Community, edited by Gil L. Robertson IV. But not surprisingly most of the books to be read are about journalism and/or new media. Here are the books I plan to read as soon as I find time to crack them open.

Audition: A Memoir

Barbara Walters

Never mind the titillating affair with the senator, the countless crying celebrities and the incessant plugging of the book on Babs' daytime show The View, I am most interested in reading this book on the plight of one the first female nightly news anchors. My point of reference for the golden age of newsmaking is the movie Anchorman, so I look forward to reading a fresh and insightful take on how broadcast newsrooms functioned in their heyday.

The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It

Jonathan Zittrain

I honestly bought this book on the title alone. But as I read blurbs and reviews of the book I purchased, I realized Zittrain's discussion of the ubiquity of the internet and its eventual downward spiral made me feel guilty for staring noncommittally at its cover every night. A part of the reason I don't get to read as many books as I would like to is because of the internet. The irony of taking time away from browsing the internet to read a book about the internet is not lost on me.

Making Online News: The Ethnography of New Media Production

Edited by Chris Paterson and David Domingo

The most recent addition to my collection of unread literature, I was intrigued by its description on Amazon: "This book investigates the production of online news [and] how it differs from traditional media production." That's preaching to the converted, but I'm always looking for new arguments to show the last few holdouts the light that is new media journalism.


And two classics worth re-reading:

We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People

Dan Gillmor
(preview available online)

I was first handed this book while taking a new media course at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism and was none to pleased to have yet another thing to read. But as I sat on the BART train I became so enraptured on this history of multimedia journalism that I nearly missed my stop...twice. We the Media is well-researched without being condescending or heavy, which makes it a great read for any journalist. When people ask why I don't write a book on multimedia journalism, I usually reply that Dan Gillmor has done such a great job that it would be hard to top.

Flash Journalism: How to Create Multimedia News Packages

Mindy McAdams
(preview available online)

One of the first books I was ever recommended as a budding multimedia journalist was McAdams' Flash Journalism. And because no one told me Flash would be such a major part of my work life, I was sincerely glad I read it. Much like 10,000 words, the book is fundamental for journalists who are looking to transition into the technical side of the field, but are worried they don't have the necessary skills. Most importantly the book focuses on storytelling, which is the foundation for any good news story, Flash or not.


If you're considering publishing your own book, but don't quite have a publishing deal, consider self-publishing with Wordclay or just start writing! Here's an additional hint: What do many of the aforementioned books have in common? Colons! So be sure to include one in your book's title for good luck.


ETA: Just purchased a copy of Multimedia Journal by Richard Hernandez, which was suggested by a friend this morning. The pile of books is growing, but I think its focus on exercises to stimulate the multimedia process is something that's been missing from store shelves.

Labels: books

It's hard enough to write the perfect headline for online stories, but it's even harder to avoid recycling news clichés. And now that the Web 2.0 world has given readers a space to critique news writing, the pressure is on even more.


Every reporter and media manager should take a look at Kill The Cliché, if only to avoid tired phrases that only journalists perpetuate. Hall of famers like "officials say," "allegedly," and "death toll" are tracked and tallied to illustrate how clearly overused some of these terms are. The site also tracks some of the top cliché-writing journalists at several major newspapers (The Boston Globe, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Financial Times and Los Angeles Times). Jill Drew of the Washington Post leads the pack with an astounding 187 total clichés.

Trevor Crook has sage advice for creating great headlines, especially in his posts 8 Different Types of Headlines Which Sell and Headlines Suck!... 12 Kick Ass Rules To Creating Headlines Which Sell. His advice, in a nutshell, is to create attention-grabbing headlines that are engaging, but not annoying.

One of the best pieces of advice for creating headlines and nut grafs is to simply tell what the story is about aloud to another person. In that same vein, One Sentence asks its users to submit true stories that are — you guessed it — one sentence long. The site is great for inspiring encapsulation or abbreviated anecdotes.

Additional headline-writing resources can be found at ACES' website. For inspiration rather than education, pick up a copy of Headless Body in Topless Bar, a very funny and captivating collection of headlines from The New York Post.

Labels: site management

Ninety-five percent of web design is actually typography, according to Information Architects. If that's true then it's time to take a second look at fonts.

Many media companies have their own signature fonts like Bloomberg's bold sans-serif font, sometimes used in all caps, or CNN's black-on-white sans-serif font that differs from the font used in its trademark outlined logo. On the other hand, a large number of newspapers like The Boston Globe and The New York Times use a old-school traditional gothic font in both their print and online banners.



Despite the availability of thousands of fonts to choose from, there are only a few that are web-safe, or will appear correctly on the majority of modern computers. These include Times/Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica, Palatino, Garamond, Tahoma and Verdana.

Others like IMPACT and Comic Sans are also common among most computer operating systems, but are rarely seen in a professional online news setting. Visit Font Tester for a complete list of web-safe fonts.

To see web-safe fonts in action, check out The Los Angeles Times/latimes.com. The newspaper uses the familiar gothic font for its print and web banner, but uses Arial in blue and medium gray for its web headlines. The Wall Street Journal uses a custom serif font similar to this one for its logo, but uses the more web-friendly Times New Roman for its online copy.



Fancier fonts can be used when working with projects that offer greater design flexibility such as Flash animations, title sequences, etc. If pre-installed fonts aren't doing it for you, download new ones for free at urbanfonts.com (which is decidedly less urban than its moniker suggests) or for more avant-garde fonts try dafont.com. Both offer custom previews of the font before they are downloaded. 1001fonts.com and Font Freak are also great resources, though the former has a comparatively limited selection, while the latter has an expansive selection but no search capabilities.

It's easy to spend hours searching for the perfect font for a particular project. Therefore, it is helpful to have an idea of the font before beginning the search. If you still can't find the font you're looking for and have the creativity and a little bit of time, try creating your own custom font using FontStruct. It's reportedly simple and, most importantly, free.

No post today due to Memorial Day holiday. Check back tomorrow for new posts or take a peek through the 10,000 words archives in the meantime.

It's a crazy world out there...a world that is better explained through multimedia. The following projects capture what could have been belabored or excessively long print stories and turned them into visually arresting online works.

"Who has the Nuclear Weapons?" isn't the first expository video from GOOD Magazine, but it may be one of the best. The magazine explains who is controlling the world's nuclear weapons in a video that is a cross between Sesame Street and a Nine Inch Nails music video with a little Michael Moore thrown in for good measure. Most importantly, the magazine presents facts in a visual, easy to digest way.



Non-profit organization Just Vision documents the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through an interactive timeline, which is itself made of interviews with the people who lived/are living through it. The project mixes personal and historical events to provide a multi-faceted view of the conflict.


Flight and Expulsion from new media designer Christian Behrens is an interactive map that shows the flight patterns of refugees around the world based on UN statistics. The Flash map has some technical issues (tiny hit states), but is a sobering way visualization of where the incredible number of refugees are fleeing.

The BBC's History of Stonehenge is a computer-simulated time lapse video of one the world's most mysterious structures. The video delineates the position and degradation of the monument over thousands of years.


The Discovery Channel online's Volcano Explorer is a bit of creative genius — after learning about the fire-breathing mountains, users can adjust viscosity and gas levels to create their own virtual volcano and watch it erupt. It's definitely a step up from the baking soda and vinegar models made in grade school.

Ironic Sans' 60 Seconds series is proof that sometimes the news is happening right in front of us, if we take a moment to look. Each video spotlights a slice of life or nature in just a minute. There is something serene and American Beauty-esque about videos like 60 Seconds in the Life of Summer, 60 Seconds in the Life of an Aquarium or even 60 Seconds in the Life of a Fly. The videos are proof that you don't have to travel the world to find multimedia ideas.

The preloader is perhaps the most often overlooked element of most Flash projects. In its most basic form, the preloader consists of a moving bar or changing percentage that indicates the load time of a Flash file. Preloaders are especially important for large files and/or video for which the user may have to wait some time before the Flash file is ready.

There are a number of tutorials on the web for creating preloaders, including an incredibly detailed rundown from senocular.com, a preloader that is itself detailed can be found at LukaMaras.com, and a preloader that displays load progress from 10,000 words favorite kirupa.com.

And they don't have to be bars either. They can be games, animated timelines, fill an object like the one at Game Boy micro, or circular like the one found at Mohammad Rahimi. Detailed instructions on how to create a circle preloader can be found here.


If your Flash project is related to health or medicine, this tutorial on how to create an EKG-like preloader will come in handy. An exhaustive list of tutorials can be found at VCL Components. Once a preloader is developed it can be used repeatedly by copying and pasting the movie clip into a new or existing Flash file and tweaking a couple of parameters.

If you need a little inspiration, Smashing Magazine has a great gallery of Flash preloaders as does Flash Speaks Actionscript. If you're not quite ready to code your own preloaders, sites like istockphoto have many stock preloaders that run the gamut from easy and basic to extraordinary and unusual like this pencil preloader, this vertical liquid loader and one that resembles a speedometer.

I finally got a chance to watch Speed Racer after foregoing the movie's initial release to see Iron Man instead (bad move on my part). While watching the film, I couldn't help but appreciate how some of its concepts and effects applied to multimedia journalism.


Ads and content can coexist harmoniously

The racetracks on which the titular character races are filled with Day-Glo colored ads as far as the eye can see — sort of like a hyperreal Times Square. But because the adverts blend in with the action, one can catch a glimpse of an ad for Puma or Yokohama Tires without being distracted from the main content. Often in the journalism sphere, news is on the right hand and advertising is on the left and neither knows what each other is doing. But when the two blend together correctly, it can create a great user experience while still maintaining a strong click-through rate.


News is more than one language

In most sports films, there are one or two announcers that chronicle the action, but in Speed Racer there are a herd of them, all speaking different languages. It's easy to get wrapped up in the news being produced in the English-speaking, Western world that many, including I, forget that there is a whole world out there whose only barrier is language. Imagine the many more perspectives we'd gain on the news and the industry itself if we opened our eyes to the goings-on of the rest of the world.


A little animation goes a long way

A signature visual element in Speed Racer is the use of talking heads gliding smoothly across the screen to illustrate a back story or heighten emotion. The effect is similar to how producers use Flash or Soundslides to animate and intensify photos. However, like in the movie, if animated effects are used too often it becomes a drain and actually takes away from the effect of the photos. Animation and visual effects are great and are the cornerstone of multimedia production, but be careful not to create too much of a good thing.



Flash and fancy doesn't beat great content

Hometown hero Speed Racer's competitors equipped their high-end cars with the latest gadgets and slick-looking exteriors but (spoiler alert!) Speed ultimately prevails because he is simply a better driver. You can create stunning Flash animations or add the Ken Burns effect until the cows come home, but unless the content is substantial, then the multimedia project will never excel. Concentrate on reporting the news as well as possible and your multimedia project/website will race into the finish line as well.

The majority of reporters (and not just multimedia journalists) are using computers to create the news. Here are some tools that make reporting just a little bit easier.


Mezzoman
Find a meeting point

Mezzoman is a great tool for meeting sources/interviewees who aren't nearby the newsroom. Just enter your address and the address of the person you plan to meet and the site will find a coffee shop or restaurant near a midpoint of the two locations.


DarkCopy
Distraction-free writing

The internet is full of magic and wonder that can be distracting when it's time to buckle down and write that story. DarkCopy takes away those distractions by providing a full-screen text editor that will (hopefully) help maintain your focus.


Jott
Call-in note taker

Every reporter should carry a digital voice recorder, but Jott turns a cell phone into the next best thing. Call in notes to a special number and Jott will provide a transcript of your call.


CL1P.net
Copy and paste made easier

Sometimes text isn't just copied from one file to another, but from one computer to another. Rather than send it by email, use Cl1p.net to paste the text into an online notepad and pick it up on another computer. It's incredibly simple and the text can be saved for up to seven days.


flagxo
Airport reviews

Those reporters who find themselves traveling often will appreciate flagxo, a unique site that provides information and reviews on airports around the world. Users rank factors such as power plug availability, lounges and wi-fi. For a detailed list of airports that have wi-fi available, including a list of providers and costs, check out Travel Post's Airport Wireless Internet Access Guide.


hotspotr
Wi-fi finder

For wi-fi outside of the airport, use hotspotr to track down the nearest wireless internet connection. Simply enter an address and the site will not only provide a map of nearby wi-fi hotspots, but list additional features of the location.


Qipit
Capture written notes

Most newsrooms are equipped with an oft-used whiteboard or make available a printed laundry list of stories to appear in upcoming issue that usually become scribbled with notes. Capture those notes for posterity with Qipit. Using a camera or mobile phone, take a picture of the notes and send it to Qipit, which will in turn clean up the photo and convert the notes into an easier easy to read PDF file.


Time and Date
World clock

The clock on the wall says 5:30, the computer says 5:27 and your cell says 5:32. When time is important, use Time and Date to be sure of the correct time. The site is also useful for determining if your 2 p.m. call from New York isn't actually a 3 a.m. call in Tokyo.


Learn2Type
Typing tutor

If your typing skills range from competent to less than impressive, Learn2Type is here to help. Users can take an online typing test, print out a typing certificate or find resources to help improve their skills.


Google Calendar
Appointment tracker

Most reporters carry some sort of day planner, whether it be digital or an old school paper version. But if there are already enough gadgets crowding your backpack, consider using Google's online calendar for keeping tabs on future or past interviews and meetings in one safe place.


Google Translate
Online translator

Translate is another useful Google tool (there are so many) that will help translate foreign text to English and back again in a matter of seconds. There are more than 20 languages to choose from including Spanish, Swedish and Romanian. The service should only be used for reference and not for actual translation as some native idioms will likely not be translated perfectly.


meebo
Instant messaging

With all the instant messaging services out there (Yahoo, AIM, MSN) there is no telling which service the person you need to talk to will have. Rather than flip through several different services on your computer use meebo to log in to all your IM clients in one place. Meebo is also useful for using a computer that does not have any IM clients installed.

The winners of the EPpy awards for online content were announced yesterday in Las Vegas. Check out the complete list of winners or click here for the finalists.

Best Business Blog
NYTimes.com/DealBook

Best Business Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
Kiplinger.com: The Business Resource Center

Best Business Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
BusinessWeek.com

Best Classified Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
NWjobs.com

Best Classified Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
Cars.com

Best College Newspaper Web Site
The Daily Reveille

Best Community Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
The Denver Post

Best Community Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
msnbc.com

Best Entertainment Blog
Pop Candy, USATODAY.com

Best Entertainment Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
Indy.com, Indianapolis Star Media Group

Best Entertainment Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
PEOPLE.com

Best Local Radio-Affiliated Web Site
iCat fm, Catalunya Radio

Best National Magazine-Affiliated Web Site
Thisoldhouse.com

Best Network or Syndicated Radio-Affiliated Web Site
American RadioWorks from American Public Media

Best News Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
LJWorld.com

Best News Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
NYTimes.com

Best News/Politics Blog
The Swamp, chicagotribune.com

Best Overall Design of a Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
Metromix.com

Best Overall Design of a Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
Detnews.com, The Detroit News

Best Overall Local TV/Cable-Affiliated Web Site
KING5.com

Best Overall Network TV/Cable-Affiliated Web Site
CBSNews.com

Best Overall Newspaper-Affiliated Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
Las Vegas Sun

Best Overall Newspaper-Affiliated Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
NYTimes.com

Best Regional Magazine-Affiliated Web Site
VisionMonday.com

Best Spanish-Language Newspaper-Affiliated Web Site
ELPAÍS.com

Best Special Feature in a Web Site — Enterprise, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
Diabetes: The Invisible Epidemic, PalmBeachPost.com

Best Special Feature in a Web Site — Enterprise, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
Katrina Recovery Coverage, The Associated Press

Best Special Feature in a Web Site — News or Event, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
Oklahoma Centennial, NewsOK.com

Best Special Feature in a Web Site — News or Event, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
13 Seconds in August, StarTribune.com

Best Sports Blog
The FanHouse, AOL Sports

Best Sports Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
GoVolsXtra

Best Sports Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
USATODAY.com

Best Use of Video in a Web Site, with fewer than one million unique monthly visitors
CBC Digital Archives Web site - Les archives de Radio-Canada

Best Use of Video in a Web Site, with more than one million unique monthly visitors
TV Guide Online

Best Weekly Newspaper-Affiliated Web Site
The Santa Barbara (Calif.) Independent

Knight News Innovation Award
CNN.com

Congrats to the winners! Some great work here.

I've come to realize that the hardest person to design for is oneself. Luckily, for the overhaul of my personal website, I had a little help.

Anytime I see something graphic or design element that strikes me as interesting, I bookmark it or save it to a little folder on my computer that serves as a digital inspiration board. Usually any new design project begins with a few clicks through the folder, which, at last count, contained 333 files collected over the years. Before I redesigned my own site I pulled a couple of images from the folder and set them aside for inspiration. Here are those actual images:

   
   


And here is the final design:



I came up with a million different designs in my head and ultimately stuck with a comic book theme, but you can clearly see the influence of the selected images in the design. I later realized I had also been subconsciously inspired by the billboards for the new Indiana Jones movie that have recently popped up around the country.

Keeping your own personal inspiration board, whether it be digital or a collection of torn out magazines or photos, is a great way to get the design process going. I often use the screenshot tool FastStone Capture (downloaded when it was free) to create a quick snapshot of something on the web that is in the vein of my own design aesthetic. I also use del.ici.ous to bookmark Flash-based, multimedia or interactive sites (and, incidentally, ideas for blog posts.)

If you don't have your own personal inspiration collection just yet, there are many sites that will stir up the creative juices, including screenfluent, Beautifully, dafont.com and the previously mentioned inspiredology.com and Smashing Magazine.

What inspires you? Is it a website, a photograph or something else. Share it with everyone in the comments.

I first designed my personal website a couple of years ago when I was a multimedia newbie and gave it some cosmetic updates about a year ago. Lately, however, I became increasingly aware that it needed a major overhaul. I kind of felt those "stylists" on TV who dispense fashion advice but who are themselves are dressed like glamorous hobos. Thus, I recently gave my site a technical and cosmetic overhaul. Here's what was wrong with the old design:


Intro page

I detest intro pages because they are usually unnecessary or at worse cumbersome and annoying, yet I realized I totally had one on my own site. One of my favorite bloggers likened the intro page to holding the visitor's head in a bucket and keeping it there. I couldn't agree more so it was the first thing to go.


Split pages

In online journalism where every page view counts, it's become acceptable to split content over several pages. This is fine for galleries and long articles, but I had somehow managed to split each item in my portfolio into a separate page with a clunky Flash menu to complicate things even further. I redesigned my portfolio to be a series of scrollable pages where the user could see previews of all the content in that section in one fell swoop. The new layout was inspired by design blogs Smashing Magazine and inspiredology in which the user can simply scroll through the galleries to get the gist of the content.

  

Before and after


No CSS

My name is Mark Luckie and I used the <font> tag. I'm not proud of myself. Literally every line of code in the old version had this long strip detailing the font, font size and a whole mess of other things that could have been done in one simple stylesheet. I cleared out all the tags and tables and built the whole page from scratch using div tags and a streamlined stylesheet to govern the whole site.


Word HTML


Instead of copying and pasting the text of my résumé into a new HTML file, I simply saved the Word file as a "web page." This, of course, resulted in miles of Word's useless proprietary coding that made a mess out of what should have been simple lines of code. Even after running the clean up command in Dreamweaver (Commands | Clean Up Word HTML), I still was left with a gobbledygook of text that did not adhere to my CSS stylesheet. The entire resume page had to be stripped of coding, which took a considerable amount of time.


Lack of SEO

The original site was made up of all images and literally no text, save for some hidden in the intro page (not even an ALT tag). Add to that a completely ridiculous use of iframes and the whole thing was an unindexable mess. The existing design was fine for direct traffic and the site got a boost in Google rankings because of its association with 10,000 Words, but was not SEO friendly at all. In the new version, the menu still consists of images so it adheres with the comic book look, but the blurbs were converted from images to actual text.

 

Before and after


Cross-browser incompatibility

I must have been thinking "to hell with those IE users" because the first iteration of my site used a Javascript scrolling menu that was only viewable in Firefox. Visitors using Internet Explorer only saw a gray box. This means about 70 percent of internet users could not see my "cool" menu. The wonky element was later substituted with a Flash version in the initial cosmetic update, but was ultimately nixed in the overhaul because it didn't add anything useful to the page.


That said, don't make the same mistakes I did. For more on bad web design, read LifeClever's 10 Reasons Why Your Online Portfolio Sucks, which was coincidentally published while I was in the middle of retooling my own site.

Being a web journalist means spending a lot of time at the computer which sometimes means developing that nasty little tingling sensation in your arms and wrist. A few extra hours at the computer this week (I'll tell you why tomorrow) have made me more aware of the downside of a 24-hour web world. Does the increase in digital journalism mean an increase of journalists with carpal tunnel? WebMD says no:

[Researcher Johan Andersen, MD, PhD] says his advice to people who do a lot of computer work and suffer from hand and arm pain is don't jump to conclusions that it's carpal tunnel syndrome.

"Most likely, symptoms that are mild will disappear," Andersen tells WebMD. "If you have numbness or tingling exclusively in the first, second, or third fingers, the likelihood is much higher that it's carpal tunnel syndrome. But if it's in the whole hand, it's not likely that it's carpal tunnel syndrome."

Keep in mind I'm no doctor and a reporter is only as good as his sources. According to the professionals, there are some things that one can do to ease the stress from typing. From Microsoft Home Magazine:

To give your wrists and muscles a rest, it's important to take frequent computer breaks. Mooney advises taking a five-minute stretching break every 15 minutes, preferably away from the computer. If you can't get away, stretching at the computer is still beneficial.

There are even more valuable tips at essortment like looking away from the computer screen once in a while and relaxing the shoulders. You can also try the fun exercises demonstrated at Nimble Fingers (look its multimedia!), which cover just about every part of the body. Point is, work hard, but not so hard you can't work anymore.

At its inception, I admittedly was not a fan of the podcast (more specifically, the once common practice of posting a couple of mp3s online and calling it a multimedia page). But now that multimedia journalism is diversifying, it's time to take those podcasts to the next level.


An estimated 18.5 million people downloaded a podcast in 2007 and that number will jump 70 percent in 2008, according to a February eMarketer study. That's a lot of potential listeners. For the uninitiated, Podcasting News has a great primer on what a podcast is and how it works. Newbies who don't have access to podcasting equipment such as a microphone, headphones and software can purchase a podcasting kit from Urban Outfitters for $120 or from zZounds for $99.95.

Recording a podcast, doesn't have to mean sitting in front of a computer or in a recording studio. Sites like BlogTalkRadio, Gabcast and Yodio make it simple to record podcasts from the field using a cell phone. This is ideal for conversing with subjects who can't make it to the newsroom or podcasting from a live location such as a press conference or convention.

It's also easy to record interviews or conversations over the phone for inclusion in the podcast. You can use a gadget that will record landline phone calls or, if you are a Skype user, use Call Graph to record and save calls as mp3s. The free software indexes calls in a user-friendly way that makes tracking them down later a breeze.

Podcasters with an existing listener base will appreciate the services of K7. The site lets users call in and leave voice messages which can then be included in future podcasts. It's a unique way for integrating interactivity in what is often a one-way medium.

Odiogo is perfect for those who don't want to bother recording audio or just want a new way to present content on the web. The online service will extract text from an existing RSS feed and convert it to audio, thus making it perfect for audio-inclined visitors.

Finally, if you're looking to increase listenership for your podcast, consider publishing it on iTunes or including it in any of a number of online podcast directories, including Podcast Alley and Podcast.net.

Labels: audio

It's been a long week producing this story so I am anxiously looking forward to the weekend. Here are some great posts that I've been saving in my RSS reader.


E-Media Tidbits (Poynter)
Getting Commenters to Play Nice

"Post a clear, plainly worded comment policy that says what is encouraged and what is not allowed."


SteveOuting.com
Twittering reporters

"I just wanted to update you on our Twitter coverage at WCNC. We did it for the primary yesterday, and it was incredibly successful."


Reportr.net
Taking stock of how newspaper editors see the future

"35 percent believe print will reign supreme."


Online Journalism Review
How to get your site into Google News

"Google News is one of the world's most popular news portals, 'in the top five worldwide.'"


New Media Bytes
The Secret to Increasing Traffic from Facebook without Building Applications

"Facebook provides a number of tools that can help you promote your content and cash in on social network referrals. And the best thing is - Anyone Can Do It!"


The Editorialiste
6 Tips For Landing Your Dream J-Job

"4. Remember that any progress is good progress."


Journalistopia
Overcome evil article pagination with Firefox add-on

"Hard-core news junkies hate it. Matt Drudge hates it. You surely hate it too: article pagination."


And a sincere thank you to everyone reading 10,000 words. You really inspire me and keep me going!

1. Despite all the various multimedia skills I've learned over the years, the only one I'll really use is Flash.

2. Good journalism jobs are hard to find...and worth fighting for.

3. Most of my future co-workers will not be as effervescent and optimistic as my classmates.

4. Hold on to those business cards.

5. Always keep a clear separation between work and personal life.

6. Two weeks to complete a story is not really a deadline.

7. Fast food is not a lifestyle; pack a lunch.

8. I will not work 24 hours a day like I do in J-School. I will, however, do the same amount of work in an 8-hour day.

9. There is this thing called a cubicle...

10. There's always public relations.

There are the usual suspects when it comes to multimedia news pieces: slideshows of the wonders of nature, interactive diagrams of new buildings, video interviews with the downtrodden... all of which likely teach the viewer something new. But sometimes the news needs a little dose of fun factor.

A new crop of online games that subliminally teach a lesson or two or incorporate news headlines in some way are quickly going viral because they are simply entertaining. While every news story shouldn't become an online game, the ones that are encourage participation amongst otherwise passive readers. The games also — and this is good for advertising — increase the time spent on the page.

American Public Media seeks to educate players about eco-friendly living with its Flash game Consumer Consequences. The game itself is convoluted and preachy, but its suggestions on how to improve one's lifestyle based on interaction with the game are laudable.


The Genetic Science Learning Center at The University of Utah demonstrates the effects of drugs on the brain with a couple of animated mice. The sad and tragic news is softened and more absorbable in the "game" environment and most importantly isn't overbearing.

MSNBC has thrown its figurative hat in the ring with NewsBlaster and NewsBreaker, the latter of which is reminiscent of the Pong of Mac games, Brickles. News headlines are integrated into the fairly simple games and while it is an admirable effort, one StumbleUpon reviewer offers the most insightful critique: "If I want news, I'll go to news sites. If I want games, I'll go to gaming sites. The two don't mix."

SexyPolitics has been covered on this blog before, but it's worth repeating — this game is fun AND informative. Virtual strippers reward correct answers are rewarded by removing clothing, but the game also has an option to lessen the sexy factor. Even news buffs will be challenged by some of the questions on the issues and the candidates.


Newseum's website is more than just Today's Front Pages. It's NewsMania trivia game lets players choose from three levels: Intern, Reporter and Editor, with commentary from sassy virtual host Rita.

St. Louis Dispatch has an innovative assortment of multimedia, including this quiz that compares the player's geography skills to those of the young adults in the United States. A few news quizzes can also be found on Facebook, including the ever popular New York Times News Quiz and the equally entertaining, but less popular, Reuters News Quiz.

If you're looking for inspiration for your next online game, consider a trip to the local museum. Many exhibits, like those at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, are incorporating gaming and technology to provide a greater learning experience for visitors.

Considering many people under 30 aren't picking up newspapers or listen to non-music radio programming, making a fun online game is a great way to hook them in. As long as the games remain diverting without being overbearing, they will continue to succeed.

The number of news organizations producing video exclusively for the web is increasing. Here are some things to keep in mind when shooting video for the web:


Picking a camera

Most major news outlets by now have a stash of video cameras (okay maybe just one) available to multimedia/ video shooters. But if your newsroom is just catching up and/or is reluctant to spend a gajillion dollars on a video camera, know that a web quality camera can be bought on the cheap. Purchasing a video camera that can also shoot photos and capture audio is ideal for the backpack journalist who plans to create a total multimedia experience. There are some other technical factors to consider, including external mic and headphone jacks and a firewire terminal. This previous post lists some inexpensive cameras that will get the job done.

Once you have the right camera, play around with the settings and become familiar with them, but don't mess them up before you get out to the field. You don't want to have shot an exclusive interview and later found out you messed up the white balance settings — which is to say check your white balance settings. You can't always fix it in post.


In the field


One of the top causes for headaches in the editing process is not having enough footage to produce the best quality story. The trick is to shoot more footage than you think you will need, including B-roll and ambient sound. However, if the video will be produced on a tight deadline, don't shoot too much or you will end up with a mess of video clips that must be sifted through and uploaded.

Video should be shot outdoors whenever possible to take advantage of the great lighting the sun provides, but sometimes this isn't an available option. Make sure to turn on overhead lights, lamps or whatever will help to brighten up the room (unless you're going for the scary, shadowed, whistleblower look. Some cameras will produce a grainy effect in low light situations that should be avoided whenever possible.

The importance of a tripod cannot be stressed enough. Not using one will cause visible shaking that is incredibly distracting, especially on relatively small computer screens. If the boss was too stingy to cough up the money for a tripod, you can still steady the camera by leaning against a wall with your upper back and both legs spread in a 'V' in front of you for leverage. For low angle shots, kneel on one knee placing your elbow on the raised knee and holding the camera to your eye. If this sounds too complicated, use a steady flat surface such as a table and increase the height of the camera using thick books. Avoid using the camera's zoom function as any shaking becomes more apparent the more the camera is zoomed.


Interviewing

Be sure to use a good pair of headphones (not earbuds) to be sure of audio quality before you begin to roll. In an interview situation, have the speaker talk naturally before you the actual interview begins to make sure there is no audio interference and you can in fact hear them. If you are a one person show, keep one headphone on and keep an eye on the camera, but remain engaged with the interviewee. You can also keep both headphones on but slide the arc of the headphones to the nape of the neck to lessen the distraction.

If you are blessed with a tripod or monopod, avoid panning and tilting during an interview because it is also distracting and you will hate yourself come editing time.


Editing time!

Final Cut Pro is the industry standard for editing video for good reason: it has more features than one will probably every need. But when it comes to the web, iMovie or any of these alternatives will suffice. Editing on the cheap isn't a bad thing. A video is only as bad as its editor (and shooter).

As internet connection speeds get faster and faster and more internet users have taken to the idea of watching video pieces on the web, the temptation increases to put even longer video clips on the web. But it is important to remember that many web surfers have the attention span of a walnut and rarely sit through long video.

Again the importance of using headphones, especially when editing, is paramount. You may have shot Peabody Award-worthy video but if the audio sounds like crap, then the whole clip is a wash.


For more tips on shooting video for the web, visit Creative Pro, Ourmedia, the Online Journalism Review, or andydickinson.net.

Have a tip for shooting video or your own personal technique? Share it in the comments!

Labels: video

The latest trend in online magazines is to have an online gallery of the covers of past issues. It's a great idea and invokes nostalgia in readers who remember the fond memories tied to each issue. There are a few magazines who are making use of the online space and giving their cover galleries a little extra zip:


Wired includes links to each issue's stories:




Seventeen has video and slideshows documenting each cover girl:




LIFE has slideshows of its covers as well as quizzes and the option for users to vote on their favorite covers:




Rolling Stone has a great flash interface for searching for covers:




VIBE posts not only its covers, but also the links to its cover stories:




For more on the story behind the magazine fronts, check out Cover Awards, a unique blog that covers the covers. For today's newspaper front pages, visit Newseum. More online cover archives after the jump.

Vogue (UK)




Time




Sports Illustrated




Esquire




Vanity Fair




New York Magazine




O, The Oprah Magazine

Today is RSS Awareness Day. Are you aware of RSS? Were you aware that RSS Awareness Day existed? And I'm totally not asking because I think you should subscribe to the 10,000 words RSS feed. While RSS is popular in many tech circles, your average internet users hasn't quite caught on.


In the spirit of the day, here are some of the possibilities of RSS:


1. Get sports scores

2. Check the weather

3. Create a custom newspaper

4. Get constant updates on the latest in multimedia and technology news and commentary